Purpose-Driven Profit: How One CEO is Transforming Philanthropy Through Technology

CSuite Magazine: Philanthropy Section

In an era where consumers increasingly expect corporations to take meaningful stands on social issues, Sarah Chen is revolutionizing how companies approach their charitable giving. As CEO of Benevity, the leading provider of corporate social responsibility and employee engagement software, Chen has positioned her company at the intersection of technology and social impact. With over 500 enterprise clients managing billions in charitable donations through the platform annually, Chen is proving that doing well and doing good aren't mutually exclusive.

CSuite Magazine: When you took over as CEO three years ago, what was your vision for Benevity's role in the philanthropy sector?

Sarah Chen: The traditional model of corporate philanthropy was broken. Companies were writing checks and calling it a day, while employees had no voice in where that money went. We saw an opportunity to transform this from a compliance exercise into a genuine engagement strategy. My vision was to create a platform where every employee could become an ambassador for social change, using their company's resources to amplify causes they care about.

CSuite Magazine: What are the biggest challenges facing corporate philanthropy today?

There are three major challenges keeping me up at night. First, there's a massive trust gap between corporations and the communities they serve. People are skeptical of corporate motives, especially when it comes to social initiatives. Second, measuring real impact remains incredibly difficult. It's easy to count dollars given or volunteer hours logged, but how do you measure systemic change?

Third, we're still operating with outdated systems that can't keep pace with modern expectations for transparency and engagement.

CSuite Magazine: How has Benevity addressed these challenges through technology?

Sarah Chen: We've built what I call the "social impact operating system." Instead of treating philanthropy as a separate initiative, we embed it into the fabric of how companies operate. Our platform allows employees to donate, volunteer, and advocate for causes directly through their workplace tools. But more importantly, we've created unprecedented transparency. Donors can track exactly where their money goes, see the outcomes of their giving, and even connect directly with the organizations they're supporting.

We've also tackled the measurement problem by developing sophisticated impact analytics. We can now show companies not just how much they've given, but the actual social outcomes generated by those investments. When Microsoft tells its employees that their collective giving has provided clean water to 50,000 people, that's not just a number – it's a story of real change made possible through technology.

CSuite Magazine: The pandemic dramatically shifted how companies approach social responsibility. How did Benevity adapt?

Sarah Chen: The pandemic was simultaneously our greatest challenge and our biggest opportunity. Suddenly, companies needed to support communities while managing remote workforces and economic uncertainty. We saw giving drop by 30% in the first quarter of 2020, which was terrifying. But then something remarkable happened.

Companies realized they needed to double down on their social commitments to maintain employee engagement and public trust. We pivoted quickly to support virtual volunteering, expanded our disaster response capabilities, and created new tools for companies to support local communities during lockdowns. Within six months, not only had giving recovered, but we saw a 40% increase in employee participation rates.

CSuite Magazine: What strategies have been most effective in driving employee engagement with corporate philanthropy?

Sarah Chen: Choice and connection are everything. We learned that employees don't want to be told where to give – they want to give where they're passionate. Our research shows that companies allowing employee choice see three times higher participation rates than those with top-down giving programs.

But choice alone isn't enough. People want to understand the impact of their giving. We've built features that connect donors directly with beneficiaries through video stories, impact reports, and even virtual site visits. When an employee at Salesforce donates to education causes, they can see exactly how their contribution is helping a specific student succeed. That emotional connection transforms giving from a transaction into a relationship.

CSuite Magazine: How do you balance profit motives with your social mission?

Sarah Chen: This is the question I get asked most often, and honestly, it's the wrong question. Profit and purpose aren't opposing forces – they're complementary. Our social mission drives our profitability because it attracts the best talent, creates deeper customer relationships, and builds sustainable competitive advantages.

We've proven this mathematically. Companies using our platform see measurable improvements in employee retention, customer loyalty, and brand reputation. These aren't just feel-good outcomes – they're financial metrics that any CEO can understand. When you can demonstrate that social impact drives business impact, the conversation shifts from "should we do this?" to "how can we do more?"

CSuite Magazine: What's next for corporate philanthropy, and how is Benevity positioning itself for the future?

Sarah Chen: We're moving beyond traditional charity toward what I call "strategic social investment." Companies are starting to view their social spending as investments in market development, talent acquisition, and risk mitigation. A tech company investing in digital literacy programs isn't just being charitable – they're developing future customers and employees.

We're also seeing increased focus on environmental sustainability and social justice issues. The events of the past few years have made it clear that companies can't afford to be neutral on these topics. They need platforms that can help them take meaningful action while maintaining operational efficiency.

Our next phase involves AI-powered impact optimization. We're developing tools that can help companies identify the most effective ways to deploy their social capital based on their business objectives, stakeholder priorities, and market conditions. Imagine being able to predict not just the social impact of a donation, but its business impact as well.

CSuite Magazine: What advice would you give other executives looking to strengthen their company's philanthropic efforts?

Sarah Chen: Start with authenticity. Don't pick causes because they're popular – pick them because they align with your company's values and your employees' passions. Second, invest in the infrastructure to make giving easy and meaningful. Technology isn't just about efficiency – it's about engagement. Finally, be patient. Real social change takes time, and the benefits often compound in ways you can't immediately see.

The companies that will thrive in the next decade are those that figure out how to create shared value for shareholders and stakeholders alike. Philanthropy isn't just a cost of doing business – it's a competitive advantage that will only become more important as we navigate an increasingly complex world.

As our conversation concludes, Chen reflects on the responsibility that comes with leading a company at the forefront of social change. "Every day, we're helping companies make decisions that affect real lives and real communities. That's both humbling and energizing. The future of business isn't about choosing between profit and purpose – it's about proving that the most purposeful companies are also the most profitable."