How Homeless Shelters Can Secure In-Kind Donations

How Homeless Shelters Can Secure In-Kind Donations

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Homeless shelters play a vital role in providing safety, comfort, and essential services to individuals and families experiencing homelessness. To fulfill their missions effectively, these organizations often rely on a combination of financial contributions and in-kind donations. In-kind donations refer to non-cash gifts such as goods, services, or expertise that directly support the shelter’s operations and the well-being of its residents.

Securing in-kind donations can be a game-changer for homeless shelters, as these contributions help reduce operational costs and ensure that residents receive the items they need most. From clothing and toiletries to furniture and cleaning supplies, in-kind gifts can fill critical gaps that monetary donations alone may not cover. Understanding how to identify, request, and manage these donations is essential for nonprofit professionals dedicated to advancing their shelter’s impact.

In this article, we will explore what in-kind donations are, the types most valuable to homeless shelters, where to find potential donors, and best practices for making the ask. We will also introduce tools that can streamline the process, helping your organization build sustainable partnerships and maximize the benefits of in-kind support.

Table of Contents

  • What Are In-Kind Donations for Homeless Shelters?
  • Types of In-Kind Donations for Homeless Shelters
  • Where Homeless Shelters Should Look for In-Kind Support
  • How Homeless Shelters Should Make the In-Kind Donation Ask
  • Tools and Resources to Help Homeless Shelters Get Started

What Are In-Kind Donations for Homeless Shelters?

In-kind donations are contributions of goods, services, or expertise rather than cash. Unlike traditional monetary gifts, which provide financial flexibility, in-kind donations offer tangible resources that directly support a nonprofit’s programs or operations. These can range from donated office equipment and supplies to professional services, such as legal advice or transportation assistance.

For homeless shelters, in-kind donations are especially impactful because they address immediate, practical needs. Shelters require a steady supply of essentials such as clothing, food, bedding, and hygiene products to serve their residents effectively. Receiving these items directly from donors enables shelters to allocate their financial resources more effectively toward other critical areas, such as staffing, program development, and facility maintenance.

Moreover, in-kind donations can foster stronger community connections. When local businesses or corporations contribute goods or services, they become active partners in the shelter’s mission, enhancing visibility and community goodwill. This collaborative approach aligns with smarter fundraising strategies that emphasize maximizing impact through diverse revenue streams and resource sharing.

How In-Kind Donations Differ from Cash Gifts

While cash gifts provide flexibility, in-kind donations offer specificity. They ensure that shelters receive exactly what they need, often reducing the time and effort spent on procurement. However, managing in-kind gifts requires clear communication about needs, storage capacity, and distribution plans to avoid surplus or unusable items.

Why In-Kind Donations Matter for Homeless Shelters

Homeless shelters operate with tight budgets and high demand for essential items. In-kind donations help bridge the gap between limited funding and the comprehensive needs of residents. They also enable shelters to respond quickly to emergencies or seasonal demands, such as providing warm clothing in winter or additional bedding during cold snaps.

Aligning In-Kind Donations with Mission Impact

Strategically soliciting in-kind donations ensures that every gift contributes meaningfully to the shelter’s goals. By focusing on items and services that enhance program delivery and resident well-being, shelters can maximize the value of these contributions and build lasting partnerships with donors who share their visions.

Types of In-Kind Donations for Homeless Shelters

Homeless shelters benefit from a wide range of in-kind donations that support both daily operations and ongoing resident care. Below are some of the most valuable types of gifts, along with their tangible impact:

Clothes

Donated clothing is essential for residents who often arrive with few personal belongings. Items such as warm coats, socks, underwear, and seasonal apparel help residents maintain dignity and comfort. Clothes donations also reduce the shelter’s expenses and allow staff to focus resources elsewhere.

Toiletries

Personal hygiene products like soap, shampoo, toothpaste, and feminine hygiene items are critical for health and self-esteem. Many residents cannot afford these necessities, so in-kind donations ensure consistent availability and promote wellness.

Food

Non-perishable and fresh food donations help shelters provide nutritious meals without straining their budgets. Partnerships with grocery stores or food suppliers can supply staples and specialty items, supporting meal programs and reducing waste.

Bedding

Items such as blankets, pillows, sheets, and mattresses improve the quality of sleep and overall comfort for shelter residents. Bedding donations are especially important during colder months and can significantly enhance the living environment.

Furniture

Shelters often need furniture like beds, chairs, tables, and storage units to create safe, functional spaces. Donated furniture helps maintain a welcoming atmosphere and supports program activities such as counseling or job training.

Cleaning Products

Maintaining a clean and sanitary environment is vital for resident health and safety. Donations of disinfectants, detergents, mops, and other cleaning supplies help shelters uphold hygiene standards and comply with health regulations.

Professional Services

Beyond physical goods, services such as legal advice, transportation, medical care, and skilled volunteer work can greatly enhance shelter operations. These contributions often fill gaps that cash donations cannot cover directly.

Where Homeless Shelters Should Look for In-Kind Support

Identifying potential sources of in-kind donations requires strategic research and relationship-building. Homeless shelters should focus on companies and organizations whose corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives align with their mission and whose products or services meet shelter needs.

Local businesses engaged in community impact efforts are often eager to support shelters through donations or volunteerism. Additionally, partnerships with retailers, manufacturers, and service providers relevant to shelter operations can yield valuable in-kind gifts. Here are a few key examples:

Walmart

Walmart frequently donates clothing, food, and household essentials through its community giving programs. Their broad product range and national presence make them a strong partner for shelters seeking diverse in-kind support. Not to mention, Walmart’s commitment to fighting hunger and supporting families aligns well with homeless shelter missions.

Procter & Gamble

Procter & Gamble offers donations of toiletries and cleaning products, including trusted brands like Tide, Dawn, and Pampers. Their focus on health and hygiene complements shelter needs, helping residents maintain dignity and wellness.

Dove

Dove specializes in personal care products, including soap, lotion, shampoo, and more. Their product donations support hygiene programs and promote self-confidence among shelter residents, particularly women and children.

IKEA

IKEA is known for donating furniture and bedding items that help shelters create comfortable living spaces. Their affordable, functional designs make them an ideal partner for furnishing shelters and enhancing the resident quality of life.

Bed Bath & Beyond

Bed Bath & Beyond provides household goods, bedding, and cleaning supplies. Their in-kind donations help shelters maintain clean, safe environments and equip residents with essential home items as they transition to stable housing.

Whole Foods

Whole Foods often donates fresh and organic food items, supporting shelters’ efforts to provide nutritious meals. Their emphasis on healthy eating aligns with programs focused on resident wellness and recovery.

Ecolab

Ecolab supplies cleaning and sanitation products, helping shelters uphold rigorous hygiene standards. Their expertise in health and safety makes them a valuable partner for maintaining clean facilities.

How Homeless Shelters Should Make the In-Kind Donation Ask

Making a successful in-kind donation request requires a thoughtful, strategic approach. Building long-term relationships with corporate donors involves aligning the shelter’s needs with the company’s goals and making it easy for them to say yes.

Personalize Your Outreach

Research each company’s values and tailor your message to highlight shared goals. Mention any previous collaborations or relevant community initiatives to help build rapport.

Be Specific About Needs

Provide a clear list of desired items or services, explaining how each will support residents or operations. Specificity helps donors understand exactly how they can help.

Highlight Mutual Benefits

Communicate how the donation will enhance the company’s reputation, engage employees, or fulfill CSR objectives. Emphasize the positive community impact their support enables.

Offer Flexible Giving Options

Allow donors to choose from various ways to contribute, accommodating their resources and preferences. Flexibility increases the likelihood of securing support.

Make It Easy to Give

Provide all necessary details upfront, including contact information, delivery instructions, and timelines. Simplifying logistics encourages prompt and hassle-free donations.

Tools and Resources to Help Homeless Shelters Get Started

Using dedicated tools can significantly streamline the process of identifying and securing in-kind donations. Many companies have formal donation programs with application processes, but these opportunities are often scattered across websites and difficult to track manually.

Tools designed for nonprofit professionals help uncover company giving programs that align with a shelter’s mission, saving time and effort. They may even provide direct links to application forms, eligibility criteria, and contact information, enabling more efficient outreach and follow-up.

Double the Donation’s Corporate Giving Program Database

Double the Donation offers a top-tier solution for homeless shelters seeking in-kind donations. Their extensive and searchable database includes thousands of corporate giving programs, covering in-kind gifts, grants, and employee-directed workplace giving opportunities.

By leveraging this resource, nonprofit professionals can quickly identify companies with relevant donation programs, access application details, and manage their outreach efficiently. This data-driven approach empowers shelters to build meaningful partnerships and maximize the impact of in-kind support.

Wrapping Up & Additional Resources

Securing in-kind donations is a powerful strategy for homeless shelters to enhance their programs and better serve residents. By identifying specific needs, researching aligned corporate partners, and using strategic outreach methods, shelters can build sustainable support networks that reduce costs and increase impact.

Meanwhile, leveraging tools like Double the Donation’s corporate giving database further streamlines this process, helping organizations uncover opportunities and manage relationships efficiently. Taking these first steps empowers shelters to maximize the value of in-kind gifts and strengthen their mission-driven work.

Unlock More Support with Double the Donation

Corporate sponsorships and in-kind donations are critical to the success of nonprofit events and programs—but sourcing the right partners can be overwhelming. Luckily, Double the Donation streamlines the entire process, helping your team find, secure, and manage corporate support with ease. With our industry-leading corporate giving database, you can quickly identify companies that offer financial sponsorships, in-kind donations, and corporate grants—giving you a data-driven edge in building meaningful partnerships.

Raise more with corporate grants and in-kind gifts; request a demo today!

How Community Clinics Can Secure In-Kind Donations

How Community Clinics Can Secure In-Kind Donations

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Community clinics play a vital role in providing accessible healthcare services to underserved populations. These clinics often operate with limited budgets and rely heavily on donations to meet the needs of their patients. While cash donations are essential, in-kind donations can significantly enhance a clinic’s capacity to deliver quality care without straining financial resources.

However, understanding how to identify, request, and manage in-kind donations is crucial for nonprofit professionals working in community clinics. By leveraging strategic partnerships with corporations and local businesses, clinics can build sustainable support networks that amplify their impact. This article explores practical approaches to securing in-kind donations tailored specifically to the unique needs of community clinics.

