Personal giving

From one-off donations to long-term giving, or designing your personal philanthropic strategy, we work together to help you realise your giving ambitions.

DISCOVER OUR PERSONAL GIVING SOLUTIONS

Corporate giving

You have the vision for making a difference. So do we. We help you plan how to give based on your goals.

DISCOVER OUR CORPORATE GIVING SOLUTIONS

Services for charities

Helping your charity or social enterprise become more resilient.

DISCOVER HOW WE SUPPORT CHARITIES

Insights

Discover the latest insights for donors and charitable organisations to help create a greater impact

Explore

About us

We are a leading charity, working at the centre of the giving world. We help donors to give more impactfully and charities to build their resilience so they can do more of their life-changing work.

Find out more about CAF
Home Corporate giving Resources for effective corporate giving How your business can encourage employee fundraising
14 August 2025

How your business can encourage employee fundraising

Ella Walker - Winslow Ella Walker - Winslow Corporate Client Advisor

Employee fundraising is a powerful way for businesses to foster a positive workplace culture, increase employee engagement and reflect your corporate values. By offering flexible giving options and matching donations, your organisation can build a sense of shared purpose and pride, while supporting the causes that matter to you.

However, building a successful and sustainable employee fundraising programme comes with its own set of challenges, such as navigating governance and managing risk. Here are our top tips to help you kick-start or elevate your approach and ensure your efforts make a lasting impact.

 

 

1. Why employee fundraising matters

Employee fundraising is a part of many responsible business strategies. Implementing giving programmes can enhance a company’s values and social purpose — creating a positive, inclusive workplace culture. As a result, they help strengthen employee engagement, role motivation and retention.

According to YouGov research, 47% of employees say that having an employer that supports charities increases their willingness to go the extra mile.  

It is also important to remember that employee fundraising should not exist in isolation. It can strengthen the giving you already do as a business and help your employees feel a part of it.  

 

2. Flexible giving options for your employees

People like to give in different ways and offering employees a range of options makes it easier for them to give in the way that suits them best.  

Here are some ideas of how your employees could support their chosen charities:


  • One-off donations: single contributions made at a specific time.
  • Regular giving: ongoing contributions, such as on a monthly basis.
  • Volunteering opportunities: giving time and skills to support a cause.
  • Payroll giving: donations made directly from an employee's salary.  
  • Pooled funds: contributions to your company’s chosen charities. 

The more flexible the options, the more inclusive and accessible the giving experience. This is especially valuable for remote workers, part-time employees, and those with different financial means.

For example, one of our financial services clients offers volunteering opportunities, payroll giving and matching employee fundraising. In one year, they have already logged over 7,000 hours of volunteering, donated nearly £400,000 through payroll giving and already generously matched around £23,000 of employee fundraising.  

 

3. Matched giving: A signal of commitment

Matched giving is one of the most effective ways to boost participation. When employers match donations, it boosts the impact for charities and the communities they serve. It also shows employees that their contributions matter, encouraging even wider participation across the business.

How one business matched donations to make a bigger impact 

A tech business we support created a dedicated fund of pooled donations to respond rapidly to emergency disaster appeals. With this in place, they were able to launch fundraising within hours of an appeal.  

The fund has raised over £50,000 for various causes — with every pound of this matched by the business to double the impact and show their commitment to their employees’ efforts.  

4. Simplify the process

Even the most generous employees may disengage if the process is confusing or time-consuming. That is why it is essential to simplify the experience. Clear, jargon-free communication, centralised information and automated processes, for example, payroll giving and impact tracking, can make a big difference. 

Ensure you share regular updates and celebrate the impact on both the charity and employees, to build trust and keep people informed and inspired.

 

5. Build trust through governance and clarity

Trust is essential. Employees need to know that their donations are handled securely, compliant with regulations and delivered to the right place. As a business, you also have a reputation to protect. 

Make sure you have clear internal policies in place, with guidance and expectations for employees who take part in any of your fundraising. This helps outline early on what activities are part of your fundraising initiative and which are not. Your organisation may benefit from external support to navigate compliance and tailor your programme to your culture.  

 

6. How to get started 

Take steps to move beyond simply enabling employee fundraising — and start empowering your people:

1. Review your current programme to make sure it is easy to use, inclusive and visible.

2. Survey your employees to understand which causes matter to them and to learn what would encourage participation.

3. Collaborate with internal teams, such as HR, communications teams, to align messaging.

4. Celebrate progress by sharing impact stories and recognising employee contributions.

5. Plan for growth by seeking expert support to shape a strategy that works for your business, your people and the charities you support.

Need support with employee fundraising? 

Our Corporate Team can help you explore the giving options that may work best for your employees. You can also learn more about our services, such as payroll giving or pooled Staff Charity Funds. Contact us

Sign up to emails

Sign up for content to help your business drive lasting, social change, including insight on the charity sector, guidance on effective corporate giving and on how to engage your employees in your organisation’s commitment to social impact.

For information about how CAF handles your personal information, please see our Privacy Notice.

