GoodPAYE at Five: Unlocking the Power of Giving at Work.

GoodPAYE, the UK’s only 100% charity‑owned payroll giving platform, is celebrating its fifth anniversary, marking five years of transforming how people give to charity through work and unlocking millions of pounds for causes across the UK. 

Founded in 2021, GoodPAYE was created to fix a problem hidden in plain sight. Payroll Giving, a government‑backed scheme launched in 1987, is one of the most tax‑efficient and impactful ways to donate to charity – yet decades later, it remained underused, overly complex and largely unchanged. While millions of employees wanted to give, fewer than 4% were doing so through payroll, and awareness among employers remained low. 

GoodPAYE set out to change that. 

Built as a joint venture by five of the UK’s largest charities – Barnardo’s, Crisis, the Royal British Legion, RNIB and WaterAid , GoodPAYE was designed to bring Payroll Giving into the 21st century. Its mission: to unlock millions more for the charity sector by making giving through work simple, transparent and genuinely engaging for everyone involved. 

Five years on, that mission is well underway. 

“We’re proud to celebrate five years of GoodPAYE – the first multi-owned charity startup in the UK built to make payroll giving more accessible and impactful. As one of the founding shareholder charities, it’s been inspiring to see how the platform has grown, helping connect more people with causes they care about. We look forward to seeing it continue to disrupt fundraising and ensure funding gets to where it’s needed most.“

Liz Choonara, Executive Director of Commerce and Enterprise at Crisis

Since launch, GoodPAYE has grown into the UK’s leading full‑service Payroll Giving solution, combining employee engagement, donation technology and HMRC‑approved processing in one seamless platform. In 2024 alone, over £10 million was pledged through the GoodPAYE platform, providing charities with long‑term, reliable income they can plan around and depend on.  

GoodPAYE’s charity‑owned model means impact always comes first. All profits stay within the charity sector, and the platform has been built in close collaboration with employers, employees and charities to ensure giving works better for everyone. From flexible donation matching and real‑time reporting to integrated payroll compatibility and ongoing engagement campaigns, GoodPAYE removes barriers at every step, helping people give as they earn and see the difference it makes.  

That commitment to doing business differently has been recognised across the sector. In 2023, GoodPAYE was named London Start‑up Business of the Year at the FSB Awards, and in 2025 became a Certified B Corporation, achieving an impact score more than double the median for ordinary businesses. This certification reflects GoodPAYE’s governance, transparency and measurable social impact, all underpinned by its charity ownership model.  

As GoodPAYE turns five, its focus remains firmly on the future. With over 80% of UK companies still not offering Payroll Giving, the opportunity for growth and impact is significant. GoodPAYE continues to work towards its long‑term ambition to dramatically increase participation in Payroll Giving and raise an additional £150 million for charities across the UK by helping workplace giving reach its full potential.  

“Five years in, our ambition for GoodPAYE is bigger than ever. We believe every workplace can be a force for good, and our role is to make that as easy, transparent and impactful as possible. By continuing to innovate and staying true to our charity‑owned roots, we’re building a future where giving through work unlocks its full potential for the causes that need it most.”

Alice Wright, CEO, GoodPAYE