Table of Contents

  • What Are In-Kind Donations for Community Clinics?
  • Types of In-Kind Donations for Community Clinics
  • Where Community Clinics Should Look for In-Kind Support
  • How Community Clinics Should Make the In-Kind Donation Ask
  • Tools and Resources to Help Community Clinics Get Started

What Are In-Kind Donations for Community Clinics?

In-kind donations are contributions of goods, services, or resources, rather than monetary contributions. Unlike traditional cash gifts, which provide financial flexibility, in-kind donations offer tangible items or professional services that directly support an organization’s operations or programs. These donations can include a wide range of items, from office equipment and supplies to specialized expertise or volunteer time.

Across the nonprofit sector, in-kind donations serve as a valuable complement to monetary gifts. They help organizations stretch their budgets by offsetting costs that would otherwise require cash outlays. For community clinics, which often face tight funding constraints, in-kind donations can be especially impactful by providing essential medical and operational resources.

Community clinics benefit uniquely from in-kind donations because their work depends heavily on specific supplies and equipment. Medical supplies, pharmaceuticals, vaccines, and sanitation products are critical to patient care and safety.

By securing in-kind donations, community clinics can focus more resources on expanding services and reaching more patients. These donations reduce overhead costs and enable clinics to maintain high standards of care. For nonprofit professionals, understanding the strategic value of in-kind gifts is key to maximizing fundraising success and advancing the clinic’s mission.

Defining In-Kind Donations

In-kind donations encompass a broad range of non-monetary gifts. They can be physical items like medical equipment or consumables, or services such as legal advice, marketing support, or transportation. Unlike cash donations, these gifts require careful coordination to ensure they meet the organization’s needs and can be effectively utilized.

Why In-Kind Donations Matter for Community Clinics

Community clinics operate in environments where every dollar counts. In-kind donations help fill critical gaps by providing resources that might otherwise be unaffordable. For example, donated pharmaceuticals and vaccines ensure patients receive necessary treatments without the clinic bearing the full cost. Similarly, donated cleaning and sanitation supplies maintain a safe environment for both patients and staff.

Types of In-Kind Donations for Community Clinics

Community clinics can benefit from a diverse array of in-kind donations that support both clinical services and administrative functions. Below are some of the most valuable types of in-kind gifts tailored to this nonprofit vertical.

Medical Supplies

Donations of medical supplies such as gloves, syringes, bandages, and diagnostic tools are essential for daily clinic operations. These items enable healthcare providers to deliver safe and effective care while controlling costs. Luckily, many companies specialize in donating high-quality medical supplies that meet regulatory standards.

Pharmaceuticals & Vaccines

Access to donated pharmaceuticals and vaccines can dramatically improve patient outcomes by ensuring timely treatment and prevention. Pharmaceutical companies often have programs to provide medications and vaccines to community health organizations, helping clinics serve vulnerable populations.

Furniture and Office Supplies

Functional furniture like exam tables, chairs, desks, and filing cabinets creates a comfortable and organized environment for patients and staff. Office supplies, including paper, printers, and stationery, support administrative tasks that keep the clinic running smoothly. Such in-kind donations from companies can help clinics maintain a professional and efficient workspace.

Cleaning & Sanitation Products

Maintaining a clean and hygienic clinic environment is critical for infection control. Donations of cleaning agents, disinfectants, and sanitation equipment help clinics uphold health and safety standards without incurring additional expenses.

Food and Nutrition Support

Some community clinics provide nutritional support or food assistance to patients facing food insecurity. Donations from local food providers can supplement these programs, improving patient health outcomes and community well-being.

Technology and Software

Technology donations, including computers, software licenses, and telehealth platforms, enhance clinic efficiency and patient engagement. Many companies even offer technology grants and software donations that enable clinics to modernize their operations and expand virtual care capabilities.

Transportation Assistance

Transportation services or vouchers help patients overcome barriers to accessing care. Donations of transportation assistance, whether through partnerships with local transit providers or ride-share companies, can increase appointment adherence and improve health outcomes.

Where Community Clinics Should Look for In-Kind Support

Identifying the right sources for in-kind donations requires strategic research and relationship-building. For the best results, community clinics should focus on companies whose corporate social responsibility initiatives align with healthcare access, community well-being, and public health.

Below are some companies known for their in-kind donation programs that align well with the needs of community clinics like yours.

Medline

Medline is a leading supplier of medical products and frequently donates medical supplies and equipment to community health organizations. Their support helps clinics maintain essential inventory and improve patient care quality. Medline’s commitment to healthcare access makes them a natural partner for community clinics.

GE Healthcare

GE Healthcare provides advanced medical technology and equipment donations. Their in-kind support can include diagnostic machines and imaging devices, which are critical for clinics expanding their service offerings.

Pfizer

Pfizer’s pharmaceutical donation programs provide medications and vaccines to underserved populations. Their in-kind support directly addresses patient treatment needs and public health priorities, making the company a key partner for community clinics.

Johnson & Johnson

Johnson & Johnson supports community health through donations of medical products and health education resources. Their broad portfolio of healthcare goods aligns with clinics’ efforts to deliver comprehensive care.

Microsoft

Microsoft offers technology grants and software donations that help clinics improve administrative functions and telehealth services. Their support enables clinics to leverage digital tools for better patient management and outreach.

Clorox

Clorox donates cleaning and sanitation products essential for maintaining safe clinic environments. Their support ensures clinics can uphold hygiene standards critical to patient and staff safety.

How Community Clinics Should Make the In-Kind Donation Ask

Making a successful in-kind donation request requires a thoughtful and strategic approach. Building long-term relationships with corporate donors is essential, as is aligning the clinic’s needs with the company’s mission and giving priorities. A well-crafted ask makes it easy for businesses to say yes and fosters ongoing support.

Personalize Your Outreach

Research the prospective donor’s CSR goals and tailor your message to highlight shared values. Reference any previous support or relevant initiatives to build rapport.

Be Clear and Specific

Specify the exact items or services needed and explain how they will support patient care or clinic operations. Concrete requests are easier for companies to evaluate and fulfill.

Highlight Mutual Benefits

Communicate how the donation will enhance the company’s reputation and community presence. Emphasize opportunities for employee involvement or recognition.

Offer Flexible Giving Options

Allow donors to choose from a range of giving methods to suit their resources and preferences. Flexibility increases the likelihood of securing support.

Facilitate Easy Follow-Through

Provide all necessary logistical details upfront, including shipping addresses, deadlines, and contact information. This clarity streamlines the donation process.

Tools and Resources to Help Community Clinics Get Started

Securing in-kind donations can be a complex and time-consuming process without the right tools. Luckily, dedicated platforms like Double the Donation help nonprofit professionals streamline research and outreach efforts by consolidating information about corporate giving programs.

Many companies offer in-kind donation opportunities through formal programs with specific eligibility criteria and application processes. However, these opportunities are often scattered across multiple websites and are difficult to track manually. Using a centralized tool saves time and increases the chances of finding the best matches.

Double the Donation’s corporate giving database provides community clinics with access to thousands of verified programs, including in-kind donations, grants, and workplace giving initiatives. This resource helps organizations uncover companies aligned with their mission, access application links, and organize outreach efforts efficiently.

By leveraging such tools, community clinics can expand their network of potential in-kind partners, improve fundraising outcomes, and focus more on delivering impactful healthcare services.

Wrapping Up & Additional Resources

Securing in-kind donations is a powerful strategy for community clinics to enhance their capacity and extend their reach. By clearly identifying needs, researching aligned corporate partners, and making thoughtful donation requests, clinics can build sustainable support networks that reduce costs and improve patient care.

Utilizing tools like Double the Donation’s corporate giving database streamlines the process, helping clinics uncover new opportunities and manage outreach effectively. Taking these first steps empowers community clinics to maximize the impact of in-kind gifts and advance their mission of providing accessible, quality healthcare to those who need it most.

Unlock More Support with Double the Donation

Corporate sponsorships and in-kind donations are critical to the success of nonprofit events and programs, but sourcing the right partners can be time-consuming and overwhelming. Luckily, Double the Donation streamlines the entire process, helping your team find, secure, and manage corporate support with ease.

With our industry-leading corporate giving database, you can quickly identify companies that offer financial sponsorships, in-kind donations, and corporate grants, providing you with a data-driven edge in building meaningful partnerships. Raise more with corporate grants and in-kind gifts; get a demo today!

Asking for Employer Info vs. Using Employer Appends: What to Know

Asking for Employer Info vs. Using Appends: What to Know

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Employment information is a valuable asset in nonprofit fundraising. It can help identify matching gift opportunities, uncover potential corporate partners, and personalize donor outreach. But how should your organization go about collecting this data? That’s where the question of asking for employer info vs. using appends comes in.

In other words, should you rely on donors to self-report where they work, or use a data append service to fill in the blanks?

Each method has its benefits and limitations, and understanding these differences is crucial for building a strong, complete, and accurate donor database. In this post, we’ll break down what nonprofits should know about both approaches and how to decide which is right for your organization. Specifically, we’ll cover:

Whether you’re just starting to collect employment data or are looking to refine your current approach, this guide will help you weigh your options and make informed decisions about how you do so.

By understanding how to gather and use this information effectively, your nonprofit can unlock new opportunities for engagement, funding, and long-term donor relationships. Let’s dive in!

The value of employer info in nonprofit fundraising

Understanding where your donors work is more than a data point; it’s a strategic advantage. Employer information opens the door to a range of fundraising opportunities that can significantly amplify donor impact and deepen engagement.

After all, tons of companies offer employee-led giving programs. When you know where your supporters work, you can easily determine if they qualify for these programs and configure targeted next steps accordingly.

Here are just a few of the opportunities that employment information can help uncover:

  • Matching Gifts: Many companies match donations their employees make to nonprofits, often doubling or even tripling the original gift. Knowing a donor’s employer helps identify matching gift eligibility and streamline follow-up accordingly.
  • Volunteer Incentives: Some employers offer monetary grants or other incentives in exchange for volunteer hours logged by their employees. Capturing employer info allows you to promote these volunteer programs to the right supporters.
  • Payroll Giving: Payroll giving programs enable employees to donate directly from their paychecks. Identifying where a supporter works enables you to guide them toward these convenient giving options.
  • In-Kind Support and Sponsorships: Employer data can reveal connections to businesses that may offer non-cash support, such as products, services, or corporate sponsorships.
  • Targeted Engagement: With accurate employer information, you can personalize outreach and suggest relevant corporate giving options, maximizing impact for both your organization and your supporters.

