The Perfect Complement to the United Way

Workplace giving is part of a great American tradition. From passing a hat for friends fallen on hard times to the millions of dollars raised each year through payroll deduction campaigns, workplace giving plays a vital role for meeting the needs of our communities. As the issues and problems facing our communities have changed, so have payroll deduction campaigns in the workplace. Although United Way pioneered the development of payroll deductions campaigns in the workplace, over the last twenty years there has been a growing number of charities that fall outside their guidelines.

Here in Illinois, the Public Interest Fund provides employers an easy way to expand your payroll deduction campaign. The perfect complement to the United Way, the Public Interest Fund of Illinois represents non-profit community organizations from across Illinois that address a wide range of issues from the environment and homelessness to civil rights and AIDS. Since 1997, the Fund has become a national leader in managing Combined Charities Campaigns for employers. The Fund incorporates a broad spectrum of chairities into a fully integrated campaign program.

Does it work?

When the Public Interest Fund of Illinois is invited to participate in a workplace giving program, your campaign operation will experience minimal change; the Fund's campaign can run concurrently with your existing drive. The Public Interest Fund of Illinois will provide all campaign materials such as brochures, pledge cards, buttons and posters. The Fund will also work with you to fit in with your current payroll, accountability and recording systems.

What are the benefits of an expanded campaign?

According to independent research at Yale University, corporations that expanded their payroll deduction programs were rewarded in three major areas:

1. Improved Employee Relations. Expanding your charitable campaign offers more giving options for your employees and a greater opportunity for their participation. Giving employees greater choices is like an additional benefit at no extra cost to the business.
2. Enhanced Community Relations. An open campaign also helps increase your company's visibility and standing in the community. Including the Public Interest Fund of Illinois in your payroll campaign makes a positive statement that your business is concerned about community issues.
3. Strengthened Payroll Campaign. Overall employee giving increases dramatically when greater choices are offered. According to the Yale research, in 73% of the campaigns surveyed total giving increased more than 100%. This is new giving and does not disrupt existing charitable pledges.

Who is the Public Interest Fund of Illinois?

The Public Interest Fund of Illinois is a federation of diverse community organizations working to meet a broad range of community needs. Many of the member organizations such as the Illinois NAACP, the ACLU and the League of Women Voters, have a long and distinguished history of addressing issues in our communities. Others member organizations are addressing new issues facing our communities such as the Coalition for the Homeless, Illinois Hunger Coalition and Council for Disability Rights. But these and all of our members have one thing in common--they believe that citizens of Illinois are the solution to the problems facing our communities. The diversity of the Fund's membership is a perfect complement to the many valuable organizations supported by the United Way, and offers a broad range of choices for your employees.