When you choose to give to charity, you probably write out a check and mail it. You might do that several times a year depending on how many charities you give to and you might forget how much or when or to whom you gave. But you continue to give because you support a charity's work and you want to make a difference.

A workplace giving campaign is an annual, employer-sponsored charitable campaign which allows employees to make a financial contribution through payroll deduction, cash, check and or credit card.

Why Are Workplace Giving Campaigns Important?

Diversity
Effectiveness
Affordability
High standards within the nonprofit sector

How Does It Work?

Once a year, campaign kick-offs are held. They usually last a few weeks and reflect company and employee philanthropic goals and interests. During this time, employees have the opportunity to:

 • Attend kick-off events and charity fairs to learn about the charities participating in the campaign.
 • Meet people working the field for various charities and to learn about their programs and hear their success stories made possible by the workplace donor.
 • Discover the variety of giving options available through their workplace campaign.

Campaign participants then complete a single, short pledge card with information about the charities of their choice. Many campaigns offer hundreds of choices so that everyone can give to the charities and causes they support.

The Role and Value of the Black United Fund of Oregon

The Black United Fund of Oregon is a liaison between the charities it represents and various employer groups, offering benefits to both groups of stakeholders. A key role of The Black United Fund of Oregon is to evaluate member charities annually to ensure to both companies and donors that they meet high standards of performance and financial integrity. As an organization, The Black United Fund of Oregon is focused on the following primary goals:

 • Supporting companies in their quest to make workplace charitable campaigns more efficient, cost effective and responsive to employees' charitable interests.
 • Ensuring that donors in the workplace are presented with giving options that meet the highest standards of efficiency, ethics and public accountability.

Benefits to the Employer

 • Using the Black United Fund of Oregon is efficient for the employer.
 • The Black United Fund of Oregon represents the critical work of small grassroot charities within the state of Oregon and SW Washington.
 • Charities represented by The Black United Fund of Oregon are reviewed annually to ensure high standards of performance and financial integrity.

Benefits to the Donor

 • Donors are assured that the charities represented by The Black United Fund of Oregon are credible organizations and meet the highest standards of performance.
 • Efficiency of The Black United Fund of Oregon ensures the maximum amount of the donor's gift goes to the charity to provide services.
 • The Black United Fund of Oregon facilitates the acknowledgement of gifts to the donor.

Benefits to the Charities

 • Most charities operate with a small finance staff and they are not equipped to handle numerous small financial transactions. Even if they can, numerous small transactions are costly. A workplace campaign brings them one monthly check.
 • Workplace giving is one of the lowest cost methods of fundraising for charities and The Black United Fund of Oregon makes it possible for individual charities to participate in workplace campaigns.

How to Participate

Do you have a giving campaign at your workplace? If so, you can find out if your company is a Black United Fund of Oregon partner. If you would like to give to The Black United Fund of Oregon through your giving campaign, you may be able to write us in, or include us as one of the charity partners.

If your employer does not offer a workplace giving campaign, and you are interested in starting one, The Black United Fund of Oregon can help you. Contact us at (503) 282-7973.