5 grantmaking insights from leaders in corporate giving

Published on March 9, 2025

More companies are embracing strategic grantmaking to maximize their social impact, but navigating this space requires thoughtful planning, strong partnerships and an eye on emerging challenges.

Benevity’s recent webinar brought together leading voices in the corporate giving space, Nicole Royster, SVP and Director of Grants Management at Truist Foundation, and Isabelle Rodas-Panek, Senior Manager for Grants & Charitable Contributions at Visa Foundation. They shared insights into how grantmakers can optimize their processes while driving real impact in communities. Here are some key takeaways from the conversation.

1. Align grantmaking with business strategy and values

Both leaders emphasized the importance of corporate mission alignment with any community investments. Being clear about your company’s anchorpoints will ensure that the grants both build on your pillars and serve a greater purpose at once. Rodas-Panek explained that Visa’s guiding principle is to “uplift everyone everywhere”. Similarly, Royster highlighted Truist’s five key focus areas — leadership development, building career pathways, strengthening small businesses, educational equity, and thriving communities — ensuring that every grant supports their strategic goals. 

Takeaway for grantmakers:

• Ensure your grantmaking priorities reflect your company’s mission
• Look for ways to integrate giving with other CSR efforts
• Communicate clear funding priorities to ensure more relevant applications
  

2. Showcase your impact beyond the numbers 

Measuring and communicating impact is a growing priority in corporate grantmaking. Truist and Visa Foundations both use impact reports, media outreach and leadership advocacy to highlight the work of their grantees — both internally and externally. Visa Foundation takes this a step further by inviting grantees into their offices, fostering deeper employee engagement and collaboration. 

Takeaway for grantmakers:

• Use multiple channels (social media, internal reports, leadership briefings) to share the stories behind the numbers
• Engage employees by connecting them with nonprofit partners to create deeper impact
• Explore multi-year partnerships to build sustainable support for nonprofits
  

3. Build strong grantee relationships — and involve your employees

Successful grantmaking isn’t just about writing checks — it’s about partnership. Both Royster and Rodas-Panek emphasized the importance of open communication with grantees and engaging local teams to strengthen and create personal connections. The Visa Foundation Gives program allows employees to vote on key community investment areas and Truist leverages its 40,000 teammates to build local nonprofit connections — by making employees into grant stakeholders, everyone becomes more invested in the community.

Takeaway for grantmakers:

• Move beyond transactional relationships — invest in personal connections with grantees
• Encourage corporate employees to engage with nonprofit partners to uncover opportunity areas
• Create networks and ecosystems where nonprofits can collaborate and grow

4. Don’t neglect the growing threat of fraud

One of the most eye-opening discussions centered on fraud prevention. Rodas-Panek shared a real case where cybercriminals attempted to divert $600,000 in funds by impersonating a grantee’s email. Fortunately, Visa’s security team caught the discrepancy, preventing financial loss. To combat fraud, both Visa and Truist Foundations have added additional safeguards, including disclaimers in grant-related communications and rigorous verification processes.

Takeaway for grantmakers:

• Work with grantmaking partners with rigorous risk and compliance policies
• Educate nonprofits on cybersecurity best practices
• Regularly audit payment and application processes to catch inconsistencies early
  
  

5. Consider the role of AI

As technology advances, AI is beginning to play a role in grantmaking. Both panelists expressed excitement about AI’s potential, particularly in analyzing financial reports, automating grant review processes and enhancing impact measurement. However, they stressed the need for human oversight, ensuring that AI complements rather than replaces strategic decision-making.

Takeaway for grantmakers:

• Explore AI-powered tools for financial analysis and reporting
• Invest in technology that simplifies the grant application and reporting process
• Maintain a balance between automation and relationship-building with grantees
  

The future of corporate grantmaking

As corporate grantmakers refine their strategies, the key to success lies in alignment, transparency and adaptability. Companies must align grantmaking with business strategy, prioritize relationship-building, stay vigilant against fraud and embrace emerging technologies to drive efficiency.

The webinar underscored a shared commitment to impact-driven, strategic community investment. Whether you’re launching a new foundation or refining an existing grants program, these insights provide a roadmap to more effective, ethical and sustainable corporate giving.