11 Common Types of Corporate Giving Programs

Corporate giving programs are company-subsidized charity programs that businesses use to encourage their employees to participate in donations.

Successful companies build corporate giving programs into their employee benefits packages for a handful of reasons. Those reasons include making the world a better place, attracting and retaining talented employees who want to work for a purpose, and improve the public status of the company.

Corporate giving programs come in many different forms, from gifting and matching to volunteer grants.

Here’s a list of common types of corporate giving programs:

Gifting and Matching

Corporate gifting and matching programs are a way for companies to encourage their employees to give back to their communities. These programs can take many different forms, but they all have the same goal: to make it easier for employees to donate their time and money to causes they care about.

One type of corporate gifting program is a matching gift program. In a matching gift program, the company will match employee donations to certain charities, up to a certain amount. For example, a company might match employee donations to the United Way up to $500 per year. This is a great way for companies to double the impact of their employees’ donations.

Another type of corporate gifting program is a volunteer grant program. In a volunteer grant program, the company will give employees paid time off to volunteer for certain charities. This is a great way for employees to give back to their communities without having to sacrifice their work hours.

Corporate gifting and matching programs are a great way for companies to show their employees that they care about giving back. These programs can also help to attract and retain top talent, as employees are more likely to want to work for a company that shares their values.

Here are some of the benefits of corporate gifting and matching programs:

Employee engagement: Corporate gifting and matching programs can help to increase employee engagement by giving employees a way to give back to their communities.
Employee morale: Corporate gifting and matching programs can help to improve employee morale by showing employees that their company cares about giving back.
Company reputation: Corporate gifting and matching programs can help to improve a company’s reputation by showing that the company is committed to social responsibility.
Tax benefits: In some cases, corporate gifting and matching programs can provide tax benefits for the company.

If you are looking for a way to give back to your community and show your employees that you care, consider starting a corporate gifting or matching program.

Volunteer Grants

A volunteer grant is a monetary award given to a nonprofit organization by a corporation in recognition of volunteer work being done by a company’s employees. This practice is widespread in the United States. Corporate giving programs created to encourage volunteerism by a corporation’s employees by providing volunteer grants are called volunteer grant programs or Dollars for Doers programs.

Philanthropic organizations offer grants for individuals to volunteer with nonprofit organizations for an extended period of time. These are sometimes called volunteer grants but are normally referred to as fellowships. In these cases, a volunteer receives a stipend from a nonprofit to live and work within a community in need. Companies typically state that any 501(c)(3) nonprofit or school is eligible for their corporate volunteer grant scheme; most however require a minimum number of hours served.

Volunteer grants can be a great way for companies to encourage their employees to give back to their communities and to support the causes they care about. They can also be a great way for companies to build relationships with local nonprofits and to show their commitment to social responsibility.

If you are a nonprofit organization that is interested in applying for a volunteer grant, be sure to check with your local corporations to see if they offer such a program. You can also find a list of companies that offer volunteer grants online.

Fundraising Match

A fundraising match is a corporate giving program in which a company matches employee donations to a nonprofit organization. For example, if an employee donates $100 to a nonprofit, the company might match that donation with another $100, bringing the total donation to $200.

Fundraising matches are a great way for companies to encourage employees to give back to their communities. They can also help to raise more money for nonprofits.

Here are some of the benefits of fundraising matches:

They can help to raise more money for nonprofits. When a company matches employee donations, it essentially doubles the amount of money that is raised for the nonprofit. This can be a huge help to nonprofits, especially those that are working on important but underfunded causes.
They can encourage employee giving. Fundraising matches can make it more likely that employees will donate to their favorite nonprofits. When employees know that their donations will be matched, they are more likely to give. This can lead to a significant increase in donations for nonprofits.
They can help to build employee morale. Fundraising matches can show employees that their company cares about giving back to the community. This can help to build employee morale and make employees feel more connected to their company.
They can help to improve a company’s reputation. When a company has a fundraising match program, it shows that the company is committed to social responsibility. This can help to improve the company’s reputation and make it more attractive to potential employees and customers.

If you are looking for a way to support your favorite nonprofit organization, be sure to check with your company to see if they have a fundraising match program. It’s a great way to double your donation and help make a difference in the world.

Community Grants

Community grants are financial awards given to nonprofit organizations or other community groups to support their work in the community. They can be used to fund a variety of projects, such as:

Programs that provide direct services to community members, such as food banks, homeless shelters, and after-school programs.
Projects that improve the community’s infrastructure, such as parks, libraries, and community centers.
Initiatives that promote social change, such as those that address poverty, hunger, or education inequality.

Community grants are often awarded by foundations, corporations, and government agencies. They can be competitive, so it is important to carefully research the eligibility requirements and application process before applying.

Here are some of the benefits of community grants:

They can help to fund important projects that benefit the community.
They can help to build partnerships between nonprofits and other community groups.
They can help to raise awareness of important issues in the community.
They can help to improve the quality of life in the community.

If you are a nonprofit organization or other community group that is interested in applying for a community grant, be sure to do your research and find a grant that is a good fit for your organization and its work. There are many different types of community grants available, so you are sure to find one that is right for you.

Dollars for Doers

Dollars for Doers is a type of corporate giving program in which a company provides monetary grants to nonprofits where its employees regularly volunteer.

These programs are sometimes referred to by other names such as:

Volunteer grants
Dollar for hour
Matching time
Volunteer matching
Grants for time
Matching gift per hour
Credit per hour
Service credit

Here are some of the benefits of Dollars for Doers programs for both companies and nonprofits:

Companies:
- Increased employee engagement and morale
- Improved company reputation
- Tax benefits
Nonprofits:
- Increased funding
- Increased visibility
- Increased volunteerism

If you are a company or nonprofit interested in learning more about Dollars for Doers programs, many resources are available online. You can also contact your local United Way or other community foundation for more information.

Team Volunteer Grants

A team volunteer grant is a corporate giving program in which a company provides a monetary donation to a nonprofit organization when a group of employees volunteer together. These programs encourage team building, community service, and employee engagement.

Many types of team volunteer grants are available, each with its own set of eligibility requirements and benefits. Some companies offer grants for any team of employees who volunteer together, while others require that teams meet certain criteria, such as a minimum number of volunteer hours or a specific type of service.

In addition to providing financial support, team volunteer grants can also offer other benefits to nonprofits. For example, companies may provide teams with training or resources to help them maximize their volunteer experience. They may also help to promote the nonprofit’s work to the company’s employees and customers.

If you are interested in applying for a team volunteer grant, you should keep a few things in mind. First, you will need to find a company that offers this type of program. You can search online or contact your company’s human resources department. Once you have found a company that offers team volunteer grants, you will need to read the program’s eligibility requirements carefully. These requirements may vary from company to company, so it is important to ensure your team meets all of the criteria.

Once you have determined that your team is eligible for a team volunteer grant, you will need to submit an application. The application process will vary from company to company, so be sure to read the instructions carefully. In general, you will need to provide information about your team’s volunteer project, the number of hours that your team will volunteer, and the impact that your team’s volunteer work will have.

If your team is selected to receive a team volunteer grant, you will be notified by the company. The company will then provide you with the grant money, which you can use to support your team’s volunteer project.

Team volunteer grants are a great way to encourage team building, community service, and employee engagement. If your company offers this type of program, I encourage you to apply for a grant. It is a great way to give back to your community and to show your employees that you value their time and effort.

Here are some additional tips for applying for a team volunteer grant:

Start planning your volunteer project early. This will give you plenty of time to find a project that is a good fit for your team and to secure the necessary permissions.
Be clear about the impact that your team’s volunteer work will have. This will help the company to see the value of your project and to make a decision about whether or not to award you a grant.
Get creative with your project. The more unique and interesting your project is, the more likely it is to stand out to the company.
Be sure to follow all of the company’s requirements. This will increase your chances of being selected for a grant.

Volunteer Support Programs

Volunteer support programs are designed to help volunteers find, prepare for, and succeed in their volunteer roles. These programs can provide volunteers with a variety of resources, such as training, orientation, and support networks.

There are many different types of volunteer support programs available, each with its own focus and target audience. Some programs are designed for specific groups of volunteers, such as new volunteers, young volunteers, or volunteers with disabilities. Other programs are designed to provide support for specific types of volunteer work, such as disaster relief, environmental conservation, or social justice.

Volunteer support programs can be offered by a variety of organizations, including nonprofit organizations, government agencies, and businesses. Some programs are free to use, while others charge a fee.

If you are interested in volunteering, I encourage you to find a volunteer support program that is right for you. These programs can help you make the most of your volunteer experience and make a difference in your community.

Here are some of the benefits of participating in a volunteer support program:

Training and orientation: Volunteer support programs can provide you with the training and orientation you need to be successful in your volunteer role. This training can cover topics such as safety, ethics, and effective communication.
Support networks: Volunteer support programs can provide you with a support network of other volunteers. This network can provide you with encouragement, advice, and friendship.
Resources: Volunteer support programs can provide you with a variety of resources to help you in your volunteer role. These resources can include training materials, equipment, and funding.
Recognition: Volunteer support programs can help you to be recognized for your volunteer work. This recognition can come in the form of awards, certificates, or public recognition.

