Podcast Summary
Podcast: Nonprofit Nation with Julia Campbell
Episode: How to Make the Most of Workplace Giving with Matt Nash
Release Date: February 11, 2026
Host: Julia Campbell
Guest: Matt Nash, Executive Director, Blackbaud Giving Fund
Episode Overview
In this insightful episode, Julia Campbell sits down with Matt Nash, a seasoned expert in corporate philanthropy and workplace giving, to demystify one of the most underutilized fundraising strategies for nonprofits: workplace giving. They discuss the current landscape, why this funding stream is often overlooked, practical tactics for increasing engagement with corporate donors, the growing role of millennials and Gen Z, nonprofit case studies, and the effects of recent tax changes on workplace giving.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. The Landscape and Impact of Workplace Giving
- Scale of workplace giving: Over 27 million U.S. employees have access to such programs; in 2024, they donated around $3 billion (03:00).
- Corporate matching boosts gifts: With matches, the average employee gift was $1,744.
- Core purpose: For corporations, workplace giving programs primarily drive employee engagement (03:59).
“There is over 27 million people in America that are employees of corporations that have access to a workplace giving program... The corporations’ number one objective of these things is to create employee engagement.”
— Matt Nash (02:57)
2. Barriers to Adoption by Nonprofits
- Nonprofits face resource constraints and tend to prioritize known fundraising channels (04:43).
- Employees are busy; gaining their attention for giving is challenging unless integrated naturally into work life.
“It’s an attention thing... that’s why corporations that do a good job of this really incorporate it into the employee’s workday.”
— Matt Nash (04:43)
3. Five Key Engagement Tactics for Nonprofits (06:46–14:30)
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Leverage existing donors
- Start with employees/donors already connected to you; they can champion your cause internally (06:51).
“Start with who you got... If an employee is active with you, they often will bring you forward in their company.”
— Matt Nash (06:51) -
Create volunteer events to engage and educate
- Design experiences that help employees directly see your impact, making them advocates (09:12).
“You’re creating a selling program for them... help them see the great work you’re doing.”
— Matt Nash (08:00) -
Present your organization on workplace giving platforms
- Complete your nonprofit’s profile, sharing your mission and impact (10:35).
- Example: Blackbaud Verified Network (10:37–11:03).
“There's a database in there with all these nonprofits... and you can tell your own story on these platforms.”
— Matt Nash (09:14) -
Research company values to align missions
- Target companies whose social purpose matches your cause; avoid blanket outreach (11:47–13:23).
“If you can understand what their purpose is from a social standpoint and it aligns with what you are, you can begin to tell a story...”
— Matt Nash (12:10) -
Prep thoroughly for corporate partnerships
- Know their program and priorities; ask questions to find win-win opportunities.
“It’s not a pitch… Can we create something that might help you?”
— Matt Nash (13:29)
4. Younger Generations Drive the Future of Workplace Giving (14:30–17:41)
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Millennials and Gen Z now dominate the workforce (average worker age: 39).
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They prioritize social good and community experiences at work.
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Most giving engagement begins with volunteering.
“They want to feel like there’s some good that happens in the world as a part of what the workplace offers… most workplace giving starts with the volunteer.”
— Matt Nash (14:53)
5. Case Study: Note in the Pocket (17:41–23:16)
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Growth from 300 to over 7,000 volunteers by focusing on meaningful volunteer experiences and strong storytelling.
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Their approach: Start with the corporate relationship, but focus deeply on individual engagement.
“Their entire workforce… is all volunteers. They have over 7,000 volunteers… But what it’s built around is the volunteer.”
— Matt Nash (19:45)“They tell their story. They tell their story and they tell their story. It’s a core component of what they’re doing.”
— Matt Nash (21:07)
6. Advice for Nonprofits with Fewer Volunteer Opportunities (23:16–26:34)
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Focus on storytelling to spark emotional connection and encourage giving.
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Encourage creative off-site engagement (e.g., supply drives, kit assemblies).
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Employees can still be engaged without on-site volunteering.
“If you’re not one of those that creates volunteer opportunities really easily, you can still tell your story… you’re just trying to create an emotional response.”
— Matt Nash (23:16)“There’s really two prongs… Finding the right corporate partner and educating donors that this is something they can do.”
— Julia Campbell (24:49)
7. Emerging Trends and New Tax Law (27:40–32:51)
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2025 Tax Changes: Non-itemizers can now deduct $1,000 ($2,000 joint) for workplace giving, benefiting most American employees (27:48).
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For corporations: Charitable deductions now kick in only after giving exceeds 1.1% of revenue (average giving is 0.9%).
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Impact: Companies may become more focused on donations closely tied to their brand and social purpose.
“Non-itemizers will now have a deduction... the majority of American employees. That’s all really good news.”
— Matt Nash (27:49)“I look at it as being, this is a good time for nonprofits to evaluate: how close to these corporations are we really?”
— Matt Nash (32:22)
8. Where Should Nonprofits Start? (33:13–34:30)
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Evaluate your approach to workplace giving.
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If you’re not actively pursuing it, allocate time to develop a thoughtful strategy, especially as companies reevaluate their own giving due to changing laws.
“Do we have an actual approach for corporate giving, or is it just happenstance? ...Let’s take this portion of our fundraising... and put it towards this in a more thoughtful manner.”
— Matt Nash (33:13)
Notable Quotes and Memorable Moments
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On the power of volunteers:
“You start with the corporation… but where the rubber meets the road is the individual.”
— Matt Nash (21:15) -
On the evolving workplace:
“We’re all creatures of community. We need people to thrive. The degree that volunteer efforts can be created is really, I think, an important component of this.”
— Matt Nash (15:28) -
On aligning with companies:
“If it’s tight, it’s time to double down and really go hard with it. If it’s not close, then… have a conversation with them and say, where are you going?”
— Matt Nash (32:05)
Timestamps for Key Sections
- 02:41 – Matt Nash introduction
- 03:00 – Scope and activity of workplace giving
- 04:43 – Why nonprofits underutilize workplace giving
- 06:46 – Five key tactics for engaging workplace donors
- 10:37 – Example: Blackbaud's workplace giving platform
- 14:30 – Impact of millennials & Gen Z on corporate giving
- 17:41 – Note in the Pocket case study
- 23:16 – How non-volunteer orgs can utilize workplace giving
- 27:40 – New tax law impacts
- 33:13 – First step for nonprofits inspired by the episode
Further Resources
- Blackbaud Giving Fund: blackbaudgivingfund.org
- Connect with Matt Nash and Blackbaud Giving Fund: Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn (@BlackbaudGivingFund)
In Julia’s words:
“If you’re a nonprofit newbie or an experienced professional who’s looking to get more visibility, reach more people, and create even more impact, then you’re in the right place.” (01:53)
Summary prepared for those seeking actionable advice on maximizing workplace giving as a powerful, often overlooked source of sustainable nonprofit funding.