Demo VideoThe Future of CSR Software: A Buyer’s Guide
Learn how to find the right features to support a new era of corporate giving and employee engagement
An introduction to the moment
As corporate social responsibility (CSR) programs mature, the technology that powers them needs to mature as well. In 2025, and beyond, CSR professionals will face new pressures, and they need technology that will help them live up to the increased demands.
Though CSR teams are used to answering to a range of stakeholders, in 2025 expectations have ratcheted up. Employees still expect corporations to show up for their communities. According to a recent report, 77% of Americans believe that corporations have a responsibility to contribute to social change. Corporate leaders agree. 91% of CEOs believe that their role is to protect local communities in the regions they operate.
But a rapidly changing political climate, a new legal landscape, and an environment of economic uncertainty has added new pressure points to CSR work in 2025. CSR teams must clearly prove the value of their programs. They have to do that while adjusting to new priorities and managing relationships with nonprofits that are likely facing steep budget cuts from federal sources.
To meet expectations, CSR teams need more support and resources. In 2023, one-in-five CSR professionals reported mental health concerns on account of rising job demands. And the pace has not slowed.
Good CSR software takes some of the load. It helps by making it easier to launch and track the impact of CSR programs. The right CSR software can also help you focus more on practicing good corporate citizenship, by removing the grunt work and making space for more strategic change management and relationship building.
And, as we’ll get into, it’s never been more important for CSR teams to think deeply and strategically about their programs. With the backlash against ESG and DEI, a transformed government and nonprofit landscape, and rising economic uncertainty, we’re approaching an inflection point on how companies engage with the communities they’re in. Your CSR software needs to match the moment. Before we get into the specifics of how, let’s reflect on the trends influencing CSR practitioners today.
5 major trends impacting CSR today
The borders and expectations around CSR mirror today’s most pressing social issues. They are constantly evolving. The trends shaping CSR right now are redefining best practices and what “good” CSR software means.
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Backlash to DEI and ESG reshapes CSR programs
With a federal crackdown on DEI, equity work in the corporate space is shifting. Many business leaders are scaling back or de-prioritizing DEI efforts. Others are choosing to stay the course. Either route might include some turbulence.
The backlash to DEI is a reminder how swiftly the pendulum can swing. Only five years ago, many companies were scrambling to implement diversity programs and make statements about how they planned to fight racism. Now, many companies are rolling back those commitments.
Alongside the DEI backlash, anti-ESG laws are spreading across the country.
Today, DEI and ESG hold a different risk profile than they did in the past. CSR teams have to adjust. They need to get clear about how company leaders are prioritizing (or de-prioritizing) DEI and ESG, and keep their programs aligned to that vision. This might mean keeping programs in place, but shifting who they serve. Or changing language about how they talk about CSR work.
Of course, DEI and ESG aren’t CSR. But they’re closely related. CSR programs are bound to feel the shockwaves from the backlash. These shockwaves may influence business leaders’ decision to invest in CSR software and their requirements for that software.
2
Delivering on and proving impact is non-negotiable
CSR programs have the potential to impact bottom line business metrics like customer loyalty, employee retention, and even productivity. But in 2025, potential is not enough. With the current global economic volatility and tightening budgets, CSR teams must be able to prove the specific ROI of their work rather than make vague gestures toward its impact.
The Association of Corporate Citizen Professionals (ACCP) recently put out a Making the Case for Social Impact toolkit. The toolkit lays out survey results and other data to help CSR teams justify their programs. Even if corporate leaders aren’t pressing for answers now—CSR professionals need to be proactive about building the business case for their work.
On a recent episode of Impact Audio, Andrea Wood, president and CEO of ACCP, explored the data. “We have some data that shows that 95 percent of employees who have been surveyed think it's important for their employer to make a positive impact in their community—tying right back to why it's important for the business to be able to recruit and retain top talent,” she says. CSR professionals have to do the work to tie their programs to that impact.
With CSR teams stretched thin over the last few years, this focus on impact threatens to stretch them even thinner. Teams need to craft and run CSR programs, while also doing the work to prove that the programs are worthwhile. CSR software can help unload the manual labor of running programs and give you the data you need to build a clear story of impact.
5
Participation is a persistent challenge
Although the majority of employees want CSR programs, many employee giving and volunteering programs continue to struggle with participation.
In a recent Deloitte survey, 87% of respondents said workplace volunteer opportunities are a factor in their decision to stick with their current company or seek out a new role. But in the latest CECP report, volunteering programs only had a 23% participation rate. Giving programs are also struggling, with an average 20% participation rate.
For CSR leaders and program managers, it’s essential to close the gap between the number of employees who are excited about CSR in theory and the number of them who actually show up to participate.
New technology can be transformational. The right CSR software can help shift programs from a company-centric approach to an employee-centered experience. It can connect giving to an employees’ everyday work and bring programs into their flow. Rather than living on an island, CSR can become a core pillar of the employee experience. That’s how you close the participation gap.
