How do I donate using my Giving Bonus?
Your employer may load funds directly into your account, called a Giving Bonus, that you can send to any eligible charity at no cost to you. Here's how the process works.
You can kick off a donation right from the Home page by clicking Donate with Giving Bonus, or go through the standard flow from the Donate page. Either way, the Giving Bonus will show up as a payment option at checkout.
Step 1: Find a Charity
Go to the Donate page from the left-hand navigation. Search by name, EIN, or category, or browse the featured and recommended lists. Click Details on any charity to see its profile, then hit Donate.
Step 2: Enter Donation Details
Fill out the Enter Donation Details form:
- Donation Amount: Enter how much you want to give.
- Select Preferences: Choose your privacy level: Full Transparency, Partial Transparency, or Complete Anonymity.
- Add a Note to Charity (Optional): Toggle it on to include a personal message.
- Agree to Terms and Conditions: Check this box before continuing.
Click Continue.
Step 3: Select Giving Bonus as Your Payment Method
On the Select Payment Method page, you'll see card and bank options at the top. Below those, two additional funding sources appear:
- CSA Balance: Your Charitable Savings Account balance, if you have one
- Giving Bonus: Your employer-funded balance, with the total amount shown
Click the Giving Bonus tile to select it. It highlights with a checkmark when active. The Continue button will switch to Confirm Donation. There's no separate processing fee step when you pay with the Giving Bonus.
Check the Donation Details summary at the bottom to confirm the amount and any match.
Step 4: Confirm Your Donation
Click Confirm Donation. The donation is processed against your Giving Bonus balance and submitted to the charity. Your remaining balance on the Home page updates to reflect the deduction.
A few things worth knowing:
Your balance is visible on both the Home page and the payment screen, so you'll always know what you're working with before confirming.
If the amount you want to donate exceeds your available balance, you'll need to lower the amount or switch to a different payment method. Giving Bonus funds can only go to eligible nonprofits; they can't be withdrawn or used for anything else.
Where can I find my Giving Bonus balance?
When your employer issues a Giving Bonus, it is deposited directly into your Charitable Savings Account. You can check your current Giving Bonus balance right from the Home dashboard; it's the card labeled "Giving Bonus Balance" on the left side, with a green "Donate with Giving Bonus" button underneath.
Some employers issue bonuses on a set schedule, while others may tie them to specific events like work anniversaries, holidays, or company milestones. It depends on how your company has set things up.
No action is required on your end to receive it. The funds just appear.
What can I do with my Giving Bonus?
You can use your Giving Bonus as a payment method to make donations. You can split your Giving Bonus across multiple nonprofits or put the whole thing toward one.
There's no expiration date on the funds, though your employer may set its own guidelines. Check with your giving program team if you're unsure.
Is a Giving Bonus Taxable?
No. The money goes from your employer to your Charitable Savings Account, then to a nonprofit. It never hits your paycheck, so it's not treated as taxable income. That said, because your employer funded it (not you), the donation isn't tax-deductible on your personal return either. It's essentially a wash from a tax perspective.
How is the Giving Bonus different from a matched donation?
A matching gift is reactive: you donate first, and your employer matches some portion of it. A Giving Bonus is proactive. Your company deposits the funds, whether or not you've made a donation yourself. You don't need to give your own money first to get it.
Some employers offer both. In that case, you could receive a Giving Bonus and also get your personal contributions matched through your matching program.
Do all employers offer a Giving Bonus?
Not all of them. The Giving Bonus is an optional feature that employers can turn on within the platform. If it's available, you don't need to enroll separately; it's tied to your Charitable Savings Account.