Major U.S. companies are reassessing where they direct their philanthropic investments, with new research suggesting many expect to place greater emphasis on food security, housing, affordability and digital inclusion while reducing attention to some equality- and justice-related initiatives.
The findings point to a reordering of corporate philanthropic priorities rather than a broad retreat from charitable giving. Most respondents expected overall corporate citizenship budgets to remain relatively stable, although the balance between cash grants, employee volunteering and different areas of social investment may change.
The research behind Bloomberg’s reporting comes from The Conference Board’s 2026 Outlook for Corporate Citizenship and Philanthropy. Based on responses from 70 corporate citizenship and philanthropy leaders at U.S. companies, the report examines expectations for budgets, partnerships and giving priorities in 2026. Because the survey reflects the perspectives of a limited group of corporate leaders, its findings should be viewed as an indication of emerging trends rather than a comprehensive measure of corporate giving across the United States.
Basic Economic Needs Rise on the Corporate Agenda
Among survey respondents, 45% said their companies expected to increase their focus on food security, making it the highest-ranked area for expanded investment. Forty-one percent anticipated greater emphasis on digital inclusion, including access to technology and artificial intelligence literacy.
Thirty-nine percent expected increased attention to affordability and the cost of living, while 38% identified housing as an area likely to receive greater focus. The Conference Board also found that 62% of respondents considered affordability an important issue in their companies’ citizenship strategies.
Taken together, the findings suggest many corporate philanthropy leaders are placing greater emphasis on issues tied to household financial security, workforce participation and access to essential services. The survey does not, however, establish why individual companies selected those priorities or whether planned increases will ultimately translate into higher levels of funding.
Some Social Priorities Receive Less Emphasis
The survey also found that some respondents expected to reduce emphasis on several social causes.
Twenty-nine percent anticipated decreasing their companies’ focus on racial equality, while 24% expected reduced emphasis on environmental justice and 22% anticipated scaling back attention to gender equality.
These findings underpin Bloomberg’s reporting on changing philanthropic priorities. At the same time, they also indicate that the anticipated reductions are not universal, with a majority of respondents reporting no plans to reduce their focus in any of those areas.
The Conference Board characterized the broader trend as one of greater caution as companies navigate evolving economic conditions, policy developments and reputational considerations. The research does not identify any single factor as driving decisions across all participating companies.
Earlier Research Signals a Continuing Shift
The findings are consistent with an earlier Conference Board survey released in 2025, which found that 55% of corporate philanthropy executives said increased federal scrutiny of diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives had affected their giving strategies. Twenty-seven percent reported that their companies were moving away from issues viewed as politically or socially sensitive.
That research also found increasing coordination between corporate philanthropy teams and legal or compliance departments, suggesting that charitable giving decisions are receiving greater internal review. While the findings indicate that policy developments and governance considerations are influencing some corporate giving strategies, they do not suggest that companies are broadly abandoning diversity-related or social-impact initiatives.
Volunteering Expected to Grow as Giving Models Evolve
The 2026 survey also highlights differences in how companies expect to contribute.
Fifty-seven percent of respondents anticipated increased employee volunteering, compared with only 5% expecting it to decline. By contrast, 21% expected cash grants to decrease, while 19% anticipated increases.
The findings suggest that some companies may place greater emphasis on employee engagement and skills-based volunteering while exercising more caution around direct financial contributions. The survey does not quantify the financial impact of those anticipated changes.
National giving data presents a complementary picture. According to Giving USA, Americans donated approximately $617 billion to charitable organizations in 2025, representing an inflation-adjusted increase of 3%. Corporate giving also increased, although at a more modest inflation-adjusted rate of approximately 0.5%, indicating that business philanthropy has continued despite a changing operating environment.
Nonprofits Face a More Challenging Funding Environment
The Conference Board’s research also points to growing pressure on nonprofit organizations.
Only 15% of respondents described their nonprofit partners as somewhat or very stable, with many reporting that organizations were coping with reduced government funding, staffing constraints and program reductions.
For nonprofits, the findings suggest an increasingly competitive funding landscape. Organizations may need to demonstrate measurable outcomes, strong community impact and alignment with corporate priorities as businesses continue to review where philanthropic investments can deliver the greatest value.
Looking Ahead
Many of the priorities receiving greater corporate attention—including food security, housing, affordability and digital inclusion—align closely with several Sustainable Development Goals. At the same time, organizations focused on racial equality, gender equality and environmental justice may encounter a more competitive environment for corporate funding if current expectations translate into future giving decisions.
The research does not yet show the long-term financial impact of these evolving priorities. Instead, it offers an early indication that corporate philanthropy is becoming more focused on measurable community outcomes and economic resilience while continuing to adapt to a changing policy, business and social landscape.
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