Workplace Giving Needs 'More Choice'

The Institute carried out a series of surveys in late 2009 and 2010 on workplace giving programs which revealed that 92% of companies believe that an expanded giving program is an added benefit for their employees and ‘choice’ lead to increased participation.

The survey found that just over 79% of companies say donor rates increased once they added more choice and the dollars collected also went up for 73% of companies.

When companies were asked why they changed their workplace giving program to an expanded approach, 88% say it’s because their ’employees want more choice’. The survey found that only 14% of companies run a United-Way-only campaign.

As for how the companies select the charities included in the workplace giving program, 46% say the charities were already supported by employees through volunteerism or other company-sponsored activities; 46% also say the organizations were considered “strategic partners.” Forty-three percentsay they were recommended by employees.

How companies vet the charities is varied, with 42% of those responding saying someone on staff does it; 37% saying it is done by an outside vendor; and 21% saying it is performed via a combination of staff and vendors.

Workplace Giving is also important to Not for Profits with eight of 10 major organisations surveyed saying that workplace giving is an important or very important part of their fundraising strategy.

Almost all (nine out of 10) of the Not for Profits say they will supply generic marketing and educational materials for a campaign. Nine out of 10 will also send personnel for fairs, lunches, or other events.

The survey found that the downturn in the economy has had an impact on workplace giving.