In short, employer information helps nonprofits move from one-size-fits-all fundraising to smarter, more strategic engagement. The more you know about where your donors work, the better positioned you are to connect their personal giving to broader opportunities through their employer.

Method #1: Asking for employer info directly

One of the most straightforward and effective ways to gather employment data is to ask donors directly. This method relies on self-reporting, or inviting donors to share their employer information at specific points in their journey with your organization.

What it means:

Asking for employer info directly means including a field in your donation form, event registration, volunteer sign-up, or post-gift follow-up where donors can share where they work. This approach is entirely opt-in and allows you to gather current, self-reported data straight from the source.

Collecting employment information directly from donors

Pros:

  • High Accuracy: Because the data comes directly from the donor, it’s more likely to be correct and up to date. Asking each time an individual engages with your cause reduces the odds of the information going stale, too.
  • Opportunities to Connect Supporters to Next Steps: When you ask donors where they work during or immediately after a donation, it’s easier to connect them to the next opportunity, like submitting a matching gift or volunteer grant request.
  • Gets Individuals Thinking About Eligibility As They Give: The point of donation is often the height of supporter engagement. Requesting employment info at this time gets donors and other supporters thinking about their eligibility as they give, which can even function as a generosity motivator or giving catalyst.

Cons:

  • Gaps in Completion: Donors may skip optional form fields, especially during a streamlined donation or registration process, while others may opt to give offline. This would leave your organization with blank lines in your database, unless you had a backup method in place for collecting this information.

Best practices for success:

  • Make It Optional and Simple: Keep the question brief. For example, consider an additional form field asking “Where do you work?”—and don’t require the information to complete a transaction.
  • Explain the Why: Let donors know why you’re asking by providing context around the form. A simple note like “Your employer may match your gift and increase your impact” encourages participation.
  • Include It Strategically: Add the field to donation forms, confirmation pages, volunteer registrations, and thank-you emails where engagement is already high. It’s easy to do with Double the Donation’s integration options!
  • Follow Up: If the employer field is left blank, consider a polite follow-up email asking for the information and explaining the benefits to both the donor and your mission.
  • Use the Data Promptly: If you collect employer info, make sure it’s tied to direct action, like checking for match eligibility or tracking corporate volunteer hours.

💡 Key Takeaway: Asking for employer information directly can be a highly effective way to gather accurate data and engage donors more deeply. This is especially true when paired with a clear purpose and thoughtful timing.

Asking for Employer Info vs. Using Employer Appends: Getting Started With Double the Donation

Method #2: Utilizing employer appends and employer data enrichment

When donor records lack employment information, a data append can help fill in the blanks at scale. This method uses external databases to match donor records with publicly available or proprietary employment data, giving your organization a broader view of where your supporters work.

What it means:

An employer append essentially involves sending a list of donor names, email addresses, and other identifying details to a trusted data provider. The provider then returns employment information for matched records, typically including company name, industry, and even workplace giving eligibility and next steps. This process can enrich your CRM without requiring any action from the donor.

Collecting donor information through an employer append

Pros:

  • Efficient and Scalable: Append hundreds or thousands of donor records in a single batch, saving time and manual effort while scaling up the information available to you.
  • Fills in Gaps: Even with a robust data-collection strategy, you’re not likely to have employment data for every individual in your supporter base. An employer append is perfect for uncovering employer information in legacy data, unresponsive donors, or those who skip form fields.
  • Revenue-Driving Potential: Appending helps connect supporters to their workplace giving programs quickly, leading to more matching gifts, volunteer grant opportunities, and stronger corporate partnership leads.
  • No Disruption to the Donor Journey: Because this method functions entirely behind the scenes, there’s no negative impact on the donor experience or giving flow.

Cons:

  • Potential for Inaccuracy: Matches are based on probability and third-party sources, which can occasionally return outdated or incorrect data.
  • Cost: Most employer append services charge based on volume or subscription, making it a significant investment you’ll need to plan for.

Best practices for success:

  • Start with Clean Data: Ensure your existing donor records (i.e., names, emails, addresses) are accurate and up to date before submitting them for an append.
  • Use a Trusted Provider: Work with a reputable vendor that specializes in nonprofit employment data and can deliver high-confidence matches.
  • Validate Where Possible: If a donor responds or updates their info later, compare it to appended results and adjust the results accordingly.
  • Combine with Workplace Giving Tools: Integrate your new employment data with workplace giving software to automatically prompt eligible supporters with next steps following the donation or volunteer registration flow.
  • Refresh Regularly: Employment changes over time. Consider appending your file annually or semi-annually to keep your data fresh and relevant.

💡 Key Takeaway: Utilizing employer appends allows nonprofits to dramatically expand their understanding of who their donors are without relying solely on self-reported information. When done strategically, it can accelerate your workplace giving efforts and turn hidden data into new revenue opportunities.

Asking for Employer Info vs. Using Employer Appends: Getting Started With Double the Donation

Method #3: Taking a combined approach

The most effective strategy for collecting employment data often isn’t choosing between asking supporters or using appends; it’s combining both. By blending direct collection with employer appends, your nonprofit can build a more complete, accurate, and actionable database while maximizing both reach and reliability.

What it means:

A combined approach involves collecting employer information directly from donors through forms, surveys, and follow-ups, while also running periodic employer appends to fill in the blanks or update existing records. This method leverages the strengths of both strategies and minimizes their individual limitations.

For example, you might collect employer info on your donation forms and then run an append on all records that remain blank, or use appends to verify and enrich self-reported data over time.

Pros:

  • Maximum Coverage: You get the best of both worlds: accurate self-reported data and a broader reach through appends. As your database grows, a combined approach ensures new and existing records remain as up-to-date and complete as possible.
  • Stronger Personalization and Segmentation: With more complete data, you can confidently tailor outreach, identify corporate giving opportunities, and create targeted campaigns.
  • Increased Workplace Giving Revenue: More employment data means more potential matches and grants identified, and more donors ultimately connected to workplace giving programs.

Cons:

  • More Complex to Manage: Running both processes requires careful coordination, particular workflows, and detailed attention to data hygiene.
  • Costs Still Apply: Append services still require a budget, and collecting directly can demand time and resources for training, communication, and follow-up.
  • Duplicate or Conflicting Data: You may encounter discrepancies between self-reported info and appended data, requiring validation and thoughtful resolution.

Best practices for success:

  • Create a Data Workflow: Establish clear processes for collecting, appending, validating, and updating employment information across your database.
  • Segment Your Data: Keep track of how employer data was collected (self-reported vs. appended) and treat each group accordingly when testing campaigns or messaging.
  • Prioritize Data Accuracy: When there’s a conflict, favor donor-reported data unless you have a compelling reason to override it. Always aim to confirm before acting.
  • Use Clear Messaging: When asking for employer info, explain how it helps increase impact (e.g., uncovering matching gifts or volunteer grants) to encourage more donors to participate.
  • Schedule Regular Updates: Use append services on a regular basis to keep your records current, especially as employment status frequently changes.

💡 Key Takeaway: By combining direct collection and employer appends, your nonprofit can establish a smarter, more reliable approach to employment data. It’s a strategy that balances donor engagement with data scale, giving you the tools to increase revenue, deepen relationships, and tap into the full potential of workplace giving.

Integrating employment data into your fundraising strategy

Collecting employment data is only valuable if you use it. That’s why the most effective nonprofits treat this information as a core part of their fundraising strategy.

When integrated thoughtfully, employer information can inform everything from campaign planning to workplace giving outreach and corporate partnership development.

Here’s how to make employment data work for your fundraising goals:

1. Identify and Promote Workplace Giving Opportunities

Once you know where a supporter works, you can check if their employer offers a matching gift, volunteer grant, or payroll giving program. From there, you can use this information to trigger workplace giving marketing efforts: personalize follow-up emails, include employer-specific instructions, and make it easy for donors to complete the process of getting involved, ultimately increasing the impact of every gift.

2. Strengthen Corporate Relationships

If multiple donors or volunteers work for the same company, that can be a natural lead-in for broader partnership opportunities. Use this data to approach businesses for event sponsorships, in-kind donations, team volunteer days, or dedicated workplace giving campaigns, backed by the fact that their employees already support your mission.

3. Enhance Stewardship and Donor Experiences

When you receive third-party disbursements, like matching gifts or volunteer grants, it’s a valuable opportunity to thank donors and reinforce your appreciation. Having employment data on hand allows you to follow up promptly and personally, recognizing both their direct and facilitated support.

Mentioning a donor’s employer in thank-you messages or impact reports (when appropriate) shows you’re paying attention and actively working to maximize their impact. This thoughtful, personalized stewardship builds trust, deepens loyalty, and improves the donor experience over time.

Integrating employment data into your stewardship strategy isn’t about adding complexity. It’s about working smarter with insights you likely already have (or can easily collect). When used well, employer information becomes more than just a database field; it’s a powerful tool to drive engagement, gratitude, and lasting impact.

Wrapping up & additional resources

When it comes to collecting employment data, both methods have value, and often, the best strategy combines them. Here’s what it comes down to: asking for employer info vs. using appends isn’t necessarily an either/or decision. Instead, it’s about understanding how each approach fits into your broader data and fundraising goals.

Directly asking donors provides accurate, relationship-building insights, while employer appends can efficiently fill in gaps and scale your outreach. By leveraging both, your nonprofit can build a more complete picture of your donor base and turn workplace connections into meaningful opportunities for engagement, giving, and growth.

Interested in learning more about how supporter employer information can benefit your organization? Check out these additional resources:

Asking for Employer Info vs. Using Employer Appends: You can do both with Double the Donation!

Is an Employer Append Right for Your Nonprofit How to Know

Is an Employer Append Right for Your Nonprofit? How to Know

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If your donor database is missing key employment information, you might be wondering: Is an employer append right for your nonprofit?

Employer appends, or the process of enhancing donor records by filling in employment data, can unlock new opportunities for improved workplace giving efforts, better segmentation, and deepened corporate partnerships. But like any data investment, it’s important to weigh the benefits against your organization’s readiness and goals.

