Promoting Employee Giving Programs
Workplace giving allows employees to donate directly from their pay, often pre-tax, with many employers offering matching contributions. This creates:
Reliable, recurring revenue you can plan around
Unrestricted funds that offer flexibility where most needed
In-house advocates who strengthen corporate relationships and help spread your impact
But it’s more than fundraising — it’s emotional connection and community-building.
Why it works:
Payroll deduction removes friction. No reminders, no extra effort
Employer matching doubles (or more) every gift instantly
Employees feel tied to your mission, not just a donation line
Formats you can build from:
Payroll giving: automatic monthly gifts from pay
Matching gifts: employer matches employee donations
Volunteer grants: companies give in your name when staff volunteer
Team volunteer grants: group projects trigger donations
Volunteer time off (VTO) and skills-based volunteering: gift time in exchange for funds or resources
Giving stipends or round-up options: creates small donor opportunities in everyday work life
Global stats to know:
Around 65% of Fortune 500 firms offer matching gift programs, and 40% also offer volunteer grants
Workplace giving leads to over $5 billion in unrestricted, sustainable annual funding in the U.S. alone
In Australia, 5,382 employers offer payroll giving, contributing AUD 43.3 million in one year, surging by 23% year on year, totaling AUD 66 million, including match contributions
How to pitch it with style:
Start early: bring workplace giving into your corporate conversations from round one
Lead with experience: invite staff to volunteer before asking for donations
Make participation easy: collaborate with HR to provide sign-up links, toolkits, and internal comms
Celebrate matching: highlight the multiplier effect alongside donation asks
Keep employees informed: send impact stories, photos, and updates directly
What not to do:
Only talk through your corporate sponsor — reach employees directly too
Launch it without follow-through — engagement drops fast without messaging
Forget the narrative — every donation is more powerful when tied to a real story
Pro tip: Whether it is a 10-person local business or a global brand, workplace giving scales beautifully. Think 30 employees giving $20/month. That is $7,200 yearly, doubled by matching funding. Multiply that across several companies, and you have unlocked a major, steady funding stream.
Key takeaway:
Workplace giving transforms one corporate partner into hundreds of mission-driven supporters. It is predictable, meaningful, and too powerful to overlook — especially when you already have access to those employee communities.