Employee-led social impact webinar: key insights from Cadence and Benevity
Recently, Ruby Murphy, Senior Client Success Manager at Benevity and Nicole Johnson, Global Director of Social Impact at Cadence and President of the Cadence Giving Foundation, came together in a webinar to discuss how grant management software for nonprofits enables companies to empower employees and scale their social impact globally.
In this blog, we’ll explore how Benevity’s platform — a leading grant management software for nonprofits and corporate foundations — helped
Cadence increase grantmaking by over 40%, distribute millions in funding and create lasting change in communities worldwide.
Setting the stage for scalable impact
Ruby Murphy kicked off the session by highlighting why structured impact programs matter now more than ever. Benevity is a platform built to manage corporate giving, employee engagement and granting. It has become essential for organizations like Cadence that want to turn passion into purpose at scale. Ruby emphasized:
“Employees are more eager than ever to give back to their communities. But without the right structure, even the most passionate efforts can get stuck in silos, remain informal or struggle to scale.”
The launch of structured programs like the Cadence Giving Foundation have demonstrated how organizational strategies can turbocharge employee-led efforts. One key result? A 40% increase in grantmaking, proving that effective grant management software for nonprofits isn’t just administrative — it’s transformative.
Cadence: from grassroots to purposeful progress
Before establishing the Cadence Giving Foundation, volunteerism and matching gift initiatives were sporadic and lacked strategic oversight. Nicole Johnson shared how implementing a formal structure — and leveraging grant management software for nonprofits — changed everything:
“What the structure brought was ... a way for employees to access that type of program. And through that, we've been able to ... increase our grantmaking by over 40%. We now donate over $5M annually to nonprofits, whereas it was around $1.5M when I joined.”
By using Benevity as their grant management platform, Cadence created a transparent, accessible system that empowers all employees — whether they’re already active in causes or just getting started — to contribute meaningfully. Nicole emphasized the importance of accessible and transparent processes.
The role of Benevity in scaling global programs
Technology is the backbone of scalable, equitable giving — especially across borders. Nicole highlighted how Benevity’s grant management software for nonprofits enables Cadence to manage global impact with ease:
“It’s really difficult to manage these programs globally without some kind of tool like Benevity that allows you to track and ensure resources and funding reach employees everywhere.”
With Benevity, Cadence has built a structured grant program that includes:
- $1,000 “dollars-for-doers” grants for individual employee volunteer efforts
- Up to $10,000 impact grants aligned with strategic focus areas
The platform streamlines eligibility checks, application workflows and reporting — making it easier for employees to apply and for teams to manage grant portfolios efficiently. This is the power of modern grant management software for nonprofits: turning complex processes into simple, transparent actions.
Stories that inspire action
Real impact happens when employees are empowered with the right tools. Here are three examples of how Cadence’s use of grant management software for nonprofits amplified employee-led initiatives:
TeamProtect and Women in Technology in Uganda
Cadence employees led a 10-day service project in Uganda focused on mentorship and tech skills for women. Thanks to impact grants managed through Benevity, four program participants received paid internships — later hired remotely by Cadence. Nicole remarked:
“Those internships absolutely changed their lives.”
APAC women’s employee resource group (ERG)
Once focused on local advocacy for single mothers, this ERG expanded its reach tenfold through Cadence’s grant program. Financial support and volunteer time, coordinated via Benevity, allowed them to significantly scale their impact on nonprofit partners.
Community engagement councils
Local volunteer groups in Austin, Texas and Belo Horizonte, Brazil were so active that Cadence formalized them into the Cadence Cares Champions program — a replicable model for community leadership, supported by Benevity’s grant tracking and management tools.
“The model just serves as a blueprint because we’re in 30 countries. This allows our employees to make an impact in their communities in a way that is meaningful for them. We rely on our employees to know where they can make the most impact and these natural councils have been created to form a more formal program.”
Advice for scaling social impact programs
Nicole shared three actionable tips for organizations looking to grow their social impact:
1. Invest in tools: Using grant management software for nonprofits like Benevity simplifies global disbursement, compliance and tracking — especially for distributed teams.
“Without a tool like Benevity, international giving is a huge challenge.”
2. Share resources: Cadence provides reusable grant templates and agreements to streamline operations. Nicole encouraged participants to connect with her on LinkedIn to share best practices or receive guidance.
3. Encourage volunteerism: Matching gifts and volunteering programs, even if offered separately, both empower employees to contribute to causes that matter to them. Nicole stated:
“All studies that I have ever read have shown that there is a positive correlation between volunteerism and employee satisfaction.”
Conclusion: building a culture of purpose with grant management software for nonprofits
The webinar offers a clear roadmap for transforming grassroots efforts into scalable CSR programs that drive tangible business impact while empowering employees to contribute meaningfully. By adopting grant management software for nonprofits like Benevity, organizations can:
- Streamline application and approval workflows
- Scale giving across regions
- Empower employees to lead change
- Deliver real impact to nonprofit partners
Nicole’s final takeaway was: "Employees thrive with purpose.”
With the right grant management platform, that purpose becomes measurable, sustainable and impactful.
Ready to unlock the potential of employee-led social impact? Request a demo with Benevity to learn how to scale employee-led impact globally.
.jpg)
