Debating an Evergreen Workplace Giving Campaign vs. Annual Sign-up

There’s no single right way to structure your workplace giving program. What matters most is choosing a model that fits your company’s size, culture, and communication capacity.

Both the annual sign-up model and the evergreen model have advantages — one offers structure and simplicity, while the other provides flexibility and ongoing engagement. Here’s how to decide which one aligns best with your goals.

Annual Workplace Giving Sign-up Model

What it is: Employees enroll during a specific open enrollment period — often the same time they update benefits or payroll information.

Best for: Companies that prefer a defined campaign season or need to manage all giving activity within a set timeframe.

Pros:

• Simple to manage with a clear start and end date
• Easy to integrate into annual benefits updates
• Creates urgency and excitement around participation

Cons:

• New hires may have to wait months to join
• Once employees make their giving selections, changes are typically locked until the next enrollment period
• Engagement peaks seasonally, then tapers off

How to Strengthen It:

• Use micro-campaigns or volunteer events throughout the year to keep energy alive between open enrollment periods.
• Share quarterly updates to remind employees of their ongoing impact.

Evergreen Workplace Giving Model

• What it is: Employees can start, stop, or adjust their giving at any time, year-round.
• Best for: Companies that value continuous engagement, flexibility, and a culture of giving woven into everyday work life.

Pros:

• New employees can participate immediately
• Ongoing flexibility creates a better employee experience
• Encourages sustained awareness and connection to causes
• Can be built into onboarding for new hires

Cons:

• Requires more consistent communication
• May take extra setup time for automated workflows and reporting

How to Strengthen It:

• Create automated email sequences that welcome new hires, highlight impact stories, and prompt engagement quarterly. This keeps giving top of mind without manual effort.