How Microsoft makes giving personal for all of its 228,000 employees

Karen Bergin is a trailblazer in corporate philanthropy and disaster response, driving bold, high-impact initiatives that empower communities worldwide. As Senior Director of Employee Engagement and Disaster Response at Microsoft Philanthropies, she leads transformational programs that have mobilized thousands of employees to turn passion into action—contributing millions of dollars and volunteer hours to causes that change lives. In 2024 alone, Microsoft employees, together with company matching, raised $255 million, fueling 36,000 organizations globally. With over one million volunteer hours dedicated to nonprofits near and far, Microsoft's total employee giving, including corporate matching, now exceeds $3.2 billion.

She first joined the company in 1998 as its in-house UK PR leader, where she rapidly built an award-winning Corporate Affairs team that secured "Best UK Technology PR" honors four years in a row. In 2005, she launched a corporate reputation management consultancy that advised top executives at BT, Dell, HSBC, and the UK's Serious Organized Crime Agency. Returning to Microsoft in 2008, she took the helm of global citizenship PR before stepping into her current leadership role.

In recent years, Karen has played a pivotal role in integrating disaster response with employee engagement, reinforcing Microsoft's commitment to using technology and resources for humanitarian relief. Microsoft has forged critical partnerships with organizations like the American Red Cross to develop innovative disaster response solutions. The company’s Disaster Response team has completed over 150 missions across 30 countries, delivering lifesaving aid and digital solutions when and where they’re needed most.

Beyond the corporate sphere, Karen is a passionate advocate for the arts and community enrichment. As Chair-Elect of ArtsFund, she is dedicated to fostering a thriving arts and cultural scene in Puget Sound, championing equitable access to creative experiences that inspire and unite communities.

Sam Caplan is the Vice President of Social Impact at Submittable, a platform that foundations, governments, nonprofits, and other changemakers use to launch, manage, and measure impactful granting and CSR programs. Inspired by the amazing work performed by practitioners of all stripes, Sam strives to help them achieve their missions through better, more effective software.

Sam formerly served as founder of New Spark Strategy, Chief Information Officer at the Walton Family Foundation, and head of technology at the Walmart Foundation. He consults, advises, and writes on social impact technology, strategy, and innovation.

Connect with or follow Sam on Linkedin, listen to his podcast Impact Audio, and subscribe to his bi-weekly newsletter The Review.