Payroll Giving Blurbs-Templates For Sustainable Growth

Payroll Giving Blurbs: Templates For Sustainable Growth

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In the pursuit of financial stability, nonprofits are constantly seeking the “holy grail” of fundraising: unrestricted, recurring revenue. While major gifts and grants provide essential influxes of capital, they often lack the consistency required for confident long-term planning. This is where payroll giving enters the conversation as a transformative solution. Often overshadowed by other forms of corporate philanthropy, such as matching gifts and payroll giving, is a powerful mechanism that allows employees to donate to charities directly from their salaries, often on a pre-tax basis. It creates a “set and forget” donation stream that reduces administrative friction and increases donor retention.

Despite the clear financial advantages, many organizations struggle to capitalize on this opportunity due to a significant awareness gap. Billions of dollars in corporate philanthropy go unclaimed or unrealized simply because donors do not know these programs exist or how to access them. To bridge this gap, nonprofits must actively market these opportunities using clear, persuasive communication. One of the most effective ways to do this is by incorporating payroll giving blurbs into your existing communication channels.

By using pre-written, strategic copy across your website, emails, and social media, you can educate your supporters and drive significant revenue without adding a heavy lift to your development team. In this guide, we will provide you with the templates and strategies you need to turn passive interest into active, long-term support.

In this guide, we’ll cover:

By implementing these communication strategies, you can integrate payroll giving into your core fundraising efforts and secure a steady flow of support that grows with every paycheck.

The Strategic Value of Payroll Giving

Before deploying these templates, it is essential to understand the unique value proposition of payroll giving. Unlike one-time donations that require constant re-solicitation, payroll giving automates the philanthropic impulse. Once an employee opts in, the donation is deducted automatically from their salary during each pay cycle. This automation eliminates the need for monthly credit card entries or manual check writing, drastically reducing the friction that leads to donor churn.

The statistics surrounding this fundraising channel highlight its potential. Currently, more than $173 million is donated through payroll giving each year, with over 6 million U.S. employees contributing. However, with approximately 18% of individuals qualifying for payroll giving through their employers, there remains significant untapped potential.

  • Predictable Revenue Streams: For nonprofits, the primary benefit is the creation of a consistent cash flow. Payroll donations provide a steady baseline of income, enabling better financial planning and program continuity. This predictability is essential for budgeting and scaling operations with confidence.
  • Higher Donor Retention: Payroll donors tend to donate for longer periods than those who give via other channels. Because the deduction happens automatically and often pre-tax, the donor effectively “doesn’t miss” the money, making them less likely to cancel the recurring gift during belt-tightening periods. This leads to significantly higher lifetime value (LTV) for each supporter acquired through this channel.
  • Tax Efficiency for Donors: It is important to articulate the financial benefits to the donor as well. Donations made through payroll giving are often deducted from gross pay before tax is calculated. This tax-efficient giving method means that a donation costs the employee less in real terms than a standard post-tax donation, allowing them to give more to your cause without significantly impacting their take-home pay.

Did You Know? Payroll giving offers a unique “win-win-win” scenario. Nonprofits gain lower administrative overhead and sustainable income; donors enjoy tax-efficient, effortless giving; and employers boost their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) profile and employee engagement.

Website Blurbs: Your Education Hub

Your website is the first place potential donors go to learn how they can support your mission. It is essential to plant the seed of payroll giving right where they are looking for ways to give. Integrating payroll giving blurbs into key pages ensures that visitors are immediately informed about this seamless giving option.

The “Ways to Give” Page

This is the most logical place to house detailed information. You want to catch donors when they are already in a mindset to contribute.

Template 1: The “Set and Forget” Hook
Header: Make an Impact with Every Paycheck
Body: Did you know you can support [Nonprofit Name] directly through your salary? Payroll giving is an easy, tax-efficient way to make a lasting difference. By setting up a recurring deduction from your paycheck, you provide us with the steady support we need to plan for the future—all without having to manage monthly payments.
Call to Action: Check if your employer offers payroll giving today!

