Future concept : not available in the Bedford pilot
52% lower turnover among newer employees who took part in
workplace giving or volunteering
Our future concept would let employees nominate local schools and charities, with the business funding the donations. Employee accounts and budgets are not built yet; the Bedford pilot focuses on business wishlists and surplus giving.
Example future budget: £50 per employee per month.
Programme details and tax treatment will need review before launch.
Corporate donations don't create loyalty
When your company writes a cheque to a large charity, employees feel nothing. No "helper's high." No personal connection. The board chose it, not them.
Programmes that feel like PR stunts fall flat with staff. Authenticity matters.
The shift happening now: from Corporate Social Responsibility (directed by the board) to Individual Social Responsibility (directed by the employee).
The CommuniTie model
Why employee giving works
The psychology behind the retention numbers
Autonomy
Self-determination theory shows we're happier when we control outcomes. Letting employees choose where giving goes triggers the "competence" driver that top-down donations never can.
Hyper-local impact
Employees feel more connected to their company when they feel connected to their community. Gifts in Kind to local schools create visible, tangible feedback loops.
Authentic, not PR
If 100 employees donate to 100 different causes, it's impossible to be accused of greenwashing for a single agenda. The diversity proves authenticity.
The maths for a 100-person firm
At average UK pay, a £50 a month giving budget per person is less than 1.5% of the salary bill. Losing one employee can cost from £11,200. Your team gets to do good where they live, and you get a team that's proud of where they work.
What the research says
The studies behind employee giving
What it costs (and what you save)
The maths
Purchase illustration: £50 of goods including 20% VAT can cost £31.25 after tax on the assumptions below. This does not establish the tax treatment of an employee programme.*
*Assumes full purchase VAT recovery, a deductible expense at 25% corporation tax and a qualifying donation. Employee-benefit treatment requires separate review before launch.
How it works
How the future programme could work
Set Up Account
A future organisation account would manage the employee giving budget.
Employees Browse
Staff browse local school and charity wishlists on CommuniTie.
They Choose & Buy
Each employee picks items to fulfil. CommuniTie handles receipts.
You Get Reports
Export impact data for CSR reporting, tenders, and annual reviews.
Common questions
How does employee giving improve staff retention?
Staff who take part in workplace giving or volunteering stay longer: Benevity found 52% lower turnover among newer employees who took part. And in a randomised trial, simply giving staff money to donate made them happier and more satisfied at work.
What is the difference between CSR and Individual Social Responsibility?
Traditional CSR is directed by the board (top-down). Individual Social Responsibility empowers employees to choose where giving goes. Choosing where the money goes is the point. In the bank trial, staff picked their own charity, and their happiness and job satisfaction rose.
How much does employee giving cost per employee?
Budgets and tax treatment for the future programme have not been finalised. Tax and employee-benefit treatment would need review before launch.
Why give goods rather than cash?
Because people can see it. When an employee sees the books they chose on a school shelf, the good they did is real and local, and it's linked to where they work.
How do I set up employee giving through CommuniTie?
Employee accounts and giving budgets are a future concept, not available during the Bedford pilot. Contact us to discuss your interest. Today, a business can donate through its own account.
How is this different from charity matching schemes?
Matching schemes wait for employees to donate first, then match. CommuniTie gives employees a proactive budget to spend on local causes. They're the hero, not the co-funder.
What if employees don't use their budget?
Because the budget comes from the company, giving costs employees nothing. That removes the biggest barrier to taking part.
Can we track what employees are donating?
Yes. You get aggregate reporting showing total impact, categories, and recipient types. Individual choices remain private to respect employee autonomy, which is key to the psychological benefits.
How does this help with tender submissions?
CommuniTie records every gift with its date, value and the recipient's confirmation. Use that as evidence alongside the framework each buyer specifies.
What's the minimum company size?
There's no minimum. Small teams can start with a small monthly budget.
Research references
Ready to give your team agency?
Let employees become local heroes. Give your team a reason to be proud of where they work.
Contact us to discuss your team size and budget