Fifty years ago, Microsoft opened its doors and introduced us to a world of technology innovations that touch every part of our lives. We have grown from six buildings and Lake Bill in Redmond to offices in over 190 countries. Hundreds of thousands of people have shipped thousands of products that have made all of us more connected, efficient and innovative.
Through all the growth, change, and technological progress, there is one common thread that ties our Microsoft employees and their communities together— Microsoft’s Give program. It’s fundamental to who we are as a company. It reflects our values and our commitment to helping every person and organization on the planet do more.
In 2024, our contributions reached historic milestones, highlighting the shared benefits of our giving program for the nonprofits we support and for Microsoft and its employees, who tell us again and again they derive heartfelt value from our community connections. We’ve logged nearly 6 million volunteer hours and $1.3 billion in lifetime donations to Washington nonprofits.
Giving is deeply ingrained in our culture
It is an honor to celebrate the generosity of our employees who passionately give their time and money to support nonprofits they care about in the communities where they live and work.
- In 2024, our employees worldwide volunteered 1.2 million hours and raised over $255 million to support 36,000 nonprofits around the world.
- In our first full year of the Change Agent program—where employees volunteer their time to help nonprofits on their digital transformation journey—we had 1,200 employees line up to participate and the demand is growing.
- Our employees, past and present, have donated over $3 billion since our first Give campaign and provided the equivalent of 1,277 years of volunteering to 36,000 organizations globally.
Investing in our own backyard
Nowhere is this commitment to giving more evident than in Washington, our HQ state, where so many of our employees who live right here in the Puget Sound region are so deeply committed to making a difference. It shows in the numbers!
- The total donations in 2024 to nonprofits in the state was $88 million, and over 460,000 hours of volunteer time. It’s the highest number of volunteer hours we’ve ever provided in Washington in a single year.
- We supported 4,900 nonprofits in the state in 2024—another record.
- Our lifetime giving in Washington state alone has surpassed $1.3 billion and Microsoft employees have logged 6 million volunteer hours.
- The most inspiring statistic? 80% of our Washington state employees participated in our giving program – sharing their time and their personal resources.
These numbers tell the story of impact, but it is the personal stories of our local changemakers and the nonprofits they support that tell the real story.
What really matters
The Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center is also celebrating a 50-year anniversary. What started as a regional cancer center has turned into a world-class biomedical research and clinical care institution. Microsoft and our employees have supported the critical work of Fred Hutch since the 1980s.
Some employees have a very personal reason for their commitment to the organization. La Shanda Hurst lost her father to colon cancer when he was just 43 years old. Her support of the Hutch is rooted in her drive to make a difference. “My overall calling has to do with my life experience, losing my dad so early, and trying to drive impact.” For her, “I’m thinking about supporting causes and making an impact 365 days a year.”
Her focus on results is echoed by many of our employees. They have shared that volunteering not only allows them to make a tangible difference in their communities but also fosters a strong sense of connection and purpose. One of our employees states the drive for impact beautifully when he said, “When my time is over on this planet, what will I say I really did to make an impact?”
Committing to long-term impact
Northwest Harvest is one of the country’s largest independent food banks, collecting and distributing food to more than 400 partner organizations across the state of Washington. It is also one of our top ten giving recipients—in both dollars and volunteer hours—year after year.
Thomas Reynolds, CEO of Northwest Harvest, talks about the importance of the relationship, “The partnership with Microsoft means that there are literally thousands of people who take action on food justice issues here in Washington State. They provide financial support, their time, and their wisdom.”
We often talk about the importance of scale. However, critical and complex issues like hunger and food security also require a long-term commitment to effect meaningful and lasting change. The continuity of our employees’ support provides a solid foundation to help the organization reach its goal of cutting hunger in half by 2028, and doing the same for the number of households struggling without enough food on the table.
Investing in a future for everyone in the digital economy
We believe economic growth and opportunity must reach every person, organization, community, and country. Even in a state like Washington, home to some of the largest and most influential companies globally, economic opportunities are not available to all.
To help address the challenge, our Give program has supported the Washington State Opportunity Scholarship (WSOS) since its inception in 2011. WSOS removes barriers to education and helps historically excluded students create a path to high-demand STEM, health care, and trade careers in Washington state. As a first-generation college student, Douglas Lepar, Microsoft Director of Operations Program Management, experienced the same challenges as WSOS scholars. He also brings years of experience and knowledge of working in the technology field, which he generously shares with scholars through the Skills that Shine mentor program. “I’ve been so impressed and humbled by the students I have seen who, thanks to this incredible program, have managed to juggle all those things while still thriving, growing, and engaging.”
Looking forward
I am both grateful and inspired when I look at how Microsoft employees give to create a positive and lasting social impact. There is a tremendous amount of change in the world today, placing significant pressure on nonprofits organizations worldwide. They are grappling with immensely complex situations and are being asked to respond to more crises than ever before. Our changemakers continue to step up as advocates, allies, funders, and volunteers. Their commitment gives me hope that we can rise to today’s challenges and ensure everyone has the opportunity to thrive.
