6 Atlanta-Based Nonprofits Doing Workplace Fundraising Well

Atlanta, Georgia, is a city defined by its spirit of community and collaboration. As home to some of the world’s most influential organizations and businesses (including Double the Donation itself!), the “Capital of the South” has become a major hub for innovative philanthropy. That means that for Atlanta-based nonprofits, tapping into the combined power of the local workforce isn’t just a strategy; it’s a necessity for sustainable growth.

Workplace fundraising (which includes matching gifts, payroll deductions, volunteer grants, and more) allows nonprofit supporters to amplify their impact without digging deeper into their own pockets. In this post, we’ll dive into six Atlanta-based nonprofits that are leading the way in terms of workplace giving success.

These include:

CDC Foundation
American Cancer Society
CARE USA
Habitat for Humanity International
Open Hand Atlanta
Woodruff Arts Center

From global humanitarian giants to local food-security heroes, these standout teams continuously demonstrate how to market corporate giving opportunities effectively using modern tools and clear messaging. Let’s see their results in action below!

1. CDC Foundation

Based in Atlanta, Georgia, the CDC Foundation is an independent nonprofit that was created by the U.S. Congress in 1995 to mobilize philanthropic and private-sector resources to support the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s critical health protection work. Whether responding to global pandemics or addressing local health disparities, the Foundation serves as a vital bridge between the public and private sectors to save and improve lives.

How the CDC Foundation Markets Workplace Fundraising

The CDC Foundation understands that many donors want to match their gifts but simply don’t know if their employer offers the program. The organization’s dedicated “Matching Gifts” page addresses this friction head-on.

Here’s what this resource is doing well:

Clear Value Proposition: The CDC Foundation leads with the headline “Make Your Gift Go Twice as Far,” reinforcing the idea that the donor is the hero of the story.
Transparency: They explicitly mention that matches can apply to gifts from spouses, retirees, and board members, which are groups often overlooked in standard workplace giving outreach.
Integrated Matching Gift Search Tool: The Foundation’s match page prominently features Double the Donation’s company search tool. This allows a donor to type in their company name and immediately access specific match ratios, minimum/maximum amounts, and links to their company’s portals.

By providing an accessible self-service tool, the CDC Foundation reduces the administrative burden on its staff while empowering donors. This transparency builds trust and encourages higher gift amounts, knowing that a $100 donation could easily become $200 or $300 for global health initiatives.

View the web page here.

2. American Cancer Society

With its global headquarters in the heart of Atlanta, the American Cancer Society is a powerhouse of research, advocacy, and patient support. Their overarching mission is to improve the lives of people with cancer and their families, ensuring that everyone has the opportunity to prevent, detect, treat, and survive the disease.

How the American Cancer Society Markets Workplace Fundraising

ACS offers a masterclass in segmented marketing. The organization provides two distinct pathways for workplace engagement: one for the individual employee and one for the corporate partner (each of which is thoroughly promoted throughout the website).

Let’s take a closer look:

Their “Employee Engagement for Individuals” page focuses on the ease of workplace giving for individual donors, including through corporate-sponsored programs such as payroll deductions and matching gifts. This strategic marketing increases supporters’ familiarity with these opportunities, increasing the likelihood that they ultimately get involved.

From there, ACS also provides a direct link to its dedicated matching gifts page, which uses the Double the Donation plugin to provide instant instructions for donors to request a donation match from their company.

Meanwhile, the “Employee Engagement for Companies” page highlights several ways businesses can partner with the American Cancer Society, including through micro campaigns, volunteer grants, and CFC initiatives.

The American Cancer Society makes workplace fundraising feel like a comprehensive partnership rather than a one-off request. By highlighting matching gifts, volunteer grants, and payroll giving, the organization gives companies and their employees multiple easy entry points to support the mission. This, in turn, helps ACS sustain its massive research and patient-service budgets.

View the web page here.

3. CARE USA

Headquartered in Atlanta since the 1990s, CARE USA is a leading international humanitarian agency. While their work spans over 100 countries, the organization’s roots are firmly planted in the state of Georgia. CARE focuses on ending global poverty by empowering women and girls, responding to emergencies, and providing long-term development assistance.

How CARE USA Markets Workplace Fundraising

CARE’s approach to workplace fundraising is largely centered on the concept of inspiration. The organization’s marketing collateral, such as the Employee Engagement web page pictured below, uses bold, action-oriented language, such as “Turn employee engagement into global impact.”

This in turn leads to:

A Strong Focus on Team Building: CARE markets its programs not just as a way to give money, but as a way to strengthen teams and build long-term connections.
Tangible Results: The organization cites impressive statistics, including 6,000 employees across 350 companies contributing more than $1 million in a single year. This social proof encourages new corporate partners to join a successful, established movement.
Educational Opportunities: Beyond just asking for money, CARE offers “educational sessions” to fuel employee passion, making the nonprofit a value-add to the company’s culture.

CARE USA recognizes that modern employees want their work to have meaning. By framing workplace giving as a career-enhancing experience that builds global connections, the organization can move beyond transactional fundraising and deep into the realm of true corporate partnership.

View the web page here.

