CALGARY, AB – 29/10/2025 – (SeaPRwire) – A new study from Benevity Impact Labs sheds light on a paradox at the heart of modern corporate philanthropy: while companies around the world are more committed than ever to making a difference through grantmaking, many lack the confidence to say they are doing it well. The report — The Grants Confidence Gap: Uncovering the Hidden Barriers to Effective Corporate Grantmaking — offers the first comprehensive, data-driven look into the psychological and strategic underpinnings of corporate social investment.
Drawing on responses from 120 global corporations, Benevity’s research shows that nearly three out of four organizations believe they are following best practices in grantmaking. Yet, barely half feel confident in their effectiveness. This “confidence gap,” according to Benevity’s Chief Impact Officer Sona Khosla, is not merely a soft metric; it represents a critical barrier that can undermine the credibility, reach, and long-term impact of corporate social responsibility (CSR) programs.
“Confidence is an invisible currency in philanthropy,” Khosla said. “It determines whether teams feel empowered to innovate, to build trust, and to make the difficult trade-offs that meaningful impact requires. The data tells us that many grantmakers have the will—but they are still searching for the way.”
A New Lens on Corporate Grantmaking
The study dissects the anatomy of a high-performing grantmaking program, examining four pillars—strategic alignment, stakeholder engagement, adaptability, and communication—and how organizations rate themselves in each. While the results point to widespread enthusiasm and institutional support for CSR, they also highlight a striking gap between intent and execution.
- Strategic Alignment and Execution:
Nearly all surveyed organizations report having leadership support, dedicated budgets, and staff resources for their grant programs. However, a deeper analysis reveals a disconnect between executive enthusiasm and sustained investment. Teams often perceive a lack of consistent prioritization from leadership, suggesting that while CSR has moved up the corporate agenda, it has not yet achieved full strategic integration. - Stakeholder Engagement and Impact:
Engagement scores fell short of expectations, particularly when measuring perceived success in working with community partners, employees, and nonprofit stakeholders. While companies are making an effort to engage broadly, many admit their initiatives are not generating the depth of outcomes they envisioned. - Innovation and Adaptability:
The report identifies encouraging progress in adopting trust-based philanthropy—a model emphasizing transparency, long-term partnership, and flexible funding. Yet confidence remains fragile, with many teams uncertain about how to scale or measure success in this relatively new paradigm. - Communication:
While 62% of organizations share their impact data with employees, only 41% believe their communication is effective. Many prioritize public ESG disclosures over internal storytelling, missing opportunities to connect purpose to corporate culture and employee engagement.
The Confidence Paradox in Corporate Purpose
The Benevity report argues that the “confidence gap” is not simply a matter of skill or resources, but of decision-making and trust. Khosla emphasized that teams are already working hard—what’s missing is clarity about where to focus. “The real barrier isn’t effort, it’s making the hard choices,” she said. “When organizations align around what truly matters, the confidence gap begins to close—and that’s when programs, partnerships, and impact start to grow.”
This insight reframes corporate grantmaking as not only a financial practice but also an emotional and cultural one. Confidence, the study suggests, acts as both a mirror and a catalyst—reflecting how well organizations internalize their values, and amplifying their ability to execute with authenticity.
Beyond Metrics: Building the Future of Corporate Giving
The Grants Confidence Gap report is powered by Benevity’s proprietary Impact Index, a benchmarking tool that allows CSR and grantmaking professionals to evaluate the depth, breadth, and effectiveness of their programs across eight performance areas. With this data, Benevity is helping companies identify blind spots and build confidence through evidence-based improvement.
Since its founding in 2008, Benevity has helped channel more than $34.5 billion to over 500,000 nonprofit organizations, mobilizing 8.5 million changemakers worldwide. As a certified B Corporation, its unified platform enables giving, volunteering, granting, and employee engagement—supported by a secure, global infrastructure and actionable analytics.
Benevity Impact Labs, the company’s social innovation division, combines internal data with external research to provide insights that accelerate progress across the global CSR landscape. By sharing findings like those in the Grants Confidence Gap report, Benevity hopes to shift the conversation from “how much” companies give to “how well” they give—and, crucially, how confidently they lead the change they wish to see.
About Benevity
Benevity, a global leader in enterprise social impact software, helps the world’s most purpose-driven companies integrate corporate social responsibility into their core strategies. Its all-in-one platform empowers organizations to drive measurable, scalable, and lasting impact while strengthening trust, employee engagement, and innovation. Learn more at benevity.com.
About Benevity Impact Labs
Benevity Impact Labs is a social innovation lab dedicated to advancing research, data, and insights that empower companies and individuals to accelerate their social impact and inclusion initiatives. Partnering with some of the world’s most recognized brands, the Lab explores emerging trends and quantifies the real-world value of purpose-driven action.