If you are interested in finding a volunteer support program, there are a few things you can do. First, you can search online for volunteer support programs in your area. You can also contact your local nonprofit organizations, government agencies, and businesses to see if they offer volunteer support programs.

Once you have found a volunteer support program that you are interested in, you can contact the program to learn more about it. The program can provide you with information about the program’s requirements, fees, and benefits.

I hope this information is helpful. If you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to ask.

Annual Giving

Annual giving is a type of fundraising that focuses on raising money from individuals on an ongoing basis throughout the year. It is a critical component of a nonprofit’s fundraising strategy, as it can provide a steady stream of income to support the organization’s ongoing programs and services.

There are many different ways to raise money through annual giving. Some common methods include:

Direct mail
Email
Phone calls
Social media
Special events

Annual giving campaigns can be very successful, but they require careful planning and execution. It is important to identify your target audience, create compelling appeals, and track your results.

If you are a nonprofit, I encourage you to consider annual giving as a part of your fundraising strategy. It is a proven way to raise money from individuals and build a strong donor base.

Here are some of the benefits of annual giving:

It is a reliable source of income for nonprofits.
It helps to build relationships with donors.
It can be used to support a variety of programs and services.
It is a cost-effective way to raise money.

If you are interested in learning more about annual giving, there are many resources available online and in libraries. You can also contact your local nonprofit organization for more information.

Annual Grant Stipends

An annual grant stipend is a type of grant that is awarded to individuals or organizations on an annual basis. These grants are typically used to support ongoing programs or activities, rather than one-time projects.

There are many different types of annual grant stipends available, each with its own eligibility requirements and benefits. Some grants are open to all applicants, while others are only available to specific groups of people, such as students, artists, or nonprofit organizations.

In addition to providing financial support, annual grant stipends can also offer other benefits to recipients, such as:

Access to resources and support networks
Credibility and visibility
Increased opportunities for collaboration and networking
The ability to reach a wider audience

If you are interested in applying for an annual grant stipend, there are a few things you should keep in mind. First, you will need to find a grant that is a good fit for your needs and goals. You can do this by searching online or contacting your local nonprofit organization. Once you have found a grant that you are interested in, you will need to read the application carefully and make sure that you meet all of the eligibility requirements.

The application process for annual grant stipends will vary from grant to grant. However, in general, you will need to provide information about your project, your qualifications, and your budget. You may also be asked to submit letters of support from colleagues, mentors, or other community members.

If you are selected to receive an annual grant stipend, you will be notified by the grantor. The grantor will then provide you with the grant money, which you can use to support your project.

Annual grant stipends are a great way to support your work and make a difference in your community. If you are eligible, I encourage you to apply for a grant. It is a great way to get the financial support you need to achieve your goals.

Here are some additional tips for applying for an annual grant stipend:

Start planning early. The grant application process can be time-consuming, so it is important to start planning early.
Be clear about your goals. The grantor wants to know what you plan to do with the money, so be clear about your goals and how the money will be used.
Tailor your application to the grant. Each grant has its own eligibility requirements and benefits, so be sure to tailor your application to the specific grant you are applying for.
Proofread carefully. Typos and grammatical errors can make a bad impression on the grantor, so be sure to proofread your application carefully before submitting it.

I hope this information is helpful. If you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to ask.

Internal Employee Fundraising

Internal employee fundraising is a type of fundraising that takes place within a company. It is a way for employees to come together and raise money for a cause that they care about.

There are many different ways to raise money through internal employee fundraising. Some common methods include:

Donation campaigns: Employees can donate money directly to the cause.
Matching gifts: Companies can match employee donations, which can double or triple the amount of money raised.
Volunteerism: Employees can volunteer their time to the cause.
Product sales: Employees can sell products or services to raise money for the cause.
Special events: Companies can host special events, such as bake sales or walk-a-thons, to raise money for the cause.

Internal employee fundraising can be a very successful way to raise money for a cause. It is a great way to get employees involved in giving back to their community and to build a sense of community within the company.

Employee Product Donation Programs (EPDP)

An Employee Product Donation Program (EPDP) is a corporate giving program that allows employees to donate company products to nonprofit organizations. EPDPs are a great way for companies to give back to their communities and to engage their employees in philanthropy.

There are many different ways that EPDPs can be structured. Some companies allow employees to donate any company product, while others only allow employees to donate specific products. Some companies also require employees to get approval from their manager before donating, while others do not.

The benefits of EPDPs for companies include:

Increased employee engagement: EPDPs can help to increase employee engagement by giving employees a way to give back to their communities and to feel like they are making a difference.
Positive public relations: EPDPs can generate positive public relations for companies by showing that they are committed to giving back to their communities.
Tax benefits: In some cases, companies may be able to deduct the cost of donated products from their taxes.

The benefits of EPDPs for nonprofits include:

Increased access to resources: EPDPs can help nonprofits to get access to resources that they might not otherwise be able to afford.
Increased visibility: EPDPs can help nonprofits to increase their visibility in the community.
Increased donations: EPDPs can help nonprofits to raise more money from donors.

If you are considering implementing an EPDP, there are a few things you should keep in mind. First, you must ensure you have the resources to support the program. Second, you need to ensure that you have a process for managing the program. Third, you need to make sure that you are promoting the program to your employees.

EPDPs can be a great way for companies to give back to their communities and to engage their employees in philanthropy. If you are considering implementing an EPDP, I encourage you to do so. It is a great way to make a difference in the world.

Corporate Giving Program: The Complete Business Guide to Running Gifting and Matching Employee Benefits

Corporate giving programs are growing in popularity among thriving businesses and for many good reasons.

For companies, corporate giving programs can improve their reputation and brand image, attract and retain employees, increase customer loyalty, boost sales, and reduce taxable income.

For communities, corporate giving programs address social and economic needs, improve the quality of life for those in the community, promote civic engagement, and build stronger bonds between community members.

In this article, you’ll learn everything you need to know about launching and running a corporate giving program, information from what a corporate giving program is to learning the different types of corporate giving programs and choosing the right one for your organization.

What is Corporate Giving?

Corporate giving is the act of a corporation or business promoting the welfare of others, generally through charitable donations of funds or time. It is a form of corporate social responsibility (CSR) that can benefit both the company and the community.

Corporate giving is a win-win for both companies and communities. It is a way for companies to positively impact the world while benefiting their own bottom line.

How do corporations commonly make charitable donations?

There are many different ways that corporations can give back. Some common forms of corporate giving include:

Cash donations: This is the most common form of corporate giving. Companies can donate money to nonprofit organizations that support causes they care about.
In-kind donations: Companies can donate products or services to nonprofits. For example, a company that makes food could donate food to a local food bank.
Employee volunteerism: Companies can encourage employees to volunteer their time to nonprofits. This is a great way to get employees involved in their communities and to give back to the causes they care about.
Cause-related marketing: This is a marketing partnership between a company and a nonprofit. The company donates a portion of its profits to the nonprofit when customers purchase its products or services.
Matching gifts: Companies can match the charitable donations of their employees. This is a great way to encourage employees to give back and to double the impact of their donations.

What is a corporate giving account?

A corporate giving account is a donor-advised fund (DAF) specifically designed for businesses. DAFs are charitable giving accounts that allow donors to make tax-deductible contributions and then recommend grants to charitable organizations over time. Corporate giving accounts offer many of the same benefits as traditional DAFs, but they can also provide additional benefits for businesses, such as:

Tax benefits: Contributions to a corporate giving account are tax-deductible for the business, just like contributions to a traditional DAF.
Flexibility: Businesses can use their corporate giving account to support a wide range of large and small charitable causes.
Simplicity: Corporate giving accounts are relatively easy to set up and manage.
Professional management: Many corporate giving accounts are offered by third-party providers who can help businesses with the administrative details of giving.

A corporate giving account may be a good option if your business is looking for a way to make a charitable impact.

Most common types of corporate giving programs

Gifting and Matching

One type of corporate gifting program is a matching gift program. In a matching gift program, the company will match employee donations to certain charities, up to a certain amount. For example, a company might match employee donations to the United Way up to $500 annually. This is a great way for companies to double the impact of their employees’ donations.

Corporate gifting and matching programs are great for companies to show their employees that they care about giving back. These programs can also help to attract and retain top talent, as employees are more likely to want to work for a company that shares their values.

Here are some of the benefits of corporate gifting and matching programs:

Employee engagement: Corporate gifting and matching programs can help to increase employee engagement by giving employees a way to give back to their communities.
Employee morale: Corporate gifting and matching programs can help to improve employee morale by showing employees that their company cares about giving back.
Company reputation: Corporate gifting and matching programs can help to improve a company’s reputation by showing that the company is committed to social responsibility.
Tax benefits: In some cases, corporate gifting and matching programs can provide tax benefits for the company.

If you want to give back to your community and show your employees that you care, consider starting a corporate gifting or matching program.