4. Habitat for Humanity International

Though it operates worldwide, Habitat for Humanity International is a proud Atlanta-based nonprofit, with its administrative headquarters based in the state of Georgia.

The organization’s mission is simple yet profound: to bring people together to build homes, communities, and hope, based on the conviction that housing provides a path out of poverty.

How Habitat for Humanity International Markets Workplace Fundraising

Habitat’s “Workplace Giving” page is designed for donors who value simplicity and convenience. The team uses mission-relevant imagery to ground its digital presence in the physical reality of its work.

Here’s what its workplace giving marketing is doing well:

Highlighting Partnerships: Habitat states that it partners with employers across the U.S. to enable workplace giving, making donors feel like they are part of a massive, coordinated effort.
Mission-Focused Programming: The organization goes beyond passive engagement by offering a structured workplace giving program called “The Gift that Builds.” This initiative encourages companies to get hands-on by combining financial donations with advocacy and team volunteer opportunities.
Dedicated Support Channels: Recognizing that workplace giving can sometimes require additional support, the organization provides dedicated points of contact for program information. This makes it easy for interested supporters to get involved!

All in all, Habitat for Humanity International excels at making an enterprise-level organization feel exceptionally accessible. Its focus on simple, convenient options appeals to busy professionals who want to help but may have limited time and resources to devote to the administrative side of giving.

View the web page here.

5. Open Hand Atlanta

Open Hand Atlanta is a quintessential local nonprofit. What started in 1988 as a small group of friends cooking for neighbors with HIV and AIDS has since grown into one of the largest “Food is Medicine” providers in the country.

Today, the organization prepares and delivers thousands of medically tailored meals to Georgians living with chronic illness or disabilities.

How Open Hand Atlanta Markets Workplace Fundraising

Open Hand Atlanta is a fantastic example of how to integrate workplace fundraising into every digital touchpoint, from their social media profiles to their website. Here’s what’s working especially well:

Social Media Advocacy: Open Hand uses platforms such as Facebook to share attention-grabbing graphics and video assets. These posts provide a clear, step-by-step guide to using their search tool to double a gift, turning a $50 donation into $100 or more.

Seamless Donation Page Integration: By identifying the donor’s employer (e.g., Home Depot) directly within the online giving process, the organization catches the donor at the moment of highest intent.

Prominent Call-to-Action: Open Hand ensures that matching gift opportunities aren’t missed by including a high-contrast, dedicated section further down their donation page. Using the bold headline “Does Your Employer Match Gifts?” alongside a streamlined company search tool, the organization provides donors with a frictionless way to verify their eligibility and ultimately get involved.

All in all, Open Hand Atlanta makes matching gifts a natural part of the giving flow. They don’t wait for the donor to discover a hidden page. Rather, they put the opportunity right in front of them at checkout, regardless of how the individual arrived at the organization’s form.

View the web page here.

6. Woodruff Arts Center

Located in Midtown Atlanta, the Woodruff Arts Center is the city’s visual and performing arts hub. Home to the High Museum of Art, the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, and the Alliance Theatre, the Woodruff Arts Center’s mission is to inspire and celebrate renowned arts and education for diverse audiences.

How the Woodruff Arts Center Markets Workplace Fundraising

The Woodruff Arts Center markets its Employees for the Arts (EFA) program as a premium workplace giving program that combines philanthropy with unique advantages.

Here’s what this organization is doing particularly well:

Playing Up the Benefits Angle: Rather than focusing solely on its own mission, the Woodruff team highlights what employees get in return, including insider access and other exclusive benefits.
Distinguishing Between Sponsorships vs. Campaigns: The organization clearly distinguishes between Sponsorships (for brand exposure) and Campaigns (for employee engagement). This makes it easy for companies to determine where and how they’d like to get involved.
Impact Reporting: The Woodruff Arts Center uses specific local data, noting that the EFA program generates nearly $1 million in revenue and serves over 171,000 students and educators each year.

Woodruff treats its workplace donors like invaluable members, establishing a concrete sense of belonging. For many Atlanta professionals, being an “Employee for the Arts” is a badge of honor that connects their professional life to the cultural heartbeat of their city.

View the web page here.

Final Thoughts for Atlanta Nonprofits

If you run an Atlanta-based nonprofit that’s looking to grow its workplace fundraising efforts, these six organizations offer a wealth of inspiration.

Whether you’re a large international body or a local community staple, the principles of success remain the same. By effectively marketing workplace giving, your team can similarly tap into the immense generosity of the local workforce. When you show a donor that their employer is willing to stand behind their contribution, you aren’t just asking for money; you’re offering them a way to lead.

Looking for more resources for Atlanta-based nonprofits like yours? Check out these companies with generous programs your team may be able to tap into:

Major Atlanta Companies with Matching Gift Programs. Get your donors’ gifts matched by businesses like Cox Enterprises, Home Depot, and more.
Companies in Atlanta that Offer Powerful Volunteer Initiatives. Explore volunteer grants and volunteer time off from the Southern Company, Delta Air Lines, and beyond.
Top Atlanta Companies that Facilitate Payroll Giving. Employers such as Equifax, Coca-Cola, and others make it easy for their staff to give back. See if your supporters work for companies like these!