The workplace giving landscape is evolving — and that’s a good thing. Companies are reimagining their strategies to align more closely with employee priorities, purpose-driven work, and community impact. At the same time, employees are looking for meaningful ways to connect with their colleagues and values at work. This shift creates an exciting opportunity: to design workplace giving programs that are more strategic, employee-centric, and impactful than ever before! 

At Global Impact, we want to provide CSR leaders with practical strategies to adapt to these changes — focusing on manageable pivots that engage employees while delivering measurable community impact.  

Why workplace giving matters more than ever 
The nonprofit crisis: Federal funding cuts have created a critical gap in nonprofit support. Organizations that provide essential community services are facing unprecedented financial pressure. Your workplace giving program isn’t just nice to have — it’s a lifeline for organizations, your employees, and communities to depend on. 

The engagement challenge: Employee disengagement has reached alarming levels, with recent studies showing record-low workplace satisfaction. However, purpose-driven initiatives like workplace giving programs, ERGs, and volunteering can be powerful tools for re-engagement when executed thoughtfully. 

The scrutiny reality: Corporate giving faces increased public attention, but this scrutiny creates an opportunity to demonstrate authentic commitment to community impact rather than performative philanthropy. 

The case for investing in employee-centered programs 
Workplace giving has always been a bridge between business and community, but today it’s also a key driver of employee engagement and corporate culture. When employees see that their company is committed to causes they care about, the benefits ripple across the organization: 

Business benefits 

  • Talent attraction: 73% of job seekers consider company values when applying. 
  • Employee retention: Companies with strong giving programs see 31% lower turnover rates. 
  • Team building: Collaborative giving and volunteering activities strengthen workplace relationships. 
  • Brand reputation: Authentic community engagement builds lasting goodwill. 

Community impact 

  • Fills critical funding gaps left by federal cuts. 
  • Supports organizations your employees care about. 
  • Creates sustained impact through consistent annual support and corporate matching gifts. 
  • Leverages collective employee power for greater community change. 

Employee wellbeing 

  • Provides a sense of purpose during uncertain times. 
  • Offers a positive outlet for civic engagement. 
  • Builds connections with colleagues around shared values and community building. 
  • Creates opportunities for skills-based volunteering. 

Strategic pivots for 2025 

1. Employees want to support the causes and charities they care about, so embrace transparency and choice.  

  • Offer and feature the full breadth of giving options, including local, national, and international causes. 
  • Create “impact dashboards” showing real-time campaign progress. 
  • Share beneficiary stories and testimonials throughout the year using our free resources on the Employee Giving Hub. 

2. Setting and forgetting a payroll deduction can feel passive and disconnected. Integrate volunteering and skills-based support with specific giving campaigns and giving moments. 

  • Offer skills-based volunteering opportunities with nonprofits that leverage employee expertise. 
  • Create team volunteer challenges alongside giving campaigns. 

3. You want to integrate your workplace giving campaign with existing purpose-driven work. Partner with Employee Resource Groups! 

  • Tap your Employee Resource Groups (ERGs). They are already connected around shared values and greater purpose, so invite them to share about the workplace giving program or help them organize volunteering opportunities.  
  • Launch an ERG around volunteering or ask your ERGs to host a volunteer day to foster more engagement amongst staff.  

4. Traditional campaign methods feel outdated and cumbersome. Leverage new ideas for engagement. 

  • Implement gamification elements like team competitions. (We take competition very seriously over here at Global Impact.)  
  • Invite employees to events like our Take 20 series as a way to engage them without having the burden of planning. 

5. Employees question whether their contributions make a real difference. Focus on measurable impact and authentic storytelling.  

  • Set specific, measurable campaign goals (meals provided, students served, etc.) 
  • Invite nonprofit partners to present the results of their work or the impact of your company’s contributions to employees. 
  • Create case studies showing the long-term impact of previous campaigns. 
  • Weave your campaign results into your CSR reporting, annual reports, and HR recruitment and retention efforts. 

6. You’re at maximum capacity and have limited opportunities to work on the program. Right-size when needed. 

  • Tap Global Impact for our workplace giving expertise, one-on-one support, and custom program solutions.   
  • Ask charity partners for help — they’re the leaders in what they do and can help you put on fantastic engagement events! We’ve got a great list of Charity Alliance members for you to consider. 
  • Scale back on efforts that aren’t bringing in the return or attendance you would like — sometimes things don’t work out, and that’s ok! 

7. Finding causes that universally appeal to employees feels impossible. Prioritize high-visibility moments like emergencies. 

  • Launch one-off fundraisers for emergencies if you can’t run a full-scale campaign this year. 
  • Appeal to humanitarian needs in a crisis, which has strong support across different cultural and political divides. 

Overcoming common objections
“We need to cut costs everywhere.”
Response: Position workplace giving as a low-cost, high-impact employee engagement tool that supports retention and recruitment goals. Many program elements can be managed with existing resources, and employee donations multiply your community impact without additional corporate spending. 

“Employees are too disengaged to participate.”
Response: Use the program as an engagement tool itself. Purpose-driven activities consistently rank among the top drivers of employee satisfaction. A well-designed giving campaign can actually help address disengagement. 

“We’re worried about public criticism.”
Response: Transparency and offering employee choice address most concerns about where your corporate giving is going. Focus on authentic impact rather than publicity and let employees lead the narrative about the causes they support. 

Best practices
Communication strategy 

  • Be honest about the challenging environment while emphasizing the opportunity for impact. We have a resource called the State of Workplace Giving with storytelling resources and support available for you to use. 
  • Focus on community and employee needs rather than corporate benefits. 
  • Use employee voices and stories rather than executive messaging. 
  • Maintain consistent communication throughout the year, not just during your giving period or campaigns. Grab our email templates to get started!  

Program design 

  • Start small and build momentum rather than launching elaborate campaigns. 
  • Focus on two to three key changes rather than a program overhaul. 
  • Make participation easy with multiple engagement levels. 
  • Celebrate small wins and incremental progress. 
  • Prepare materials to respond during times of disaster or a few key observance days, so it’s a lower lift with higher impact. 

Building the future of workplace giving
Today’s shifts in corporate strategy and employee expectations don’t weaken the case for workplace giving — they strengthen it. By designing programs that emphasize transparency, choice, impact, and authentic engagement, you can create campaigns that thrive in this new era. 

Your employees want to make a difference. Your company benefits from purpose-driven engagement. And your community is stronger when both come together. 

At Global Impact, we’re here to help you center your employees, align with your corporate strategy, and create workplace giving programs that inspire lasting impact. 

For additional resources and implementation support, consider partnering with Global Impact to customize these strategies for your unique organizational culture and goals. [email protected]