The benefits of workplace fundraising

In today's workplace landscape, organisations are increasingly recognising the importance of social responsibility and community engagement. As a result, the concept of workplace giving has gained significant traction, with many adopting giving initiatives such as salary donations and matching actions. But what about workplace fundraising?

Workplace fundraising goes beyond traditional forms of corporate giving by engaging employees in events, challenges, and initiatives. Fundraising challenges such as Step by Step: The 46km Challenge not only raise funds for charitable causes but also foster team spirit, promote employee well-being, and create a sense of purpose within the workplace.

Fostering team spirit

One of the biggest benefits of workplace fundraising is its ability to foster team spirit. Participating in fundraising challenges as a team allows employees to collaborate towards a common goal outside of their usual work tasks. Whether it's running a marathon, biking across the country, or simply walking a certain number of steps, these challenges encourage teamwork, camaraderie, and mutual support among colleagues.

70% of the workforce believe that involvement in workplace giving has a positive effect on organisational culture

(2022 Workplace giving donor insights, Australia)

Moreover, the friendly competition that often accompanies these challenges adds an extra layer of excitement and motivation. Teams can compete against one another or set collective goals, creating friendly rivalries and encouraging individuals to push themselves further for the greater good.

Maximising Impact

Another major aspect of active workplace giving is its potential to maximize impact. By pooling resources and efforts, workplace teams can amplify their fundraising capabilities and make a more significant difference in their communities.

This is further amplified when organisations make dollar-matching commitments, both doubling the impact of employees' fundraising efforts and also inspiring greater participation in the challenge or event.

62% of employees say that dollar matching was what most encouraged them to begin giving.

(2022 Workplace giving donor insights, Australia)

Although, with the above statistic, workplace giving initiatives might vary from the workplace fundraising this article is primarily focused on, the bottom line is that dollar matching can maximise the impact of donations and giving.

Plus, 96% of employees strongly prefer for their company to match donations made directly to a nonprofit rather than only matching donations through a workplace giving software platform. (Nonprofit fundraising statistics, Double the donation, 2024)

Encourage positive wellbeing

Taking part in fundraising challenges and initiatives as a workplace can help to foster both the emotional and the physical well-being of employees. It's no secret that giving to a good cause feels good. And, with Australia ranked as the fourth most generous country in the World Giving Index 2022, it's clear that people want to give!

Plus, if workplaces couple fundraising with an activity challenge, they can encourage physical wellbeing for employees, too. Active movement and fitness benefits physical and mental health, and workplace activity challenges can encourage individuals to get moving with a goal, a plan, and a team to back them.

Conclusion

Workplace fundraising helps to foster team spirit, maximise the impact of giving, and help to build up the wellbeing of employees and individuals. So lace up your shoes, rally your colleagues, and step forward as a united force, creating a lasting and tangible impact.

Ready to make a difference? Sign up your workplace team for Step by Step: The 46km Challenge and move together 46km for the nearly 46,000 young people experiencing homelessness in Australia.

By Amelia B. on behalf of Stepping Stone House