Corporate Social Impact Quarterly / September 2023. A woman with medium-dark skin and black hair speaking into a microphone while a second woman with medium-dark skin and black hair listens to her talk at Google’s Community Space.

Corporate social impact teams are facing enormous challenges, both internally and externally, that are compelling them to do more with less — often less time, staff, and budget. Even with these constraints, companies have a real opportunity to stand out by deepening their impact in the social justice movement. Doing so not only demonstrates real commitment to a company’s community, it also keeps employees engaged and connected at a time when members of the workforce are increasingly looking for their employers to take a stand.

In this edition, we share what we’ve learned as we work alongside companies leveraging their social impact programs as meaningful employee engagement tools. We hope the impact strategies and tactics we’ve seen as most effective in engaging employees inspire you to deepen your company’s overall employee engagement strategy.

We hope you’ll join us for a couple of upcoming events where we’ll be sharing more about our experiences and perspectives. On October 10, we’ll be hosting a webinar on employee engagement. We’ll also be presenting at the Sustainable Brands conference in San Diego October 16–19. Register here to sign up for the webinar. We hope to see you in San Diego!

— Tides’ Corporate and Strategic Initiatives Team

A racially and gender-diverse group of eleven people meeting around a large table at Google’s Community Space.

// Done Right, Social Impact Programs Keep Employees Engaged and Motivated. Here's How.

In a competitive job market, social impact programs are a key way to attract and retain top talent. Gen Z and Millennial employees in particular are especially committed to racial justice, equity, and climate action, and want their employers to uplift these issues through their social impact programs and professed values. Learn about the five key ways you can leverage your corporate philanthropy and social impact programs to keep employees engaged and motivated.

// Nonprofit organizations around the world are facing growing cybersecurity threats. Over the last year, Okta for Good has committed $1 million to improve nonprofit digital security through Okta’s Nonprofit Cybersecurity Portfolio.

// Canopy, a solutions-driven environmental sustainability nonprofit, received a $60 million investment from The Audacious Project to transform the world’s paper, packaging, and viscose supply chains and protect forests globally through NEXT GEN NOW, a waste-reduction initiative challenging global corporations to transform supply chains into low-carbon NEXT GEN alternatives.

// 2022 was a year of significant growth for Qlik’s social impact. They empowered nonprofit organizations to leverage data and transform it into meaningful action across the globe to create a sustainable world. Check out their 2022 impact report highlights.

// “All the reasons a CSR program made good business sense last year are even more valid now.” Laura Steele and the Submittable team explain why now is exactly the time “to double down on corporate social responsibility” and share key strategies to do so.

// According to Corporate Wellness Magazine, offering a robust employee engagement program is critical to attracting and retaining top talent in hybrid work environments. Further, implementing a comprehensive program fuels innovation, boosts productivity, and strengthens retention.

// According to Forbes, “one of the best ways for a workplace to serve its community is to implement employee-driven philanthropic programs.” Companies considering building employee-driven social impact programs should consider a suite of empowering initiatives including donation-matching, volunteer support, community-impact grants, and employee-led disaster relief.

// Alia Stevenson and Siobhan Davenport, of Tides’ Advancing Girls Fund, argue that empowering adolescent girls and women of color must include supporting their mental health. Learn more about how the fund’s 150 grantee partners are making an impact and where donors can take action to improve the lives of young women of color.

// The Hawaii wildfires devastated the island of Maui. Tides stands in solidarity with the communities affected and encourages funders to support organizations on the ground in Maui working to help those in need.

// The Supreme Court’s decision to restrict affirmative action degrades decades of progress to shift and strengthen power for students of color who have been denied access to education. Tides will continue to defend racial equity and social justice by partnering with social justice leaders and frontline organizations to dismantle systemic barriers.

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We believe that to achieve shared prosperity and social justice, we must take a collaborative, bold approach to the work.