Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is not just a PR tool or seasonal effort — it’s an employee benefit that lifts your culture, leadership, and legacy. But  many businesses  struggle with low participation, disengaged employees, and programs that feel like an afterthought. 

Whether you're launching your first campaign or refreshing your existing strategy, these 13 ideas,  examples, tips, and next steps will make your corporate giving program more engaging and effective.

1. Start with a Clear Why

CSR should never be  a superficial campaign. The why matters. Ideally you care about doing good in the world, but your motivation could also be practical.  That's because a  strong CSR program can:

• Boost brand loyalty. About 70% of consumers are more likely to buy from brands that support causes they care about.

• Improve hiring and retention.  Roughly 37–46% of younger workers — Millennials and Gen Z — report turning down job offers from companies that didn’t align with their values.

• And make your company more resilient to crisis.

But to do that, CSR efforts must be authentic, aligned with company values, and actively supported by leadership. More on that below.

2. Engage Employees Early and Often

A great CSR program is not “built for employees.”  It’s built with them.

When employees help shape a program, they feel seen, respected, and proud their contribution.  Giving employees a say in your CSR roadmap can dramatically increase participation and enthusiasm.

Start by surveying employees. What causes matter to them? What type of engagement are they most excited about?  Do they want to volunteer, donate, or compete in teams? Do they prefer to give time or money? Tailoring programs to different cohorts  builds a real sense of belonging.

3. Avoid “Check-the-Box” Campaigns

Many CSR programs fall short because they feel transactional or forced — just another item to complete during annual benefit enrollment.

To avoid this:

• Tie CSR to impact stories, not just metrics

• Integrate giving into daily culture

• Highlight the why behind the cause

• Make the experience personal and flexible

This isn’t about one-and-done giving. It’s about creating a culture of giving, empathy, and community.

4. Communicate like a Marketer, Not an Administrator

Poor communication is one of the biggest killers of CSR engagement. Internal communications should feel personal and emotionally resonant, not just logistical.

Best practices include:

• Top-down communication from leadership, including “why I give” stories and videos.

• Host kickoff events that gather momentum and inspire fellowship.

• Do outreach across multiple channels, including Slack, email, intranet, and company meetings.

• Share progress  updates,  including goals, milestones, and thank-yous throughout the year.

• Don’t just ask people to give. Show them the impact of what’s already been done and how they can contribute.

5. Provide Multiple Ways to Participate

CSR is not one-size-fits-all. That’s why offering multiple formats is essential:

• Company-sponsored volunteer events

• Matching programs for both dollars and time

• Giving Tuesday or seasonal campaigns

• Peer-to-peer fundraising and team challenges

• In-kind donations, like auction items or services

• And pre-packaged campaigns that respond to disasters

The goal is to create on-ramps for every type of giver — whether they have money, time, or specific causes they care about.

6. Go Evergreen

CSR should feel like a benefit, not a deadline. That’s why an evergreen giving model — where employees can donate or volunteer at any time — typically results in higher engagement.

If something meaningful happens in someone’s life — a loss, a disaster, a personal cause —they don’t want to wait for a campaign. An evergreen system meets them where they are. And it allows for faster mobilization during natural disasters, crises, or global events. 

7. Think Beyond Cash

Giving is about more than cash. Your employees will also want to directly contribute their time, supplies, or services.

In-kind donations are often overlooked, but they can be incredibly valuable. You can donate physical items like  supplies or merchandise, or you offer gift cards, hotel stays, or travel points. And don't forget donated professional services, like pro bono graphic design, professional photography, or bookkeeping.

8. Offer  Different Tactics for Different  Generations

One format doesn’t fit all, especially when a workforce can span 50 years. Generally:

• Younger employees prefer volunteer time off (VTO) and time-matching programs.

• Older employees are often more comfortable with traditional giving campaigns and larger financial gifts.

Design your CSR to offer flexibility and relevance for every cohort. This boosts inclusion and participation.

9. Learn from Leading CSR Programs

We've been inspired by many companies' creative CSR programs:

• Salesforce offers 56 hours of paid VTO per employee per year

• Microsoft matches up to $15,000 in donations each year, and donates $25 per volunteer hour

• Adobe offers nonprofits access to their design tools, plus pro bono creative services

• Lego recycles  bricks for hospitals and children in need

These programs succeed by being bold and generous, and by aligning CSR with their brand missions.

10. Use Technology to Remove Friction

Don't underestimate the administrative burden of donation matching, payroll deductions, and VTO. If you're using a CSR platform, look for these  features:

• Integrated payroll deduction  (80% of campaign donors prefer this method!)

• Customizable matching programs for both time and money.

• Single sign-on (SSO) for easy and secure access.

• Real-time pledge changes and designation options.

• Employee-facing dashboards and reporting.

• And a simple UI. If the giving experience is frustrating, people will give up.

11. Track More than  Dollars

How do you know your CSR is working? It's more than money. We recommend tracking:

• Participation rates and repeat engagement

• Volunteer hours per capita and company-wide

• Campaign-specific conversion data

• Communication impact (e.g., enrollment spikes after emails or videos)

• Employee feedback

• Social equity impact (how often your programs are shared and celebrated)

And of course, track your impact metrics: meals served, diapers donated, hours volunteered, or families helped. These stories resonate far more than financials.

12. Plan for Rapid Disaster Response

In times of crisis, your CSR program can be a lifeline for both employees and your  community. Create the giving structure now, so you can act fast if the worst happens.

We recommend preparing: 

• A vetted list of disaster-response charities

• Automated giving campaigns for emergencies

• Clear communications to employees showing support

• Matching funds or leave options for affected areas

13. Start Where You Are, but Start

What if you don’t yet have a CSR program? Or what if your current one feels outdated? Don't worry about crafting  a perfect or impressive  program. Just get started:

• Survey employees

• Ask for feedback

• Start small

• Be transparent and adaptable

If you’re listening, evolving, and acting with integrity, you’ll build something meaningful.

Need help implementing a CSR platform?
FrontStream offers software  and hands-on support to build CSR and workplace giving programs that make a difference. Learn how we can help >