Benefits of Payroll Giving for Nonprofits & Donors

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

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.

How to Use Your Website to Track Challenge Grant Progress

How to Use Your Website to Track Challenge Grant Progress

Challenge grants are one of the most powerful fundraising strategies available to nonprofits, offering the potential to double or even triple donations. A donor or organization pledges to match funds raised during a specific time period, creating a sense of urgency and encouraging greater donor participation. However, the key to maximizing the success of a challenge grant campaign lies in effective tracking.

One of the best ways to keep your supporters engaged and motivated is by providing real-time progress updates on your website. With dynamic progress tracking tools, you can show donors exactly how much has been raised, how much is left to meet the challenge goal, and how much time remains before the match expires.

In this post, we’ll explore how you can use your website to track challenge grant progress, keep donors engaged, and ultimately maximize your fundraising potential.

The Power of Challenge Grants and Why Progress Tracking Matters

Challenge grants are one of the most effective tools for nonprofits to boost fundraising efforts and engage donors. When a donor or organization pledges to match funds raised during a campaign, it motivates individuals to give more, knowing their donations will have double or even triple the impact. This creates a sense of urgency and pushes donors to act quickly to maximize their contributions.

Real-time progress tracking plays a crucial role in making challenge grants even more effective. It provides transparency and allows donors to see exactly where the campaign stands, which in turn encourages them to contribute more or reach out to others. Without this transparency, donors might lose interest or feel disconnected from the campaign, decreasing their likelihood of contributing.

To truly harness the power of challenge grants, nonprofits must provide clear, real-time tracking that helps donors understand their role in helping to meet the match goal.

How to Display Real-Time Progress on Your Website

Your website should be the central hub for tracking challenge grant progress. This is where donors will look for updates, so it’s essential that you provide clear and easily accessible information. Here are the key steps to ensure progress is tracked effectively:

1. Use Visual Tracking Tools

Progress bars or fundraising thermometers are the most common and effective way to visually track challenge grant progress. These dynamic tools update in real-time, showing donors how much has been raised and how much is left to unlock the match. A fundraising thermometer is particularly powerful because it creates an immediate visual cue that shows how close the campaign is to reaching its goal.

2. Highlight Matching Opportunities and Donor Impact

Alongside the progress bar, display the match ratio clearly. Donors should see how much of their contribution will be matched, e.g., “Every dollar you donate will be matched 1:1 up to $50,000!” This reinforces the urgency and motivates donors to act quickly.

Your website should also highlight how every donation matters, showing the direct impact of each contribution toward unlocking the matching funds. By doing so, you’ll not only engage your existing donor base but also encourage new donors to take part in the campaign.

3. Display Time Remaining for the Match

Include a countdown timer that shows the time left to qualify for the match. This is crucial for creating urgency and pushing donors to contribute before the window closes. A visible timer emphasizes that the campaign is time-sensitive, motivating donors to give quickly before the opportunity expires.

4. Keep it Simple and Clear

Make sure the progress tracking is easy to find and understand. Don’t overwhelm your website visitors with too much information. A clean, simple progress bar, match ratio, and countdown timer will do the trick. The easier it is for donors to understand how the match works, the more likely they are to contribute.

Why Real-Time Updates Keep Donors Engaged

Real-time progress tracking isn’t just about showing the numbers—it’s about keeping donors engaged and motivated to contribute. When donors see that their contributions are moving the needle, they are more likely to give additional funds to help meet the match.

1. Transparency Drives Trust

Real-time updates provide transparency, and transparency builds trust. Donors want to see how their contributions are making a difference. By regularly updating the progress bar and showing how close the campaign is to meeting the match, you help donors feel connected to the campaign’s success.

2. Keeps Donors Informed About Their Impact

When donors see real-time progress, they can directly correlate their gift with the campaign’s success. This helps them feel that they are making an important contribution. The sense of involvement encourages them to donate again or increase their gift.

3. Encourages Repeat Donations

When donors see the match goal nearing, they are more likely to contribute again, seeing the impact of their previous donation and motivating them to push the campaign over the finish line. Real-time updates provide a sense of ownership, prompting donors to stay involved and engaged throughout the campaign.

Key Features of Effective Progress Tracking

To get the most out of your challenge match campaign, it’s important to incorporate the right features into your progress tracking system. Here are the essential features to focus on:

1. Clear Visual Representation

Use progress bars or fundraising thermometers that update automatically as donations come in. The more visually engaging and easy to understand these tools are, the better.

2. Real-Time Updates

Make sure that your progress tracking tools update automatically in real-time. Donors should be able to see the impact of their contribution immediately, and the campaign should reflect new donations without delay.

3. Multiple Donation Tiers

For larger-scale campaigns, break down the progress bar into smaller donation tiers. For example, if your goal is to raise $100,000, show how much has been raised in $10,000 or $20,000 increments. This provides donors with mini-goals to strive for and increases the likelihood of meeting the larger target.

4. Countdown Timer

A countdown timer adds an extra layer of urgency by showing how much time is left to make their donations count for the match. This motivates donors to act before the deadline passes.

Incorporating Urgency into Your Progress Tracking

Urgency is the key to success in any challenge grant campaign. Without it, donors may delay or decide not to participate at all. By using countdown timers and real-time updates, you can create a sense of urgency that drives action.

1. Countdown Timers

As mentioned, countdown timers are one of the most effective ways to create urgency. By prominently displaying the remaining time for donors to qualify for the challenge match, you make it clear that there is no time to waste.

