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Corporate Social Responsibility
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Public policy engagement

Microsoft strives to be a leader in accountability and transparency in the public policy process.

Our commitment

We are committed to open and transparent discussions that advance inclusive economic opportunity, protect fundamental rights, create a sustainable future, and promote trust in technology.

Guided by transparent principles and standards

All our policies, practices, activities, and reporting are guided by transparent principles and standards of conduct. We ensure and go beyond compliance to implement what we consider leading practices in corporate accountability, openness, integrity, and responsibility.
Principles for Policy Engagement Our lobbying alignment

Driven through a comprehensive policy agenda

We share our recommendations with governments and policy makers as they address challenges and pursue solutions. We’ve developed a comprehensive policy agenda through deep analysis of the business implications of technology and its intersection with policy and regulation across the world, and in cooperation with business and trade associations as well as other industry stakeholders.
Our policy agenda UN Global Digital Compact consultation response

Committed to spending visibility

In the US, we regularly file and publish reports detailing our public policy advocacy activities, including federal and state efforts. Annually, we publish a list of member organizations where our dues and other contributions exceed $25,000.
Trade association memberships

Aligning on climate policy

We’re sharing how Microsoft’s climate goals align with trade associations in the US of which we are members—in particular, an overview of positions on 11 key climate policies held by eight organizations that are active in federal climate policy.
Read about our alignment

Advancing decarbonization policy

We’ve published a series of briefs to share the priorities and principles that guide our policy advocacy work around the world on decarbonization.
View our policy briefs

How we engage

Microsoft actively engages with governments, policy makers, and civil society partners across the world to advocate on the important issues impacting our business, our customers, our partners, the communities in which we operate, and the world in which we all live. Our work is grounded in realizing the potential that technology can, and is, delivering, while addressing the strategic areas of concern in today’s rapidly changing environment. These areas include:

  • Right to privacy
  • Pursuit of a sustainable planet
  • Mitigating the risk of cyberattacks
  • Expanding access to affordable connectivity
  • Ensuring skills for jobs and employability

As a company, we do not:

  • Donate to candidates for public office
  • Make contributions to any non-candidate or non-party political committees organized under Section 527 of the US Internal Revenue Code, which are formed solely to influence elections
  • Make independent political expenditures or electioneering communications, as permitted under the US Supreme Court’s Citizens United ruling
  • Allow our trade association partners to use Microsoft funds to pay for independent expenditures or electioneering communications

Employee participation

In the US, the Microsoft Corporation Stakeholders Voluntary Political Action Committee (MSVPAC) is overseen by a bipartisan Steering Committee comprising federal and state government affairs professionals and employees outside of the Corporate and Legal Affairs department, including a member of the employee advisory council. The Steering Committee is responsible for oversight and day-to-day decision making related to political spending, including disbursements from MSVPAC, and permissible employee and shareholder donations made by the program.

Select public policy reporting resources to download

Learn more about our policy and advocacy contributions related to our public policy engagement in the US.

Advocacy and Trade Memberships

MSVPAC Federal Candidate Contributions

Corporate Contributions

MSVPAC State Candidate Contributions

State Lobbying Disclosure Reports

MSVPAC Non-Candidate Committee Contributions

Our approach to building a better future

Learn more about our approach to building a more inclusive, sustainable, and trusted future for everyone.

Partnering for greater impact

We activate resources from across our business and our ecosystem to drive progress faster and farther than we could on our own.
Learn about how we work

Leading with transparency

Our Reports Hub provides a single, consolidated view of key reports and resources related to our programs and progress.
Visit the Reports Hub

Understanding the issues

Read the recent news and perspectives on today's pressing societal and tech issues from Microsoft.
Read Microsoft on the Issues blog
Follow Microsoft