Strengthening Mission by Strengthening WorkforceCity of Refuge
Like many nonprofits, rising costs and turnover puts a squeeze on City of Refuge's mission. Instead of reacting they turned their benefits into a retention assett which fought against rising costs.
Like many nonprofits, rising costs and payroll taxes were squeezing the mission. Instead of raising wages or reducing programs, they restructured how payroll dollars worked, and turned a tax burden into a retention asset.
Standing in the Gap for Families Facing Crisis
City of Refuge stands in the gap for families facing crisis. From safe housing to workforce development, their mission is simple: restore dignity and create pathways to lasting change.
Yet even the strongest missions feel pressure. As their reach expanded, rising benefit costs and payroll tax burdens began pulling resources away from staff support, threatening sustainability from the inside out.
From Financial Pressure to Financial Clarity
The Pressure
Rising benefit costs and payroll tax were pulling dollars away from staff support. The mission was growing. The budget was not.
The Unlock
The savings were already inside payroll. Staff could get better care, take-home pay could hold, and the organization would not add a budget line.
The Result
$82,248 in employer FICA savings in 2025, plus $319,608 back to employees. No new cost to the organization.
When Mission Meets Margin
Even the strongest missions feel pressure. As their reach expanded, rising benefit costs and payroll tax burdens began pulling resources away from staff support, threatening sustainability from the inside out.
Every payroll cycle, FICA and benefit costs left through the same door. Those were dollars that could have gone to staff support and to the programs families depend on.
They did not raise wages they could not fund, and they did not cut programs to make the numbers work. They looked at money they were already spending.
A Financial Strategy That Strengthened the Mission
City of Refuge didn't react to financial pressure with cuts or compromises. They asked a sharper question instead:
What if the relief was already sitting inside their existing systems?
City of Refuge didn't respond to financial pressure with cuts or compromises. Instead, they asked a better question: what if the solution was already inside their existing payroll?
Staff opted into a pretax-funded benefit suite. Claims were redirected from their medical plan. Employees received $0-copay care with no surprise bills. Every participant lowered the City of Refuge's FICA. Same payroll. Lower tax bill. No new budget required.
Staff opted into a standalone wellness plan funded with pretax contributions, then reimbursed in the same pay cycle so take-home pay held. Every participant reduced employer FICA. Same payroll, lower tax bill, no new budget line.
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Where Margin Meets Meaning
What started as a search for stability became financial lift. In 2025 alone, the shift generated $82,248 in employer payroll tax savings, dollars redirected back into the mission instead of lost to overhead.
What started as a search for stability became a financial breakthrough. In 2025 alone, the shift generated $82,248 in employer payroll tax savings, dollars redirected back into the mission instead of lost to overhead. For the team, it meant stronger protection and benefits they would actually use.
For the team, it meant stronger protection and benefits they could actually use, without a cut to take-home pay. The organization kept more of every payroll cycle for the work it exists to do.
What Would This Mean for Your Organization?
Imagine reclaiming thousands in payroll tax dollars to give back to your team and your bottom line. No matter if your company is nonprofit or for-profit, the opportunity may already be inside your payroll.