In this post, we’ll walk through the pros, cons, and key inquiries that can help you decide whether this strategy is a smart next step for your fundraising efforts.

Specifically, we invite you to ask yourself (or your team) the following questions:

If you answered “yes” to most (or all) of the above, an employer append might be a strategic next step. Now, let’s take a deeper dive into each key question.

Is an employer append right for your nonprofit? Consider whether you have a high volume of individual gifts.

Do you receive a high volume of individual gifts?

YES: One of the clearest indicators that an employer append might be a wise investment is the volume of individual donations your organization receives. If a significant portion of your fundraising comes from individual donors—especially in the form of small to mid-sized gifts—you likely have untapped potential for employer matching and corporate engagement.

Why does volume matter? Because even if just 20–30% of your individual donors are eligible for matching gifts through their employers, that could represent thousands of dollars in additional revenue you’re currently missing.

NO: By contrast, if your funding is primarily made up of grants, major gifts, or government contracts, an employer append may not deliver the same return. In those cases, employment data may be less relevant to your core fundraising strategy.

So, if you’re regularly processing hundreds or thousands of individual gifts each year, it might be worth it to consider an append. In other words, the higher your individual donor volume, the stronger the case for appending employer data.

Is an employer append right for your nonprofit? Consider whether you have a lot of missing employment data.

Are you missing employment information in your database?

YES: Before you can take advantage of matching gifts or other workplace giving campaigns, you need one essential piece of data: where your supporters work. If your CRM is filled with blank employer fields, that’s a clear sign that an employer append could be beneficial.

Appending employer data helps fill these gaps efficiently, especially for organizations with a large donor base and limited staff capacity. Even if only a portion of your records can be matched, it’s often enough to uncover significant corporate giving potential and segment communications more effectively.

NO: On the other hand, perhaps you collect employer information consistently, whether through your donation forms, volunteer registrations, follow-up emails, or other supporter onboarding efforts⁠—and don’t have many gaps in your donor base. In that case, you may already have a strong foundation in place.

In other words, if the employer field in your database is mostly complete and kept up to date, an employer append may not deliver as much added value. If so, your resources might be better spent on activating the employer data you already have through targeted matching gift outreach or broader workplace giving campaigns.

Is an employer append right for your nonprofit? Consider whether you have a considerable volunteer base.

Does your organization have many volunteers?

YES: Volunteers often give more than just their time—they can also open the door to valuable funding opportunities, especially if you know where they work. If your organization relies heavily on volunteer support but lacks employment information for those individuals, you could be missing out on corporate volunteer grants and Volunteer Time Off (VTO) programs.

After all, many companies offer financial donations in recognition of their employees’ volunteer hours. Others provide paid VTO, encouraging employees to give back during work hours at approved nonprofit partners. But you can’t take advantage of these programs if you don’t know where your volunteers are employed.

An employer append can help fill in those missing details. Plus, it allows you to follow up with volunteers about corporate giving opportunities tied to their time. Even if only a portion of volunteers qualify, the combined value of grants and engagement can make a meaningful impact. If volunteers are a core part of your community, enhancing your data with employer information is a strategic next step.

NO: If your organization doesn’t rely heavily on volunteers—or volunteer engagement makes up a very small portion of your operations—then an employer append for volunteer records may not deliver significant value. In this case, your time and resources might be better spent optimizing donor data or focusing on other segments of your supporter base, such as recurring givers or event participants.

However, if volunteer involvement grows, revisiting this opportunity could unlock new sources of funding and corporate engagement in the future.

Is an employer append right for your nonprofit? Consider whether you have the resources to prioritize workplace giving.

Is your team ready to prioritize workplace giving?

YES: If your team already sees workplace giving as a strategic priority, an employer append can significantly enhance your efforts. However, adding employment data to your records is only valuable if your team has the resources to act on it. That means following up on workplace giving opportunities, running targeted campaigns, and having someone focused on corporate outreach or stewardship.

When workplace giving is embraced organization-wide, you unlock greater ROI and longer-lasting corporate partnerships. If your team is aligned, resourced, and ready to collaborate around workplace giving, an employer append can serve as the catalyst for smarter outreach and greater impact.

NO: If workplace giving hasn’t yet become a focus—or your team lacks the time, tech, or clarity to act on employer data—it may be worth holding off on an employer append until you’re better prepared. Without a clear plan to integrate employment data into your campaigns, stewardship efforts, or corporate outreach, the data may go unused and offer limited returns on your investment.

Instead, consider starting small. Develop a workplace giving strategy, assign ownership of workplace giving-related tasks, and ensure your team is equipped with program knowledge. Keep in mind that prioritizing workplace giving doesn’t need to be difficult, either, especially when your team is equipped with the right tools, as many teams are already stretched thin. Once you’re aligned on prioritizing workplace giving, you’ll be in a stronger position to turn employer data into meaningful results. At that point, an employer append can be a high-impact next step.

Is an employer append right for your nonprofit? Consider whether you have the right tech in place to support one.

Do you have the right tools in place to support your efforts?

YES: If your organization already has strong tech infrastructure, like a modern CRM, mobile-friendly donation forms, and a workplace giving automation platform, you’re in a great position to act on the insights gained from an employer append. These tools allow you to leverage employer data, uncover employee giving eligibility, and send targeted follow-ups based on employment data.

Beyond basic functionality, think about how your tools help connect supporters to their next steps. Is your matching gift tool connected to your giving forms and CRM to enable targeted outreach? Is your corporate volunteering solution integrated with your VMS to provide seamless information and tailored program instructions?

If your systems support those experiences, you’re well-positioned to maximize the value of appended data and drive meaningful action.

NO: If your organization is still working with outdated systems, manual spreadsheets, or donation forms that don’t support employer-related functionality, an employer append might not yield strong results—at least not yet.

Without the right tools to store, track, and act on employment data, much of that insight may go unused. In this case, focus first on upgrading your tech stack. Prioritize a donor management system that allows for custom fields and segmentation. Plus, explore integrations that support matching gifts and workplace giving platforms.

When your tools are ready to handle and act on employer data, you’ll be able to extract real value from an append, boosting engagement, unlocking corporate funding, and streamlining supporter journeys.

Wrapping up & additional employer append resources

Employer appends are a powerful tool for nonprofits looking to deepen donor insights and tap into underutilized corporate giving opportunities. But they aren’t a one-size-fits-all solution. Evaluate your data quality, fundraising strategy, and capacity to act on new information and make a clear, informed decision about whether it’s the right fit.

If you’ve answered “yes” to many of the readiness questions shared above, your organization may be well-positioned to benefit from this next-level data enhancement.

Interested in learning more about employer appends and how your organization can benefit from them? Check out the additional recommended resources below:

How Employer Appending Completes Your Workplace Giving Donor Profiles

How Employer Appending Completes Your Workplace Giving Donor Profiles

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When it comes to equipping your team with enhanced workplace giving donor profiles, accurate and complete donor data isn’t just helpful—it’s essential. One of the most overlooked yet powerful pieces of information in your donor database is employer data. After all, knowing where your supporters work can unlock corporate matching gifts, boost campaign targeting, and significantly increase giving potential.

But what happens when this information is missing? That’s where employer appending comes in. This process helps nonprofits fill in the blanks, matching donors with their employers to build more complete, actionable profiles.

In this post, we’ll explore how employer appending works and why it’s a game-changer for enhancing your workplace giving strategy. We’ll cover:

Accurate employer data can be the missing link between a good fundraising program and a great one. In the sections ahead, we’ll show you how employer appending strengthens workplace giving donor profiles and empowers your team to make more informed, strategic outreach decisions.

Why do donor profiles matter for workplace giving?

Workplace giving programs thrive on strong engagement, and comprehensive donor profiles are what make that engagement possible. After all, a well-crafted donor profile is more than just a name and email address. It’s a collection of key data points that help your organization understand who your supporters are, how they prefer to give, and even what engagement opportunities are available to them. This information is especially critical when it comes to unlocking the full potential of workplace giving.

Why? One of the most valuable—but often missing—data points in a donor profile is an individual’s employer. And without it, you may be leaving thousands of dollars in matching gifts or volunteer grants unclaimed. However, simply knowing where a donor works allows you to identify their eligibility for corporate giving programs, tailor outreach messages, and segment communications based on employer partnerships or matching opportunities.

Use our appends services to complete your workplace giving donor profiles.

In short, complete and accurate workplace giving donor profiles enable your team to:

  • Identify workplace giving opportunities like matching gifts, volunteer grants, and payroll giving programs more efficiently
  • Increase participation rates by targeting eligible supporters with tailored engagement information
  • Strengthen corporate relationships by demonstrating shared support and rallying donors to advocate on your behalf
  • Enhance personalization in your appeals and stewardship efforts, demonstrating a deep knowledge of your supporter base

The more you know about your donors—including their employing companies—the more strategic and successful your workplace giving campaigns will be. That’s why maintaining complete profiles isn’t just helpful; it’s mission-critical.

How does appending employer data help?

Appending employer data is a strategic way to strengthen your donor database by filling in one of its most valuable gaps: where your supporters work. This process utilizes extensive third-party data sources to match your donors with their likely employers, based on identifying details such as name, email, or postal address.

The result? Richer, more actionable workplace giving donor profiles that drive greater fundraising impact.

Here’s how employer appending specifically helps your nonprofit:

  • It Uncovers Employee Giving Opportunities: Many companies offer employee giving programs, but if you don’t know where your donors work, you can’t alert them to these opportunities. Appending employer data allows you to proactively identify eligible donors and guide them through the participation process.
  • It Improves Campaign Segmentation and Personalization: With employer data on hand, you can tailor your messaging to resonate with specific workplace audiences or corporate partners. For example, consider sending targeted emails to employees of a company running a giving campaign or creating custom donation appeals aligned with that employer’s CSR priorities.
  • It Fills Data Gaps and Keeps Records Current: Donor records can become outdated quickly, especially if employment changes aren’t captured regularly. Appending services help refresh your data, ensuring your team has the most accurate and complete information to work with.
  • It Strengthens Corporate Partnership Opportunities: When you know which companies your donors work for, you gain insight into potential corporate sponsors or partners. This data can help you identify shared connections and demonstrate employee engagement when approaching companies for in-kind donations, sponsorships, grants, or expanded giving initiatives.

