Holiday workplace giving: A great way to support environmental protection during COVID-19

What a strange year 2020 has been. We are grateful to our supporters who have been able to continue supporting our work as we all come together (by staying apart!) to prevent the spread of COVID-19. 

Working together to raise money for charities is one of the ways we, as colleagues, can give back our communities. 

With many of us working remotely during the pandemic, having the chance to “come together” to raise some funds for a worthy organization helps build our sense of team and extends our philanthropy to the charities and non-profits doing important work in our communities during challenging times.

We gathered some ideas to help you and your workplace get into the spirit of giving during the holiday season.

Employer matching gifts

Many businesses and organizations offer gift matching programs for employees. Is your employer one of them? Check with your manager or your Human Resources Department to see if your employer offers a gift match when you make donations.  

Some employers match 100% up to a maximum giving level. Others may offer a 25% to 50% match with each donation. Check details to see if you need to sign up for the matching gift program ahead of making your donations and identify the best way to notify your employer when you’ve made a gift. 

Employer matching gift programs are wonderful ways to increase the value of your gifts – and sometimes double your impact!

Staff giving campaigns

At this time of year, many workplaces partner with their employees on staff giving campaigns. There are different styles of giving campaigns – here are two real life examples that your work team might want to explore:

  1. Staff donate an hour or more of their paid work time (which is reflected in their paycheque) and the hourly equivalent is added to the giving pool and is also matched by their employer. A giving campaign committee takes suggestions from staff on the charities they want to support and at the end of the giving campaign, the committee members send the donations to the selected group of charities. If there is no staff giving campaign at your workplace, consider starting one based on this example or creating one that’s a better fit!
  2. In more traditional years, staff would hold a holiday lunch or games night with each staff member making a voluntary monetary contribution to a workplace charity pool. Inspired staff members can introduce their work team to their favourite charity by briefly describing their work. The workplace team then decides which charities to support. If you and your colleagues feel you have the ability to do a “virtual” activity and would like to include West Coast a part of your workplace giving, we would be very grateful and happy to assist as we are able.

Client thank you initiatives

In the place of a traditional holiday gift basket to clients, have you considered bringing your work team together to choose charities that matter to you and your clients and making donations in their honour? 

Your company can make the donations and your team can sign a special card letting your clients know that you made a gift in their honour. Or you can make your gifts online through the charity’s website as a “tribute gift” (in honour of your client) and ask the charity to send a tribute card to your client and include a special message. If you would like to make a tribute gift to West Coast, please find information to assist here

We are grateful for your continued support! 

2020 has been a challenging year for all of us and our hope is that you and your family are keeping safe and well. 

Please don’t hesitate to email us at donations@wcel.org with your ideas or comments about matching gifts and gifts to West Coast. Thank you!

Author
Renee Eaton - Leadership Giving Officer