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We help donors to give more impactfully and charities to build their resilience so they can do more of their life-changing work.

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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

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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 Insights Research Payroll Giving Policy Briefing 2024

Payroll Giving Policy Briefing 2024

Download the briefing

Number of employees donating via Payroll Giving declines

This policy briefing explores the history of Payroll Giving, highlighting trends in its popularity as a way to donate to charity over time. It digs into the public's views of Payroll Giving and makes recommendations for its uptake could be increased.

The total amount donated to charities via Payroll Giving fell 7% year on year from £137 million in 2021 to £128 million in 2022.

The number of people giving through Payroll Giving has also fallen over time, falling 13% in just two years between 2020 and 2022.

Find out more about its usage and what can be done to encourage uptake.

Download the report





"It's concerning that the number of employers and employees taking advantage of this valuable benefit is declining. It provides an incredibly powerful platform for companies to support their giving in the workplace and can be a lifeline for charities at a time when their incomes are squeezed."

Neil Heslop, OBE, Chief Executive, Charities Aid Foundation (CAF).

Key findings

7%

is how much donations through the scheme have fallen year on year

£128 million

was donated through Payroll Giving in 2022, falling from £137 million in 2021

13%

fewer people gave through Payroll Giving in 2022 compared to 2020

59%

of people have not heard of Payroll Giving

Young people

are less likely to have heard of Payroll Giving but are more likely to want to do it if offered

Affordability

is the biggest factor impacting Payroll Giving participation, especially among the young

Likelihood

of participation depends on ease of opting in and out, employer-matched donations, and ease of use

Recommendations for promoting the scheme:

What the government can do:


  • Encourage those employers that do not offer Payroll Giving to do so
  • Refresh HMRC guidance on Payroll Giving, making it clear and user friendly, supporting employers who want to use the scheme and setting out what they can do to encourage take-up
  • Run a campaign to raise awareness of Payroll Giving among taxpayers and encourage them to sign up if their employer offers it - and to ask their employers to offer Payroll Giving if they do not
  • Develop a national strategy for philanthropy and charitable giving to address broader trends including stagnating donations, rising costs for charities and rising demand for charitable services.

What employers can do:


  • Offer a Payroll Giving scheme and support it with employer matching. Employers can choose to match donations in full, in part, or include a monthly cap to suit all budgets
  • Bring people together to give. For example, a festive matching campaign is a great way to engage employees and support good causes
  • Drive a positive culture of Payroll Giving from the top down. Talk about Payroll Giving both internally and externally and provide clear and accessible information
  • Employers can also seek support in driving awareness in their schemes by working with a professional Fundraising Organisation (PFO) who will host bespoke site visits and campaigns to drive engagement.

Give As You Earn

Charities Aid Foundation (CAF) has been a Payroll Giving Agency since the scheme was launched in 1987. Over that time, businesses and their employees using Give As You Earn have donated more than £1.6 billion to over 40,000 charities.

Find out how the scheme can help your employees to give to charity and download our resources to help increase the uptake of your scheme:

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