In short, employer appending transforms donor records from passive assets into strategic fundraising tools. By providing you with the employer-focused insights you need, it powers more innovative outreach, better workplace giving outcomes, and stronger donor relationships.

Getting started with employer appends for workplace giving

Employer appending can open new doors for workplace giving. Still, like any data-driven initiative, it works best with thoughtful preparation and execution. The process is relatively straightforward, but taking the proper steps up front will ensure you get the most value out of your appended data.

Below is a step-by-step guide to help your nonprofit get started the right way.

Usig appends to complete your workplace giving donor profiles.

1. Assess the Quality of Your Existing Data

Before you begin the appending process, take time to review and clean your current donor database. After all, the success of an employer append depends heavily on the quality of the data you provide. If your records contain outdated contact information, misspellings, duplicate entries, or inconsistent formats, your match rate will likely suffer.

Key actions to take at this step include:

  • Removing duplicate records.
  • Standardizing naming conventions (e.g., using full names instead of initials).
  • Verifying email addresses and mailing addresses.
  • Filling in missing fields where possible.

Well-organized donor information not only improves your append results but also helps downstream fundraising and communications efforts. It’s great to start the process with fresh, clean data in order to drive the best results overall.

2. Choose a Trusted Data Append Provider

As it comes to data appending, selecting the right partner for your efforts is crucial. This enables you to avoid common employer appending mistakes and maximize the accuracy, relevance, and long-term value of your workplace giving donor profiles.

For the best results, a reliable append service should use verified and frequently updated employment databases, offer transparent match methodologies, and ensure overall data accuracy and integrity.

What to look for:

  • Experience working with nonprofits and schools.
  • High match rates and data accuracy guarantees.
  • Clear pricing structure—such as flat fee vs. per-match pricing.
  • Strong security and confidentiality policies.
  • Detailed workplace giving eligibility insights and next steps.

When selecting the right employer appends service, keep in mind that the more actionable the information they provide, the more you’ll be able to do with it for your cause.

3. Define Your Goals and Use Cases

Before diving into the appending process, be sure to clarify why you want to append employer data. The more specific your goals, the easier it will be to measure success and apply the new data effectively.

Common use cases include:

  • Identifying and targeting donors eligible for corporate matching gifts.
  • Uncovering volunteers who qualify for corporate volunteer incentives.
  • Triggering communications to employees of specific companies.
  • Discovering potential corporate sponsorship or grant opportunities.

All in all, realizing your goals will also help you prioritize which data fields matter most (company name, job title, industry, location, workplace giving eligibility, etc.), allowing you to adjust your appends process accordingly.

4. Upload and Append Your Donor Records

At this point in the process, it’s time to submit your file to your selected appends provider. Most services accept CSV or Excel files and require only a few basic fields—commonly donor name, email, mailing address, or phone number—for matching purposes.

Here are some tips for a smoother upload:

  • Include as many identifiers as possible to increase the accuracy of matches.
  • Make sure your data is formatted according to the provider’s guidelines.
  • Label fields clearly (e.g., “First Name,” “Last Name,” “Email Address,” etc.).

Once you upload your data file, you’ve done your part! While turnaround times can vary, most providers will return results within a few days to a week.

5. Integrate and Act on the Data

Once your results come back, don’t let the data sit unused. Look for ways to use the appended employer information alongside your workplace giving platform—like Double the Donation—to identify matching gift opportunities, trigger outreach, or prioritize volunteer grant follow-up. The goal is to make the data actionable, fueling segmentation, outreach, and campaigns tied to employer-based giving.

Examples of how to use appended data:

  • Send a custom email to donors at companies that offer matching gifts, linking them to their employer’s submission form.
  • Create segmented content for existing volunteers who work at companies with volunteer incentive programs, encouraging them to tap into their workplace benefits.
  • Organize a payroll giving drive, where you encourage eligible employees to enroll in their companies’ payroll giving programs on your behalf.
  • Encourage a supporter who works at a company with an in-kind donation or grant program to advocate for your organization as a potential recipient.
  • At the very least, make sure your team understands how to use the new data and update relevant workflows accordingly.

6. Keep It Fresh

Employment data changes frequently—people change jobs, companies merge, and positions shift. To maintain accuracy, plan to run employer appends on a regular basis (every 6 to 12 months is typical).

Check out these tips for ongoing data hygiene:

  • Schedule regular audits and data refreshes.
  • Encourage supporters to update their employment info on donation forms, volunteer registrations, or email follow-ups.
  • Track employer engagement metrics to inform future corporate outreach.

Keeping your workplace giving donor profiles up to date ensures that your campaigns remain relevant and your workplace giving outreach is as effective as possible.

By following these steps, you’ll be well on your way to building a more powerful, data-enriched fundraising program. With stronger employer insights, your team can unlock new corporate giving opportunities, personalize workplace giving outreach, and ultimately raise more for your mission.

Wrapping up & additional workplace giving appends resources

A strong workplace giving program starts with strong donor data. Luckily, employer appending offers nonprofits a smart, efficient way to enrich donor profiles, uncover new workplace giving opportunities, and create increasingly personalized outreach. By simply identifying where your donors work, you can gain valuable insights that fuel deeper engagement and facilitate fundraising success.

If you’re looking to maximize your workplace giving efforts, employer appending is a strategic step you can’t afford to skip. Now is the time to take a closer look at your donor records—and fill in the missing pieces that could make all the difference.

Interested in learning more about employer appends and their impact on workplace giving? Check out the additional resources below:

Steps to Market Workplace Giving on Your Nonprofit Website

5 Steps to Market Workplace Giving on Your Nonprofit Website

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Workplace giving is one of the most overlooked revenue opportunities in nonprofit fundraising—but it doesn’t have to be. Every year, billions of dollars in corporate funds go unclaimed simply because eligible donors are unaware that their employers offer these programs. The good news? Your nonprofit website is one of the most effective tools you have to market workplace giving and help close that gap.

By strategically promoting workplace giving online, you can raise awareness, educate supporters, and make it easy for them to multiply the impact of their donations. Whether you’re new to workplace giving or looking to increase participation, these five steps will show you how to turn your website into a powerful driver of matched gifts, volunteer grants, and payroll giving support:

Marketing workplace giving on a nonprofit website is essential for maximizing contributions and fostering a culture of philanthropy. By effectively communicating the opportunities for workplace giving, organizations can engage supporters and encourage them to participate in these valuable programs.

Let’s get started with our first marketing tip!

Step #1: Add workplace giving to your ‘Ways to Give’ page.

The ‘Ways to Give’ page is often one of the most visited sections of a nonprofit’s website. This makes it a prime location to introduce workplace giving options. By including a dedicated section for workplace or employee giving, organizations can highlight the various ways employees can contribute through their employing companies.

In this section, it’s great to provide a brief overview of what workplace giving entails. This could include information about matching gifts, payroll deductions, and volunteer incentives. Clear and concise language will help potential donors understand how they can participate and the impact their contributions can make.

This page from the Chesapeake Bay Foundation puts those elements into action with its Ways to Give page, demonstrating the various ways employees and companies can get involved with their efforts:

Market workplace giving on your nonprofit website like this example

Additionally, consider using engaging visuals, such as infographics or icons, to illustrate the benefits of workplace giving. This can help capture the attention of visitors and encourage them to explore further.

Step #2: Establish a comprehensive Workplace Giving page on your website.

A mention on your ‘Ways to Give’ page is great⁠—but it’s just the start of an effective promotional strategy. Going a step further, a dedicated Workplace Giving page should serve as a central hub for all information related to workplace giving initiatives. This page will provide detailed explanations of the various programs available, including their operation and the benefits they offer to both employees and nonprofits.

Implementing a section that outlines the different ways employees can contribute—such as through payroll deductions, matching gifts, or volunteer hours—can empower them to choose the method that best suits their preferences and capabilities.

Here’s an example from the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation, whose Workplace Giving page references key programs such as payroll deductions, matching gifts, volunteer incentives, and more:

Market workplace giving on your nonprofit website like this example

Here are a few other best practices to consider as you build this page:

  • Highlight success stories. For the best results, feature testimonials from donors who have participated in workplace giving programs. Personal stories can resonate with potential contributors and motivate them to get involved. Highlighting the impact of these contributions can also reinforce the importance of workplace giving, as demonstrated in this testimonial blog post from Lehigh University.
  • Make the page easily navigable. Ensure that this page is easy to navigate. Use headings, bullet points, and clear calls to action to guide visitors through the information. Consider adding an FAQ section (like this one from SIL Global) to address common questions and concerns, which can further enhance the user experience.
  • Utilize visuals. Visual aids (like the ones on Save the Children’s Workplace Giving page) can help simplify complex information and make this resource more engaging for visitors. For example, showcasing statistics about the funds raised or the number of lives impacted by the contributions can provide a compelling narrative that encourages participation.

It may also be beneficial to feature stories of the specific projects and activities that benefit from these giving programs. By showcasing missions, goals, and outcomes funded through workplace contributions, you create a deeper connection between the donors and the causes they support. This not only fosters a sense of community but also emphasizes the tangible difference that each contribution makes.

Step #3: Build dedicated pages for Matching Gifts, Volunteer Incentives, and Payroll Giving.

To effectively communicate the specifics of workplace giving, creating dedicated pages for Matching Gifts, Volunteer Incentives, and Payroll Giving is essential. Each resource should focus on one aspect of workplace giving, providing in-depth information and relevant resources, and allowing supporters to focus on the programs that are of most interest to them. Not to mention, this enables teams to market programs individually as well, leading supporters to the most relevant information on a really targeted page on their website.

Top tip: Clone your established Workplace Giving page within your CMS or website builder to create three separate duplicates and get a head start! From there, you can begin editing to adjust the language and content on your Match Page, Volunteers Page, and Payroll Giving Page accordingly.

3.1 Matching Gifts

Many employers offer matching gift programs, where they match donations made by their employees. A dedicated Matching Gifts page should explain how these programs work and why they are beneficial for both the donor and the nonprofit.

Include instructions on how donors can check if their employer participates (such as using an embedded database resource or reaching out to their HR lead). Furthermore, providing links to matching gift forms or resources can streamline the process for donors, making it easier for them to take action.