Volunteer Grants

A volunteer grant is a monetary award given to a nonprofit organization by a corporation to recognize volunteer work being done by a company’s employees. This practice is widespread in the United States. Corporate giving programs created to encourage volunteerism by a corporation’s employees by providing volunteer grants are called volunteer grant programs or Dollars for Doers programs.

If you are a nonprofit organization interested in applying for a volunteer grant, be sure to check with your local corporations to see if they offer such a program. You can also find a list of companies that offer volunteer grants online.

Other Types of Corporate Giving Programs

Fundraising Match

A fundraising match is a type of corporate giving program in which a company matches employee donations to a nonprofit organization. For example, if an employee donates $100 to a nonprofit, the company might match that donation with another $100, bringing the total donation to $200.

Fundraising matches are a great way for companies to encourage their employees to give back to their communities. They can also help to raise more money for nonprofits.

Community Grants

Community grants are financial awards given to nonprofit organizations or other community groups to support their work in the community. They can be used to fund a variety of projects, such as:

Programs that provide direct services to community members, such as food banks, homeless shelters, and after-school programs.
Projects that improve the community’s infrastructure, such as parks, libraries, and community centers.
Initiatives that promote social change, such as those that address poverty, hunger, or education inequality.

Dollars for Doers

Dollars for Doers is a type of corporate giving program in which a company provides monetary grants to nonprofits where its employees regularly volunteer.

Here are some of the benefits of Dollars for Doers programs for both companies and nonprofits:

Companies:
- Increased employee engagement and morale
- Improved company reputation
- Tax benefits
Nonprofits:
- Increased funding
- Increased visibility
- Increased volunteerism

Team Volunteer Grants

A team volunteer grant is a type of corporate giving program in which a company provides a monetary donation to a nonprofit organization when a group of employees volunteer together. These programs are designed to encourage team building, community service, and employee engagement.

There are many different types of team volunteer grants available, each with its own set of eligibility requirements and benefits. Some companies offer grants for any team of employees who volunteer together, while others require that teams meet certain criteria, such as a minimum number of volunteer hours or a specific type of service.

Volunteer Support Programs

Annual Giving

Annual Grant Stipends

Internal Employee Fundraising

Internal employee fundraising is a type of fundraising that takes place within a company. It is a way for employees to come together and raise money for a cause that they care about.

There are many different ways to raise money through internal employee fundraising. Some common methods include:

Donation campaigns: Employees can donate money directly to the cause.
Matching gifts: Companies can match employee donations, which can double or triple the amount of money raised.
Volunteerism: Employees can volunteer their time to the cause.
Product sales: Employees can sell products or services to raise money for the cause.
Special events: Companies can host special events, such as bake sales or walk-a-thons, to raise money for the cause.

Employee Product Donation Programs (EPDP)

How to start a corporate giving program for your company

Here are the steps on how to start a corporate giving program for your company:

Set your goals. What do you want to achieve with your corporate giving program? Do you want to raise money for a specific cause, or do you want to encourage employee volunteerism? Once you know your goals, you can start to develop a plan.
Choose a cause. What cause is important to your company and its employees? Once you’ve chosen a cause, you can start researching nonprofits working to address that issue.
Develop a plan. How will you raise money or encourage employee volunteerism? What are your timeline and budget? Once you have a plan, you can start to put it into action.
Promote your program. Let your employees know about your corporate giving program and how to get involved. You can promote your program through company newsletters, social media, and other channels.
Measure your results. How much money did you raise? How many employees volunteered? How did your program impact the cause you were supporting? By measuring your results, you can see how effective your program is and make adjustments as needed.

Here are some additional tips for starting a corporate giving program:

Get buy-in from senior leadership. It’s important to have the support of senior leadership in order to make your corporate giving program a success.
Involve employees. Employees are more likely to be engaged in a corporate giving program if they feel they have a say in its run.
Make it easy for employees to give. The easier it is for employees to give, the more likely they are to do so.
Track your results. It’s important to track your results to see how effective your corporate giving program is.

How does corporate giving affect employees?

Corporate giving can have a number of positive effects on employees, including:

Increased employee engagement: Employees who feel like their company is giving back to the community are more likely to be engaged in their work and to feel a sense of pride in their employer.
Improved morale: Employees who feel their company is making a difference in the world are likelier to be happy and motivated at work.
Reduced turnover: Employees who feel like their company is committed to social responsibility are more likely to stay with their employer for the long term.
Increased productivity: Employees who feel their work is meaningful are more likely to be productive and go the extra mile.
Improved reputation: Companies known for their corporate giving programs are often seen as more reputable and trustworthy by customers, investors, and the general public.

In addition to these direct benefits, corporate giving can also have a number of indirect benefits for employees. For example, employees who are engaged in their work and who feel like they are making a difference in the world are more likely to be healthy and happy. They are also more likely to be involved in their communities and to be positive role models for their children.

Overall, corporate giving can be a win-win for both companies and employees. It can help companies to improve their bottom line, their reputation, and their employee morale. It can also help employees to feel good about their work and to make a difference in the world.

How companies can benefit more from their corporate giving?

Companies can benefit more from their corporate giving in a number of ways. Here are a few tips:

Choose a cause that is aligned with your company’s values. When employees see that their company is giving back to causes that they care about, they are more likely to be engaged and motivated.
Get employees involved. Employees are more likely to be supportive of a corporate giving program if they feel like they have a say in how it’s run. Consider allowing employees to vote on which causes the company supports, or to volunteer their time to local charities.
Measure your results. It’s important to track the impact of your corporate giving program so you can see how it’s benefiting your company and the community. This will help you to justify your investment and to make improvements as needed.
Get the word out. Let your customers, investors, and the general public know about your corporate giving program. This will help to improve your company’s reputation and attract new business.

By following these tips, you can make sure that your corporate giving program is both effective and beneficial for your company.

Unleash the Power of Your Employee Giving Program: Best Practices Guide

Your Best Practices Guide for Maximizing Your Employee Giving Participation

This guide provides you with tools and tips to maximize employee participation in your giving program, not just when the program launches but throughout the entire year.

Leveraging our expertise in the social impact and nonprofit sectors, Groundswell is here to support you and your employees on your impact journey.

Overview

Employee giving programs can be a great way for companies to demonstrate their commitment to social responsibility, engage employees, and make a positive impact on the community. But too often, employees don’t take full advantage of the opportunities provided through their giving programs, leaving billions of funds unmatched every year. For some, this is due to either a lack of awareness about their company’s giving program, or for others because an unwieldy donation portal and match process that leaves employees frustrated. Groundswell’s technology brings corporate giving into the 21st century and unleashes the modern philanthropist in all of your employees.

Whether your goal is to grow the percentage of employees participating in your giving program, increase the amount of funds going to nonprofits, or to better understand the causes that matter most to your employees, these best practices can help you achieve those goals.

By reducing the administrative burden required to launch and implement a Giving Program, Groundswell frees you up to focus on what matters most: inspiring your employees and having a positive impact on the world through your company’s support for charitable causes.

6 Tips for Maximizing Participation in Your Employee Giving Program

1. Communicate Early and with Intention

Communication is a critical component of any successful giving program. We want you to have the tools to effectively share program details and encourage participation – whether launching a new employee giving program or transitioning from an existing one.

The key is to help employees understand why and how Groundswell fits into your company’s broader vision around corporate citizenship and employee engagement – and build enthusiasm around the potential to collectively have a positive impact on the world through donations to charities.

Program Launch Communications:

Here are some ways to think about the program launch. Depending on whether this is a new program or transitioning from an existing one, your adoption plan may change. You don’t want to inundate employees with too much information, while also providing them with the resources they need to successfully enroll in the program and easily engage on the platform.

Keep it short, and emphasize that the intent is to center employees in corporate philanthropy and make it as easy as possible for employees to give.
If the Giving Program is new: Why now? How does it align with your company’s values? Why is Groundswell a good fit for the company?
If the program is replacing an existing program: Why now? What’s different (and better) from the previous program? New matching or gifting features? It may also be helpful to highlight the tax effectiveness of the donor-advised fund model.

Monthly Program Communications

In order to encourage ongoing participation in your program, and for employees to take advantage of the gifts and matches offered by your company, we encourage monthly nudges to remind employees about the program.

Monthly Cause Spotlights

Start off the month by highlighting some timely causes – make sure to link to Groundswell-curated “Featured Cause” Portfolios that Groundswell uploads to the dashboard every month for a hand-off approach to spotlighting.
Share “Cause of the Month” information with employees, leveraging the toolkits found in Groundswell’s Resource Center.

Engagement & Impact Reporting

Utilize the data that you can find on your company Dashboard or download via CSV to highlight some of your company’s collective impact – including a percentage of employees enrolled, the total dollar amount that has been donated, as well as top nonprofit donation recipients and/or cause areas.
This helps employees see how their individual donations are having a larger impact as part of your company’s collective giving program.

