Workplace giving

As an individual, you can contribute a small portion of your pre-tax salary per week or month to the charity of your choice and receive the tax benefit straight away. The charity must be eligible to receive tax deductible donations and have a deductible gift recipient (DGR) status. Australian taxpayers donating to Burdekin are eligible for a tax deduction on donations over $2.

There is no minimum or maximum donation, and the benefit is felt straight away for the giver and the receiver. For example, if John donated $20 per month to Burdekin, it might only cost him $12.60 but Burdekin receives the full $20. If John’s employer matched his donation, then $20 could create $40 worth of impact! The tax calculation depends on John’s personal tax bracket and will be individual to each person.

Payroll giving doesn’t affect an employee’s superannuation and payroll tax calculations like salary sacrificing. Workplace giving reduces the donor’s PAYG liability, but it doesn’t decrease their gross income.

Payroll giving eliminates the need for employees to keep records of charitable donations and guarantees they receive the tax benefits of donating each pay.

Things to consider when setting up a payroll giving program are:

• Employee eligibility
• Donation matching rules
• The request and approval process
• Distribution of funds to approved charities
• Promotion within your organisation.
• Inclusion of scope and results in your annual report.

You can check with your HR or Payroll department to see if your employer has an existing giving program in place. If they do, all you need to do is let your employer know which charity you would like to give to and how much you would like to donate each pay cycle.

Setting up workplace giving is easy and can be organised through your payroll system via bank transfer through HR. Please complete this form and take it to the relevant person at your work.

Please also ask your employer if they are willing to match your donation, dollar for dollar.

A giving program is voluntary, both the employer and the employee need to agree to participate. There are also specialised platforms to help facilitate.

If you would like to include Burdekin in your giving program, please get in touch fundraisingenquiries@burdekin.org.au we would be happy to help.

Further information to start the process: the ATO website or Workplace Giving Australia.

If you decide to use an existing platform there are a few to choose from. Please note, while we are a registered charity on these platforms, Burdekin is not affiliated with any of these giving platforms and are not recommending one over the other. 

• Benevity
• Givit
• Good Company
• Good2Give

• Launch via announcement - how is up to you!
• Promote the program within your organisation.
• Offer incentives like matching individual donations 1:1 1:2 or 1:3 ratio.
• Communicate regularly, report about the program in staff newsletters to keep engagement and motivation going.
• Invite Burdekin to address staff at events, small and large. For example, breakfast meetings, conferences, work dinners and other special occasions.
• Seek employee feedback including satisfaction scores and suggestions.
• Report on the collective impact and celebrate success.

Download the Workplace Giving Authorisation Form.