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Contact information:

Junelle Schrum
Employee Giving Program Administrator
206-263-9405

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Ways to give

Make a donation through payroll

King County employees can pledge an amount to be deducted from their paycheck and donated to as many as six nonprofit organizations of their choice. Deductions can be made:

  • Bimonthly (deducted every paycheck)
  • Monthly (deducted from the second paycheck each month)
  • Annually (deducted once in January)

Minimum donation per organization is $5.00 per deduction. Maximum number of organization designations is six. To include your donation in a pool of money that will be distributed to ALL campaign participants on a prorated basis, write 0000 in the code section and write “campaign” under organization name on your donation form.

Make a direct check donation

King County employees may donate to participating nonprofit organizations via direct check. Specifically, employees may select the "direct check" option on the pledge form (Section 2, selection 1). Direct checks will be mailed to the participating nonprofit organization before the end of the campaign calendar year and will be tax events for that calendar year. Ex: Direct checks received during the 2008 campaign are 2008 tax events as they will be distributed to participating agencies in 2008. Employees will receive an acknowledgment letter from the appropriate nonprofit organization confirming the receipt of direct checks.

Donate vacation and compensatory time

King County employees can donate vacation and/or compensatory time to a single nonprofit organization of their choice. The minimum donation is 4 hours and maximum donation is 40 hours (unless you have excess vacation time). If you are an employee with excess time that cannot be carried over into the next calendar year, you may donate more than 40 hours. For instance, you may donate 40 regular vacation or comp hours. If you have an additional 10  hours of excess vacation that will be lost if not used by December 31, 2009, you may donate the original 40 hours plus the additional 10 hours totaling 50 hours to one organization of your choice.

The net cash value of the hours (after all mandatory withholdings, including withholding in accordance with retirement plans, federal income tax and the Federal Insurance Contributions Act) will be calculated and sent to your designated nonprofit organization. You will receive a receipt notifying you of the net cash value of your time donation. Time donations cannot be accepted after November 20, 2009.

Time donations are a 2009 tax event. You may donate the vacation or comp time that you have accumulated through December 31, 2009.

All time donations are subject to department director approval.

Read the new time donation ordinance (.pdf)

Dedication of your donation

If you would like to make your donation in honor of someone living or in memory of someone deceased, please complete the optional section to the right of your organization designations on the donation form. If you release your name and address to the organizations in section 3 of the donation form, the donation dedication names will also be released. If you would like an acknowledgment letter mailed to the people you placed a donation in honor of please contact the Employee Giving Program Administrator at employeegiving@kingcounty.gov.

Distribution of your donation

You can donate to up to 6 organizations through payroll deduction. With a minimum of $5 per organization per organization, you can donate to:

  • A single nonprofit organization. Simply enter the agency code on your pledge form and return to the EGP.
  • A federation representing a group of nonprofits. Your donation will be distributed among the federation members. Enter the federation agency code on your Donation Form.
  • Undesignated. Your donation will be distributed among campaign participants on a prorated basis.  Enter the agency code “0000” and write “campaign” under Agency Name on the Donation Form.
Giving Works!

Catalog and forms

Changes in tax law regarding workplace charitable giving

RE: IRS Notice 2006-110 "Recordkeeping Requirements for Charitable Contributions made by Payroll Deduction”

New rules apply to contributions made January 1, 2007. Please follow the new rules for employee charitable contributions:

Payroll deduction:  To claim an income tax deduction the employee must have a pay stub, W-2 or other employer document showing the total amount withheld for the charitable organization AND a photocopy of the donor pledge card.  This is needed to substantiate and claim a tax deduction.  A letter prepared by or at the direction of the charity (stating the date, amount donated, and "no goods or services language") also qualifies.

Cash, a check, or other monetary gift:  To claim an income tax deduction, the employee must have a bank record (cancelled check, bank or credit card statement) OR written acknowledgement from a charitable organization showing the date, amount contributed, and name of the organization.

Please keep:

  • Your last pay stub of the year.  It shows the total amount donated to charity via payroll deduction.
  • A copy of your pledge form.

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