2. Drive Early Adoption through Gifts

Gifts can be a terrific way to get employees to sign up and start using the Groundswell platform immediately. Here are a few tips on how to drive early adoption using the Gifting feature:

Launch with a one-time gift into employees’ Giving Accounts that will show up as soon as employees enroll. This can be a great way to create buzz about the program and empower employees to donate and make an impact immediately – even before they contribute their own funds to their Groundswell account.
Throughout the year, provide unexpected, ad hoc gifts into employees’ accounts – for work anniversaries, milestones, great performance, etc.
A way to make it fun is to do a lottery at All Hands meetings by randomly selecting an employee to receive $25 in their Groundswell account. Follow this link or reach out to the Groundswell Customer Success team to learn more.

3. Inspire Engagement through Matching

Set up a matching program that immediately doubles the impact when an employee puts funds into their Groundswell Giving Account. This creates a feeling of “we’re in this together” – and drives home the message about an equitable approach to corporate philanthropy.
A match program can run for an entire year, or be tailored to specific months.
With the Groundswell match happening at the point of contributing funds to the Groundswell account, employees can tangibly see and feel what it means to double the impact for the charities and causes that matter most to them.

4. Leverage Cause Campaigns & Respond to the Emergent Events

Planned Campaigns:

Utilize a Social Impact Cause Calendar to plan monthly or bi-monthly communications to employees highlighting specific causes – with resources to educate employees about the cause, and a curated list of nonprofits most relevant to the cause. You can refer to Groundswell’s monthly cause portfolios that are updated to reflect timely causes and issues.
Tip: Plan your annual budget to launch match campaigns focused on specific charities or cause areas throughout the year.

Unforeseen Events:

Utilize Groundswell’s curated list of best-in-class nonprofits responding to disasters in the United States or globally. Being able to quickly and confidently point your employees to vetted nonprofits to donate to shows that you are responsive as a company and empowering employees to take action in moments of crisis.
Tip: Keep a portion of your annual budget in reserve so that you can match employee donations and/or provide gifts to employees to expand the impact in response to the unforeseen emergency.

5. Engage Employee Resource Groups

Another mechanism to center employees in corporate philanthropy and recognize their own lived experiences: provide Employee Resource Groups (ERG) a platform to speak to key cause areas (e.g. AAPI Awareness, Black History Month, etc).

ERGs can take the opportunity to recommend nonprofits that they think are most effective and related to the cause, and share their commitment to specific causes with the tag-line “My cause is ____ “
Tip: Solicit recommendations from the Employee Resource Group for books to read, films, and documentaries to watch, and podcasts to listen to. This can generate a deeper understanding of causes and lead to engagement via donations to support the causes.

6. Lean Into End-of-Year Giving Spirit

30% of annual giving happens in December, with about 10% of all annual donations coming in the last three days of the year. For nonprofits, this can be a critical time to raise funds and prepare programming budgets for the next year.

You can leverage Groundswell’s Giving Tuesday resources to launch an end-of-year donation campaign, featuring specific cause areas and nonprofits.

Tip: Set a budget aside for a surprise end-of-year gift – leveraging the fact that a large percentage of people prefer to donate at the end of the year.

Read related articles

Groundswell is your ally in corporate philanthropy.

Corporate giving programs aim to empower employees and help companies facilitate and support philanthropic efforts. As global access grows and corporations become more diverse, employee representation becomes an increasingly important subject.

Groundswell enables companies to lay the foundation for their employees to adopt a generous giving attitude towards charities and world-shaping efforts.

Complete Guide to Setting Up a Matching Gift Program for your Company

Are you a corporate leader interested in supporting your employees’ philanthropic efforts and making a positive impact in the community?

You may want to set up a corporate matching gift program for your company. A matching gift program is a charitable giving program where a company matches donations made by its employees to eligible nonprofit organizations.

Here’s a step-by-step guide to setting up a matching gift program for your company:

What is a corporate matching gift program?

A corporate matching gift program is designed to encourage employees to give to charity and support causes they care about, as well as to demonstrate the company’s commitment to philanthropy and social responsibility.

Gift matching programs are an effective way for companies to support and strengthen their employees’ charitable giving efforts. By matching donations, companies can amplify the impact of their employees’ charitable contributions and make a positive impact in their community. This can also help to boost employee engagement, morale, and retention, as employees are more likely to feel engaged and proud of their company when they see their employer supporting causes they care about.

Corporate matching gift program boundaries

The parameters of a corporate matching gift program can vary from company to company but typically include the types of nonprofit organizations eligible for matching gifts, the minimum and maximum donation amounts that will be matched, and any other eligibility requirements, such as full-time employee status or a minimum tenure requirement.

Some companies may also choose to support specific causes or organizations by limiting their matching gifts to certain types of nonprofits, such as those focused on education, health, or the environment. Other companies give employees the freedom to give to the causes they care about most, given that the nonprofit organization is vetted. The latter option lends to a more inclusive and diverse giving experience for employees.

To administer a corporate matching gift program, companies often work with a matching gift vendor like Groundswell who can help manage the administrative tasks associated with the program, such as verifying nonprofit eligibility, processing donations, and disbursing matching gifts.

Groundswell is a modern corporate matching gift provider, suitable for everyone from small businesses to enterprises.

Overall, corporate matching gift programs are a win-win for companies and their employees. Not only do they allow companies to demonstrate their commitment to philanthropy and social responsibility, but they also help to strengthen employee engagement, boost morale, and make a positive impact in their community.

How does corporate gift matching work?

Companies launch corporate gift matching programs to support their employees’ interests and make a social impact in their community.

Here’s how it typically works:

Eligibility: The company first determines which charitable organizations are eligible for the gift matching program. These organizations are usually non-profits that are tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.
Employee donation: The employee makes a donation to one of the eligible charitable organizations.
Employee request: The employee then submits a request to the company to have their donation matched. This request may be made online or through a paper form and may require the employee to provide proof of their donation.
Company verification: The company verifies the employee’s donation and confirms that it is eligible for matching.
Matching donation: Once the company has verified the donation, it will typically make a matching donation to the same charitable organization.
Donation processing: The charitable organization receives both the employee’s donation and the company’s matching donation. The organization may provide a receipt for tax purposes to both the employee and the company.

How to set up a matching gift program

Step 1: Define the Parameters of Your Program

Before launching your matching gift program, you’ll need to define the parameters of your program. This includes determining the types of nonprofit organizations your company will match donations to, the minimum and maximum donation amounts that will be matched, and any other eligibility requirements, such as full-time employee status or a minimum tenure requirement.

Step 2: Choose a Matching Gift Vendor

Next, you’ll need to choose a matching gift vendor to administer your program. A matching gift vendor can help you manage the administrative tasks associated with a matching gift program, such as verifying nonprofit eligibility, processing donations, and disbursing matching gifts.

Groundswell is a matching gift vendor providing a modern solution built for the way people give today. Through the mobile app, employees can search for nonprofits and make donations directly through Groundswell.

Step 3: Communicate the Program to Your Employees

Once you have defined the parameters of your program and chosen a matching gift vendor, it’s time to communicate the program to your employees. This can be done through email announcements, company intranet postings, and other internal communication channels.

Be sure to provide clear instructions on how employees can participate in the program and how their donations will be matched.

Step 4: Launch the Program and Monitor the Results

After communicating the program to your employees, it’s time to launch the program! Be sure to monitor the results and track the impact of your matching gift program. You can do this by tracking the number of employees who participate in the program, the total amount of donations made, and the number of matching gifts disbursed.

By following these steps, you can set up a successful matching gift program for your company that supports your employees’ philanthropic efforts and makes a positive impact in your community. Happy giving!

More about Groundswell

Groundswell is a modern corporate matching gift provider, helping companies transform their company culture with matching gift programs.

Learn more about Groundswell, including pricing and deployment, by scheduling a demo with a company culture representative.

Read related articles:

Tax Benefits of Corporate Donation Matching Gifts: All You Need To Know

Corporate donation matching gifts programs are rising in popularity, and for good reason.

As more companies shift to better business practices and align with corporate social responsibility values, business leaders are looking for more ways to provide employee benefits that also make a social impact. Enter corporate matching gifts programs.

Along with making the world a better place, an added benefit corporate matching gifts programs offer are tax deductions.

In this article, you’ll find information on what a corporate matching gifts program is, what tax deductions you can expect from corporate matching gifts as an employer and an employee, and a financial-wellness hack on how to maximize your benefits using donor-advised funds.

What is a corporate donation matching gift program?

A corporate donation matching gift program is a type of charitable giving program in which companies match the donations made by their employees to eligible non-profit organizations.

Corporate donation matching gifts program providers offer experiences that differ in how they streamline the donation experience, consolidate and catalog donation receipts, or give donors access to different features. Those differences include access to a mobile app or access to different tax-advantaged accounts.

Are corporate donation-matching gifts tax deductible?

Yes. Corporate matching gift donations, like independent donations, are tax deductible and follow the same tax deduction rules for donations to eligible organizations.

Tax basics of corporate donation-matching gifts

Corporate matching gift programs offer several tax benefits for both the company and the employees who participate in them.

