The key to running
a successful Payroll Giving scheme is promotion. You
need to make sure your staff know about the scheme,
what the benefits are and how they can get involved.
You can invite charities to come in and talk to people
about the scheme, or a Payroll Giving professional
fundraising organisation (PFO). Alternatively you
may decide to do all the legwork yourself. Whichever
method you choose, here are some tips to make sure
you get the most out of it.
Know
what you want from the scheme
Set clear aims and
objectives to help plan your timing and resources
and so that you can measure how successful the launch
of your Payroll Giving scheme has been.
Get
support
Get senior management's
support for the scheme. This is vital. It is their
commitment that will motivate other members of staff.
And why not show your dedication to making it work
by matching staff donations or paying the administration
fee? Regular feedback about the scheme from the MD
or CEO to staff will also help secure support. Involve
the trade union or works council if you have one.
Launch
A great way of building
up enthusiasm and maximising impact is to do much
of the promotional activity on one single day or during
one week. This way staff know when to act. Get volunteers
involved in collecting completed Payroll Giving forms
from their colleagues.
Introductions
Select a method for
telling your staff about the scheme. Giving people
the opportunity to talk to organisers about the scheme
face to face is key. You may decide to present to
the company as a whole, or in smaller groups to enable
a more relaxed forum for questions and answers. Think
about what would work best for your company.
Payroll
Giving
Professional fundraising
organisations (PFOs) are contracted by charities to
recruit Payroll Giving donors. Using one can be a
great way of communicating the Payroll Giving scheme
to a large number of employees and provide them with
information about the charities they represent. They
can visit your premises, explain the scheme directly
to your staff and help them to fill in a pay deduction
form and a charity nomination form - all free of charge.
For a list of Payroll Giving PFOs
click here.
Charities
Some charities also
provide a promotional service. If you and your employees
want to support a particular charity through Payroll
Giving, you should contact that charity direct.
Follow-up
Keep staff constantly
up-to-date about the scheme and what's happening.
Let staff know the results of the recruitment drive
and the amount of money that is being raised. Keep
everyone up to speed with any developments. Give all
new members of staff information about the scheme.
And remind all staff from time to time how they can
start giving or increase their giving. Think about
the communication methods that work best in your organisation
- email, notice board, newsletters, intranet, memos,
and posters.
