Connecting Nonprofits to Corporate Purpose
Photo by Claudio Schwarz on Unsplash
On July 9, Benevity Impact Labs published the State of Corporate Purpose 2026. We have been digging in, and there’s a lot of useful data on for nonprofits interested in understanding the current state of corporate philanthropy, volunteerism, purpose, and more.
Most important, the report highlights the continuing commitment at most companies to continue focused investment in corporate purpose. Indeed, corporate giving rose almost 8 points year-over-year. The increase reflects a growing opportunity for nonprofit organizations seeking new and more diverse sources of funds.
Ever the research nerds, we are halfway through our own qualitative research project to understand the priorities, processes, and programs of Corporate Social Responsibility and Corporate Philanthropy programs.
Some of what we’ve heard in our conversations with those program leaders is reflected in the Corporate Purpose report. Here, we highlight those points and offer some recommendations for nonprofits that want to develop or deepen business support and partnership:
78% of companies say the work continues but 65% changed which nonprofits they fund.
Action for nonprofits: Understand – and speak – the language of their best-fit business partners. Nonprofits need to move beyond sharing their mission to articulating how their work solves a business problem or supports the company’s strategic goals.
There is heightened demand for impact data, reporting, and stories from nonprofits; 42% of nonprofits report an increase in demands for custom impact metrics
Action for nonprofits: Report on outcomes, not output. Nonprofits that show the impact of the partnership with clear, reliable, data-backed reports have a competitive advantage.
Companies are drawing a clear line between using AI as a tool for efficiency and using AI as a decision-maker.
Action for nonprofits: Use AI as an accelerator to reach the right organizations, the right individuals, in the right sequence, with the right messages.
50% of companies are increasing their investments in employee volunteering programs; however, nonprofits rank volunteering below funding as a priority on multiple fronts.
Action for nonprofits: Find ways to form a partnership that goes beyond financial support. Skills-based volunteering or mentorship programs can help build stronger, more sustainable ties with corporations than those focused solely on financial requests.
These are just a few action items that can deepen the relationships between corporations and nonprofits, creating a sense of joint purpose and increased impact.
Contact us to participate in our research
Read the full State of Corporate Purpose 2026