Workplace giving is one of the easiest ways to give to your community and get your tax back. When you give regularly through your payroll, you get the benefit of your tax credit immediately*. For example, if you choose to give $15 each pay, only $10 comes out of your take-home pay. Clutha Foundation still receives the full $15, which benefits your community forever.
This makes workplace giving simpler than donating on your own and claiming the rebate at the end of the tax year. With workplace giving you get your tax benefit immediately, every pay.
One of my favourite examples of workplace giving comes from Sunrise Foundation in Gisborne. A group of Turanga Health employees joined Sunrise Foundation’s Workplace Giving scheme in 2015, donating to the community foundation every payday, through their payroll system. Some give as little as $5 a week, and yet to date the total amount donated by staff members has grown to a whopping $80,000, to be invested for the future of Gisborne-Tairāwhiti. Currently, 23 generous staff members give to the fund, and they are very proud of it.
Giving a little bit each pay really does make a big difference! In addition to the measurable community benefit, giving is also a great team-building effort.
Why not give workplace giving a go? It’s an easy way to give, and the tax back element helps you to supercharge your donations into your local community.
*You will only receive an immediate tax credit if your employer offers payroll giving and files their payroll electronically, and if the donation is to an IRD-approved donee organisation.