Take a look at UGA’s matching gift page below, and see how the school really simplifies the process for getting involved with a step-by-step overview and ingrained matching gift plugin tool:

Market workplace giving on your nonprofit website like this example

For the best results, you’ll want to provide your organization’s tax ID number and mailing address on this page, too, as it often assists supporters with the match request process.

3.2 Volunteer Incentives

Volunteer incentive programs encourage employees to volunteer their time by providing incentives such as volunteer grants or donations for every hour volunteered (or offering paid time off specifically for volunteering). Your Volunteer Incentives page should detail how these programs work and the benefits they offer to both volunteers and the nonprofit.

For the best results, provide information on how volunteers can apply for these grants on your behalf (such as using Double the Donation’s volunteer-specific search plugin), making it easy for individuals to understand the process.

Here’s how Pan-Mass Challenge is promoting corporate volunteer incentives on its main volunteer page, making it quick and easy for supporters to check their eligibility for volunteer grants, VTO, and more:

Market workplace giving on your nonprofit website like this example

You might also consider adding a section that outlines the types of volunteer opportunities available. For the best results, you’ll want to include both short-term (hours-long projects) as well as longer-term commitments (such as weekly recurring initiatives) to cater to different interests and schedules. This can help potential volunteers find the right fit for their skills and availability, ultimately increasing participation rates.

3.3 Payroll Giving

Finally, your Payroll Giving page should explain how employees can set up automatic deductions from their paychecks to donate to the nonprofit. This method of giving is convenient for donors and can lead to consistent contributions over time.

Include details on how to enroll in payroll giving programs, as well as the benefits of making donations through payroll deductions. With Double the Donation’s payroll giving plugin tool, you can even provide prospective supporters with a direct access link to their company’s payroll giving platform to get signed up!

Check out how St. Jude Children’s Hospital promotes the payroll giving opportunity below, providing step-by-step instructions on how an individual can get involved⁠, even if their company doesn’t currently offer a program!

Market workplace giving on your nonprofit website like this example

Taking it a few steps further, consider including an FAQ section that addresses common questions about payroll giving, such as how to change donation amounts or what happens if an employee changes jobs. This can help alleviate any concerns potential donors may have and encourage them to take the first step toward making a difference through payroll giving.

Market workplace giving on your website with our corporate giving database.

Step #4: Integrate workplace giving information with your donation form.

Integrating workplace giving information directly into the donation form can significantly enhance an individual’s likelihood of participation. When donors are filling out their information to make a contribution, they should naturally be presented with options related to workplace giving.

Consider adding a simple, optional form field to collect employment data as donors give. When paired with a bit of background regarding the ask (“Enter your employer’s name to uncover workplace giving eligibility”), it’s never been easier to collect the information you need.

Here’s how 50 Mile March promotes matching gifts within the donation form itself, asking donors to search for their employer to discover eligibility for the programs:

Market workplace giving on your nonprofit website like this example

From there, Double the Donation’s giving form integrations also make it easy to place a reminder about workplace giving opportunities on your confirmation screen, allowing donors to access a quick reminder immediately after they submit their gifts.

Check out how Blue Faery markets the opportunity from their donation confirmation screen, too, with an easily accessible company search tool available to drive next steps immediately after giving:

Market workplace giving on your nonprofit website like this example

Step #5: Integrate workplace giving information with your volunteer sign-ups.

Just as with the donation form, integrating workplace giving information into volunteer sign-ups can enhance engagement and participation. When potential volunteers express interest in supporting the organization (such as by signing up or registering for a shift), they should also be made aware of workplace giving options⁠—specifically corporate volunteer incentives.

Here’s how one organization collects employment information from the volunteer registration page, making it easy for supporters to provide an essential piece of the workplace giving engagement puzzle:

Market workplace giving on your nonprofit website like this example

When you collect employment information within sign-ups, you have the ability to provide tailored email follow-ups that inform supporters of their eligibility for workplace volunteer benefits and encourage them to get involved, too.

Wrapping up & additional workplace giving resources

Workplace giving programs are a win-win for donors and nonprofits—supporters amplify their impact, and you unlock funding that’s already waiting to be claimed. By implementing the steps outlined above, your website becomes more than an information hub—it becomes a conversion tool that drives awareness, participation, and revenue.

Don’t leave money on the table. Start with a few simple website updates and grow from there. Over time, consistent visibility and messaging around workplace giving will help you educate donors, segment your audience, and build a more sustainable fundraising pipeline.

Interested in learning more about how to market workplace giving programs for your organization? Check out these additional recommended resources:

Use our appends services to complete your workplace giving donor profiles.

How to Build Payroll Giving Partnerships with Employers

How to Build Payroll Giving Partnerships with Employers

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Payroll giving offers nonprofits a powerful way to raise steady, unrestricted funding while deepening connections with supporters. But unlocking this potential isn’t just about signing up for a platform. It’s about building meaningful payroll giving partnerships with employers who are ready to align their values with your cause.

In this post, we’ll show you how to identify, approach, and build lasting payroll giving partnerships that benefit both your mission and your corporate partners. We’ll cover:

If you’re a nonprofit looking to grow through payroll giving, the real game-changer is collaboration. By forming strategic relationships with companies, you not only gain access to entire employee networks but also amplify your impact through matched donations, awareness campaigns, and long-term support.

What is a payroll giving partnership?

Payroll giving partnerships refer to a kind of formal arrangement between a nonprofit organization and an employer that enables the employer’s staff to donate to the nonprofit directly from their wages through payroll deductions. These donations are typically processed through the employer’s payroll system on a regular basis—usually bi-weekly or monthly.

How to build payroll giving partnerships with employers - illustration

This type of partnership involves coordination between the nonprofit and the employer to set up and manage the giving mechanism. It may include technical setup through a workplace giving platform or internal payroll system, as well as agreement on how employees will be informed and how donations will be tracked and transferred.

Compared to one-time donations or event-based fundraising, payroll giving partnerships are structured, ongoing, and often supported by HR or CSR teams within the company. In essence, a payroll giving partnership is the operational framework that allows employees to contribute to a nonprofit directly from their pay—making giving an easy, integrated part of their work life.

Strategies for increasing payroll donation revenue for nonprofits

Why payroll giving partnerships matter

Payroll giving partnerships are more than just a way to collect donations—they’re a strategic avenue for building long-term, mutually beneficial relationships between nonprofits and employers.

Here’s why they matter:

How to build payroll giving partnerships with employers - illustration

Payroll Giving Partnerships Create Reliable, Predictable Funding

One of the biggest challenges for nonprofits is financial unpredictability. Payroll giving helps solve this by providing a steady stream of donations that recur with each pay cycle.

This consistency allows nonprofits to plan ahead, invest in long-term programs, and reduce reliance on one-off fundraising campaigns. Instead of starting from scratch each month, you can count on a foundation of regular support.

Payroll Giving Partnerships Increase Impact

Many employers choose to match their employees’ payroll donations, effectively doubling (or even tripling) the funds going to nonprofits. This not only increases your total fundraising but also motivates employees to give more, knowing their donation will go further.

Payroll Giving Partnerships Deepen Donor Relationships

Payroll giving turns one-time donors into long-term supporters by making giving a habitual part of their lives. This consistency builds stronger emotional connections between donors and your mission, increasing lifetime donor value and long-term commitment. It also provides a valuable opportunity for nonprofits to cultivate and communicate with a dedicated supporter base on an ongoing basis.

Payroll Giving Partnerships Expand Nonprofit Reach

Partnering with employers opens up access to entire communities of potential donors you might not otherwise reach. Employees introduced to your cause through workplace giving often become passionate advocates, spreading awareness among colleagues, family, and friends. These partnerships serve as a bridge to broader visibility, new donor acquisition, and community engagement.

Benefit from payroll giving partnerships and matching gifts with Double the Donation.

5 ways to establish payroll giving partnerships with employers

Building payroll giving partnerships doesn’t have to be complicated—but it does require intention, clarity, and a strategic approach. Whether you’re just getting started or looking to expand your reach, there are proven ways to connect with the right employers and turn conversations into partnerships.

Below are five practical, high-impact strategies your nonprofit can use to establish payroll giving relationships that are built to last.

1. Register with leading payroll giving platforms.

To kickstart a payroll giving partnership, it is crucial to register with established payroll giving platforms. These platforms act as intermediaries, connecting nonprofits with employers who are interested in offering payroll giving programs to their employees. By being part of these networks, organizations can gain visibility and credibility, making it easier to attract potential donors.

Furthermore, many payroll giving platforms provide resources and tools that can help nonprofits streamline their operations. From tracking donations to managing relationships with employers, these platforms can simplify the process and allow organizations to focus on their core mission. Additionally, some platforms offer analytics and reporting features that enable nonprofits to measure the effectiveness of their campaigns, providing valuable insights that inform future strategies.

2. Focus on payroll giving’s value to employers.

When approaching potential employer partners, it’s essential to highlight the benefits of payroll giving for their bottom line. Employers are often looking for ways to enhance their corporate social responsibility and employee engagement initiatives, and payroll giving can be a key component of these efforts.

Emphasizing how payroll giving can improve employee morale, enhance company reputation, and even attract top talent can make a compelling case for partnership. Providing data and case studies that demonstrate the positive impact of payroll giving on employee engagement and retention can further strengthen the argument. Moreover, showcasing how payroll giving aligns with the company’s values and mission can resonate with decision-makers, making them more inclined to support the initiative.

3. Encourage donors to advocate for new programs.

Existing donors can be powerful advocates for expanding or establishing payroll giving partnerships within their workplaces. Encouraging them to share their positive giving experiences with colleagues can help raise awareness and generate interest in the program. This grassroots approach can be particularly effective in fostering a culture of giving within organizations.

Consider creating a toolkit for donors that includes talking points, success stories, and resources they can share with their employers. This can empower them to advocate for payroll giving programs and potentially lead to new partnerships. Additionally, hosting informational sessions or lunch-and-learn events can provide a platform for donors to encourage their peers to get involved, thereby creating a ripple effect of engagement within the workplace.

4. Supply the partner with co-branded marketing materials.

Once a partnership is established, providing co-branded marketing materials can help promote the payroll giving program effectively. These materials can include brochures, posters, and digital assets that highlight the payroll giving opportunity and the impact of employee contributions.

