10 Types of Workplace Giving Programs Nonprofits Should Know
In today’s fundraising landscape, corporate philanthropy has become a staple. After all, this strategy empowers mission-oriented organizations looking to raise more through mutually beneficial partnerships with for-profit businesses. But did you know there’s a specific category of philanthropy that’s powered by a company’s employees?
Workplace giving programs are designed to empower individual staff to give back through their place of work, standing out as a powerful way for these businesses and their employees to do good.
There are a wide range of workplace giving programs that benefit companies, their employees, and the causes they collectively support. These programs represent an invaluable opportunity to tap into consistent funding and build long-term relationships with companies and their employees.
In order to best target these opportunities, it’s a good idea for nonprofits and schools like yours to be familiar with the programs. That’s why, in this post, we’ll overview the ten most popular types of workplace giving, demonstrate how they can benefit your cause, and spotlight top companies offering the programs. These include:
- Matching gifts
- Individual volunteer grants
- Team volunteer grants
- Volunteer time off
- Skills-based volunteerism
- Team volunteer days
- Payroll giving
- Employee giving campaigns
- Social fundraising
- Fundraising matches
As you read this list of leading workplace giving programs, keep in mind that most companies included offer multiple of the following programs. However, just because a company doesn’t currently offer an initiative doesn’t mean you should give up on the opportunity.
In those instances, see if your supporters would be willing to advocate for new program creation or consider pitching a one-off program (i.e., an exclusive partnership between your organization and a company that wishes to support your efforts through a custom workplace giving program) directly.
1. Matching gifts
Workplace Giving Program Overview:
Matching gift programs are a type of workplace giving where companies match the charitable contributions made by their employees to eligible nonprofits. The match is often dollar-for-dollar, doubling the impact of the original donation, but some companies may offer a higher match ratio, too.
How This Workplace Giving Program Benefits Fundraisers:
Matching gifts significantly boost donation revenue without requiring donors to contribute additional funds. By encouraging donors to submit matching gift requests to their employers, nonprofits can literally multiply their fundraising results.
Additionally, promoting matching gift programs can increase donor engagement, as supporters feel their gifts are making an even greater impact.
Companies Offering This Workplace Giving Program:
Many companies, including Chipotle, General Electric, and Coca-Cola, offer robust matching gift programs that double or triple their employees’ donations to various nonprofits. Leading programs are even being designated as Certified Leaders in Matching Automation with the CLMA certification!
Learn more about matching gifts as a workplace giving strategy here.
2. Individual volunteer grants
Workplace Giving Program Overview:
Individual volunteer grants are programs where companies offer monetary grants to nonprofits in recognition of the volunteer work their employees perform. Employees typically need to volunteer a minimum number of hours to qualify for these grants, which are then donated to the organization where the employee volunteered.
How This Workplace Giving Program Benefits Fundraisers:
Volunteer grants incentivize volunteering and provide nonprofits with both volunteer support and supplemental corporate funding.
By encouraging volunteers to apply for these grants, nonprofits can increase their financial resources while also building stronger relationships with volunteers.
Companies Offering This Workplace Giving Program:
Companies like Apple, ExxonMobil, and Disney offer individual volunteer grant programs, rewarding employees’ volunteer efforts with grants to the nonprofits they support.
Learn more about volunteer grants as a workplace giving strategy here.
3. Team volunteer grants
Workplace Giving Program Overview:
Team volunteer grants are similar to individual volunteer grants but focus on group efforts. When a team of employees volunteers together at a nonprofit, the company provides a (usually sizable) grant to that organization as a thank-you for hosting the team and as a recognition of their collective impact.
How This Workplace Giving Program Benefits Fundraisers:
These grants encourage group volunteering, which can lead to more significant projects being completed, increased visibility for the nonprofit within the company, and larger grants being supplied.
Team volunteering can also foster long-term partnerships between nonprofits and corporations, potentially leading to more sustained support and ongoing projects.
Companies Offering This Workplace Giving Program:
Corporations like IBM, Boeing, and Kohl’s offer team volunteer grant programs, supporting nonprofits where their employees volunteer together.
Learn more about team volunteer grants as a workplace giving strategy here.
4. Volunteer time off
Workplace Giving Program Overview:
Volunteer Time Off (VTO) programs allow employees to take paid time off from work to volunteer with nonprofit organizations, above and beyond any existing sick or PTO hours allotted. Companies offering VTO programs typically allocate a certain number of hours or days per year for their employees to give back while participating in volunteer activities.
How This Workplace Giving Program Benefits Fundraisers:
VTO programs increase the number of volunteers available to nonprofits by making it easier for employees to find time in their busy schedules to do so. Allowing volunteers to get involved during the work day without losing out on their regular paycheck can lead to a steady stream of volunteer support for ongoing projects or events, ultimately helping nonprofits accomplish more without additional staffing costs.
Companies Offering This Workplace Giving Program:
Companies like Intuit, Patagonia, and Timberland offer generous VTO programs, encouraging employees to contribute their time to community service.
Learn more about volunteer time off as a workplace giving strategy here.
5. Skills-based volunteerism
Workplace Giving Program Overview:
Skills-based volunteerism involves employees volunteering their professional skills to help nonprofits with specific projects or challenges. This type of volunteerism leverages employees’ expertise in areas like marketing, IT, finance, or legal services, providing nonprofits with valuable resources they might not otherwise afford.
How This Workplace Giving Program Benefits Fundraisers:
Nonprofits benefit from high-quality professional services that can improve their operations, enhance their outreach, or solve complex problems without the associated costs. Skills-based volunteers can help nonprofits achieve strategic goals, increase efficiency, and ultimately enhance their capacity to serve their mission.