<script>
$(document).ready(function () {
  $('head').append('<style type="text/css">.ao-form .ao-recaptcha-wrapper{display: block !important;transform: scale(0.9, 1) !important;transform-origin: left !important; margin-top: 10px !important;}</style>');
  $('head').append('<style type="text/css">.ao_newsletter_layout .ao_newsletter_form {align-items: center !important;}</style>');
  if ($(window).width() > 1279) {
    $('head').append('<style type="text/css"> form.ao-form {margin-right: -15% !important;}</style>');
  } else {
       $('head').append('<style type="text/css"> form.ao-form {margin-right:0 !important;}</style>');
  }
});
</script>

<!-- Do not paste over the code above - update form embed code below -->



<script type="text/javascript">var aoAdBlockDetected = true;</script>
<script type="text/javascript" src="//service.charitiesaidfoundation.org.uk/acton/content/aoAdDetect.js"></script>
<script type="text/javascript">window.addEventListener("load",function(){if(aoAdBlockDetected){var t=document.createElement("div"),o=document.createElement("div"),e=document.createElement("div"),n=document.createElement("div"),d=document.createElement("button"),i="<h1 style=\"text-align: center; line-height: 21px; color: #444444;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'helvetica neue', helvetica, arial, sans-serif;\"><strong style=\"font-weight: bold;\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap; font-size: 18pt;\">It looks like you’re using an AdBlocker</span></strong></span></h1> <p style=\"text-align: center; line-height: 20px; color: #444444;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'helvetica neue', helvetica, arial, sans-serif; color: #767676;\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap; font-size: 18pt;\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Some of the forms and images on this page may not work correctly with this enabled. Please disable your ad blocker for this page.</span> </span></span></span></p> <p style=\"text-align: left; line-height: 20px; color: #444444;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><strong style=\"font-weight: 500;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'helvetica neue', helvetica, arial, sans-serif;\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">Instructions</span></span></span></strong></span></p> <p style=\"text-align: left; line-height: 20px; color: #444444;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><strong style=\"font-weight: 500;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'helvetica neue', helvetica, arial, sans-serif;\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">1. Find the ad blocker icon installed on your browser.</span></span></span></strong></span></p> <p style=\"text-align: left; line-height: 20px; color: #444444;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'helvetica neue', helvetica, arial, sans-serif;\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">This icon is usually located on the upper right side of your screen. You may have more than one ad blocker installed.</span></span></span></span></p> <p style=\"text-align: left; line-height: 20px; color: #444444;\"><strong style=\"font-weight: 500;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'helvetica neue', helvetica, arial, sans-serif;\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">2. Click the icon and disable the ad blocker for this website.</span></span></span></span></strong></p> <p style=\"text-align: left; line-height: 20px; color: #444444;\"><strong style=\"font-weight: 500;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'helvetica neue', helvetica, arial, sans-serif;\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">3. Refresh this website page, either by following prompts or clicking your browser’s “refresh” or “reload” button.</span></span></span></span></strong></p>";t.style.cssText="position:fixed;top:0;left:0;width:100vw;height:100vh;z-index:1000;background:red;background: rgba(0,0,0,0.3);",o.style.cssText="position: fixed; top: 50%; left: 50%; width: 600px; max-width: 80vw; transform: translate(-50%, -50%) !important; background: #ffffff; border-width: 1px; border-radius: 4px; border-color: #444444; border-style: solid; max-height: 80vh; overflow: auto; padding: 24px 56px 0 56px;",o.innerHTML=i,n.style.cssText="margin-top: 36px; margin-bottom: 24px; text-align: center;",o.appendChild(n),d.innerHTML="Refresh Page",d.style.cssText="cursor: pointer; padding: 12px 24px; background: #FFFFFF; border-width: 1px; color: #444444; border-color: #444444; border-radius: 4px;",n.appendChild(d),d.addEventListener("click",function(){window.location.reload()}),e.style.cssText="position: absolute; right: 25px; top: 25px; cursor: pointer; font-size: 14px; line-height: 14px; color: #444444",e.innerHTML="&#10005;",e.addEventListener("click",function(){o.parentNode.removeChild(o),t.parentNode.removeChild(t)}),document.body.appendChild(t),t.appendChild(o),o.appendChild(e)}});</script>
<script type="text/javascript" id="aoform-script-b9ad3e61-5d4d-4261-97db-069da78b857e:d-0001">!function(o,t,e,a){o._aoForms=o._aoForms||[],o._aoForms.push(a);var n=function(){var o=t.createElement(e);o.src=("https:"==t.location.protocol?"https://":"http://")+"service.charitiesaidfoundation.org.uk/acton/content/form_embed.js",o.async=!0;for(var a=t.getElementsByTagName(e)[0],n=a.parentNode,c=document.getElementsByTagName("script"),r=!1,s=0;s<c.length;s++){if(c[s].getAttribute("src")==o.getAttribute("src"))r=!0;}r?typeof(_aoFormLoader)!="undefined"?_aoFormLoader.load({id:"b9ad3e61-5d4d-4261-97db-069da78b857e:d-0001",accountId:"10250",domain:"service.charitiesaidfoundation.org.uk",isTemp:false,noStyle:false,prefill:false}):"":n.insertBefore(o,a)};window.attachEvent?window.attachEvent("onload",n):window.addEventListener("load",n,!1),n()}(window,document,"script",{id:"b9ad3e61-5d4d-4261-97db-069da78b857e",accountId:"10250",domain:"service.charitiesaidfoundation.org.uk",isTemp:false,noStyle:false,prefill:false});</script>

You may also be interested in

Keep exploring