2006 Employee Giving Program

I keep seeing Employee Giving Program on campaign materials. What is this?
In January 2006, the employee committee governing the workplace charitable campaign internalized the campaign administration. During these changes, the committee recognized the need for a year-round program presence to coordinate various nonprofit events, solicitations, and activities among King County employees. Therefore, the name was changed to the King County Employee Giving Program. The workplace charitable campaign will continue to be held each October-November as one of several Employee Giving Program activities. Seasoned King County employees may remember the “Combined Fund Drive” or “United Way Campaign.” These terms no longer apply. King County employees have decided to administer their workplace campaign internally in order to maximize employee responsiveness, charitable choice, and efficiency.
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Why should I participate in the campaign?

It is an easy, effective, and cost-efficient way to give to nonprofit organizations.
Dollars raised through workplace charitable campaigns, unlike grants and contracts, are “unrestricted gifts.” This means nonprofit organizations can determine how your gift is best and most efficiently used.
It improves the quality of life for people in our communities and around the world.
It is fun! King County employees are creative and enthusiastic. They know how to have fun while doing good deeds.

1. Direct gift. Write a check payable to the agency of your choice. Complete the donation form, attach the check, and submit to your volunteer coordinator.

2. Payroll donation. Complete the donation form and submit to your volunteer coordinator. You may designate up to 6 nonprofit agencies (minimum $2/organization). Deductions can be made in the following frequencies:

Bi-monthly (every paycheck)
Monthly (from the second paycheck each month)
Annually (one-time deduction in January)

3. Time donation. New! You may donate a minimum of 4 and maximum of 40 hours of vacation and/or compensatory time to a single nonprofit agency of your choice. If you have excess time you cannot carry over into the next year, you may donate more than 40 hours. King County Finance and Business Operations will calculate the net cash value after all mandatory withholdings. You will receive a receipt informing you of the net cash value. Save your receipt, your donation is tax deductible to the fullest extent of the law. No time donations can be accepted after December 1, 2006. Read the new time donation ordinance

4. Special events. Check out the Employee Giving Program calendar for up-coming special events during the charitable campaign. If you are interested in organizing a special event, please check out the special event registration form and guidelines. All special event checks must be delivered to the Employee Giving Program within 7 days. Please remember special events should not replace payroll donations, they should inspire them.

5. All of the above!

You can donate to:

A single nonprofit organization. Simply enter the agency code on your Donation Form.

A federation representing a group of nonprofits. Your donation will be distributed among the federation members. Enter the federation agency code on your Donation Form.

The campaign. Your donation will be distributed among all the campaign participants. Enter the agency code “0000” and write “campaign” under Agency Name on the Donation Form

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How do I know my leadership level?
If you are donating in more than one way (direct gift, payroll deduction, and time donation), ADD the value of your donations as shown on the Leadership Levels page.
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What is the difference between a “federation” and a “nonprofit organization?”
A federation is an umbrella nonprofit group that raises money for its member nonprofit organizations through workplace charitable campaigns. Often federations represent similar types of nonprofit organizations such as “children” or “the environment.” Because federations participate in a wide variety of campaigns (small and big; private and public), participation through a federation may be an efficient way for some nonprofit organizations to raise money in workplaces. Donations designated to a federation will be distributed among the nonprofit organizations in that federation. Donations designated to a specific nonprofit organization will be distributed directly to that nonprofit by the federation. The King County Employee Giving Program allows nonprofit organizations to participate directly in the charitable campaign or through a federation. Eighteen federations participate in our workplace charitable program representing 630 nonprofit organizations. Sixty-eight nonprofit organizations participate directly.
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Is my donation tax-deductible?

All donations (direct gifts, payroll deductions, and time donations) are tax deductible to the fullest extent of the law. If you would like to receive a year-end donation receipt from your designated nonprofit organizations, release your name and address in section 3 of the donation form. Make a copy of the check for your tax records if you donate at a special event.

King County Finance and Business Operations will calculate the net cash value of time donations. You will receive a receipt after the net cash value of your donation has been sent to your designated nonprofit organization. Save your receipt; your donation is tax deductible to the fullest extent of the law.
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Is my donation anonymous?
Only if you want it to be. Indicate your preference in section 3 of the donation form. If you choose to share your address, King County Finance and Business Operations will release your home address to the Employee Giving Program. Each participant nonprofit organization receives a report summarizing donations made through the workplace charitable campaign. If you choose, your name and address will be included. Otherwise, your donation will be indicated as “anonymous.”
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How do organizations get in the catalog?
Each February, an application process is open to all interested nonprofit organizations and federations. Federations complete the application on behalf of all their member organizations. Nonprofit organizations interested in joining directly (not through a federation) complete the application individually. Applications are mailed and posted on the website. In April, applications are reviewed to ensure they meet the following basic criteria:

Registered as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.
Registered with the Secretary of State to solicit donations in Washington.
Non-discrimination polices to the same ordinance standard set by King County.
Total administrative costs are no more than 25% for two consecutive years.

If your favorite nonprofit organization is not in the catalog, send their contact information to the Employee Giving Program Administrator (here is a simple optional form). We will add them to the application mailing list for next year.