Matching gifts are tax-deductible expenses and can be deducted from the company’s taxable income. This can help reduce the amount of taxes the company has to pay to the government.

For employees, the tax benefits of corporate matching gifts depend on how they make their donations.

Pre-tax donations

The donation is considered pre-tax if an employee donates to an eligible non-profit organization directly from their paycheck through a payroll deduction program. This means the employee’s taxable income is reduced by the amount of the donation, and they pay less in federal income taxes and FICA (Social Security and Medicare) taxes.

Additionally, because the matching gift is made by the company, the employee may be able to deduct the entire amount of their donation, including the matching amount, on their federal income tax return.

Post-tax donations

If an employee makes a donation to an eligible non-profit organization outside of a payroll deduction program, the donation is considered post-tax. In this case, the employee can still claim a tax deduction for their donation, but they may not be able to deduct the matching amount made by the company.

It’s important to note that the tax benefits of corporate matching gifts may vary depending on the specific laws and regulations in your country and state. It’s always a good idea to consult with a tax professional or financial advisor to understand how matching gifts may impact your tax situation.

Using a donor-advised fund as part of your corporate matching gifts program

A donor-advised fund (DAF) is a charitable giving vehicle that allows donors to make a tax-deductible contribution to a fund, which is then used to make donations to eligible non-profit organizations over time.

Many corporate leaders and high-wealth donors channel their donations through their DAF to receive financial advantages.

DAFs offer several tax advantages for donors, including:

Immediate tax deduction: When a donor contributes to a DAF, they can immediately claim a tax deduction for the full amount of the contribution on their federal income tax return, even if the funds are not immediately disbursed to non-profit organizations.
Capital gains tax savings: Donors can contribute appreciated assets, such as stocks or real estate, to a DAF and receive a tax deduction for the full fair market value of the assets. This allows donors to avoid paying capital gains taxes on the appreciation of the assets, which can be significant tax savings.
Simplified record-keeping: When donors contribute to a DAF, they no longer need to keep track of individual donations made to non-profit organizations throughout the year. Instead, the DAF sponsor handles all record-keeping and tax reporting, which can simplify the donor’s tax preparation process.
Flexibility in giving: Donors can recommend grants from their DAF to eligible non-profit organizations at any time, allowing them to support charitable causes as their interests and priorities change.
Legacy giving: Donors can name their DAF as a beneficiary of their estate, ensuring that their charitable giving continues after their death.

It’s important to note that once funds are contributed to a DAF, the donor no longer has control over the assets and cannot take them back for personal use.

Additionally, DAFs are subject to annual administrative fees, which can vary depending on the sponsor and the size of the fund. As with any tax-related matter, it’s always a good idea to consult with a tax professional or financial advisor to understand the full range of tax implications and benefits of corporate matching gift programs and a DAF.

Read more relevant articles:

How to Develop a Corporate Grant Strategy for Business Leaders

Developing a corporate grant strategy is an essential part of any organization’s philanthropy and social responsibility initiatives. A well-crafted grant strategy can help your organization achieve its mission, meet its impact goals, and build relationships with key stakeholders.

If you want to develop a corporate grant strategy, here’s how to do it. First, let’s talk more about what a corporate grant is and the types of corporate grants out there.

What is a Corporate Grant?

A corporate grant is a financial award given by a company or organization to an individual, group, or organization for a specific purpose, such as research or charitable purposes. Corporate grants can vary in size, scope, and purpose, and may be given in the form of cash, in-kind services, or other resources.

Types of Corporate Grants

Corporate grants are typically awarded to organizations or individuals who are able to demonstrate the potential to make a positive impact in their field. Common types of corporate grants include:

Community grants support projects or initiatives within a given community, often targeting a specific demographic group.
Project grants support specific projects or initiatives implemented by nonprofit organizations
Research grants support research into a particular field or topic
Scholarship grants support students pursuing higher education or other educational pursuits
Endowment grants support an organization’s long-term sustainability

Creating a Corporate Grant Strategy

Creating a corporate grant strategy can be a daunting task for corporations. It requires a lot of research, analysis, and coordination between multiple departments and stakeholders.

A corporate grant strategy should be tailored to the specific needs of the company and should include a plan for how the company will engage with potential grantees, how it will allocate funds, and how it will measure the impact of its investments.

With the right strategy in place, corporations can ensure that their grant-making efforts are effective and that their funding is making a meaningful difference.

1. Identify potential grantees

Start by researching organizations that meet the criteria of your corporate grant strategy – and align with the social and environmental impact goals for your company. It is important to look for organizations that have a strong mission, clear goals, and a track record of success.

Furthermore, consider the types of causes you want to support, the geographic areas you want to serve, and the populations you want to target.

2. Define your grant criteria:

Make sure to clearly define the criteria for your grants. This should include the amount of money you are willing to provide, the type of project you are interested in funding, and the timeline for when the grant funds should be used. Many corporate grants can be effective if given in a lump sum upfront, but other grants may be disbursed over time based on milestones.

Additionally, consider if you will require any reporting or accountability from the grantees to ensure that the grant money is being used effectively.

3. Create a grant application:

Develop an application process for potential grantees to apply for your grants. This should include the necessary documents and information that they need to provide to be considered, including a detailed project proposal, budget, and timeline.

Make sure to set a deadline for when applications will be accepted to ensure that the process is organized and efficient.

4. Review applications

Carefully review each application to determine if it fits the criteria of your grant strategy.

Make sure to pay attention to the details of each application to ensure that the organization is a good fit for your corporate grant. Consider the organization’s track record, the impact of the proposed project, and the qualifications of the people who will be implementing the project.

5. Finalize the selection

Once you have identified the organizations that you want to provide grants to, finalize the selection and notify them of your decision.

Make sure to provide clear instructions on how the grant money should be used and the timeline for when it should be used.

6. Monitor and evaluate

Monitor the progress of the grantees and evaluate the impact of your grants on the organizations and communities you are trying to help.

Consider tracking metrics such as the number of people served, the amount of money raised, and broader outcomes in the communities where the grant money is being used.

7. Report your results

Keep track of your results and report them to your organization. This will help in understanding the impact of the grants and informing future grant strategies. Sharing the results internally can also provide employees with a sense of connection to the important causes that the company is supporting.

8. Adjust your strategy

As you continue to monitor and evaluate your grants, you may need to make changes to your strategy to ensure that it is effective.

Consider changes such as increasing or decreasing the amount of money provided, shifting the focus to different cause areas, or changing the types of organizations you are willing to fund.

9. Celebrate successes

Celebrate the successes of your grantees and the impact that your grants have had on the organizations and communities you are helping.

Share stories and success metrics with your team and your organization to showcase the impact of your corporate grant strategy. This can also be a time to jointly celebrate alongside the nonprofit partners who are recipients of the grants.

Disbursement Options

As part of your corporate grant strategy, you’ll need to decide on how to disburse the grants to your recipients. Most commonly, companies start a foundation to hold and disburse funds to nonprofits.

Why use a corporate foundation?

A corporate foundation is a nonprofit organization that is funded by a for-profit corporation. It works in collaboration with the corporation to support charitable activities that are related to the company’s areas of interest.

The foundation can provide grants to charitable organizations, as well as support employees’ volunteer work, and provide in-kind donations.

Often, opening a corporate foundation takes a great deal of administrative burden that companies don’t have the resources to support. A simpler and more affordable option is to use a Donor-Advised Fund.

Can I use a Donor-Advised Fund as a corporate foundation?

Yes. A corporate donor-advised fund can act as a corporate foundation. A corporate DAF enables granting funds to causes – and by extension, nonprofits – the company supports.

It works by providing donors with a tax-deductible donation to the fund, which they can then use to provide grants to their chosen charities over time. The donor is not required to make the grants immediately, and can instead choose when and how to distribute the funds.

The DAF also provides donors with a way to streamline giving and manage charitable activities.

Open a DAF with Groundswell

Setting up a corporate grant strategy for business leaders is a great way to provide additional funding for projects and initiatives that may not have been possible without this extra source of funding.

With careful planning and research, business leaders can create a grant strategy that best suits the needs of their company and organization, as well as their overall impact goals and objectives.

Groundswell provides corporate DAFs that deliver all the benefits of a corporate foundation without the administrative burden at a much lower cost.

Book a free consultation and learn more about opening a DAF for distributing corporate grants.

22 Popular and Trending Corporate Giving Strategies for the Modern Business

Corporate giving strategies help modern businesses align with corporate social responsibility and ESG commitments. They also aid businesses in aligning their values with those of their employees.

A good corporate giving strategy will not only lead to a positive impact on social and environmental issues, but also results in increased brand recognition and reputation, as well as improved employee morale and engagement.

With the most recent business trends, employees and customers are avoiding corporations who ignore their societal impact and shifting towards doing business with purpose-driven companies.

An effective corporate giving strategy serves as the bridge between a company and the people they serve.

There are many different corporate giving strategies that companies can adopt. Here are 22 examples of a corporate giving strategy that’s worked in the past:

22 Corporate Giving Strategies for Purpose-Driven Companies

Philanthropic Giving

In-kind donations: Companies may donate products or services, rather than money, to nonprofit organizations.

