Employees become the driving force behind corporate philanthropy
Belgian fintech Monizze and impact startup Better are launching a concept that is unprecedented in the world of corporate philanthropy: the solidarity check.
Traditionally, companies decide for themselves which causes to support. With the first “solidarity check,” this choice is in the hands of employees—a first in Belgium and Europe. Together, Monizze and Better want to put solidarity back at the heart of professional life: where companies see a CSR budget, Monizze and Better see an opportunity to reconnect people with their power to act.
In Belgium, hundreds of associations struggle to finance their missions. Some spend up to 40% of their time looking for funds. On the corporate side, CSR budgets exist, but often remain centralized, without employee involvement. The “solidarity check” transforms the way we give: it restores meaning to the “S” in ESG: companies no longer just tick a CSR box, they create, together with their teams, a real and measurable social impact.
Connecting company values to those of its employees
With the solidarity check, any SME can now take concrete action, without any special expertise or administrative complexity, and at low cost. It is a tool designed to democratize social engagement, within the reach of all companies.
“We want to strengthen employee engagement by giving them a say in their employer’s philanthropic choices. It’s a new way of connecting the company’s values with those of its employees,” says Jean-Louis Van Houwe, CEO of Monizze. With this voucher, social engagement becomes a collective project, supported by everyone within the company. “
A simple gesture, a collective impact
Employees are given a fixed monthly or one-off budget, determined by their employer—for example, $5, $10, $20, or more. They are then invited to choose the charity they wish to support from among the organizations selected by Better, with just a few clicks in their Monizze app.
Employees who wish to support the same organization on an ongoing basis can opt for a recurring donation. Those who prefer not to choose will automatically have their contribution paid to a predefined “charity of the month.” Companies also retain the right to a tax certificate.
More impact, more understanding
Beyond being a new engagement tool, the solidarity check allows companies to measure their social impact in concrete terms. A detailed annual report lists all donations, amounts, and themes supported—a valuable asset for internal communication or external reporting, for example in the context of B Corp reporting.
“Currently, in Belgium, the average donor is over the legal retirement age,” explains Marie Logé, co-founder of Better. With this initiative, we want to bring solidarity back to the heart of the working population. Giving must become as natural as consuming. “
A unique Belgian alliance between an HR fintech and an impact start-up
Better, active since 2022 with a fund hosted by the King Baudouin Foundation, is responsible for selecting recognized associations, ensuring the secure transfer of donations, and making sure that each donor receives tax recognition for their generosity.
For its part, Monizze integrates the solidarity check into its existing ecosystem—alongside meal vouchers, eco vouchers, gift vouchers, sports/culture vouchers, the mobility budget, and the cafeteria plan—for centralized, simple, and fast management. Everything has been designed to make participatory philanthropy as easy as a digital payment, both for employers and employees.
The “solidarity check” reminds us that through every donation, large or small, everyone can be an agent of change. Together, employees and companies can build a vibrant solidarity that is worthy of our times.