Evaluating CSR software in 2025
When evaluating CSR software, it’s important to keep the above trends in mind and to think about the scope of your use case. Some CSR software is capable of delivering a very broad range of features, while others specialize to help companies with one type of CSR programs. Ideally, your CSR software helps strengthen the ties between your programs.
We break CSR programs up into three types:
Community investment: Grantmaking, scholarships, awards, and other community-focused efforts.
Employee volunteering: Efforts and initiatives driven by employees’ donation of their time and/or expertise.
Corporate giving: Company- and employee-fueled efforts that deliver funds to nonprofit organizations.
Keep the following in mind when shopping for CSR software that fits your own use case. Making the right choice can allow you to act quickly, pivot on the fly, and get the most out of your CSR efforts.
Security: A #1 feature for all use cases
No matter your use case, top-notch security is a must for any CSR software you choose.
The cost of the wrong software: Compromised data for millions of customers, as in the case of Blackbaud’s breach in 2020.
Ask yourself:
Is the platform encrypting information?
What’s the company’s data storage policy?
Are they SOC 2 Type 2 certified?
Do they adhere to GDPR rules?
What’s their track record with customer data?
Dig deep and give security the attention it deserves. You and your customer’s depend on it.
7 Features to look for in community investment software
It’s not uncommon for community investment efforts—grantmaking and giving, scholarships, awards, etc—to require tons of paperwork and box checking, for both grantors and grantees. Ideal CSR software should streamline these processes and lower the applicant burden for applicants.
The following features can make that a reality.
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1. Workflow automations
2. Built-in fraud prevention
3. In-app communication
4. Collaborative review
5. Two-way integrations
6. Funds tracking and distribution
7. Impact reporting
9 features to look for in employee volunteering software
Employee volunteer programs are a great way to get your team involved in the community, foster team building, and give people a chance to connect with others in a way work doesn’t normally allow. But, organizing employee volunteering takes great effort, and getting them to actually sign up—and show up—is another matter entirely.
The right CSR software should make it as easy as possible for employees to give back to the community and provide a home for ERGs.
Trulieve upped employee participation and logged 900 volunteer hours over 4 months because of Submittable’s ease of use for employees.
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1. Simple sign-up
2. Personal dashboard
3. ERG alignment
4. Event creation privileges
5. Participant visibility
6. In-app surveys
7. Automated waitlists
8. Dollars for Doers functionality
9. Curated Volunteer experiences
11 features to look for in corporate giving software
Corporate giving must be easy for employees to opt into without piling the work on the CSR or HR teams leading the effort. The right CSR software makes giving feel personal to each employee and eliminates manual labor for everyone. Plus it has the data and reporting to demonstrate clear impact.
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1. Personal impact wallet
2. Microsoft Teams integration
3. Digital card
4. Automatic payroll deductions
5. Company matching
6. Database of vetted nonprofits
7. Campaign creation privileges
8. Collective impact reporting
9. Tools to explore causes
10. Automatically generated tax documentation
11. Multinational giving and volunteering
Find a CSR solution that keeps up
For CSR professionals, 2025 is a reminder of how essential agility is in this field. Priorities are shifting quickly and CSR software that keeps teams and programs stuck in the past just won’t cut it. A great CSR software opens up the possibilities and gives you the confidence to chart a new course forward.
Submittable is flexible, agile, and capable of keeping up with any changes the CSR industry can throw your way. Our platform democratizes giving, creating a positive experience for employees and admins alike. Plus Submittable gives you the tools you need to scale your CSR efforts.
If you’re interested in how the right CSR software can help you reach your program goals, get in touch.
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3
Social and environmental causes are increasingly politicized
In 2025, many social and environmental causes that were considered nonpartisan in the past have become more divisive. Many companies are adjusting to this new landscape by either retooling their approach to communication or shifting their overall program strategy.
In the past, most companies who had CSR programs wanted to spread the word as widely as possible. But with the charged current political and social climate, many companies are shifting how they talk about their social impact work.
Some companies are simply changing the language they use to define programs so they can avoid high-profile terms like DEI and equity. Others are being a bit quieter, sharing information about their programs with employees, but not aiming to publicize their efforts. Andrea Wood, president and CEO of ACCP sees a shift in how companies build their messaging. “[Companies] may be a little quieter externally in how they talk about social impact,” she says.
The politicization of causes has also led some companies to hand more decision-making power over to their employees. Rather than the company taking a stand by directing money toward specific causes, they give their employees the power to choose. Under pressure to make a statement during the widespread Black Lives Matter protests, the game developer Valve decided to give each of their employees $10,000 to donate how they wished.
Democratizing corporate giving can be a win-win for this moment. Companies can continue their commitment to social good without making a grand statement. And employees feel a sense of empowerment as they direct funds to causes they care about.
CSR software must be designed to support employee-led efforts by catering to individual employees.