Corporate foundations: Many companies have their own foundations, which are separate nonprofit organizations that are funded by the company and can more flexibly engage in philanthropic work beyond what might be possible by the company itself.

Sponsorships: Companies may sponsor events, programs, or projects run by nonprofit organizations.

Direct donations: Companies may make direct financial donations to nonprofit organizations.

Social impact bonds: In this type of program, a company partners with a nonprofit organization to fund a specific project or program. The company provides the funding upfront, and the nonprofit repays the funds with interest if the project is successful.

Corporate Grants: Some companies make grants – through a Foundation, Donor Advised Fund, or other philanthropy-focused budgets – to nonprofit organizations that align with their philanthropic goals.

Impact investing: Companies may make investments in organizations or projects (often known as social enterprises) that are expected to generate financial return alongside social or environmental impact.

Volunteerism

Employee volunteer programs: Some companies have programs in place to encourage employees to volunteer their time to support nonprofit organizations.

Volunteer time off: Some companies allow employees to take paid time off to volunteer at a nonprofit organization of their choice.

Pro-bono services: Companies may offer pro bono services, such as legal or consulting services, to nonprofit organizations.

Sponsorship of educational programs: Companies may sponsor educational programs, such as scholarships or mentorship programs, run by nonprofit organizations – especially when there is an alignment with the company’s sector.

Diverse, Equitable, and Inclusive

Corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives: Many companies have CSR initiatives in place to address social and environmental issues. These initiatives may include a variety of giving strategies, such as direct donations, sponsorships, and employee volunteer programs.

Diverse and inclusive giving programs: Instead of restricting grants or donation to specific issues or cause areas, some companies have programs in place to support a wide range of causes and nonprofit organizations.

Employee donation-matching programs: In this type of program, the company matches donations made by employees to eligible nonprofit organizations.

Learn more about employee giving programs

Social enterprise: Some companies may operate social enterprises, which are businesses that are established to achieve a social or environmental mission, with profits being reinvested in the mission.

Employee gifting: Alongside a traditional donation-match program, many companies are implementing programs where employees are gifted funds to donate to the charity of their choice.

Corporate philanthropy consulting: Companies may work with philanthropy consultants to help them identify and prioritize giving opportunities.

Programs

Employee giving campaigns: Companies may run campaigns to encourage employees to donate to a specific cause or nonprofit organization, or in the wake of an important event such as a natural disaster.

Employee charitable giving committees: Some companies have committees made up of employees that help to identify charitable giving opportunities and make recommendations to management.

Community partnerships: Companies may form long-term partnerships with nonprofit organizations and other community groups to address specific needs in the local community.

Cause-related marketing: This involves partnering with a nonprofit organization to promote a product or service, with a portion of the proceeds going to the nonprofit.

Crowdfunding campaigns: Companies may use crowdfunding platforms to raise money for a specific cause or nonprofit organization.

These are examples of corporate giving strategies. Companies may adopt one or a combination of these strategies depending on their goals and resources.

Groundswell is an affordable workplace giving platform built for modern businesses. We give organizations the infrastructure and tools to make it easy to empower employees to support the causes they care about during moments that matter most.

Subscribe to our newsletter and reach out to our team to learn more about Groundswell.

Complete Guide to Donor-Advised Funds

Donor-advised funds (DAFs) are a type of charitable giving vehicle that allow individuals, families, and organizations to make a charitable contribution, receive an immediate tax deduction, and then recommend grants to charitable organizations over time.

DAFs have grown in popularity in recent years as a way for donors to simplify their charitable giving and make a greater impact.

While DAFs were previously only available to the wealthy, Groundswell makes the benefits of a donor-advised fund accessible to everyone.

In this article, we provide a complete guide to donor-advised funds, including how they work, their benefits and drawbacks, and how to set one up.

How do donor-advised funds work?

When a donor makes a contribution to a DAF, the funds are invested and managed by a sponsoring organization.

The donor receives an immediate tax deduction for the contribution, and can then recommend grants to charitable organizations at any time. The sponsoring organization is responsible for managing the DAF and distributing the grants as directed by the donor.

One of the main benefits of DAFs is that they allow donors to make a charitable contribution and receive an immediate tax deduction, even if they are not ready to decide which charities to support.

This can be especially useful for donors who want to make a charitable gift but are not sure which organizations to support, or for donors who want to spread their charitable giving out over time.

Learn the difference between a private foundation and a donor-advised fund

Benefits of donor-advised funds

There are several benefits to using a DAF for charitable giving, including:

Simplicity: DAFs are a simple way to make charitable contributions, as donors can make a single contribution to the DAF and then recommend grants to multiple charities over time.

Immediate Tax Deduction: Donors can receive an immediate tax deduction for their contribution to a DAF, even if they are not ready to recommend grants to charitable organizations.

Professional Management: DAFs are managed by a sponsoring organization, which means that donors do not have to worry about managing the investment of the funds or distributing the grants.

Flexibility: Donors can recommend grants to any IRS-qualified charitable organization, and can change the organizations they support at any time.

Anonymity: Donors can remain anonymous when making a contribution to a DAF or recommending a grant, if they choose.

How to set up a donor-advised fund

Setting up a donor-advised fund (DAF) is a simple process that can typically be done online in a few easy steps:

Choose a sponsoring organization: There are many different organizations that sponsor DAFs, including community foundations, financial institutions, and charitable organizations. Choosing a reputable organization that aligns with the donor’s charitable goals is important.

Groundswell is a flexible choice for small to enterprise-sized businesses looking to provide a charitable giving platform for their employees.

Learn to open a DAF account with Groundswell.

Make a contribution: The donor can make a contribution to the DAF using cash, securities, or other assets. The donor will receive an immediate tax deduction for the contribution.

Recommend grants: The donor can recommend grants to charitable organizations at any time, either online or by contacting the sponsoring organization.

Monitor the DAF: The donor can monitor the activity of their DAF and recommend additional grants as desired.

Donor-advised fund tax deduction information

One of the main benefits of donor-advised funds (DAFs) is that they allow donors to receive an immediate tax deduction for their charitable contributions. The tax deduction for DAFs is generally the same as it would be for a charitable contribution made directly to a charitable organization.

To be eligible for a tax deduction, the donor must itemize their deductions on their tax return and the contribution must be made to a qualified charitable organization. Contributions to a DAF are tax-deductible in the year that they are made, even if the donor does not recommend any grants from the DAF until a later year.

It is important for donors to keep in mind that there are limits on the number of charitable contributions that can be deducted each year.

Limits for charitable contributions that can be deducted for the tax year 2022

The limits on the number of charitable contributions that can be deducted for the tax year 2022 depending on the type of organization to which the donation is made and the taxpayer’s filing status.

For the tax year 2022, the limits are:

For donations made to public charities and certain private foundations, the limit is generally 60% of the taxpayer’s adjusted gross income (AGI).

For donations of appreciated capital gain property made to public charities and certain private foundations, the limit is generally 30% of AGI.

For donations made to certain private foundations and veterans organizations, the limit is generally 30% of AGI.

For donations of appreciated capital gain property made to certain private foundations, the limit is generally 20% of AGI.

It’s always recommended to check with a tax professional or the IRS to confirm the limits that apply to your specific situation.

It is also important for donors to retain documentation of their contributions to a DAF, as they may be required to provide proof of their charitable contributions in the event of an audit.

Software like Groundswell keeps track of all the important information you need come tax time.

Donor-advised funds distribution rules

The distribution rules for donor-advised funds vary depending on the specific terms of the fund and the sponsoring organization. In general, however, the following rules apply:

Donors must make an irrevocable contribution to the fund in order to participate. This means that the donor cannot change their mind and take the money back after making the contribution.
Donors can recommend how their contributions are invested and how the earnings are distributed to charitable organizations, but the sponsoring organization ultimately has the discretion to approve or deny the recommendations.
Donors cannot receive any personal benefit from the fund, such as the use of donated assets for personal purposes or the receipt of goods or services in exchange for their contribution.
Distributions from donor-advised funds must be used for charitable purposes. This means that the funds must be used to benefit a charitable organization or to support a charitable program.
Donors must follow all applicable federal and state laws, including laws related to self-dealing and excess benefit transactions.
Sponsoring organizations may have additional rules and requirements for donor-advised funds, such as minimum contribution amounts or distribution frequencies. It is important for donors to understand and comply with these rules in order to maintain the tax-advantaged status of their contributions.

How Groundswell uses the DAF to enable corporate giving programs.

Groundswell is a corporate giving platform revolutionizing access to DAFs.

Donor-advised funds power Groundswell accounts. Groundswell’s DAF infrastructure gives companies and their employees a better, smoother experience when compared with traditional workplace giving programs.

With Groundswell, companies can deposit gifts directly into their employees’ accounts.

Groundswell’s infrastructure also enables privacy and security for employees and employers. Since charitable giving can be deeply personal, adding a level of privacy aids in fostering a corporate culture of generosity and giving.