Why? Co-branded materials not only reinforce the partnership but also make it easier for employers to communicate the program to their employees. By providing clear and engaging information, organizations can encourage more employees to participate in payroll giving, ultimately increasing the funds raised for their causes.

5. Go beyond payroll giving.

While payroll giving is a fantastic way to generate support, it can also serve as a springboard for deeper engagement with employers. For example, matching gifts can be viewed as a simple extension of the payroll giving program. However, you may also want to consider offering opportunities for employees to volunteer, participate in fundraising events, or engage in other initiatives that align with the nonprofit’s mission as well.

By expanding the partnership beyond payroll giving, organizations can create a more holistic relationship with employers. This can lead to increased visibility, more substantial financial support, and a stronger commitment to the nonprofit’s cause from both employees and employers alike.

Wrapping up & additional payroll giving resources

Payroll giving partnerships aren’t just about donations—they’re about building a bridge between your mission and the business world.

By proactively reaching out to values-aligned employers, presenting a clear case for partnership, and nurturing those relationships over time, your nonprofit can transform payroll giving into a scalable and sustainable fundraising channel.

Looking to learn more about payroll giving for your nonprofit? Check out these additional recommended resources:

Benefit from payroll giving partnerships and matching gifts with Double the Donation.

Avoid These 5 Employer Appending Mistakes Nonprofits Make

Avoid These 5 Employer Appending Mistakes Nonprofits Make

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When it comes to maximizing donor intelligence, employer appending can be a game-changer for nonprofits looking to grow workplace giving revenue. By enriching your database with employment information—such as where your donors work and their eligibility for corporate giving programs—you unlock powerful insights that can drive your corporate giving success. But like any data project, success hinges on more than just good intentions. Many organizations rush into employer appends without the proper planning, only to encounter disappointing results. In this post, we’ll walk you through five common employer appending mistakes nonprofits make during the process—and, more importantly, how to avoid them.

These include:

  1. Starting with unclean or disorganized data
  2. Relying too fully on appends for data collection
  3. Choosing the wrong data appending vendor
  4. Lack of a data integration plan
  5. Not using the insights to power workplace giving programs

Avoiding these pitfalls doesn’t require a massive overhaul—just a more intentional approach. By understanding what can go wrong and planning accordingly, your nonprofit can turn employer appending into a smart, strategic asset.

Let’s dive into the five key mistakes to watch out for—and how to sidestep them for better results.

1. Starting with unclean or disorganized data

One of the most common—and most costly—mistakes nonprofits make when beginning an employer append is skipping the crucial step of data hygiene. If your donor records are riddled with typos, outdated contact info, or missing key fields, even the best appending service will struggle to return accurate or useful results.

Why It Matters:

Employer append vendors match your data against external databases using identifiers like name, address, email, and phone number. If that information is incorrect, inconsistent, or incomplete, the chances of a successful match drop significantly. Worse, it can lead to mismatched records or misleading insights that hinder your fundraising instead of helping it.

How to Avoid This Mistake:

  • Run a data audit before the append. Identify and flag duplicates, missing fields, and formatting inconsistencies.
  • Standardize your inputs. Make sure names are consistently formatted (e.g., “John A. Smith” vs. “Smith, John A.”), addresses follow USPS formatting, and emails are current.
  • Fill in the gaps. Verify and fill in basic information (like mailing address or phone number) before submitting your list for employer appending.
  • Create a clean version of your list. Work with a deduplicated and verified subset of records for the append process, especially if your full database contains outdated or inactive contacts.

Pro Tip: Cleaning up your data upfront not only boosts your match rates but also ensures you’re making decisions based on trustworthy information. By prioritizing clean, organized data from the start, your nonprofit sets the stage for a more successful—and actionable—employer append project.

2. Relying too fully on appends for data collection

Employer appending is a powerful tool—but it shouldn’t be your only strategy for collecting donor employment data. One major mistake nonprofits make is leaning too heavily on appending services to fill in all the gaps without putting systems in place to gather this information directly from supporters.

Why It Matters:

Appending services are only as good as the data they match against—and even the best providers can’t deliver 100% coverage. If your donor file lacks strong identifying information or the donor simply isn’t in the external database, you’ll be left with incomplete results. More importantly, relying solely on third-party sources limits your ability to capture current information directly from your audience and connect them to their workplace giving opportunities faster.

Avoid employer appending mistakes by collecting data through alternative means as well

How to Avoid This Mistake:

  • Add employer fields to your forms. Include optional fields for employer name and job title in donation forms, event registrations, volunteer sign-ups, and membership forms. Be sure to frame this field around discovering someone’s eligibility for a workplace giving program to increase reporting!
  • Use follow-up emails to gather info. After a donation or engagement, send a brief thank-you email with a friendly prompt asking supporters to share where they work so that you can connect them to their company’s matching gift, volunteer grant, or other workplace giving program.
  • Integrate employer info into donor conversations. Major gift officers and stewardship staff can ask about employment during one-on-one outreach, especially when building donor profiles. This helps them discover and communicate workplace giving opportunities back to supporters in real time, especially with the help of a corporate database tool like Double the Donation.

Pro Tip: Make it simple for the supporter to find and enter their company name! If you integrate your donation forms and volunteer management system with Double the Donation, supporters can search directly in our database, finding their employer’s information quickly and easily. That means they can be connected to any matches or grant opportunities in mere seconds!

By building employer data collection into your regular donor engagement, you create a more complete, up-to-date picture of your supporters—one that enhances append efforts and increases the accuracy of your workplace giving strategies.

3. Choosing the wrong data appending vendor

Not all employer appending vendors are created equal—and choosing the wrong one can undermine your data strategy. Some nonprofits make the mistake of selecting a vendor based solely on price or convenience without fully understanding what they’re getting in terms of data quality, match rates, compliance, and the ability to act on the information right away.

Why It Matters:

The vendor you choose determines how accurate, complete, and useful your appended employer data will be. A low-cost provider may rely on outdated or limited data sources, resulting in poor match rates or inaccurate employer information. Worse, vendors that don’t follow data privacy regulations can expose your organization to compliance risks.

How to Avoid This Mistake:

  • Do your homework. Research the vendor’s data sources, match process, and update frequency. Are they using verified, permission-based data? How often is their database refreshed?
  • Ask about match methodology. Some vendors use deterministic matching (precise identifiers), while others rely on probabilistic methods. Knowing the difference helps set realistic expectations about accuracy.
  • Check references and reviews. Ask for client testimonials or case studies from similar nonprofits. Learn how other organizations have used the service—and what kind of results they saw.
  • Clarify deliverables. Make sure you know what fields you’ll receive (e.g., employer name, title, industry, location, and workplace giving eligibility), how the data will be formatted, and how long the process will take.
  • Understand compliance and security standards. Choose a vendor that prioritizes data privacy, follows GDPR/CCPA where applicable, and offers clear terms on how data is handled and stored.

Pro Tip: Ultimately, the right vendor should act as a partner—not just a data provider. By choosing carefully, you ensure that the appended data adds real value to your workplace giving outreach efforts rather than becoming a missed opportunity or an administrative burden.

4. Not using the insights to power workplace giving programs

A surprising number of nonprofits go through the process of appending employer data—only to let those valuable insights sit unused. One of the biggest missed opportunities is failing to leverage employer information to fuel workplace giving programs, such as matching gifts, payroll giving, and corporate volunteer grants.

Why It Matters:

Employer data isn’t just nice to have—with workplace giving opportunities available, it can be a direct revenue driver. Many companies offer donation matching gifts, volunteer grants, and payroll giving programs (along with other forms of charitable support) for employees, but they often go untapped simply because the nonprofit doesn’t know which donors are eligible. If your organization collects employer information but doesn’t connect it to workplace giving outreach, you’re leaving money—and engagement—on the table.

How to Avoid This Mistake:

  • Run a workplace giving eligibility check. Use your appended employer data with a tool like Double the Donation to identify which donors work for companies that offer matching gifts, volunteer grants, payroll giving, and more.
  • Segment your communications. Create targeted outreach campaigns for donors who work at eligible companies. Tailor the messaging to inform them of the opportunity and guide them through the submission process.
  • Update your donation forms, volunteer sign-ups, and thank-you pages. Include prompts like “Does your employer offer matching gifts or volunteer grants?” and an employer search tool so supporters can take action immediately after engaging.
  • Incorporate into stewardship efforts. When thanking a donor, include a reminder about their company’s workplace giving program if you have that information on file.

Avoid employer appending mistakes by using the information to power workplace giving

Pro Tip: Workplace giving isn’t just about revenue—it’s also a great way to deepen donor engagement. When supporters see their employer amplifying their impact, it reinforces their commitment to your cause.

5. Not using the insights to strengthen corporate partnerships

While workplace giving is a valuable use of employer data, many nonprofits miss a second, equally powerful opportunity: using employment insights to build or deepen corporate partnerships. After all, appended employer data doesn’t just tell you where your donors work—it can reveal hidden connections to companies that may be strong candidates for in-kind gifts, event sponsorships, volunteer support, or even grants.

Why It Matters:

Your donor base may already include employees—sometimes even executives—at companies that align well with your mission. But without employment data, you won’t know who these individuals are or how to activate those connections. When nonprofits overlook this insight, they miss a chance to cultivate warm leads and grow high-impact corporate relationships rooted in shared values and personal ties.

How to Avoid This Mistake:

  • Analyze for concentration. Review your appended data to find clusters of donors working at the same company or within the same industry. These insights can reveal companies with an existing culture of giving or a natural connection to your cause.
  • Identify internal champions. Look for donors who may be well-positioned to introduce your organization to their company’s CSR team, philanthropic committee, or leadership. A warm intro often opens more doors than a cold pitch.
  • Personalize your corporate outreach. When reaching out to potential partners, mention your existing donor connections and the shared values that link your missions. This helps your proposal stand out and feel more authentic.
  • Pursue strategic asks. Use employer data to tailor your request—whether it’s an event sponsorship, an in-kind donation, or a volunteer service day—and show how the partnership would benefit both sides.

Pro Tip: Don’t wait for your corporate partnerships team to initiate this process—equip fundraisers and donor relations staff with employer insights so they can help uncover connections and spark new opportunities across departments.

