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Groundswell

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Company health

Employee growth
5% decrease in the last year
Web traffic
43% increase in the last quarter
Financing
September 2022 - $15M

Ratings

G2
5.0/5
(86)

Groundswell description

Groundswell is a software platform designed for companies to manage their charitable giving and volunteering programs. It allows employees to donate to charities from their paycheck, receive company donation matches, and discover volunteering opportunities. Groundswell simplifies corporate social responsibility efforts with features like automated matching, donation gifting for employee milestones, and impact reporting. A key benefit is the quick distribution of funds, with donations often reaching charities within 24 hours.


Who is Groundswell best for

Groundswell is ideal for enterprise companies seeking to streamline their employee giving and volunteering programs. Users love the easy-to-use interface, quick distribution of funds, and robust reporting features. Some users would like more communication features and a grantmaking module. Groundswell simplifies corporate social responsibility with automated matching and donation gifting.

  • Best fit for enterprise companies.

  • Suitable for any industry.


Groundswell features

Type in the name of the feature or in your own words tell us what you need
Supported

Groundswell automates donation matching, multiplying employee contributions.

Supported

Groundswell supports tracking volunteer hours, including bulk uploads and VTO.

Supported

Groundswell allows employees to make one-time donations to charities.

Supported

Groundswell supports impact reporting with real-time data and insights.

Qualities

We evaluate the sentiment that users express about non-functional aspects of the software

Value and Pricing Transparency

Strongly positive
+1

Customer Service

Strongly positive
+1

Ease of Use

Strongly positive
+1

Reliability and Performance

Strongly positive
+1

Ease of Implementation

Strongly positive
+0.94

Scalability

Rather positive
+0.33

Groundswell reviews

We've summarised 79 Groundswell reviews (Groundswell G2 reviews) and summarised the main points below.

Pros of Groundswell
  • Easy-to-use mobile application and desktop interface.
  • Excellent customer support.
  • Facilitates efficient charitable giving and tracking.
  • Streamlines corporate donation matching.
  • Promotes employee engagement in philanthropy.
  • Quick distribution of funds to charities.
  • Wide selection of vetted non-profit organizations.
  • Helpful resources and support for setup and troubleshooting.
  • Seamless integration with payroll deductions.
  • Provides valuable reporting features for tracking donations and impact.
  • User-friendly platform and intuitive interface.
  • Offers anonymity for employee donations.
  • Provides tax summaries for donors at year-end.
  • Flexible platform suitable for gifting and matching programs.
  • Supports a diverse workforce from corporate to warehouse staff.
  • Excellent implementation and onboarding experience.
  • Allows for personalized giving aligned with employee values.
  • Supports various corporate giving programs (matching, gifting, grants).
  • Continuous improvement and addition of new features based on customer feedback.
  • Strong adoption rates among employees.
  • Empowers employees to support causes they care about.
  • Provides a sense of community and shared purpose within organizations.
  • Helps organizations fulfill their diversity, equity, and inclusion goals.
  • Modern and motivating approach to corporate gifting.
Cons of Groundswell
  • Lack of a grantmaking module.
  • PC app has less functionality than the mobile app.
  • Desire for more robust reporting features, such as visual reports and quarterly summaries.
  • Not purpose-built for non-profits.
  • Requires users to add funds to the platform in advance, rather than drawing funds as needed.
  • Limited communication features, such as the ability to attach notes to donations or a texting function for employees without email access.
  • Requires educating employees about personal giving accounts and their advantages.
  • Need for more proactive communication from Groundswell to keep the benefit top of mind for employees.
  • A short delay in funding reaching non-profits and potential reliance on checks rather than ACH transfers at some organizations

Groundswell pricing

The commentary is based on 13 reviews from Groundswell G2 reviews.

Groundswell users consistently praise its affordability, particularly for small businesses seeking cost-effective donation solutions. Many appreciate its simplified, streamlined process for maximizing company matching programs, saving both time and money compared to previous methods or other platforms.

Users sentiment

Strongly positive
+1

See the Groundswell pricing page.

