Tech Citizenship

When talking about Microsoft Corp. and philanthropy, it is inevitable that the name of its founder and chairman, Bill Gates, gets a mention.

The high-profile work that Gates does around the world through the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation is reflected in the organization and the charitable activities are shared in every layer of the Redmond, Wash.-based company.

“Giving back to the community makes us feel proud and successful. When we look at what our founder has done … it is part of our culture and of what we are,” said Ted MacLean, general manager of Microsoft’s New England operations.

In October, the company launched its Microsoft Employee Giving Campaign, and 74 percent of the employees participated. In 2005, employees reported more than 22,000 volunteer hours in their local communities.

The company, with the Dollar-for-Dollar Match initiative, backs these efforts undertaken by the employees. Microsoft matches employee cash donations up to $12,000 per employee every year and if they volunteer their time, the company will match up to $17 per hour.

Regarding cash contributions, the company gave $61 million in total in 2005, and $1.08 million in the Bay State alone.

As a company, some of the recipients of its charitable activities include the Timothy Smith Network Centers throughout Boston, the Center for Women and Enterprise, Year Up and the U.S. Department of Labor.

Many organizations get in touch with Microsoft to ask for philanthropic help — other times, it is the company who reaches out for partners. And when Microsoft picks a campaign or a partner, it sticks to it.

“We look to make long-term relationships with organizations. &hellips; We feel it increases our potential,” said MacLean. With such a relationship, the company tries to not only give its money or its software but also to have employees volunteer or to have its business partners join in helping that organization.

Microsoft also partners up with charitable givers to expand efforts and broaden results, like the collaboration it maintains with the Red Sox Foundation.

“We try to align our activities with what we are able to bring value to the work force,” said MacLean. That value would be either in development, education, innovation or Internet safety, so all their activities fall into one of these groups.

That is the case with its “Get Net Safe Tour” initiative. During three days, students, parents, people over 50 and community leaders learn more about protecting their PC, through this 12-city campaign, which includes Boston.

Citizenship Facts

Microsoft Corp.

Total cash contributions in New England in 2005: $1.08M

Number of volunteer hours in New England in 2005: 22,000

In-kind contributions of equipment and services in New England: $6.8M

Principal recipients of charitable activities in 2005: Timothy Smith Network Centers, Boston; the Center for Women and Enterprise; Year Up; Red Sox Foundation; the U.S. Department of Labor

Interesting philanthropic activities: Through its Dollar-for-Dollar Match initiative, Microsoft matches employee cash donations up to $12,000 per employee every year; if they volunteer time, the company will match up to $17 per hour. The company has also launched the “Get Net Safe Tour” initiative.

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