When employees think about giving to causes in their workplace, many naturally start close to home. They may think about the food bank in their city, a shelter in their neighborhood, a school their family attends, or a disaster that affected a friend. That local connection is powerful, and it should remain an important part of every workplace giving program.
But often times, we are neglecting more invisible causes that impact us in personal ways as well. Have you ever truly taken a moment to think about the clothes you are wearing and where they come from? What about the fruit you bought at the grocery store? We live in a global world. We use products, services, and resources from around the world every day. So, I am going to challenge you to think globally. If we consider our lives globally, are there needs and causes that you might realize you are passionate about, too?
Thinking Globally as an Individual Donor
Many of us are already connected to global issues, whether we realize it or not.
The coffee we drink may be grown in Latin America, the electronics we use may contain materials sourced from Africa, and the clothing we wear may have been manufactured in Asia. Our daily lives are intertwined with people and communities across the world. Yet our charitable giving often does not reflect these connections.
Thinking globally does not mean abandoning local causes. Rather, it means broadening our perspective and recognizing that some of the greatest opportunities for impact extend beyond our immediate communities.
As individual donors, we can begin by asking a few simple questions:
- What global issues affect the products and services I rely on every day? (Check out our Take 20 on the Middle East Conflict and its radiating impacts on global supply chains.)
- Are there communities around the world facing challenges that resonate with my values? (Take our Giving Personality quiz to help guide your giving!)
- Could my support help improve access to education, health care, clean water, economic opportunity, or environmental sustainability in places I may never visit but am nonetheless connected to? (I can’t buy you a flight, but we can help you travel virtually with Save the Children’s Journey with Us.)
- Where will my donation make the most impact? A dollar often stretches much further in other countries outside of the U.S., supplying more books, meals, and trainings to communities in need. (Watch our video to learn how far your dollar goes when you give to global charities in the workplace)
Often, the most transformative giving happens when we realize that our shared humanity extends far beyond geographic borders. A single donation can support a child receiving an education, a family gaining access to clean water, or a community strengthening its resilience to climate-related challenges. And when you give globally, your dollar stretches further, meaning your donation helps supply more meals, books, and trainings to communities in need.
When we think globally, we expand both our understanding of impact and our sense of responsibility.
Thinking Globally as a Company
For companies, global thinking is not simply a philanthropic choice. It is increasingly aligned with business reality.
Most organizations today operate within global supply chains, serve diverse customer bases, and employ people from a wide range of backgrounds and cultures. The challenges that affect communities around the world often influence business operations, workforce well-being, and long-term economic stability.
Corporate giving programs have an opportunity to reflect this interconnected reality.
Organizations can create pathways for employees to support causes that address global challenges such as:
A globally-minded giving strategy can also help companies strengthen employee engagement. Employees increasingly want to work for organizations that demonstrate a broader commitment to making a difference in the world. By offering opportunities to support international causes and local nonprofits, companies acknowledge the diverse interests, identities, and experiences of their workforce.
The most effective workplace giving programs do not force a choice between local and global impact. Instead, they create space for both.
Thinking Globally as an Employee Champion or ERG Leader
Employees who champion global giving and Employee Resource Group (ERG) leaders are uniquely positioned to help their colleagues see beyond familiar causes and discover new ways to make a difference.
Many employees want to engage with issues that matter but may not know where to start. Employee-led groups can introduce global causes through educational campaigns, awareness events, volunteer opportunities, and fundraising initiatives that connect global challenges to employees’ everyday lives.
Our Take 20 toolkits are the perfect way to do this!
- A women’s ERG might spotlight organizations advancing education and economic opportunities for girls and women globally.
- A parents and caregivers’ group might highlight organizations uplifting kids worldwide.
- A veterans or service-focused group could support humanitarian relief efforts in regions impacted by conflict or disaster.
The goal is not to tell employees what they should care about. It is to help them discover causes they may not yet realize they are connected to.
Employee champions can also encourage storytelling. When employees hear firsthand accounts from colleagues who have family roots, lived experiences, or personal connections to global issues, those challenges become more tangible and relatable.
By creating opportunities for learning and connection, ERG leaders and employee champions can broaden perspectives and inspire action on a larger scale.
Expanding Our Circle of Impact
Thinking globally does not require us to think less about our local communities. In fact, the opposite is often true. The more we recognize how connected our world has become, the more we understand that local and global impact are not competing priorities.
The food we eat, the products we use, the people we work with, and the challenges we face are all connected in ways previous generations could hardly imagine.
Workplace giving programs have a powerful opportunity to reflect that reality. By encouraging employees, companies, and leaders to look beyond what is familiar, we can help create a culture of generosity that is not limited by geography.
The next time you consider making a donation, supporting a campaign, or organizing a fundraising effort, start with what matters close to home. But don’t stop there. Lift your eyes a little farther and ask yourself: What causes around the world am I already connected to, and what role can I play in creating change?