Template 2: The Tax-Smart Appeal
Header: Give Smarter, Not Harder
Body: Maximize your donation with payroll giving! Because donations are often deducted before tax, it costs you less to give more. Your regular contributions add up to a significant impact over the year, helping us [insert brief mission impact, e.g., feed families, rescue animals]. Plus, it’s automatic, so you never have to worry about updating credit card details.
Call to Action: Search for your employer below to see if you are eligible.

The Donation Confirmation Page

While typically reserved for matching gifts, this page is also prime real estate for payroll giving. If a donor has just given money, they are highly engaged. Reminding them that they can automate this support in the future can transition a one-time donor into a recurring supporter.

Template 3: The Recurring Conversion
Header: Want to make this automatic?
Body: Thank you for your generous gift! If you want to support us year-round without the hassle, check if your employer offers payroll giving. It allows you to donate small amounts from each paycheck that add up to a massive impact.
Call to Action: See if your company participates.

Quick Tip: For the best results, use a short, memorable, and easy-to-type URL, such as yourcharity.org/payrollgiving, for your dedicated landing page. This makes it easier to share within offline materials and presentations.

Email Blurbs: Direct to Inbox

Email remains one of the most effective channels for donor communication. It allows you to be direct, personal, and timely. Weaving payroll giving blurbs into your regular email flows keeps the opportunity top-of-mind and normalizes workplace giving as a standard way to support your cause.

The Newsletter Feature

Include a recurring section in your monthly newsletter. Since your list grows and changes, repeating this message ensures new subscribers see it and reminds long-time supporters who may have changed jobs.

Template 4: The General Awareness Blurb
Subject: A simple way to support us year-round
Header: Support [Nonprofit Name] on Autopilot
Body: Dear [Donor Name], We know life gets busy. That’s why we love payroll giving—it lets you support the causes you care about without adding another to-do to your list. By signing up for payroll giving through your employer, you can make automatic, tax-efficient donations directly from your paycheck. It’s a small change for you that makes a huge difference for us.
Action: Check with your HR department or visit our workplace giving page to learn more.

The “Company Specific” Email

If you have collected employment data during registration or through a matching gift search tool, you can send highly targeted emails to donors who work for known payroll giving companies.

Template 5: The Targeted Ask
Subject: [Donor Name], maximize your impact with [Company Name]
Body: Dear [Donor Name], Because you work at [Company Name], you have access to a fantastic benefit: payroll giving. This program allows you to donate to [Nonprofit Name] directly from your salary, often with a corporate match included! We noticed you have supported us in the past, and we wanted to ensure you knew about this easy way to continue your impact.
Next Step: Log in to your employee portal to set up your gift today.

The Year-End Appeal

During the busy year-end fundraising season, donors are looking for ways to give that are financially savvy.

Template 6: The Financial Planning Angle
Subject: Plan your giving for next year
Body: As we look ahead to the new year, consider setting up a payroll gift to [Nonprofit Name]. It is one of the most tax-efficient ways to give, allowing you to lower your taxable income while sustaining our mission.
Action: Enroll now to start your support with your first paycheck of the year.

Social Media Blurbs: Broadening the Reach

Social media is ideal for raising general awareness and reaching professionals where they network. Use these platforms to normalize giving through work. LinkedIn is particularly effective for this type of content, as your audience is already in a professional mindset.

LinkedIn

This is the most effective channel for corporate giving content, as the platform tends to engage a corporate-focused audience.

Template 7: The Professional Development Angle
“Did you know? 6 million U.S. employees contribute to charity through payroll giving. It’s a simple, seamless way to support the causes you love directly from your paycheck. 💼❤️ Check with your HR team to see if you can support [Nonprofit Name] through your workplace giving program today! #CorporateSocialResponsibility #PayrollGiving #SocialImpact”

Template 8: The “Did You Know” Graphic (Pair with an image of a pay stub or workplace setting)
“Turn your paycheck into purpose! 💸 Payroll giving allows you to donate pre-tax, meaning your dollar goes further for [Nonprofit Name]. See if your company offers this benefit: [Link to Website].”