Benefactor

Starts at $4,500/year

Everything you need to get started... Tax-advantaged giving accounts (DAFs) Anywhere access: Web + mobile app Unlimited giving campaigns Instant match and next-day distribution Admin-free payroll giving

Philanthropist

Starts at $12,500/year

Everything in Benefactor plus... Volunteer event management Volunteer hours tracking Calendar integrations Post-event surveys Charitable impact reporting

Visionary

Custom

Everything in Philanthropist plus... White labeling Employee segmentation Multi-language support Enterprise reporting API Designated account manager

Employee Assistance Funds

Starts at $200 per applicant

Everything you need to get started with an employee fund, including... Expert guidance and ongoing support to help you design, launch, and manage your fund Seamless integration with your existing Groundswell program Independent grant review and determination Real-time analytics and reporting


Groundswell alternatives

  • Logo of YourCause CSRconnect
    YourCause CSRconnect
    Better for mid-sized companies focused on grants and international giving. Offers gamification and incentives, but reporting and customization are less intuitive. Groundswell alternative, YourCause CSRconnect competitor.
    Read more
  • Logo of DonationXchange
    DonationXchange
    Better for grant and donation management. Emphasizes transparency and cost-efficiency with no platform fees. Has slower momentum.
    Read more
  • Logo of Percent Pledge
    Percent Pledge
    Better fit for Healthcare, Wellness & Pharma, Manufacturing, Education, Transportation & Logistics, Media & Entertainment, Software, IT & Telecommunications, and Marketing & Advertising. Stronger in ease of implementation and value and price transparency. A Groundswell alternative and competitor with higher customer ratings and more positive pricing sentiment.
    Read more
  • Logo of Wisenet
    Wisenet
    Better for managing student lifecycle in educational institutions. Not designed for corporate social responsibility.
    Read more
  • Logo of Field Day
    Field Day
    More focused on volunteering event organization. Has less momentum and fewer features for managing donations and corporate giving programs.
    Read more
  • Logo of Vividly
    Vividly
    Better for CPG companies needing trade promotion management. Focuses on deduction reconciliation, sales forecasting, and cash flow improvement. Strong customer support and easy implementation are praised by users. A Groundswell alternative for retail businesses.
    Read more

Groundswell FAQ

  • What is Groundswell and what does Groundswell do?

    Groundswell is a corporate social responsibility platform that streamlines employee giving and volunteering. It offers automated donation matching, volunteer hour tracking, and impact reporting. Groundswell simplifies charitable giving with quick fund distribution, often within 24 hours, and integrates seamlessly with payroll.

  • How does Groundswell integrate with other tools?

    Groundswell integrates with payroll systems for seamless deductions and donation matching. It also facilitates connections with various charitable organizations for streamlined giving. While some users desire more integrations, the existing ones effectively support core functionalities.

  • What the main competitors of Groundswell?

    Groundswell's main competitors include YourCause CSRconnect, Percent Pledge, DonationXchange, Millie, and Field Day. These platforms offer similar functionalities for managing corporate social responsibility programs, employee giving, and volunteering initiatives. Some alternatives also focus on specific aspects like volunteer event organization or employee recognition through charitable donations.

  • Is Groundswell legit?

    Yes, Groundswell is a legitimate platform for managing corporate charitable giving and volunteering. G2 reviews rate it 5/5 stars for its ease of use, quick fund distribution, and excellent customer support. It's considered safe and effective for streamlining corporate social responsibility.

  • How much does Groundswell cost?

    Groundswell's pricing includes the Benefactor plan starting at $4,500/year, Philanthropist plan at $12,500/year, and a custom-priced Visionary plan. Their Employee Assistance Fund is priced at $200 per applicant. For add-on pricing or further product pricing details, contact Groundswell directly.

  • Is Groundswell customer service good?

    Groundswell's customer service is consistently praised in reviews. Users highlight the team's responsiveness, helpfulness, and proactive approach to resolving issues and implementing new features based on feedback. Many reviewers describe the support as "exceptional", "amazing", and "top-notch".


Reviewed by

MK
Michal Kaczor
CEO at Gralio

Michal has worked at startups for many years and writes about topics relating to software selection and IT management. As a former consultant for Bain, a business advisory company, he also knows how to understand needs of any business and find solutions to its problems.

TT
Tymon Terlikiewicz
CTO at Gralio

Tymon is a seasoned CTO who loves finding the perfect tools for any task. He recently headed up the tech department at Batmaid, a well-known Swiss company, where he managed about 60 software purchases, including CX, HR, Payroll, Marketing automation and various developer tools.