Why Payroll Deductions?

There are five reasons why payroll deductions are an effective and highly recommended strategy:

• It's Effective. As a fundraising mechanism, workplace solicitation has a remarkable track record. In 1990, United Ways raised $3.11 billion with more than $2 billion from payroll deductions. In 1980, alternative funds raised 3.5% of what the United Ways raised, by 1990 they had raised $205 million or more than 10% of all workplace contributions.
• It's Efficient. Although the start-up costs and time are prohibitive for a single organization, the maintenance costs/time is extremely attractive for coalitions. Because of employer subsidies, employee receptivity and volunteer/member organization work, the costs of maintaining a federation are usually kept to less than 25% of total receipts. Many funds keep their administrative/fundraising costs under 20%.
• It's Stable. Almost 80% of workplace donors repeat their gifts to the same federation year after year. On a national average, 30% of a given workforce contributes through workplace solicitation (MUCH higher in private workplaces). Of this 30%, Alternative Funds usually receive between 7% and 20% of all gifts. But this share continues to grow as these funds become more sophisticated and better known among employees.
• The Message. The traditional images put forth in workplace campaigns are of patronizing donors and helpless victims. Alternative Funds empower both donors and constituents with funding self-help, constituency controlled organizations. Presenting this message to millions of employees each year makes workplace solicitation worthwhile, aside from the money raised.
• The Type of Money Raised. As critical as the amount of money raised (it averages $1-2,000/member in first year campaigns and $7-25,000/member/year for five year old campaigns) is the type of money raised. Workplace fundraising receipts are virtually string-free, stable and earned income - all the characteristics of fundraising which we have been taught to value.

When you contribute to the Public Interest Fund of Illinois, you are supporting:

• Greater opportunities for the homeless
• Affordable health care and housing
• More jobs, safer conditions
• Efforts to eliminate hunger and promote nutrition
• Peace and racial justice
• Civil rights and legal services for the poor
• Economic justice for women
• Building bridges between cultures
• Tenant rights and fair housing
• Advocacy for senior citizens and disabled citizens
• Commercial free, community-based radio programming
• Efforts to eliminate discrimination

How You Can Help

The Public Interest Fund of Illinois receives nearly all of of its financial support from people like you, through payroll deduction at their workplace. There is no minimum or maximum contribution level, but many employees pledge the value of one hour of pay per month. You can help the Public Interest Fund of Illinois build a world of change in your own backyard ...and across Illinois. Choose the Public Interest Fund of Illinois for your payroll deduction today!

How Your Money Is Spent

All contributions to the Public Interest Fund of Illinois are divided among the member organizations, unless directed by a donor to a specific member organization. Only 15% of the contributions we receive are used for administrative expenses. This means 85% of your contribution goes directly to benefit the important work of the organizations that are part of the Public Interest Fund of Illinois.