FAQs about Give As You Earn

Is there an administration fee?

Yes there is. Each agency charity has its own administration charge structure.

The cost incurred depends on the way in which you choose to give. Give As You Earn generally makes a deduction of between 0% and 4% from your contribution to cover the cost of administration. Some employers cover the cost of administration for their employees.

Is it difficult for a company to establish and administer Give As You Earn?

No, it's not difficult. Once the company has decided to offer Give As You Earn to its employees, it must complete the required paperwork. Once the paperwork has been processed by the agency charity, the company must decide how and when to promote it to its staff and process the payroll monthly.

What is a PFO?

A PFO is a Professional Fundraising Organisation. They promote payroll giving and recruit new donors for the organisations that recruit their services.

Most PFOs belong to the Association of Payroll Giving Professional Fundraising Organisations (APGPFO). PFOs are commercial organsiations (in some cases owned by charities) that promote payroll giving for various charities. They are paid a fee by the charities if support is generated. The fees vary between PFOs. It is worth approaching a few to find out how they work and what they charge. They are currently several PFOs working in Northern Ireland.

How do I know which charities the PFO promotes?

Each PFO has a portfolio of charities they represent. You can ask the PFO to show you the range of charities they currently promote. Most try to have a portfolio that reflects a cross section of causes.

It is worth remembering that an employee can give to any charitable or voluntary organisation in the UK - not just the ones the PFO is promoting. The PFO should make this clear to staff when talking to them about Give As You Earn.