Workplace Giving and Matching Donations: How to Turn Payroll into Philanthropy

Types of workplace giving

Workplace giving programs can take several forms, each with its own benefits for the donors and your nonprofit. Take your team’s capacity into account, and focus your effort into one or two of these methods at a time before expanding. 

Payroll deductions – Employees can elect to have a set amount or percentage of each paycheck automatically donated to a nonprofit of their choice. As with monthly and recurring giving, payroll deductions help individual employees “set and forget” their regular giving and offer your nonprofit a reliable income stream. 

Matching donations – Employers match their employees’ donations, often dollar for dollar, effectively doubling the impact of each individual giver. This motivates individual employees to give and helps employers make sure their charitable dollars are supporting their employees’ passions (while getting tax benefits, of course). 

Double the Donation helps you take full advantage of employee matching donations within your community. Learn who, already in your DonorPerfect system, is eligible for employer matching gifts, and get twice the income without extra effort!

Volunteer grants – Sometimes known as “Dollars for Doers,” these programs reward employees’ volunteer hours with a monetary donation to the nonprofit they serve. This is ideal for people who are eager to support your mission but give their time instead of their money. 

Year-end giving campaigns –Many companies hold dedicated fundraising drives during the holidays or fiscal year-end to encourage giving. You’ll already have focused year-end appeals and other fundraising collateral, so put it to more use with prospective workplace givers! 

Employee-led giving circles – Groups of employees pool funds to support causes they care about, sometimes with matching donations from their employer. Learn more about giving circles in our blog, Giving Circles and How to Find Them.

Round-up giving – Some companies offer employees the option to round up purchases or paychecks for donations. Every little bit adds up. 

Who to ask

Workplace giving programs often start with one enthusiastic advocate. When looking for partners, consider reaching out to people who are already doing good in their communities for an easy in.

• Who – Current donors who work for companies with known corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives
  • Why – If a company is known to be charitable, they likely already have workplace giving programs set up and you can jump right in with them.
• Who – Board members or volunteers with connections in the business world
  • Why – Your board of directors likely includes business owners whose employees would enjoy supporting your mission. They already know how to talk about your organization, and won’t need much support to get started. 
• Who – Local small and mid-sized businesses, and local chambers of commerce
  • Why – They are likely more interested in your mission than nation-wide organizations, since they can see your impact more directly. They may also be more flexible than large corporations, and have fewer requirements for their workplace giving programs. 
• Who – Alumni of your organization’s programs
  • Why – They’re deeply connected to your mission and can help you expand your network into their communities and areas of business. They can directly relate the impact of your organization to their colleagues, and be an ambassador for your nonprofit. 
• Who – Human Resources (HR) or Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) departments of larger organizations
  • Why – These people are often the decision-makers behind an organization’s workplace and corporate giving programs, so focus your relationship-building efforts on them for a successful campaign. 
• Who – Annual and mid-level donors whom you’d like to start cultivating for a future major gift
  • Why – Annual and mid-level donors who consistently support your mission are excellent candidates for workplace giving advocacy. This helps grow their connection to your mission without asking them for more of their personal resources before they’re ready. DonorPerfect’s reporting makes it easy to identify donors who are giving $250–$999 (for example) annually and create tailored outreach to invite them into deeper partnership through workplace giving.

Don’t be afraid to start small—sometimes a single department within a company can pilot a program before it rolls out company-wide.

Creative ways to implement workplace giving programs

If a company is open to workplace giving, but unsure how to begin, help them think outside the box. Here are a few creative ideas to get the ball rolling:

• Add a giving option to new employee onboarding – Including a simple opt-in for payroll deductions at the beginning of employment can normalize and increase participation.
• Gamify it – Friendly competition between departments or teams can boost engagement—think fundraising leaderboards or incentives for participation.
• Celebrate impact visibly – Share photos, stories, or progress charts in employee newsletters or break rooms to make the impact of their giving feel tangible.
• Tie giving to company milestones – Mark anniversaries, product launches, or other company wins with a matching donation challenge or bonus donation.
• Host a “Philanthropy Day” – Dedicate one day a year to employee volunteering and giving, complete with lunch, branded swag, and a visit from your team.

Create a workplace giving one-pager

Sometimes, the only thing standing between you and a new workplace giving program is a lack of clarity. That’s where a one-pager comes in.

This simple resource should include:

• A brief description of your mission and impact
• Instructions for setting up payroll deductions
• Details on volunteer opportunities for corporate teams
• Testimonials or stories from current donors
• Contact info for your development team

Keep it clear, concise, and visually engaging, something an employee could print and bring to HR or forward in an email.

Want help drafting a workplace giving one-pager? Ask the DonorPerfect Fundraiser Bot! Powered by ChatGPT and designed by fundraisers and DonorPerfect experts, this is the best generative AI tool for all your fundraising communications. And it’s free! 

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DonorPerfect tools for workplace giving

DonorPerfect offers tools and features to make workplace giving a seamless part of your fundraising strategy:

• Automatic recurring gifts – Easily manage and track payroll deduction gifts and recurring contributions
• Matching gift integrations – DonorPerfect integrates with Double the Donation, making it easy for donors to check their eligibility and submit matching requests
• Custom reports and dashboards – Track your progress and evaluate your workplace giving program’s success to drive your strategy moving forward

With the right approach and tools, workplace giving can turn everyday payroll into powerful philanthropy—one paycheck at a time. Between workplace giving and other modern fundraising strategies, DonorPerfect helps fundraisers raise more in less time. Nonprofits raise 25% more funds in their first year with us, and many see results in just the first six months. Get a personalized demo today to see how DonorPerfect can help you do more for your mission.