Companies Offering This Workplace Giving Program:
Companies like Microsoft, LinkedIn, and Google support skills-based volunteerism, providing nonprofits with expert volunteers to tackle specific challenges.
Learn more about skills-based volunteerism as a workplace giving strategy here.
6. Team volunteer days
Workplace Giving Program Overview:
Team volunteer days are organized events where groups of employees from a company volunteer together for a day at a nonprofit. These events are often planned by the company and can involve various activities, such as environmental clean-ups, building projects, or community outreach.
How This Workplace Giving Program Benefits Fundraisers:
Team volunteer days provide nonprofits with a large, organized group of volunteers to accomplish significant tasks in a short period. They also raise awareness of the nonprofit’s mission among employees, which can lead to ongoing support, donations, and future volunteerism from participants.
Companies Offering This Workplace Giving Program:
Companies like Target, Home Depot, and AppDynamics regularly organize team volunteer days, partnering with local nonprofits to support community projects.
Learn more about corporate volunteerism as a workplace giving strategy here.
7. Payroll giving
Workplace Giving Program Overview:
Payroll giving allows employees to donate to nonprofits directly from their paychecks on a regular basis, allowing for recurring donations with ease. Participating employees can choose to allocate a portion of their salary to a charity of their choice, often with the option for the employer to match those contributions.
How This Workplace Giving Program Benefits Fundraisers:
Payroll giving provides nonprofits with a steady, predictable stream of income and can help cultivate long-term relationships with donors. As donations are automatically deducted, this program often leads to higher overall donations and greater retention due to the convenience and regularity of the giving process.
Companies Offering This Workplace Giving Program:
Companies like Costco, Amazon, and JPMorgan Chase offer payroll giving programs, enabling employees to support their favorite causes directly from their earnings.
Learn more about payroll giving as a workplace giving strategy here.
8. Employee giving campaigns
Workplace Giving Program Overview:
Employee giving campaigns are company-sponsored fundraising drives where employees are encouraged to contribute to specific charities. These campaigns often take place over a set period and may include incentives like matching gifts, prize drawings, casual attire, or other perks to encourage participation.
How This Workplace Giving Program Benefits Fundraisers:
These campaigns can generate significant donations in a short amount of time, especially when paired with matching gifts. Employee giving campaigns also raise awareness of the nonprofit’s mission within the company, potentially leading to ongoing support beyond the campaign.
Companies Offering This Workplace Giving Program:
Companies like Staples, Scholastic, and Lyft run annual employee giving campaigns, raising substantial funds for various nonprofit causes.
Learn more about employee giving campaigns as a workplace giving strategy here.
9. Social fundraising
Workplace Giving Program Overview:
Social fundraising involves employees using their networks to raise money for a cause, often through online platforms like crowdfunding or peer-to-peer fundraising. Employees share their fundraising pages with friends, family, and colleagues, encouraging them to donate and support the nonprofit.
How This Workplace Giving Program Benefits Fundraisers:
Social fundraising expands the nonprofit’s reach beyond its immediate supporters by tapping into the social networks of employees. This can lead to increased visibility, new donors, and a broader community of support for the nonprofit’s mission.
Companies Offering This Workplace Giving Program:
Companies like Bristol Myers Squibb, Bank of America, and Walgreens support social fundraising initiatives, often matching employee contributions to amplify the impact.
Learn more about peer-to-peer fundraising as a workplace giving strategy here.
10. Fundraising matches
Workplace Giving Program Overview:
Fundraising matches involve companies matching the total funds raised by their employees for a specific cause or event. This could be part of a walk-a-thon, charity auction, or any other fundraising effort where employees actively solicit donations.
How This Workplace Giving Program Benefits Fundraisers:
Fundraising matches can significantly increase the total amount raised for a nonprofit, as they effectively double the contributions from employee-led fundraising efforts. This not only boosts financial support but also motivates employees to engage more deeply with the cause.
Companies Offering This Workplace Giving Program:
Companies like Penguin Random House, CVS Health, and State Street Corporation offer fundraising match programs, multiplying the impact of their employees’ fundraising efforts for various nonprofit initiatives.
Learn more about fundraising matches as a workplace giving strategy here.
Final Thoughts & Additional Resources
Workplace giving programs offer nonprofits a powerful way to engage with corporate partners and their employees, providing a steady flow of donations, volunteer support, and more. By familiarizing yourself with the different types of programs, you can better position your organization to take full advantage of these opportunities.
However, the easiest way to identify workplace giving programs in your network is with a dedicated corporate philanthropy database like Double the Donation. Rather than manually researching each supporter’s workplace giving initiatives, all it takes is a quick search of a company name, and you’re automatically supplied with specific criteria and submission forms for each program.
Interested in uncovering more matching gift, volunteer grant, VTO programs, and more? Get in touch to request a personalized demo!
Want to learn more about top workplace giving programs and how to set your organization up for success? Check out these recommended resources:
- Get to Know the Basics of Corporate Matching Gift Programs. Matching gifts are the most popular form of workplace giving. Access everything there is to know about these programs to secure more matches for your cause.
- Standout Strategies for Leveraging Corporate Volunteer Incentives. A lot of workplace giving centers around corporate volunteerism. Uncover top strategies for maximizing these volunteer-led programs here.
- Payroll Giving For Nonprofits: The Ultimate Fundraiser’s Guide. Payroll giving is another well-represented workplace giving opportunity. Check out our complete guide to Give As You Earn programs to learn more!
