CAF Home Companies Charities Individuals Search About CAF Case Studies Testimonials Register Your Charity Charity Search Useful Links Sitemap Workplace Giving Matched Giving Consultancy Services New Foundation Account Foundation Management Information Request Workplace Giving Matched Giving Consultancy Services New Foundation Account Foundation Management Information Request Workplace Giving New Foundation Account Foundation Management Investors in Community Information Request Contact CAF Research
CAF Australia

Case Studies

    CAF News

    Resources

    Newsletter



    Subscribe to CAF's newsletter - your privacy is assured

    Case StudiesCase Studies

    Rural Fire Service NSW - "Coffee for Kids"
    Employee Payroll Giving

    Name of Entity Rural Fire Service NSW
    Background

    The NSW Rural Fire Service is the largest volunteer based fire service in the world, comprising of 2,094 brigades with a total volunteer membership of approximately 69,500.

    In addition, the RFS has 220 staff situated at the Corporate Headquarters at Homebush and 440 staff located in Regional Offices and Fire Control Centres around NSW.

    The role of rural fire brigades encompasses far more than bush fires. Members are regularly called upon to attend road accidents, assist in search and rescue operations and storm and flood recovery. The RFS is responsible for structural fire fighting in more than 1,200 towns and villages.RFS has a 105 year history of providing emergency service support and community education programs in their local areas. Staff and volunteers actively participate in their community activities, which include charitable programs, such as "Coffee for Kids" or C4K.

    The Charities Aid Foundation's program was chosen as the RFS payroll giving program because it provided a simple, tax-effective way for staff to support the community. And for the recipient charities, it kept administration to an absolute minimum.

    Objectives
    • The key objectives were to make staff and volunteers aware of the C4K program and encourage their participation in it.
    • Our aim is to provide much needed support to a range of organisations in support of children
    • To support the health, safety & wellbeing of children in our community
    • Promote involvement in the RFS corporate citizenship program
    • Promote staff development through participation in the management of the program
    • In conjunction with the program, RFS aims to establish a charitable foundation to provide access for RFS members and the community to support children's charities and inspire & recruit members of the RFS & community to participate in funds generation.
    Strategy

    Measures taken to achieve these objectives included:

    • Face to face launch of the program
    • Information and application forms distributed to all employees
    • Information and application forms posted on the intranet
    • Illustrative emails to all employees
    • Merchandising with C4K branding promoted & distributed to all staff
    • Posters displayed in all offices
    • Articles in Bushfire Bulletin and associated newsletters
    • Regular re-promotion of program to staff
    Results
    • In the first weeks following the launch to Head Office staff, 73 joined the program of a potential 220 staff - that's 30% participation
    • In the first month staff donated $410.00 to their preferred project within the Children's Hospital at Westmead
    • The RFS has the potential of donating over $250,000 to the recipient charities / projects each year
    • The number of staff participating in the program continues to grow steadily, with new staff advised of the program and encouraged to get involved
    • The initial program has been so successful that our contractors and volunteers are interested to have similar programs implemented in their workplaces.
    Ongoing
    • Regular marketing campaigns planned for the future will generate further staff and volunteer support
    • The C4K Committee constituted to establish the C4K Foundation will actively promote the program within other NSW Government Departments.
    Copyright 2005 CAF