Don't be stingy about contributing. It is crucial for all of us to participate in the fund drives of our own organizations. If we care about our agencies and our agencies are running campaigns, we are expected to contribute. But ask any social work manager what he thinks about employees who say they prefer giving their money to other charities, or that they can't afford to help, or that they think their salary is so low it is unfair to be expected to make a contribution, and the boss is likely to tell you what he or she thinks. That doesn't mean, incidentally, that one has to become a pauper in helping one's organization's efforts.
Small contributions make a big difference.
Executives who are trying to raise money from foundations or large givers want to be able to say that their own staff supports the organization fully. No one cares totally about the amounts. Sure, eighty percent of the money that goes to many fundraising drives comes from twenty percent of the contributors. But the smaller donations that come from everyone else are quite important in raising that eighty percent. Large contributors always want to know how supportive one's employees are.