Published by Gbaf News
Posted on July 4, 2018
6 min readLast updated: January 21, 2026
CAMBRIDGE, Mass- Online giving has grown 61 percent in five years, up to $31 billion in 2017 from $19.2 billion in 2012 (NonProfits Source). Not only have donors become more generous, the technologies that enable giving through websites, social media, mobile, and employers, have made it incredibly easy for people to support the causes they care about, from anywhere, at any time.
FrontStream analyzed workplace giving trends at hundreds of U.S. companies using its Panorama™ all-in-one fundraising platform, revealing the most popular categories and methods for employee giving, the company with the most charitable employees and the company that matched the most employee donations. In addition, FrontStream found corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives increasingly involve employees, boosting both fundraising and engagement.
Top Categories and Companies for Workplace Giving
FrontStream’s data team found the average annual employee contribution in 2017 was $574 – nearly $50 per month. With donors who set up recurring donations giving 42% more annually compared to one-time donations (NonProfits Source), the charities and causes receiving corporate donations through employee contributions are poised to make great gains this year.
Among 24 categories, FrontStream found the top causes receiving donations in 2016 and 2017 were:
• 17% – Human Services (prevention, remediation of problems, improving quality of life)
• 15% – Educational Institutions
• 14% – Philanthropy, Volunteerism and Grantmaking (foundations, alliances, societies, associations)
• 8% – Disease, Disorders and Medical Disciplines
• 7% – Health (general and rehabilitative)
Analysis of workplace giving data, spanning industries from banking to consulting to transportation, found that employees at UPS are particularly generous, having donated more than $57 million to charitable causes in 2017 via payroll contributions and event support. When looking at employer matching, FrontStream found Costco Wholesale Corporation had the highest matching.
CSR Initiatives Extend Beyond Payroll Contributions
On top of giving generously to charities, companies know their employees want to participate in experiences for good causes – and it’s a smart move for CSR and employee retention as well. According to a Gallup poll, engaged employees nearly doubled their odds of success compared to disengaged employees, with less turnover in companies with engaged employees. Companies that incorporate this trend into their CSR programs see positive results both with engagement and fundraising efforts.
For example, employees at Marriott International have been instrumental in helping to raise $100 million for Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals through campaigns and creative fundraising events, including golf tournaments and silent auctions, powered by FrontStream’s Panorama platform.
As golfers take part in the company’s annual event, they also bid on auction items. “Our 2017 auction catalog’s value was a huge factor in the success of the tournament and auction, so the team made sure to use the platform’s messaging service to alert golfers about items they were bidding on, and remaining time left. We raised $40,000 from the bidding community before anyone hit even the links, which was impressive,” explained Rebecca Waite, Marriott International.
To learn more about the importance of a dedicated CSR program, along with steps for getting started, download the eBook Why Your Company Needs a CSR Program.
CAMBRIDGE, Mass- Online giving has grown 61 percent in five years, up to $31 billion in 2017 from $19.2 billion in 2012 (NonProfits Source). Not only have donors become more generous, the technologies that enable giving through websites, social media, mobile, and employers, have made it incredibly easy for people to support the causes they care about, from anywhere, at any time.
FrontStream analyzed workplace giving trends at hundreds of U.S. companies using its Panorama™ all-in-one fundraising platform, revealing the most popular categories and methods for employee giving, the company with the most charitable employees and the company that matched the most employee donations. In addition, FrontStream found corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives increasingly involve employees, boosting both fundraising and engagement.
Top Categories and Companies for Workplace Giving
FrontStream’s data team found the average annual employee contribution in 2017 was $574 – nearly $50 per month. With donors who set up recurring donations giving 42% more annually compared to one-time donations (NonProfits Source), the charities and causes receiving corporate donations through employee contributions are poised to make great gains this year.
Among 24 categories, FrontStream found the top causes receiving donations in 2016 and 2017 were:
• 17% – Human Services (prevention, remediation of problems, improving quality of life)
• 15% – Educational Institutions
• 14% – Philanthropy, Volunteerism and Grantmaking (foundations, alliances, societies, associations)
• 8% – Disease, Disorders and Medical Disciplines
• 7% – Health (general and rehabilitative)
Analysis of workplace giving data, spanning industries from banking to consulting to transportation, found that employees at UPS are particularly generous, having donated more than $57 million to charitable causes in 2017 via payroll contributions and event support. When looking at employer matching, FrontStream found Costco Wholesale Corporation had the highest matching.
CSR Initiatives Extend Beyond Payroll Contributions
On top of giving generously to charities, companies know their employees want to participate in experiences for good causes – and it’s a smart move for CSR and employee retention as well. According to a Gallup poll, engaged employees nearly doubled their odds of success compared to disengaged employees, with less turnover in companies with engaged employees. Companies that incorporate this trend into their CSR programs see positive results both with engagement and fundraising efforts.
For example, employees at Marriott International have been instrumental in helping to raise $100 million for Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals through campaigns and creative fundraising events, including golf tournaments and silent auctions, powered by FrontStream’s Panorama platform.
As golfers take part in the company’s annual event, they also bid on auction items. “Our 2017 auction catalog’s value was a huge factor in the success of the tournament and auction, so the team made sure to use the platform’s messaging service to alert golfers about items they were bidding on, and remaining time left. We raised $40,000 from the bidding community before anyone hit even the links, which was impressive,” explained Rebecca Waite, Marriott International.
To learn more about the importance of a dedicated CSR program, along with steps for getting started, download the eBook Why Your Company Needs a CSR Program.
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