Corporate giving programs are a way for companies to give back to the communities where they operate. These programs can take many different forms, but they all share the same goal of making a positive impact on the world.
Here are some of the benefits of corporate giving programs:
- Improved corporate image: Companies that give back to their communities are seen as more responsible and caring organizations. This can lead to increased customer loyalty and attract top talent to work there.
- Stronger community relationships: When companies invest in their communities, they show that they are committed to making a difference. This can lead to increased support from local governments and businesses.
- Improved lives of people in the community: Corporate giving programs can help to improve the lives of people in need. This can lead to improved quality of life for everyone in the community.
Here’s a list of 5 American corporate giving programs that have found success to inspire your corporate philanthropy.
Groundswell for Corporate Giving
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5 Successful American Corporate Giving Programs
Microsoft’s Corporate Giving Program
Microsoft has a long history of corporate giving, and the company is committed to making a positive impact on the world. In 2022, Microsoft donated over $1.1 billion to charitable organizations around the world. This funding supported a variety of initiatives, including:
- Education: Microsoft supports a variety of educational programs, including scholarships, grants to schools and universities, and support for STEM education.
- Environmental sustainability: Microsoft supports a variety of environmental sustainability initiatives, including renewable energy projects, carbon capture and storage projects, and support for environmental organizations.
- Economic development: Microsoft supports a variety of economic development initiatives, including job training programs, small business grants, and support for community development organizations.
- Health and wellness: Microsoft supports a variety of health and wellness initiatives, including programs to fight poverty, hunger, and disease.
- Humanitarian relief: Microsoft supports a variety of humanitarian relief initiatives, including programs to help people affected by natural disasters and other crises.
Here are some of the specific initiatives that Microsoft supports through its corporate giving program:
- Microsoft Philanthropies: Microsoft Philanthropies is the company's primary vehicle for giving back to the communities where it operates. The foundation supports a variety of initiatives, including education, environmental sustainability, and economic development.
- Microsoft Employee Giving Campaign: Microsoft employees are encouraged to give back to their communities through the company's annual employee giving campaign. Employees can donate their time or money to a variety of nonprofit organizations. (Launch an employee giving program with Groundswell here).
- Microsoft Volunteering: Microsoft employees are encouraged to volunteer their time to nonprofit organizations in their communities. The company offers a variety of volunteer opportunities, including mentoring, tutoring, and fundraising.
- Microsoft Matching Gifts: Microsoft matches employee donations to nonprofit organizations dollar for dollar, up to $15,000 per year. (Learn to launch a matching gift program here)
Chevron’s Corporate Giving Program
In 2022, Chevron donated over $1 billion to charitable organizations around the world. This funding supported a variety of initiatives, including:
- Community development: Chevron Humankind supports employees, retirees, and corporate directors in their commitment to building better communities. Chevron offers a 1-to-1 match for your financial contributions to any eligible nonprofit, up to $5,000 per employee and $2,000 per retiree annually.
- Education: Chevron supports a variety of educational programs, including scholarships, grants to schools and universities, and support for STEM education.
- Environmental sustainability: Chevron supports a variety of environmental sustainability initiatives, including renewable energy projects, carbon capture and storage projects, and support for environmental organizations.
- Economic development: Chevron supports a variety of economic development initiatives, including job training programs, small business grants, and support for community development organizations.
Here are some examples of how Chevron's corporate giving program has made a difference in the communities where it operates:
- Chevron donated $10 million to support the construction of a new science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) center at a local high school.
- Chevron awarded $5 million in grants to support STEM education programs at schools in the company's operating regions.
- Chevron partnered with a local environmental organization to plant 10,000 trees in a community that had been affected by a natural disaster.
- Chevron supported a small business development program that helped to create 100 new jobs in a local community.
Target’s Corporate Giving Program
Target's corporate giving program offers several features unique to its business. The company uses its resources as a department store in the form of donations and community grants as part of its giving program.
The company also uses a private foundation called the Target Foundationmuch, much like how a donor-advised fund, to facilitate its donations.
Here's a list of what's featured on their corporate giving program:
- Target GiftCard donations: Target donates Target GiftCards to local nonprofits and schools. In 2022, Target donated over $20 million in GiftCards to support a variety of causes, including education, hunger relief, and disaster relief.
- Target Circle Community Giving: Target Circle is a loyalty program that gives guests the opportunity to vote on how Target donates money to local nonprofits. In 2022, Target Circle members voted to donate over $1 million to support a variety of causes, including food banks, homeless shelters, and youth organizations.
- REACH Community Grants: Target's REACH Community Grants program provides funding to Black-led organizations that are working to improve the lives of Black people in the United States. In 2022, Target awarded over $50 million in REACH Community Grants to support a variety of initiatives, such as economic development, education, and health and wellness.
- Target Foundation: The Target Foundation is a charitable organization that supports a variety of causes, including education, hunger relief, and disaster relief. In 2022, the Target Foundation donated over $100 million to support these causes.
Lowe’s Corporate Giving Program
Lowe's corporate giving program is a way for the company to give back to the communities where it operates. The program includes a variety of initiatives, such as:
- Lowe's Heroes: Lowe's Heroes is a program that encourages Lowe's associates to volunteer in their communities. In 2022, Lowe's Heroes volunteered over 2 million hours in their communities.
- Lowe's Hometowns: Lowe's Hometowns is a program that provides grants to local organizations that are working to improve their communities. In 2022, Lowe's Hometowns awarded over $50 million in grants to support a variety of projects, such as building playgrounds, renovating community centers, and providing disaster relief.
- Lowe's Foundation: The Lowe's Foundation is a charitable organization that supports a variety of causes, including education, hunger relief, and disaster relief. In 2022, the Lowe's Foundation donated over $100 million to support these causes.
Here are some examples of how Lowe's corporate giving program has made a difference in the communities where it operates:
- In 2022, Lowe's Heroes volunteers helped to rebuild a playground that had been damaged by a tornado in Oklahoma.
- Lowe's Hometowns grants helped to renovate a community center in Texas that had been damaged by flooding.
- The Lowe's Foundation donated money to help provide food and shelter for people affected by a hurricane in Florida.
Amazon Corporate Giving Program
One of Amazon's most well-known corporate giving programs is AmazonSmile. AmazonSmile is a program that allows customers to support their favorite charities every time they shop on Amazon. When customers shop through AmazonSmile, the company donates 0.5% of the purchase price to the customer's chosen charity.
Amazon also has a number of other corporate giving programs, including:
- Amazon dollar-for-dollar employee donation matching: In 2019, Amazon launched an employee donation matching program that matches any amount donated to 20 vetted nonprofits that combat homelessness, up to $5 million.
- Amazon Future Engineer: This program provides scholarships and other support to students from underrepresented and underserved communities who are interested in pursuing careers in computer science and engineering.
- Amazon STEM: This program provides grants and other support to schools and nonprofits that are working to improve STEM education.
- Amazon Disaster Relief: This program provides support to communities that have been affected by natural disasters.
Amazon's corporate giving programs have a significant impact on the communities where the company operates. In 2021, Amazon donated over $10 billion to charitable organizations around the world. This funding has helped to support a variety of causes, including education, hunger relief, and disaster relief.
