Workers Value Payroll Deductions

Forty-seven percent of 400 workers who responded to a new survey said they believed it was important for companies to offer payroll deductions as a way for employees to contribute to charity.

The survey was conducted by SWR Worldwide for Earth Share, a Washington nonprofit organization that raises money for national and local environmental groups through on-the-job drives.

More than 71 percent of the respondents reported donating money to charity in the past year. Medical research, religion, and children received the most support from respondents. The environment was the fifth most popular cause for donations, below making donations to help the homeless, the survey found.

Last year Earth Share and its 15 local affiliates raised $15-million for groups such as the Nature Conservancy, the World Wildlife Fund, and the National Audubon Society.

The survey also asked respondents which of several reasons would prompt them to give to environmental charities.

Among the findings:

• Eighty percent said they would be inclined to give if a group said that 85 cents of every dollar went directly to the charity’s cause, and not to administrative costs.
• Almost all respondents said receiving specific information on how their money is used to benefit the environment was a compelling reason to give.
• Nearly 70 percent liked the ability to donate one amount that would be spread among several environmental groups.
• Nearly 90 percent wanted their own cities and towns to benefit from donations.

Asked what concerned them most about the environment, respondents were evenly divided. One quarter said overpopulation and too many cars were the biggest problems, another quarter expressed concern about deforestation, another quarter were concerned about environmental and water pollution, and 25 percent worried about the overall level of pollution.

To obtain a free copy of the survey results, contact Earth Share, 3400 International Drive, Suite 2K, Washington, D.C. 20008; (202) 537-7100.