# Payroll Giving – time to let it go?

- Link: https://fundraising.co.uk/2011/06/27/payroll-giving-time-let-it-go/
- Published: 2011-06-27T10:17:22+01:00
- Author: Simon George

The recent comments by Mark Astarita, Chair of the IoF, about payroll giving may
have embarrassed the Institute, but of course he is only saying what most of us 
have known for years.

 

I went to the launch of payroll giving by CAF in 1987, when we were told that “in
five years, everyone will give like this”. 24 years later we are still waiting! 
At that meeting, I asked if there would be any government support for the new scheme
and was roundly rebuffed, on the basis that it was up to charities to do this themselves.

## Advertisement

 

So next week, the Home Office is hosting a conference on payroll giving, to seek
to breath new life into the ailing patient. Well best of luck to them. For a few
charities, payroll giving has worked very well, but for most there have been too
many barriers in the way to make it a real success, so many have just dabbled at
it or have given up altogether. I can’t see this situation changing.

 

Today there are just so many better opportunities, especially in new media, so why
invest time and money in keeping it going? In marketing terms, payroll has always
been a problem child, but maybe it’s time we recognised it for what it is – a dead
dog – and buried it once and for all.

 

For me, Joe Saxton summed it up well when he described payroll giving as the “British
Leyland of the fundraising sector” – and we all know what happened to BL.

 

I hope I’m wrong, but I strongly suspect that neither the Institute nor the Home
Office will be able to resuscitate this patient. Far kinder and more sensible to
let it die a peaceful death and move on.

 

****************************************************************************************************************

 

Simon George is a Director of Wootton George Consulting and a Fellow of the Institute
of Fundraising. He has worked in fundraising since 1987 and was the founder of the
IoF’s Trusts Special Interest Group. Today he chairs the IoF’s West Midlands region
and works with a wide range of charities in a consultancy capacity. www.wgconsulting.
co.uk si***@*************co.uk Tel 01785 663600.

 

 * **[Platinum level added to Payroll Giving Quality Mark Awards](https://fundraising.co.uk/2012/04/22/platinum-level-added-payroll-giving-quality-mark-awards/)**(
   22 April 2012)
 * **[Winners of 2012 National Payroll Giving Excellence Awards announced](https://fundraising.co.uk/2012/11/01/winners-2012-national-payroll-giving-excellence-awards-announced/)**(
   1 November 2012)
 * **[Giveall2Charity launches online payroll giving platform](https://fundraising.co.uk/2013/03/13/giveall2charity-launches-online-payroll-giving-platform/)**(
   13 March 2013)