Twitter/X & Instagram

Keep it punchy and visual. Use hashtags like #GiveThroughWork to increase discoverability.

Template 9: The Short & Sweet
“Support [Nonprofit Name] on autopilot! ✈️ Sign up for payroll giving to make small contributions from each paycheck that add up to big change. Check your eligibility here: [Link] #PayrollGiving #NonprofitTech”

Template 10: The Impact Focus
“What can $10 a paycheck do? Over a year, it provides [Specific Impact, e.g., 50 meals for families]. Sign up for payroll giving today and make a sustainable difference. [Link]”

Registration and Intake Blurbs

The best time to capture employment data and plant the seed about payroll giving is right when a supporter is signing up or donating. By incorporating payroll giving blurbs into your intake forms, you can immediately identify eligible donors.

The Donation Form Field

Include an optional “Employer” field and a brief blurb explaining why you are asking.

Template 11: The Intake Prompt
Header: Workplace Giving
Body: Many companies offer payroll giving or matching gift programs. Please enter your employer’s name so we can help you maximize your impact!
Field: [Search for Company]
Result: (If eligible) “Great news! [Company Name] offers a payroll giving program. You can set up a recurring donation directly through your employee portal.”

The Confirmation Screen

After they hit submit, use the confirmation screen to reinforce the message.

Template 12: The Confirmation Nudge
Header: Thank you for your gift!
Body: You’ve taken a great step today. Want to keep the momentum going? Check if your employer offers payroll giving to make your support automatic and ongoing.
Action: [Link to Double the Donation Search Tool]

Quick Tip: When asking for employment information, always explain why. A simple note saying “See if your employer will match your donation or offers payroll giving” increases the likelihood that a donor will provide the information.

Best Practices for Implementing These Blurbs

Writing the copy is only the first step. To truly maximize the revenue potential of payroll giving, you need to deploy these blurbs strategically.

  1. Leverage Technology for Eligibility: The most effective way to solve the eligibility puzzle is by integrating an employer search tool directly into your fundraising infrastructure. Tools like Double the Donation’s payroll giving widget allow donors to enter their company name and instantly see whether their employer offers payroll giving, matching gifts, or more. This removes the guesswork and provides immediate, company-specific instructions.
  2. Streamline the Path to Enrollment: Once a donor knows they are eligible, the next obstacle is the enrollment process itself. Generic instructions like “ask your HR department” can kill conversion rates. Instead, provide detailed, step-by-step guides for major employers. If possible, provide direct links to your organization’s profile within third-party platforms like Benevity or YourCause.
  3. Incentivize Participation: People are more likely to take action when they feel recognized and valued. Consider creating a special club or designation for payroll donors. Offer incentives such as welcome gifts (stickers, mugs) or digital badges they can share on LinkedIn. You can also frame incentives as appreciation, showing how much their sustained support means to the organization.
  4. Track and Steward: Don’t let payroll donors feel like an ATM. Because the giving happens automatically, it is easy to forget to thank them. Send exclusive updates that show exactly how their sustained support is making a difference. Regularly monitor key metrics such as the number of active payroll donors and total revenue to refine your strategy over time.

Wrapping Up & Next Steps

Integrating payroll giving blurbs into your communications strategy is a low-effort, high-reward way to build sustainable revenue. By educating your supporters about the benefits sitting in their employee handbooks, you unlock a new stream of funding that provides stability and growth for your mission. Whether through a LinkedIn post, a newsletter segment, or a simple question on a donation form, every mention helps normalize the concept of workplace giving.

Start by auditing your current donor touchpoints. Are you asking about employment? Do you have a dedicated webpage explaining payroll giving? Once you identify these gaps, paste in the templates above to start the conversation.

Ready to take your corporate fundraising to the next level? Request a demo with Double the Donation to see how our automation tools can help you identify eligible donors, promote payroll giving and matching gifts, and maximize your impact with minimal effort.