Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Civic Engagement topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Multnomah County unveils United Way ePledge portal as employee giving falls from pre-COVID levels
Summary
County and United Way staff introduced a redesigned Multnomah County Gives ePledge portal launching Oct. 24, described payroll-deduction options and quarterly payouts, and outlined outreach plans after reporting giving is about 50% of pre-COVID (inflation-adjusted) levels.
Multnomah County and United Way representatives briefed the Board on the county’s annual employee giving campaign, Multnomah County Gives, and introduced a new ePledge portal managed by United Way of the Columbia-Willamette.
Matt Moline of the Department of Accounting Management explained that the campaign is governed by county code (cited in the briefing as Multnomah County code 9.605) and that United Way handles campaign administration and charity validation. Jay Lavitre (campaign volunteer/partner) and Nicole LaRose of United Way described the ePledge portal, which the briefing said will launch Oct. 24 and allow payroll deduction, credit-card and check donations to verified 501(c)(3) organizations.
Nicole LaRose said the portal connects to GuideStar for charity verification and that United Way assists donors when an organization does not immediately appear in the system. United Way staff said payouts to nonprofits are processed on a regular cadence (noted in briefing as quarterly), and that the portal includes donor and organization reporting tools.
Presenters reported Multnomah County employee pledges have declined to roughly 50% of pre-COVID levels when adjusted for inflation; staff attributed the decline to workforce remote work, fewer in-person outreach opportunities, generational changes in giving and general economic strain. Proposed tactics to boost participation include more in-person engagement (lunch-and-learns, “pizza party” events), grassroots outreach, messaging about the administrative efficiencies of giving through United Way and emphasizing that employees may give as little as $1 per paycheck.
Board members asked whether monthly payroll deductions or lump-sum gifts are better for nonprofit planning; United Way and campaign staff said payroll deductions provide predictable revenue for nonprofits and that the portal supports donor choice and flexible frequency. Commissioners encouraged employees to participate and thanked campaign volunteers.
The briefing included no formal policy changes or votes; staff requested continued outreach and returned reporting to the Board. The county will provide employees with portal access and communications leading up to the campaign kickoff.
