Only four MPs donate through payroll giving

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Only four MPs donate through payroll giving 7

Fundraising | Celina Ribeiro | 30 Sep 2011

Just four MPs donate to charity via their payroll even though the mechanism has been touted by government as a good way to boost giving overall.

In response to a Freedom of Information request by civilsociety.co.uk, the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (IPSA) revealed that four un-named members of parliament donate to charity via the Give As You Earn scheme. There are 650 MPs in parliament, which means just 0.6 per cent of MPs give via the scheme.

The IPSA emphasised that this did not account for the entirety of MPs' philanthropy, only what they donated via payroll giving.

The government has repeatedly cited increasing payroll giving as an opportunity to boost giving as a whole. At the Institute of Fundraising’s payroll giving conference in June, held at the Home Office itself, economic secretary to the Treasury Justine Greening reaffirmed the government’s commitment to trying to make payroll giving the norm

“Payroll giving is a huge opportunity that almost needs to be dusted off and looked at again fresh,” she said.

The Cabinet Office expressed particular enthusiasm for payroll giving in the Giving White Paper, in which it also announced plans to launch a national campaign this autumn to promote payroll giving to employers.

This top-line support is yet further cemented by the fact that this year, for the first time, the annual Payroll Giving Awards will be held at Number 11 Downing Street.

In a statement in response to the revelation, the Institute of Fundraising said: “The key thing here is for individuals to keep on giving to charity, irrespective of the channels they choose to make donations.”

Directory: Institute of Fundraising

Place a comment

Elena Joseph
Workplace Giving UK
3 Oct 2011

Phiip Carver is correct in essence, however, how a person donates to charity is important. Charities still lose £millions every year through inefficient giving - not ticking a Gift Aid box or not giving via pay etc.

Giving via pay is the only automatic way for a higher rate tax payer to donate 40% extra automatically and, as all MPs are higher rate tax payers, this would be an ideal way for them to give any regular donations they may wish to give. I really believe that this is a case of lack of awareness of the scheme among MPs - as it is for many employees within companies operating a scheme but with a low uptake.

[Reply]

Bob
30 Sep 2011

Ho, ho, ho - typical !

[Reply]

Philip Carver
30 Sep 2011

Surely this is an irrelevant fact.

The issue is 'Do they donate?'. How they do is irrelevant and, frankly, nobody else's business as is how much they donate and to whom.

Payroll giving, from my experience both as employer and employee, is not the simple system it is cracked up to be.

[Reply]

Bob
3 Oct 2011
Response to [Philip Carver]

Whilst I agree with your point (somewhat), I still believe that we can use the lack of belief / use of the system as a proxy for an assumed lack of overall willingness to donate to charities since I do not believe we are privy or will ever be privy to total cash £value donated.

Finally, even if we were it would, then it would be required to be put into context in terms of a percentage of total annual income and also in terms of total net worth.

[Reply]

Elena Joseph
Workplace Giving UK
4 Oct 2011
Response to [Bob]

Not sure where you are getting your information from Bob but I think it is rather a big step to assume that because MPs do not use their payroll giving scheme that they are not giving at all?

[Reply]

GHarkess
30 Sep 2011

Four!
They'll probably qualify for a Silver award and certificate of excellence..

[Reply]

Rarry Revan
Ranter
Rantingrules
30 Sep 2011

So let's get this straight then:

The Government who are in charge of the country are full of hot air and unwilling to lead by example, the Institute of Fundraising are unwilling to put their money where their mouth is (sorry the Government's money, sorry the taxpayer's money given to them to promote payroll giving) and are also unwilling to take a lead on sorting out Payroll Giving.

I know! Why don't we rehash the same old comments about leadership and opportunity for the next ten years? It seems to have worked for the last decade...

[Reply]

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