We’re all juggling a lot—career goals, family responsibilities, and the never-ending pursuit of personal growth. But what if we could bring a little purpose into our workdays without piling more onto our already-packed to-do lists?
With the holiday season around the corner, many of us start thinking more about giving back. Whether through time, skills, or resources, the world has countless needs, and each of us has something unique to offer. For me, Microsoft’s October GIVE month offers a meaningful way to contribute that feels accessible and impactful without requiring more time or energy than we can spare. It’s a chance to do good, in ways big or small, right alongside our work.
October GIVE Month at Microsoft: A Community Effort with a Personal Touch
Every October, Microsoft sets aside time for what it calls the Giving Campaign—a month-long initiative packed with opportunities to support various charities. There’s a little friendly competition between teams, which makes it fun, but the heart of it all is the freedom for employees to choose how, and how much, they want to give. Whether it’s a bake sale, a team volunteer activity, or an online auction, everyone has options for making a difference in a way that feels right for them.
Microsoft doesn’t just encourage giving; it matches donations of time, money, and even products up to $15,000 per employee each year. They even match volunteer time at $25 per hour! And logging donations or volunteer hours is easy, with a vast database of nonprofits to choose from—or the option to add your favorite cause if it’s not already listed.
My Journey with GIVE Month
In my first year, I dipped my toes into several opportunities. I joined a team volunteer activity, purchased several yummy items
from the bake sale, and even got into a (slightly embarrassing) bidding war on cool packages offered through the online auction. Though I didn’t win everything, I did score a session with Harpreet Kaur, an inspiring leadership coach and career speaker. Harpreet has been a wonderful mentor and advocate for allyship and diversity in tech, and I’m grateful she’s become a good friend. Moments like this make the experience richer—it’s more than just giving; it’s about connection and community.
Organizations Close to My Heart
Here’s a glimpse into some causes I supported this year:
DevNW – Inspired by Arlo Washington’s story, I contributed to DevNW, a CDFI organization in Oregon focused on helping individuals and small businesses in the Northwest thrive. DevNW’s mission is all about building vibrant communities by supporting housing, business growth, and personal dreams. They work tirelessly to open doors to progress, equity, and opportunity, standing by people every step of the way.
Mary’s Place – I especially appreciated how our leadership team created space in an existing weekly meeting so we could support Mary’s Place, a Seattle-based nonprofit providing shelter and support for families experiencing homelessness. They offer not just housing, but a full array of resources to help families transition to stability and independence.
One Tail at a Time PDX – This organization is especially close to my heart. They’re a Portland-based, all-breed, no-kill rescue, dedicated to saving animals and finding them loving homes. Since 2015, they’ve saved over 1,800 dogs (plus a few kittens and even a pig), offering individualized care and medical support to every animal they take in.
Bidding for a Better World
As for the online auction, I was lucky to win four unique experiences that I’ll share more about in a future post! From volunteer events to just picking up a cookie at a bake sale, giving back doesn’t have to be overwhelming. It’s all about choosing to make a difference in ways that work for you, even in the busiest of seasons.
If you have any favorite ways to give back, I’d love to hear them. The more we share, the more we can inspire each other to make a positive impact!
As always, thank you for reading xx
