In recent years, Employee Assistance Funds (EAFs) have become a trusted resource for employees navigating an increasingly unpredictable world. As workforce needs evolve and global disasters disrupt daily life, more companies are expanding their EAFs, recognizing these programs as essential components of effective employee engagement and support strategies.

With nearly 70 years of experience distributing funds to individuals in need, Global Impact partners with organizations to design and manage EAFs that deliver timely and meaningful assistance. Last year, our clients activated their programs to respond to natural disasters and unexpected personal hardships in more than 30 countries, ensuring employees had access to support when it was needed the most. 

Like we did in our 2024 analysis, we’re diving in to the impacts our EAFs made in 2025, highlighting key program metrics, applicant feedback, fundraising results, and the continued growth of people-centered programs. 

Key Program Metrics 
Fewer disasters impacted client employee locations in 2025 compared to prior years, leading to more moderate program activity throughout much of the year. However, several large-scale disasters occurred later in the calendar year, driving an uptick in program usage in November and December. Here are a few key program metrics observed across clients in 2025: 

  • Clients approved an average of 372 applications, with grants averaging $1,590, providing timely support to employees facing disasters and personal hardships. 
  • Across all programs, more than $1.4 million in assistance was distributed globally. 
  • Support reached employees in 36 countries, with the Philippines, United States, and Vietnam among the most supported locations, reflecting major events at the end of the year including two of the largest disasters of 2025: Typhoon Kalmaegi and Super Typhoon Fung-Wong.  
  • Notably, 85% of applications came from international locations, highlighting the continued demand for global programs. 

Program Feedback 
To better understand how EAFs supported employees during times of need, we surveyed a group of applicants from one of our clients. The results highlight the direct monetary impact of the program, as well as what employees value most, including accessibility and clear communication. Several key insights emerged: 

  • A majority of applicants found the program easy to access, with 86% saying it was simple to apply. 
  • 86% of applicants felt supported throughout the process of applying for and receiving emergency funds, and overall, employees expressed gratitude for the program and their company’s support. 
  • Employees reported using the grants to address urgent needs, with 36% covering family essentials, 43% evacuating a crisis situation, and 21% securing housing as a result of the support. 
  • Awareness of the program was strong, with 51% of applicants learning about it through corporate communications channels, highlighting the importance of clear internal messaging. 

Fundraising Highlights 
Sustaining an EAF requires a strategic approach to funding, blending corporate investment with employee and customer participation. Employee and customer donations accounted for 4% of total program contributions in 2025, marking an increase from the industry-wide 1% of contributions in 2024. Across clients, we continued to see that EAFs are supported through a combination of corporate contributions, employee donations, corporate matching gifts, and public fundraising campaigns. 

In 2025, our EAF clients saw an average donation of $22,186 through workplace giving platforms such as Benevity, CyberGrants, and our Global Impact client donation pages. While corporate funding continues to serve as a primary funding source, employee participation through workplace giving reflects a shared commitment of supporting colleagues in times of need. You can also read about unique fundraising strategies to make your EAF more sustainable in this blog post. 

Growth of People-Centered Programs 
Last year, we continued to see growth in people-centered engagement strategies with organizations placing greater emphasis on programs that empower their employees. Companies are increasingly evaluating how their initiatives contribute to overall workplace experience and employee well-being. This reflects a broader shift toward more intentional, tailored employee support that aligns with the evolving needs of today’s workforce. 

This shift echoes insights shared during our recent people-centered engagement strategies webinar, which explored how companies are designing programs that meet employees where they are and foster engagement across diverse populations. You can read more about these strategies and examples in our blog on people-first engagement strategies for 2026. 

We share in the webinar that we often facilitate employee-directed grants, disaster response grants, and other global grant distributions for our existing EAF clients to deliver rapid, strategic support where their employees need most. Our team can co-create new programs, define your people-centered strategy, launch a new process, or act as the fiscal sponsor of an existing grantmaking initiative. 

Contact us at [email protected] to learn how Global Impact can help you establish and manage your EAF or other people-centered programs.