Wrapping Up & Additional Employer Appends Resources

Employer appending can open new doors for workplace giving, but only if it’s done thoughtfully. By avoiding these five common mistakes, you’ll position your organization to make the most of your data investment.

The key is to treat employer appending not as a quick fix but as a strategic tool within your broader workplace and corporate giving efforts. With the right approach, the insights you gain can fuel smarter campaigns, deeper donor relationships, and, ultimately, greater impact.

Ready to learn more about employer appends for nonprofit fundraising? Check out these additional recommended resources:

Benefits of Payroll Giving for Nonprofits & Donors

Benefits of Payroll Giving for Nonprofits & Donors: A Win-Win

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When it comes to charitable giving, convenience and consistency go a long way. That’s where payroll giving comes in—a simple, powerful way for employees to support the causes they care about through automatic deductions from their paychecks. And it’s not just donors who reap the advantages. These programs establish a reliable, low-maintenance stream of funding that can make a meaningful difference⁠—and the benefits of payroll giving for nonprofits are extensive.

In short, it’s a win-win. Donors can make a bigger impact with less hassle (especially when employer matching is combined with the payroll donation), and nonprofits gain access to a sustainable, often underutilized fundraising channel.

Looking to learn more? We’ll cover the following in this guide:

Whether you’re a nonprofit professional looking to diversify your revenue or a donor interested in giving back more efficiently, payroll giving is certainly worth your attention.

Let’s get started!

What is payroll giving?

Payroll giving is a simple and impactful way for employees to support their favorite nonprofits directly through their regular paychecks. This type of program—part of the broader category of workplace or employee giving—allows individuals to set up recurring donations that are automatically deducted from their wages, often with just a few clicks.

The process is typically facilitated by a company’s HR department or through a third-party workplace giving platform. Once an employee selects a nonprofit and specifies a donation amount, the funds are deducted from their pay each pay period and sent directly to the chosen organization.

The benefits of payroll giving for nonprofits, donors, and companies

Strategies for increasing payroll donation revenue for nonprofits

Benefits of payroll giving for nonprofits

For nonprofits, payroll giving presents a unique opportunity to tap into a reliable, scalable source of funding, often without adding to the development team’s workload. When organizations take steps to incorporate payroll giving into their fundraising strategies, the results can be both meaningful and long-lasting.

Here’s how nonprofits benefit the most:

1. Consistent, Recurring Donations

Payroll giving provides nonprofits with a predictable stream of revenue. Because donations are automatically deducted from employee paychecks on a regular basis, your organization can count on consistent support that makes budgeting and planning easier.

2. Increased Donor Retention

Recurring donors tend to stick around longer than one-time givers—and payroll donors are no exception. Once an employee sets up their gift through payroll, they’re likely to continue giving steadily over time.

3. Access to Corporate Matching Gifts

Many companies pair payroll giving with a matching gift program, thereby multiplying the impact of employee donations. By participating in payroll giving platforms, nonprofits can unlock additional revenue without asking donors to contribute more out of pocket.

4. Low Administrative Overhead

Payroll gifts are typically processed through third-party platforms or employers, resulting in fewer manual tasks for nonprofit staff. This streamlined approach reduces administrative costs and frees up time to focus on other mission-driven work.

5. Visibility in Workplace Giving Portals

Registering with payroll giving platforms gives nonprofits exposure to new donors—employees who might not have otherwise discovered or supported the organization. Being listed as an eligible nonprofit puts you directly in front of donors who are ready to give.

Bottom line: Whether you’re a small team or a large organization, payroll giving is a sustainable way to diversify your fundraising strategy and deepen donor relationships over time.

Make the most of the benefits of payroll giving with Double the Donation.

Benefits of payroll giving for donors

Payroll giving isn’t just easy. It’s one of the most donor-friendly ways for individuals to make a lasting difference. For those who want to support the causes they care about in a consistent, stress-free way, payroll giving offers several distinct advantages:

1. Convenience and Simplicity

Payroll giving automates the donation process. Once a donor sets it up (which is usually fairly simple in itself), contributions are deducted directly from each paycheck. There’s no need to remember to give monthly, track receipts, or manually submit payments. It’s a “set it and forget it” way to give, which many donors appreciate.

2. Budget-Friendly Giving

Because donations are spread across pay periods, donors can make a significant annual impact without incurring a substantial financial burden all at once. As a result, small amounts deducted biweekly can add up to a meaningful gift by the end of the year.

3. Potential for Matching Gifts

Many employers match payroll donations to eligible nonprofits—often dollar for dollar, and sometimes more. This means a donor’s gift can go twice as far (or further) for a cause they care about without any extra cost on their part.

4. Tax Efficiency

Payroll donations are often deducted pre-tax, which can reduce a donor’s taxable income depending on the employer’s setup. Even when deducted post-tax, donors still receive documentation that makes it easy to claim deductions come tax season.

5. Consistent Support for Charitable Causes

Payroll giving enables donors to provide steady, ongoing support to nonprofits they believe in. This consistency can be more impactful than occasional one-time gifts, helping organizations plan and sustain their work over time.

Bottom line: Whether they’re new to giving or seasoned philanthropists, donors will appreciate the ease, flexibility, and impact that payroll giving brings to their charitable journey.

Tips for nonprofits: making the most of payroll giving

Payroll giving has the potential to become a steady, high-impact fundraising stream for your organization. However, like any revenue channel, it requires visibility, clarity, and the proper infrastructure to make a meaningful impact.

Fortunately for you, nonprofits of all shapes and sizes can successfully grow payroll giving by following a few practical strategies.

Register your cause with leading workplace giving platforms.

To tap into payroll giving donations, your nonprofit must be listed on the platforms employees use to give through their workplace. These platforms—such as Benevity, YourCause, Bright Funds, America’s Charities, and CyberGrants—serve as the gateway between your organization and corporate donors.

Start by researching which platforms are most popular among companies in your region or sector, then complete their registration process carefully. Ensure your nonprofit profile is thorough, up-to-date, and includes compelling descriptions and relevant imagery.

Being present and visible on these platforms significantly increases your chances of being discovered by employees who are ready to give, making this a foundational step in your payroll giving efforts.

Create a dedicated payroll giving page on your website.

Your nonprofit’s website is often the first place potential donors seek information. Creating a dedicated payroll giving page offers a clear, centralized resource that explains how payroll giving works and how supporters can participate.

Marketing payroll giving via your website

Include step-by-step instructions for setting up payroll donations, FAQs, and a company search tool if possible. You’ll also want to highlight benefits such as ease, recurring impact, and the potential for employer matching.

From there, this page can serve as a handy reference, offering linking opportunities in email appeals, social media, and other outreach efforts. This helps donors navigate the process confidently and increases gift conversion rates.

Promote the payroll giving opportunity regularly in donor outreach.

Consistent communication is crucial for raising awareness and increasing participation in payroll giving. To do so, we recommend incorporating payroll giving messaging into your regular email newsletters, social media posts, event communications, and even year-end appeals.

For the best results, use clear, donor-focused language that emphasizes the convenience and impact of the programs. Sharing stories of donors who give through payroll or highlighting recent payroll giving milestones can also add authenticity and motivation. Don’t overlook offline channels, either! Include payroll giving information in mailed newsletters, fundraising events, volunteer efforts, and more.

Email demonstrating the benefits of payroll giving for nonprofits and donors

Why? The more donors are aware of this option, the more likely they are to participate.

Collect employment information to identify eligible supporters.

Knowing where your donors work unlocks powerful fundraising opportunities, including payroll giving and matching gifts. In order to obtain employment information, we suggest implementing an optional “employer” field on all donation forms, event registrations, and volunteer sign-ups. Explain why you’re asking for this information and how it benefits the donor, such as by potentially doubling their gift through employer matches or enabling payroll deductions.

From there, you can use this data to segment your donor database and target outreach to employees of companies with workplace giving programs. This tailored approach ensures you’re focusing time and resources where the potential for payroll giving revenue is highest.

Track and optimize your payroll giving revenue.

Regularly monitoring payroll giving performance helps you understand what’s working and where to improve. Use reporting features provided by workplace giving platforms to track donation amounts, donor counts, and participation trends. From there, you can analyze which companies generate the most revenue and identify gaps in engagement.

Making the most of the benefits of payroll giving for nonprofits

By treating payroll giving like any other fundraising channel, you can optimize your approach over time, boosting your nonprofit’s steady stream of support.

Bonus: Benefits of payroll giving for companies

While payroll giving is a win for nonprofits and donors alike, it’s also a smart move for the companies that offer it. Here’s why:

1. Strengthens Company Culture

Offering payroll giving empowers employees to support causes they care about, fostering a culture of generosity and purpose. When team members feel their employer supports their values, morale and job satisfaction naturally improve.

2. Enhances Employee Retention and Recruitment

Today’s workforce, especially younger generations, wants to work for companies that give back. A robust giving program (including payroll giving options) can help businesses attract mission-driven talent and retain employees over the long term.

3. Boosts Brand Image and CSR Impact

Payroll giving programs are a tangible way for companies to demonstrate their commitment to corporate social responsibility (or CSR). Publicly supporting nonprofit causes—particularly those aligned with the company’s values—can enhance the brand’s perception among customers, investors, and the broader community.

4. Encourages Higher Participation Through Matching

When companies match employee donations, they signal that charitable giving is a shared priority among their teams. This not only amplifies the program’s total impact but also increases employee participation and engagement in giving.

5. Provides Data to Inform CSR Strategy

Many workplace giving platforms offer reporting tools that help employers track employee participation, top-supported causes, and total contributions. These insights can guide future CSR initiatives and strengthen community partnerships.

Bottom line: Payroll giving isn’t just good for nonprofits and donors—it’s a strategic advantage for businesses looking to lead with purpose, engage their workforce, and build lasting social impact.

Wrapping up & additional resources

Payroll giving offers the rare advantage of being easy, effective, and mutually beneficial. Donors get a seamless way to support causes they care about, often with the added bonus of employer matching. Meanwhile, nonprofits receive steady, dependable contributions without incurring additional administrative costs.

As more companies embrace workplace giving, it’s the perfect time for nonprofits to tap into this opportunity and for donors to maximize their charitable impact. When donors and nonprofits both benefit, everyone wins.

Looking for more information on all things payroll giving-related? Check out these additional recommended resources:

Make the most of the benefits of payroll giving with Double the Donation.