This is a commonly repeated myth but it isn’t true. Nobody gets a tax write off in point-of-sale fundraising. Charities ask stores to do it because it’s one of the most efficient and effective ways for a charity to raise money. Chairty events are costly, and asking people on the street gets a lot of rejection. Stores agree to do it because they get to run ads saying they helped raise millions for charity and the charity will usually shout them out as well.
I work for a retailer and have been loosely involved in a project like that a few years ago.
Basically, it felt like it was mostly a very inexpensive way for the company to get everyone involved feel good about themselves. The free advertising was definitely an argument to get the higher-ups on board, but my impression was that it was kinda secondary compared to the kinda fake good conscience it gave everyone.
There was definitely no tax breaks for that initiative though, so at least in my country that is indeed a myth
EDIT: You also get to say in your annual report to the shareholders that the company helped raise x millions euros to charities at no cos, which in turn makes them feel good about themselves without impacting their profits.
This is a commonly repeated myth but it isn’t true. Nobody gets a tax write off in point-of-sale fundraising. Charities ask stores to do it because it’s one of the most efficient and effective ways for a charity to raise money. Chairty events are costly, and asking people on the street gets a lot of rejection. Stores agree to do it because they get to run ads saying they helped raise millions for charity and the charity will usually shout them out as well.
I work for a retailer and have been loosely involved in a project like that a few years ago.
Basically, it felt like it was mostly a very inexpensive way for the company to get everyone involved feel good about themselves. The free advertising was definitely an argument to get the higher-ups on board, but my impression was that it was kinda secondary compared to the kinda fake good conscience it gave everyone.
There was definitely no tax breaks for that initiative though, so at least in my country that is indeed a myth
EDIT: You also get to say in your annual report to the shareholders that the company helped raise x millions euros to charities at no cos, which in turn makes them feel good about themselves without impacting their profits.