Learn more about setting up a corporate giving program and DAF with Groundswell.

6 Strategies on How to Engage Remote Employees

A mere 6% of Americans worked mostly from home in 2019. By 2021, that number had tripled according to the American Community Survey. Depending on who’s talking, that’s good news, right?

On the one hand, employees reported higher productivity, increased morale, and better communication.

But then there is the reality. Once the honeymoon period is over, how do you engage remote employees to keep them happily employed in your company? Beyond that, how can your company continue to reap the benefits that accrue from a productive remote workforce?

Pew Research reported in 2022 that when the pandemic was over 60% of workers in jobs that can be done remotely say that they would prefer to work from home all or most of the time. On the plus side, they are enjoying a greater work-life balance and feel more capable of getting the job done. Then there’s the 40% who don’t want to work from home, and even for those who do, there are downsides.

The Inherent Risk in the Remote Model

Harvard Business Review reports that while businesses have seized the opportunity to broaden their talent pool and increase their flexibility, there are social risks that companies can’t afford to ignore.

Among them are increased levels of loneliness, and isolation. Burnout is no small issue, either. Yes, work-from-home employees have greater control over when they work. However, this can be a double-edged sword with today’s always-on technologies.

In fact, remote employees find themselves working longer and harder without the rewards that come from office camaraderie and over-the-cubicle chats with co-workers. They don’t even have a decompression time afforded by a commute.

When workers feel overworked, this can lead to disengagement. It’s the last thing you want for any employee, but it’s even more detrimental for remote workers since, without that face-to-face contact, it can go undetected. There are fewer opportunities to pick up on the visual cues that employees offer when you ask “how’s it going?” Indeed, remote workers may not feel the same sense of loyalty as they would if they worked in the office.

Yet, remote work isn’t going to go away. Today, the challenge is how to engage remote employees and keep them productive for the long haul.

Strategies on How to Engage Remote Employees

All employees, whether they are office-based, hybrid, or remote, can benefit from well-designed retention strategies.

Check out our top 10 here. In addition, your remote workforce may need additional strategies to address issues that, although perhaps not unique to them, impact them more.

Here are six strategies to ensure that your remote employees stick around.

1. Enforce Sustainable Work Habits

The highly touted increase in productivity was a hallmark of remote work during the pandemic. But this could actually be a warning sign that employees are on the fast track toward burnout.

A Microsoft survey indicates that in the year following the start of Covid-19, meeting times have increased by 148%, emails by 40.6 billion, and the number of people working on collaborative documents by 66%.

Sure, some of this frenetic activity has to do with remote work, but “doing stuff” does not always equal greater output. In fact, it could be a sign of inefficiency. At the very least, it’s what happens as workers try to do more to prove their worth by being always on and always available. It may take some creativity, but companies can and should respect and enforce breaks and sensible work habits. GitLab, for example, uses virtual coffee breaks which allow employees to chat together on a video call.

2. Provide Opportunities to Network

When workers are remote, they may miss out on opportunities to network across the company. Those chance meetings and hallway encounters no longer happen. Consequently, networks are getting smaller and the move toward dismantling silos that we saw in the previous decade is all but disappearing.

Some employees will seek networking opportunities beyond the workplace by joining LinkedIn or alma mater groups, pursuing community and volunteer activities, or even spending time in co-working spaces. Still, it’s important for companies to provide remote teams with more opportunities within the organization to keep them engaged. The company can do this through virtual affinity groups, classes, cross-functional teams, and coordinated volunteer activities in the community.

3. Make the Physical Office Space More Enticing

Most remote workers need to come into the office from time to time, particularly if they work a hybrid schedule. The office should be an inviting space with plenty of areas for collaboration.

It’s good to include comfortable rest areas and accommodate nursing moms, exercise, power naps, and more. Every office is different, of course, and not every company has expansive facilities, but a facilities planner can help optimize the space and make it a welcoming place.

4. Supercharge Your Onboarding Processes

A lackluster onboarding experience gets remote employees off to a shaky start. In addition to equipment and software, onboarding employees need support using the technology effectively, finding the right resourcing, accessing documents, and understanding the quirks of the culture.

Don’t assume that just because you have a Gen Z employee, you can plug them into the platform and walk away. While they may fully understand the technology and be fully functional when it comes to performing the job, they may also need the human connection that is missing from a Zoom meeting.

Find ways to facilitate the establishment of personal relationships in person.

5. Keep the Virtual Doors Wide Open

There are plenty of creative ways to collaborate and work together via technology. Every encounter shouldn’t necessarily be about work. Plan virtual coffee breaks, happy hours, games, birthday celebrations, or even non-work-related classes.

It’s not just about peer-to-peer contact. Remote employees need to feel included by their managers. This is particularly important when their managers aren’t physically available.

In-office employees can always talk to their manager even if it’s just a five-minute chat in the hallway. These chance encounters are important because they afford employees and managers an opportunity to connect and air concerns. Make an open-door policy a deliberate and demonstrated part of your communication strategy.

6. Get Interested in Your Employees

It takes very little time and energy to get to know more about other employees. What are their passions? What do they do in their time off? What do they value? What causes do they support?

When employees know that you’re interested in who they are as people, they feel more engaged and committed to you and to the mission of the company.

One way to open up a value-based dialogue with employees is by providing a corporate giving platform like Groundswell.

Groundswell makes it easy for your company to embrace the causes that are important to them. The platform provides a tax-advantaged personal giving account to employees. Your company can contribute matching funds or even sponsor employee volunteers. It establishes charitable giving as an employee benefit, attracting and retaining values-driven talent with a perk that matters.

To learn more, contact Groundswell.

The Workplace Giving Handbook: Everything You Need to Know

Workplace giving programs offer employees an important benefit.

It gives employees a way to support the causes they care about and trust that their support is actually doing good in the world.

It’s not news that people are skeptical of corporate charity — it’s why words like pink-washing and greenwashing have entered the public vocabulary. Workplace giving programs offer a way to combat that skepticism and give employees a reason to feel good about the places where they work.

But what exactly is workplace giving, and how do you set up an employee-powered giving program at your company?

What is Workplace Giving?

Workplace giving is any organized program that collects employee donations for charitable causes through payroll deductions and/or one-time donations. The company then disburses those donations to nonprofits.

Over the years, the term has evolved to include volunteer giving programs, and other forms of employee giving programs. These giving programs take many forms today, including payroll deductions, donation match programs, and volunteer giving programs.

Matching Gift Programs

Donation match programs are among the most popular types of workplace giving programs, offered at nearly 65% of Fortune 500 companies, and accounting for $2 billion to $3 billion in donations annually.

The concept is simple in theory: an employee donates to a qualified nonprofit, and the company then makes a matching donation to the same nonprofit.

In practice, matching gift programs can be cumbersome and difficult to manage. In fact, for every dollar donated through matching gift programs, more than $2 goes unclaimed.

Volunteer Programs

In addition to typical volunteer programs — serving dinners at a local shelter or reading to school kids, for example — many companies create or participate in volunteer fundraising events, such as walk-a-thons or charity 5k runs.

Employees participate as a team, and the money raised is donated to the specific non-profit named. These campaigns can be great for team building and bonding, not to mention providing high-profile PR opportunities for the company.

Volunteer Grants

Many companies offer grants to organizations where their employees volunteer. This kind of program ensures that the company is helping to support genuine community organizations that their employees care about. They help deepen the ties between the company and the community and send the message to your employees that you care about the things that are important to them.

Volunteer Hours Matching

The third iteration of volunteer donation programs rewards your employees with the extra cash they can donate to others based on hours that they spend volunteering with community organizations.

Giving employees paid time off for volunteering can make it difficult for workers to keep up with their workload and make more work for nonprofits. Some companies have found ways to reimburse employees for their time working in their communities.

One way is to deposit the equivalent of their salary for hours spent into a Groundswell Personal Giving Account. From there, the employee can direct the donation to their chosen cause, effectively doubling their impact on the ground.

Donations Through Payroll Deduction

Many companies offer employees the opportunity to make giving easy by enrolling in an automatic payroll deduction for a chosen charity. Payroll deductions allow employees to essentially budget their charitable contributions over the course of the year.

However, the choice of charities to support is usually very narrow — often only one or two charities are chosen by the board.

A growing number of CEOs are moving away from the top-down approach to corporate giving, and moving to a model that puts the choice in the hands of their employees.

What Is a Workplace Giving Campaign?

Workplace giving campaigns are typically annual events companies hold to encourage employee donations to a cause.

They’re often held in the fall, to coordinate with the holiday season — and of course, the end of the tax year. They can, however, take place at any time. Their purpose is to publicize and raise awareness of any company-sponsored employee giving programs, and get more people involved in them.

Campaigns may also revolve around a specific need or event. These campaigns include disaster relief campaigns, or campaigns to support specific needs in the local community — supporting the unhoused, or providing funds for meals during a pandemic, for example.

How Does Workplace Giving Work?

The nuts and bolts of employee giving programs are rapidly evolving. Legacy workplace giving programs collected donations from employees then combined them and funneled them to one or two charities chosen by the board of directors or the CEO. Historically, there are two major models for doing this.