2. Track Milestones

Celebrate milestones along the way to keep donors motivated. For example, when the campaign hits 25%, 50%, or 75% of its goal, share that achievement with your donors. This can help keep everyone engaged and invested in helping you reach the final goal.

3. Real-Time Matching Contributions

Ensure that donors can see their donations being matched in real-time. This gives them immediate feedback on how their gift is helping to unlock the match, which encourages them to donate more.

Strategies for Engaging Donors Through Tracking Updates

Real-time tracking is essential, but engaging your donors with those updates is just as important. Here are some strategies to keep your donors excited and motivated throughout the campaign:

1. Personalized Email Updates

Send regular email updates that showcase the progress of the challenge grant campaign. Include the current total raised, how much is left to reach the match goal, and a reminder about the time remaining. Personalized emails make donors feel valued and help keep them engaged.

2. Social Media Engagement

Promote your progress tracking updates on social media to keep your followers engaged. Use visual content like infographics and videos that show the progress bar filling up or highlight milestones as they’re achieved. Encourage donors to share the campaign with their networks.

3. SMS Reminders

For campaigns that are time-sensitive, SMS reminders are a great way to keep donors engaged. Send text messages that include countdowns, reminders of the match, and progress updates.

4. Thank You and Acknowledgments

Thank your donors promptly and publicly for their contributions. Use your progress updates as a way to celebrate donor success, showing them how their donations are helping you reach your goal.


Wrapping Up & Next Steps

Tracking challenge grant progress in real-time on your website is a powerful tool for driving donor engagement, increasing donations, and creating urgency. By using visual tracking tools like progress bars and countdown timers, you can keep your donors informed and motivated throughout the campaign.

To maximize the success of your challenge grant:

  • Use progress tracking tools that update in real time.
  • Incorporate countdown timers to create urgency.
  • Engage your donors with regular updates via email, social media, and SMS.
  • Make the donation process seamless with easy-to-follow instructions and visible match opportunities.

By implementing these strategies, you’ll not only meet your fundraising goals but also create a more engaged, loyal donor base that will continue to support your mission.

Raise Even More with Employee Matching Gifts!

In addition to challenge grants, employee matching gifts can significantly increase your fundraising revenue. With Double the Donation, you can easily identify matching gift opportunities and track donations to maximize the impact of these funds. Start raising more today by integrating employee matching gifts into your campaigns! Get a demo of Double the Donation to see how our tools can help.

New Volunteer Integration Connecting Summa & Double the Donation Volunteering

New Volunteer Integration: Connecting Summa & Double the Donation Volunteering

Double the Donation is excited to announce an expansion of its partnership with Summa, a volunteer and fundraising platform built to help mission-driven organizations engage their communities more effectively. This new, seamless integration between Double the Donation Volunteering and Summa empowers nonprofits to unlock corporate volunteer incentives, like volunteer grants and paid volunteer time off, maximizing the impact of every hour served.

With this integration, organizations can embed Double the Donation’s employer search tool directly into Summa’s volunteer signup forms, allowing volunteers to discover their eligibility for corporate programs as they register. From there, the platforms work together to deliver timely, personalized follow-up emails that guide volunteers through their employer’s next steps, making it easier than ever to turn volunteer service into additional funding for the causes they care about.

“At Summa, we believe in removing barriers between passion and impact,” says Dennis Chyba, President of Summa. “This new integration with Double the Donation Volunteering aligns perfectly with that mission, empowering volunteers to connect their service with corporate support, and helping nonprofits capture more of the funding that’s already out there. It’s a powerful step toward uniting data, action, and generosity.”

Once volunteers identify their eligibility for corporate incentives, Double the Donation Volunteering—integrated seamlessly within Summa—guides them through their employer’s process for claiming volunteer grants and paid time off. This allows organizations to transform awareness into action and helps nonprofits secure more of the available funding connected to volunteer engagement.

“We’re excited to expand our partnership with Summa to include Double the Donation Volunteering, building on our shared goal of connecting nonprofits with opportunities to expand their impact,” says Adam Weinger, President of Double the Donation. “By supporting both volunteer incentives and matching gifts, we’re helping mutual clients engage their supporters more holistically and capture more of the corporate funding available through workplace giving programs.”

Ready to get started? The Summa and Double the Donation Volunteering integration is now available for mutual clients of Double the Donation and Summa. Request a personalized demo with the Double the Donation team today, and be sure to mention that you use Summa for volunteer management!

About Summa:

Summa is a dynamic volunteer and fundraising management platform designed to help mission-driven organizations mobilize support and maximize impact. With powerful volunteer management tools at its core, Summa enables nonprofits to efficiently schedule, track, and engage volunteers—turning every hour of service into meaningful progress. From intuitive shift sign-ups to data-driven reporting, Summa helps organizations streamline operations, boost volunteer retention, and connect service with fundraising outcomes. To learn more, visit Summa.

About Double the Donation:

Automate your matching gift fundraising and corporate volunteering with the industry-leading solution from Double the Donation. The Double the Donation platform provides nonprofits with tools to identify individuals who qualify for corporate philanthropy initiatives, drive increased participation, and gain actionable insights from the programs. Double the Donation integrates directly into donation forms, CRMs, volunteer management platforms, and other nonprofit technology solutions to capture employment information and follow up with donors accordingly. To learn more, visit Double the Donation.