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Charitable Giving

Help your team give back to the causes they love

Give every employee a budget to support the causes that matter to them, double their impact with company matching, and make Payroll Giving simple. All in one place.

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The giving gap
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Fewer people give. Not because they don't care.

Only 55% of UK adults gave to charity in 2025, down from 69% a decade ago. That's around six million fewer donors. And nearly half of those who didn't give say they simply couldn't afford to.

A giving budget from you removes that barrier, and connects your team to a cause beyond their job.

Source: Charities Aid Foundation, UK Giving Report 2026

Compliance Engine

Complex tax law.
Simple software.

Your CFO fears audits. Your HR team fears paperwork. SideUp eliminates both with a fully automated compliance engine.

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Ways to give

Their causes. Your support.

Every employee cares about something different. Let them choose where their giving goes, and let your company amplify it.

01

Giving budget

A set amount each employee donates to the charities they choose.

02

Matching gifts

Your company doubles what employees give, up to a limit you set.

03

Team campaigns

Rally the whole team around a cause, from disaster relief to a local fundraiser.

04

Local causes

Food banks, shelters and community groups in your team's own neighbourhoods.

Three ways to give, and how HMRC sees each one

The tax advantage belongs to whoever gives. Here's the difference in plain English, and where SideUp fits in.

Their choice

Giving budget

Lifestyle benefit

Taxable

Who gives

Your company funds it, and each employee chooses the charities they support.

How it works

You set an annual budget. Employees give with their SideUp card.

SideUp's role

Runs the whole benefit for you.

From their pay

Payroll Giving

Give As You Earn

Free of Income Tax for employees

Who gives

Employees give from their own pay, so a £10 gift costs a basic-rate taxpayer £8.

How SideUp keeps it tax-free

From gross pay. Deducted in payroll before Income Tax. National Insurance still applies.

Only for an approved agency. The Payroll Giving pot can only pay an HMRC-approved Payroll Giving agency, which passes it to the charities.

Stop any time. Employees can change or end their gift whenever they like.

SideUp's role

Collects your team's Payroll Giving from payroll and passes it straight to an HMRC-approved agency.

Doubled by you

Company matching

Charitable donations relief

Tax-efficient for your company

Who gives

Your company, paying straight to a UK registered charity, so it isn't the employee's income.

Worth knowing

Your company can deduct these donations from its taxable profits.

SideUp's role

Tracks employee gifts so you can match them.

A summary, not tax advice. Check your arrangement with a tax adviser.

See How SideUp Works in 4 Easy Steps

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01.

Choose your benefits

Decide which benefits you want to offer and who they apply to.
02.

Implement your policy

Set your budget, eligibility rules, and spending limits. Our platform handles the compliance and guardrails automatically.

03.

Connect to payroll

Seamlessly integrate with your existing payroll provider. We handle the tax implications and reporting for you.

04.

Join the SideUp platform

Invite your team. They get their cards, you get the credit for being an amazing employer. Everyone wins.

Set it up once. Watch the impact add up.

Most spending happens on the card, so there's almost nothing to chase. Here's how it works, from day one.

  1. 1

    Add your employees

    Sync your team from your HR system, or add them manually. Either way, it takes minutes.

  2. 2

    Set up your programme

    Choose your benefits, decide when they're paid out, and pick how your company funds them.

  3. 3

    We invite your team

    SideUp emails each employee an invitation to the app. Once they've completed onboarding, their card is issued.

  4. 4

    Manage it month by month

    Track giving and take-up, and keep your compliance information in one place, ready whenever you need it.

SideUpGiving
Grace Thompson•••• 2208

Local food bank

From Grace's giving budget

£40.00

Company match

Matched 1:1

+£40.00

Total given this year

£240 of £400

Illustrative example

REAL IMPACT, MEASURED IN RESULTS

The numbers don't lie

Based on SideUp’s internal research comparing clients with vs. without flexible stipends. When you give employees choice, the numbers speak for themselves.

eNPS Points
+35
eNPS Points
Clients using SideUp consistently score +35 points higher than those relying on standard perks.
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Profit
+ 23%
Profit
Employees who are happy with their benefits are more productive and can increase a company’s revenue by up to 23%.
ROI
10x
ROI
For every $1 spent on SideUp stipends, companies save $10 in retention costs and productivity gains.
The SideUp Marketplace

Every dollar goes further. And stays local.

Our marketplace brings your team closer to the independent cafés, gyms, shops and services in their own neighborhood. When they spend their SideUp budget there, they unlock exclusive discounts and freebies, so the same benefit buys more.

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Exclusive discounts for SideUp members

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Freebies and extras from local partners

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Your benefits budget, backing local businesses

A Saturday on Main Street

The Corner Café

$10.95

Marketplace discount

−$1.65

Northside Yoga Studio

$15.00

Free mat rental

Freebie

Saved this month

$11.60

Illustrative example

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Everything you need to know about charitable giving benefits in the UK.

What is a charitable giving benefit?

A budget your company provides so employees can give to the causes they care about, with the option to double their impact through company matching and to give tax-free through Payroll Giving.

Is a giving budget taxable?

Yes. A giving budget paid through SideUp is a Lifestyle benefit, so it's taxable for the employee, like other Lifestyle benefits. There are two tax-efficient ways to give alongside it: Payroll Giving and company matching.

How does Payroll Giving work?

Employees give straight from their gross pay, before Income Tax is taken. A £10 gift costs a basic-rate taxpayer £8 and a higher-rate taxpayer £6. National Insurance still applies, and the scheme must run through an HMRC-approved Payroll Giving agency.

Can SideUp run our Payroll Giving?

Yes. Employees choose their monthly gift in the SideUp app, your payroll deducts it from gross pay before Income Tax, and SideUp passes it straight to an HMRC-approved Payroll Giving agency, which distributes it to the charities they chose. The Payroll Giving pot can't be used for anything else, and employees can stop or change their gift at any time.

Can we match employee donations?

Yes. When your company donates directly to a UK registered charity, it can claim charitable donations relief against its taxable profits. You choose the match ratio, like 1:1, and an annual limit per employee.

Which charities can employees support?

UK registered charities, so every donation goes to an eligible organisation. You can also highlight causes your company wants to champion.

How much should we offer?

You decide. Set an annual giving budget per employee, and a matching limit if you'd like to double their impact. Payroll Giving amounts are chosen by each employee.

How does SideUp handle it?

Employees give to eligible charities with their SideUp card, within the budgets you set. Giving budget, matching and Payroll Giving are tracked separately and automatically.

Build a culture of giving

Turn good intentions into real impact.

Because when people feel their employer shares their values, they show up prouder, more engaged and ready to stay. Book a demo to see Charitable Giving in action.