Payroll Deduction

Programs that collect charitable donations through payroll deductions are the most common workplace giving programs, accounting for nearly 75% of all employee giving annually. Payroll deductions make charitable giving easy on employees — they fill out a payroll deduction form once, and HR/Payroll does the rest. It’s so easy, in fact, that when Google implemented a pilot payroll giving program, it increased the likelihood of donations to a promoted charity by 50% without reducing the average amount donated.

In addition, each participating employee has a running record of their deductions on their pay stub, with the current and year-to-date donations recorded. That’s a big boon at tax time — their pay stub serves as proof of their donation, so they don’t have to scrounge around looking for acknowledgment letters from the nonprofits they donate to.

Nonprofits also benefit from this type of workplace giving program in several ways: they get predictable, sustainable donations, and often get more donations. Just as important, a payroll deduction model reduces the amount of work that falls on their shoulders by transferring much of it to the company’s payroll department. Managing a workplace giving campaign is a complex undertaking involving multiple steps and responsibilities.

The company creates a campaign to engage and encourage employees to sign up for the giving program. This is no small undertaking — entire toolkits are devoted to teaching employees and volunteers to run successful campaigns.
The employee fills out a pledge card, designating the amount of the donation and/or the amount to be deducted each pay period. If the company allows it, they may also choose one of several pre-approved nonprofits to receive their donation.
The payroll department — or the company’s payroll provider — sets up the recurring deduction for each employee.
If the company also operates a matching donation program, HR processes all donations to set up the matching donation.
Each pay period, the payroll department deducts and deposits the funds from each employee into a central account, then sends the final donation amount to the paying agent, such as the United Way.
The paying agent distributes the funds to the designated organizations.

Donation Matching Programs

Donation match programs can also be time-consuming and difficult to navigate — so much so, that billions of dollars in matching funds go unclaimed every year. A typical donation match program works like this:

The company determines which organizations will qualify for a matching gift and makes the list of qualifying organizations available to employees, and creates rules to determine the amount of the match. There may be differing amounts depending on the employee’s position or other criteria. For example, all full-time employees may qualify for 100% matching, while managers qualify for 200% matching.
The employee makes a donation to the charity of their choice.
After determining that their chosen organization qualifies for a match, the employee fills out and submits a request to HR for their employer to match their donation.
HR processes the request and determines the match amount based on the rules.
The company sends a check for the matching amount to the qualifying organization.

Emerging Trends in Workplace Giving

Since the early 2000s, there’s been a growing movement to allow employees more choices of donors. Many donation match programs, for example, will match employee donations to any 501(c)3 charity. New platforms are streamlining corporate and employee giving, reducing the amount of work and time that goes into managing workplace giving campaigns and employee giving programs in general.

The newest trends in corporate giving include making charitable giving part of the employee’s benefits package and providing granular control and choice on when and where to donate their funds.

Advances in technology provided new tools — yes, there’s an app for that — to help companies manage and deploy their corporate giving programs in ways that make sense for their workforces. As the workplace and trends in giving continue to evolve, employee giving programs will also evolve to keep pace and provide the most seamless, empowering giving experience.

Benefits of Workplace Giving Programs

Employee giving programs are not just good for the causes that get the donations. They provide important positives for employees, the company, and the community. These are a few of the most important.

Improved Employee Recruitment: 55% of employees — including 75% of Millennials — would choose to work for a socially responsible company, even if they got paid less.
Increased Employee Engagement: Employees are more engaged at work when they feel their employer aligns with their values.
Increased Profitability: Companies with the most engaged workers are 21% more profitable.
Better Public Image: People think more positively about businesses that give back to the community.
Deeper Community Connections: A well-planned employee giving program helps the business connect and cement relationships with organizations in the community.
Increased Employee Loyalty: Employees are more likely to recommend businesses that support them and their interests.
Higher Retention Rates: Employees who take advantage of employee giving programs stay with the company 75% longer.

What Employees Care About

According to a recent Deloitte Workplace Giving survey, 37% of workers donated to charity through a workplace giving program, but — and this is a big but — when they looked at Millennial and Gen Z employees, that percentage skyrocketed to 58%.

Younger workers, those destined for leadership positions in future companies, care deeply about doing good in the world, and they reflect it in their behavior. They donate because they are connected to a cause or charity, because they want to support their community, and because giving makes them feel good.

When you make it easy for them to plant a tree, buy a kid a desk, or adopt sheltered puppies, your company is showing them that they respect and support the people that they are, not just the work that they do for your business.

Why Is Employee Giving Important?

In addition to the benefits to your employees and your business bottom line, employee giving also brings an immense benefit to the community.

In 2021, workplace giving programs raised more than $5 billion, with about 50% of that coming from matching gift programs. Those donations went to

Education-related causes: 29%
Health and wellness causes: 25%
Community and economic development causes: 15%

Employees who donated through workplace giving programs reported that they donated to

Hunger and homelessness relief: 47%
Education: 23%
Social and racial equity causes: 20%

The right workplace giving program empowers your employees to support the causes closest to their hearts, without judgment and with the confidence that their employer trusts them to put their money where it will matter the most.

How to Set Up a Workplace Giving Program

If this is your first time setting up a workplace giving program, there are some important steps to consider. You want a program that reflects your company’s mission and core philosophy, one that your employees will embrace and be proud to use. These are some key principles to keep in mind and some action steps to get you started.

Evaluate Your Company’s Corporate Social Responsibility Policy. If You Don’t Have One, This Is A Good Time To Brainstorm.

Create a vision for your CSR that balances your responsibilities to your shareholders/owners, your employees, the community, the planet, and any other stakeholders.
Evaluate your current activities in light of community service. Do you partner with local organizations? Host volunteer activities? Make donations to local charities? Any of these would fit under the umbrella of CSR.
Establish a corporate code of ethics detailing how your company will treat employees, customers, the environment, and competitors in all your dealings.
Get strategic with your giving program to ensure that it aligns with your company’s values and ethics.

Set a Budget for Your Giving Program.

The amount you budget for corporate giving should be no more than you can afford to give without affecting the cash flow you need to operate your business.
Many large companies earmark 1% – 5% of their pre-tax earnings for charitable giving. Small companies often donate 6% or more to charity.
Consider designating profits from one particular product for giving.
Use the Sabsevitz Ante-Up Formula — multiply last year’s pre-tax net income by 1.2% to come up with a donation budget.
Check out more suggestions for setting your budget in this blog post.

Set Up Guidelines for Your Program

Employees: will all employees be included in your benefits program? Will they all be level-funded, or will some positions qualify for a higher workplace giving benefit?
Moments That Matter: Can you make donations more meaningful by tying deposit amounts to specific events in the lives for your employees?
Decide which charities/causes your company will support. Will you restrict employee giving to designated nonprofits? How expansive will your list of eligible organizations be?

Establish A Process For Collecting, Matching, And Donating Contributions.

See the section on How Does Workplace Giving Work?
(Hint: Groundswell takes the stress out of this step.)

Publicize The Program.

The key to a successful workplace giving program is awareness. Your employees can’t use a benefit they don’t know about, and your company won’t reap the benefits if your customers and employees don’t know what you’re doing. These are a few suggestions for raising awareness of your new employee giving program.

List it as a benefit in your recruitment materials.
Provide an easy — and very visible — way to access your program’s front end on your employee website, Discord, or other communication software.
Highlight your program in the company newsletter.
Create and distribute flyers explaining the program, its benefits, and how to use it to your employees.
If you offer donation matches, make sure that local nonprofits are aware of it.
Partner with local nonprofits and community organizations when it makes sense.

Is Workplace Giving Tax Deductible?

The simple answer is yes, in most cases, workplace giving is tax deductible, and has been since 1935 when Congress passed a law allowing corporations to deduct up to 10% of their pretax income on their tax returns. That limit was raised to 25% to encourage more giving during the pandemic.

Maximizing Tax Benefits for Workplace Giving

It’s important to understand how tax-deductible donations work in order to maximize the benefits of a workplace giving program.

Some types of corporate giving offer more benefits than others.

DAFs offer unique tax benefits, but until recently, they’ve been reserved for high-dollar donors. Briefly, a DAF allows your company to make a donation at the most advantageous time — before the end of the tax year, for example — and take the deduction immediately, and decide when and where that money should be donated to nonprofits. In addition, DAFs make it more efficient to donate non-cash assets, such as stock and real estate, to charity, without incurring an additional tax burden.

Workplace Giving with Groundswell

Groundswell’s innovative Philanthropy as a Service model democratizes workplace giving by setting up a Personal Giving Account — an individual DAF — for each employee, effectively putting the power of a DAF in the palm of their hand.

The company can make donations into each Personal Giving Account as part of an overall corporate giving strategy, timing the donations to provide the most benefit. The employee then decides when and where to make donations to the causes that are most important to them.

If you’re ready to increase the impact of your workplace giving programs, contact us to learn more about how Groundswell can empower you and your employees to do more good and make the changes they want to see in the world.