Employee Giving: How Workplaces Can Fund Scholarships Together

Most employees want to give back. What stops them is rarely the will – it is not knowing where their money goes, whether it really helps, and how to do it without hassle. An Employee Kind Circle solves all three. It lets colleagues pool their giving, through payroll or one-time donations, to fund scholarships for verified students – and see exactly who they helped.

What is an Employee Kind Circle?

An Employee Kind Circle is a company's own scholarship community on Kind Circle. Employees donate small amounts – monthly through payroll or whenever they like – into a shared scholarship fund. Together, those small amounts become full scholarships for deserving students who might otherwise have dropped out.

Buddy4Study India Foundation runs the programme end to end: student outreach, verification, disbursal, receipts and reporting. Your people simply give, nominate and celebrate.

How employee giving changes a workplace

• Purpose people can feel – employees see the faces and stories of the students they support.
• Small amounts, big outcomes – a few hundred rupees a month from many colleagues adds up to life-changing scholarships.
• Pride and belonging – teams rally around a shared cause that reflects company values.
• Stronger employer brand – a visible, transparent giving programme speaks well to employees and candidates alike.
• A natural partner to CSR – employee giving sits comfortably alongside a company's CSR scholarship programme, and companies can choose to match what employees give.

A real example: EY GDS Employee Kind Circle

The EY GDS Employee Kind Circle is led by the GDS Corporate Responsibility Team. Employees came together to fund scholarships for deserving students, nominated students they knew, and followed the scholars' journeys through the year. The circle has raised over ₹9 lakh so far – built from the contributions of individual employees.

Buddy4Study's own team runs the Smiling Star Buddy4Study Kind Circle, where colleagues give every month and receive regular updates on the scholars they support.

How it works

1. Set up your circle

We create a dedicated, branded Employee Kind Circle page for your company and agree the scholarship focus with your HR, CSR or employee engagement team – for example, girls in STEM, first-generation college students, or students in the cities where you operate.

2. Launch to employees

We help you launch with simple, ready-to-use communication: an announcement email, short videos, student stories and an internal FAQ. Many companies launch around a festival of giving, a foundation day or an all-hands meeting.

3. Employees give

Employees can give a one-time amount or pledge a monthly contribution through payroll. Every donor receives an official receipt from Buddy4Study India Foundation, which is registered under Sections 12A and 80G of the Income Tax Act.

4. Employees nominate

Colleagues often know a deserving student – a neighbour's child, a driver's daughter, a student from their home town. They can nominate a student directly. Every nominee goes through the same fair verification process.

5. Verified students are selected

Applications are checked through a multi-layered process, backed by Buddy4Study's network of close to 4.5 million registered students. Your circle's leads approve the final scholars.

6. Funds reach students directly

Scholarships are paid directly to the student's bank account or institution. Every disbursal is visible on the circle page.

7. Updates keep the circle alive

Monthly or quarterly updates share scholar progress, thank-you notes and milestones. Optional scholar interactions and felicitation events help employees connect with the students they support.

What makes it simple for HR and CSR teams

• No internal team needed to manage applications, verification or payments
• Ready communication templates and student stories for internal campaigns
• A live dashboard of funds raised, disbursed and scholars supported
• Impact reports you can share with leadership
• The option to add a company match to employee contributions

Tips for a successful employee giving programme

• Start with a story. One real student's journey moves people more than any statistic.
• Get a leader to go first. When a senior leader gives and shares why, others follow.
• Make monthly giving the default ask. Small, regular gifts are easier to commit to and build lasting impact.
• Close the loop. Share updates often, so donors know their money is working.
• Celebrate together. A scholar felicitation or a short video call can become the highlight of the year.

Frequently asked questions

Is there a minimum amount employees must give?
No. Every contribution counts, and many programmes are built on small monthly gifts.

Can our company match employee donations?
Yes. Matching is a powerful way to double impact and show leadership commitment.

Can employees outside India contribute?
Yes. Employees with Indian passports contribute as domestic donors wherever they live, and foreign passport holders can contribute through the foundation's FCRA-compliant route, subject to applicable rules.

How long does it take to launch?
A circle can usually be set up and ready for launch within a few weeks.

Bring giving to your workplace

If you lead HR, CSR or employee engagement, let's talk about an Employee Kind Circle for your organisation. Write to kind@buddy4study.com or share your interest here.