Series - Editorial Fellowship: Transforming Funding Models

Benevity cuts 14% of workforce: A ‘canary in the coal mine’ for corporate charitable giving?

Author Gabe Oatley
“A lot of executives, even if they may believe in it strongly — when they get ruthless about their budget, it’s easily one of the first things to go,” says Clarke Foster, a former Benevity employee.

Why It Matters

Benevity offers one of the country’s most-used giving platforms among large companies. Experts say the cuts could signal a forthcoming decline in corporate donations from some industries; and some worry the company’s layoffs could worsen customer service for charities and non-profits who receive donations through Benevity’s platform.

var TRINITY_TTS_WP_CONFIG = {"cleanText":"Benevity cuts 14% of workforce: A \u2018canary in the coal mine\u2019 for corporate charitable giving?. This independent journalism \u200b\u200bis made possible by the Future of Good editorial fellowship covering the social impact world\u2019s rapidly changing funding models, supported by Future of Good, Community Foundations of Canada, and United Way Centraide Canada.\u00a0See our editorial ethics and standards here. Last week, over 125 staff at one of Calgary\u2019s tech darlings got the axe.\u00a0 At an online all-staff meeting on January 18, Kelly Schmitt, CEO of corporate donation technology company, Benevity Inc., announced that 14 per cent of employees would be let go.\u00a0 The explanation for the cuts was straight-forward. While the company ha

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