Our Giving is Growing!

Ever hear the saying, “Be the change you want to see in the world”? Microsoft employees live by it. Our employees demonstrated commitment to change in our communities with unprecedented levels of sweat equity during the past year. At the corporate level and on our Silicon Valley campus, employees outperformed collective giving efforts of previous years. In a tough economy, that’s inspiring to say.  

Microsoft places a high value on community service, and makes it easy for employees to give time and resources to causes that are meaningful to them. Every full-time U.S. employee receives an annual $12,000 corporate matching gift for volunteer time ($17 per hour) or dollar-for-dollar charitable contributions to eligible nonprofits.

It’s working. For last year’s Giving Campaign, Microsoft employees broke their own annual giving record, raising more than $100 million for community organizations.

Locally, the 2,000 employees of Microsoft Silicon Valley were exceptionally engaged, donating an all-time high $3.6 million to organizations like the United Way of Silicon Valley and local Boys & Girls Clubs of America. The Microsoft Silicon Valley campus had an 80 percent participation rate, the highest participation of any Microsoft site anywhere. And it happened one employee at a time.

So, if “being the change” makes a difference – and we absolutely believe it does – you will see lots of positive changes in our community. These ten Silicon Valley organizations benefitted most from our giving program, and will be able to offer enhanced programs and services as a result: 

• Computer History Museum
• Leukemia & Lymphoma Society Inc.
• United Way Silicon Valley
• Sturge Presbyterian Church-Community Outreach Programs
•  Muslim Community Association of SF Bay Area
• Second Harvest Food Bank
• La Salle Vietnam House
• San Francisco Aids Foundation
• Presidio Knolls School
• San Francisco Opera Association

Entrepreneurism in the Valley is contagious, and in that spirit we continue to explore creative and dynamic ways to bring employee giving to life.  

While our 2011 Giving Campaign was such a success, we know there’s much more work to be done. The Microsoft Silicon Valley campus is already aiming to beat our 2011 giving numbers in 2012. Can you see ways our community could change for the better? We encourage you to “be the change,” right along with us.