Cadence’s Employee-Driven Approach to Grantmaking and Volunteering

Employees are eager to give back — but without programmatic structure, their efforts can remain isolated or underutilized. Learn how electronic design company Cadence launched the Cadence Giving Foundation (CGF) to streamline, amplify, and measure employee-driven grantmaking and volunteering - resulting in a 40% increase in grantmaking since 2022. This session will highlight how CGF transformed grassroots generosity into a strategic, high-impact initiative that strengthens employee engagement while aligning with business values.

You’ll learn how Cadence structured its employee grant programs to support both individual giving — through volunteer-driven “dollars for doers” — and group initiatives, like team-led impact grants. Nicole Johnson, Global Director of Social Impact at Cadence, will share practical insights on empowering employees to direct funding and scale grantmaking globally — through grassroots leadership, strategic integration with volunteering, and the Benevity platform.

Watch to:

• Learn how Cadence built an employee-driven program that scales grantmaking and volunteering across a global workforce
• Get practical insights on empowering employees to direct funding through individual and team-based grants
• See how Cadence designed flexible programs that meet both employee interests and company priorities — enabled by Benevity

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Key Learnings

1. Structure transforms enthusiasm into impact: By launching the Cadence Giving Foundation (CGF), Cadence moved from informal, ad hoc community efforts to a structured, strategic approach that enabled employee participation at scale — increasing grantmaking by 40% since 2022.
2. Employee-led giving builds deeper engagement: Through programs like Dollars for Doers and Impact Grants, Cadence empowers employees not just to give, but to lead. Employees can direct funding toward causes they care about, while staying aligned with Cadence’s core focus areas: STEM, AI for All, Climate Innovation, and Local Communities.
3. Global programs require thoughtful design: With over 13,000 employees in 36 countries, Cadence built a scalable model using Benevity’s platform to ensure consistency, and accessibility. A simplified grant application process, combined with clear program guardrails, made it easier for employees to participate — wherever they are.
4. Grassroots leadership drives momentum: Localized examples like Cadence’s APAC Women’s ERG in Korea and grassroots engagement councils in Brazil and Austin show how employees are not just engaging, but initiating change. These efforts became the blueprint for Cadence’s Cadence Cares Champions program.‍
5. Strategic alignment ensures sustainability: Cadence ties its employee grants program to broader business values and focus areas, ensuring that passion-led efforts also support company priorities. This balance is key to sustaining the program over time — and to earning executive-level buy-in.