Workplace Giving Month Launches

June Workplace Giving Month has kicked off for 2015, building on last year’s campaign to get one million donors involved in workplace giving by 2020.

To mark the launch, business leaders recently came together at a lunch series in Sydney and Melbourne to discuss the role business can play in the Australian community and the One Million Donors campaign, run by the Australian Charities Fund.

Jenny Geddes, CEO of the Australian Charities Fund, said One Million Donors was designed to raise awareness and build Australian workplace giving to scale.

“Reaching the 2020 target would see Australian workers and their employers contributing well over $300 million each year to charity.

“Imagine the societal impact that we could create if business, government and the charity sector worked together to ignite a giving revolution. Australian workers are ready to play their part.”

As part of the launch it was revealed that more than 55 per cent of electronics retailer JB Hi-Fi’s 7,000 strong workforce participate in the company’s workplace giving program. Employee contributions are matched 100 per cent by the organisation and the JB Hi-Fi board and senior management team also give 1 per cent of their salaries to the program.

This combined effort has allowed JB Hi-Fi to contribute more than $7.5m to its charity partners in just over seven years.

“Of course the primary reason to get involved in a giving program is to support charity. However, what’s also clear is the fantastic boost to morale that our team receive from the program – they’re really proud of what we’re doing in the community. We’re a great example of staff giving small amounts; over time, it certainly adds up to a meaningful amount,” JB Hi-Fi CEO Richard Murray said.

“Workplace giving is one of the forms of giving that really makes sense. I urge all Australian workers to get involved in the campaign. Even if an employee chooses to give as little as a 50c or $1 a week out of their pay, when that is combined with their fellow workers and potentially matched by their employer, the funds for the charity sector quickly add up,” Lisa O’Brien, CEO of The Smith Family, said.  

Business and charities can find out more about the One Million Donors campaign by visiting 1Mdonors.org.au