Paycheck Contributions
Many companies, both large and small, allow employees to donate to charity directly from their paychecks. Workplace giving is a really easy way to donate to your favorite causes on an ongoing basis and help the causes you value most. As a non-profit organization, the Italian Greyhound Rescue Foundation is a charitable organization that qualifies for such gifts. And, many employers even match a portion of your paycheck contributions to charity organizations, thus making your contribution to Italian Greyhound Rescue go further.
How Do Payroll Deductions Benefit Me?
There are quite a few benefits you receive from direct payroll deductions, and a few are as follows:
- Deductions are Pre-Tax - Since donations to charity are often taken out pre-tax, your donation doesn't affect your take-home as drastically as those given out-of-pocket. Why waste 20-30% of your donation on taxes by donating out-of-pocket when you could have it taken directly out of your check without the taxes being withheld from that amount?
- Employer Matching - Many employers appreciate the fact that their employees give money to charity, and will even provide extra incentive to donate. So, if you donate $10 out of you salary, they may match up to 100% of your donation to the Italian Greyhound Rescue Foundation, potentially causing your donation to double!
- No More "I Forgot" - Paycheck donations are an easy way for people to never make the "I forgot." excuse. Since Italian Greyhounds are being signed in to rescue throughout the year, your small contribution given on an ongoing basis will help us to provide consistent care throughout the year for the foster dogs in our program.
- Little Amounts Add Up - Although $10 a check may not seem like much, giving this amount every 2 weeks equals $240 a year, an amount which is enough to spay or neuter a homeless dog. Any amount, even $1 a week, does help. A handful of people donating $1 a week quickly adds up to hundreds or thousands of dollars to help our Italian Greyhounds waiting for homes.
- No Sudden Hit to the Paycheck - Often charitable giving is done at the end of the year, around the holidays when bills are piling up, holiday gifts need purchased, and every other bill seems to come due. You want to donate to the Italian Greyhound Rescue, but your life should take priority. Donating directly via your employer payroll spreads out a donation evenly throughout the year so you don't face an unexpected hit to your check, or run out of funds when bills come due.
- Tax Season Benefits - With direct paycheck donations there is not a need to get proof of your charitable donations for your tax preparer or adviser. And, misplacing receipts will be a thing of the past with this simple method.
These are only a few reasons you may want to consider on-going paycheck donations to the IGRF as part of your charitable contributions.
Gifts to the Italian Greyhound Rescue Foundation are easy and efficient when done via paycheck donations. If you are interested in further information we encourage you to ask your employer about paycheck donations and any paycheck matching program offered. The Italian Greyhound Rescue Foundation is available to help you complete any forms required so your donations can benefit the Italian Greyhounds waiting for forever homes. There is a good chance that your employer, either private or public offers a payroll donation option, so take advantage of it where it is offered!
We also recommend you look in to the finances of any charities you choose to support. You probably want your donation to be used to the fullest extent, and over 99% of donations to the Italian Greyhound Rescue Foundation are used to help the dogs directly, not to compensate over-paid executives, send out massive amounts of marketing materials, or other unnecessary costs. As a volunteer-only, foster home based organization our operating costs are very minimal compared even to the vast majority of animal shelters.
Finally, please consider your personal finances before making donations to any charity. The annual average giving per person has been estimated at 3.2%. Your personal finances should come first, and donations to any charity should be considered next. Once you do the math based on your annual income, you may be surprised at the amount you are able to contribute on an on-going basis.
