![Group of around 14 adults posing and smiling in front of a bright mural with a large lemon tree image behind them (outdoor group photo).])](https://dug.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/2.png "2 - Denver Urban Gardens")
Supporting your community doesn’t have to mean making one large donation.
One of the easiest ways to make a lasting impact is through payroll giving—a workplace giving program that allows you to donate directly from your paycheck. Small, recurring contributions add up over time, helping Denver Urban Gardens (DUG) grow healthier communities, increase access to fresh food, and expand urban gardening opportunities across Metro Denver.
If your employer offers payroll giving, you can support DUG automatically with every paycheck.
What Is Payroll Giving?
Payroll giving is a workplace giving program that allows employees to make charitable donations through automatic payroll deductions.
After enrolling through your employer, a designated amount is deducted from each paycheck and donated directly to the nonprofit you choose.
Whether you give $5, $10, or $25 each pay period, recurring gifts create meaningful, long-term support without requiring you to remember to make individual donations throughout the year.
For many donors, payroll giving is one of the simplest ways to make charitable giving part of their regular routine.
Why Payroll Giving Matters
Community gardens don’t grow overnight.
Neither do the programs that help communities access healthy food, learn new gardening skills, steward neighborhood green spaces, and build stronger connections.
Recurring support through payroll giving helps DUG plan for the future with confidence. Rather than relying solely on one-time gifts, recurring donations provide steady funding that allows us to invest in long-term initiatives and respond to community needs throughout the year.
Payroll gifts help support DUG’s mission by helping us:
- Steward more than 200 community gardens and food forests across Metro Denver
- Expand equitable access to healthy, locally grown food
- Provide gardening education and community workshops
- Support volunteers, garden leaders, and neighborhood partnerships
- Invest in greener, healthier, and more resilient communities
Every paycheck becomes another opportunity to help cultivate lasting change.
Why Donors Love Payroll Giving
Payroll giving is designed to be easy.
It’s Automatic
Once you’re enrolled, your donations happen automatically through payroll deduction. There’s no need to remember monthly payments or schedule recurring gifts yourself.
Small Gifts Add Up
A contribution of just a few dollars from each paycheck can grow into significant annual support.
For example:
- $10 per paycheck can become hundreds of dollars each year.
- Across hundreds of employees, those small gifts create meaningful funding for community gardens and food access programs.
You Create Lasting Impact
Recurring giving provides reliable support that helps nonprofits like DUG plan ahead, respond to community needs, and build sustainable programs that serve neighborhoods year after year.
How to Get Started
Getting started with payroll giving is usually simple.
1. Ask Your Employer
Check on DUG’s Payroll Giving page to see whether your workplace offers a payroll giving or workplace giving program. Don’t see your employer? Connect with your Human Resources or Payroll department to recommend getting started!
2. Choose Denver Urban Gardens
If DUG is listed in your employer’s giving platform, simply select us as your nonprofit of choice.
If we’re not currently listed, ask whether your employer can add Denver Urban Gardens to its charitable giving options.
3. Select Your Donation Amount
Choose an amount that fits comfortably within your budget.
Even modest recurring gifts make a meaningful difference over time.
4. Watch Your Impact Grow
Once you’re enrolled, your donations are automatically deducted from each paycheck and sent directly to DUG.
You’ll know that every pay period is helping strengthen community gardens, increase food access, and cultivate healthier neighborhoods across Metro Denver.
Multiply Your Workplace Giving
Many employers offer even more ways to support the causes you care about.
In addition to payroll giving, your company may also provide:
- Employee Matching Gifts, which can double or even triple your donation.
- Volunteer Grants, which provide funding based on the volunteer hours you contribute.
- Volunteer Time Off (VTO), allowing you to volunteer during paid work hours.
These programs can work together, allowing you to maximize your impact throughout the year.
Help Every Paycheck Grow Something Good
Community gardens thrive because many people contribute over time.
Payroll giving works the same way.
A small gift from every paycheck becomes seeds, soil, educational programs, volunteer support, and thriving community spaces where neighbors can grow food and build connections together.
If your employer offers payroll giving, consider making Denver Urban Gardens part of your workplace giving plan.
And if your company doesn’t currently offer payroll giving, consider asking your Human Resources team about starting one. Many employers are expanding workplace giving benefits as they invest in employee engagement and community impact.
Together, we can make every paycheck help cultivate a healthier, more connected future.
