On May 12, 2026, KPMG's 77 U.S. offices will paint the country in blue as 700 volunteer activities launch across America — the firm's fifth annual Community Impact Day, a coordinated wave of purpose that touches over 400 nonprofits in a single, unified day of service. From New York to Los Angeles, KPMG partners and employees are rolling up their sleeves not just to help, but to reimagine how corporate volunteerism can evolve in an era of AI and reshaped social priorities.

The scale alone signals something important: after the pandemic disrupted volunteering patterns across the nation, KPMG recognized that people want more than just a day off to help. They want connection that feels real, accessible, and aligned with where the world is heading. "National volunteerism has rebounded since the pandemic, but it has evolved, demanding new, creative ways to tap into people's passions and build lasting connection for greater impact," said Maureen Davenport, Principal in charge of Corporate Affairs at KPMG U.S.

The firm's strategy centers on three pillars, each addressing urgent needs. First, KPMG is launching a series of seven learning sessions with over 40 nonprofits across major cities including New York, Dallas, Atlanta, Denver, Washington D.C., Boston, and Los Angeles. These sessions are designed to help nonprofits harness AI responsibly and scale their work — part of a multi-year AI Impact Initiative that acknowledges a hard truth: organizations serving vulnerable communities risk being left behind in the digital era. The firm is also hosting an AI bootcamp for Boys & Girls Clubs of Chicago in partnership with the Mark Cuban Foundation, introducing high school students to artificial intelligence fundamentals and future career pathways at no cost.

Second, KPMG is intensifying its literacy work at a critical moment. Recent reading scores from the National Assessment of Educational Progress have fallen to their lowest levels since 1992 — a sign that pandemic disruptions left deeper scars than initially thought. For nearly 20 years, KPMG and First Book have partnered to distribute nearly 8 million books and resources to students and educators. This year, employees will participate in 93 literacy events across 63 offices, keeping momentum behind an effort that recognizes reading as foundational to opportunity.

Third, the firm is leaning into workplace friendship as a cornerstone of both mental health and volunteer engagement. New research from KPMG's Friends@Work initiative, conducted with analytics platform Civic Science, reveals a striking correlation: employees with close friends at work are four times more likely to volunteer weekly — 32 percent compared to 8 percent. By creating spaces where colleagues connect over shared causes, Community Impact Day serves a dual purpose: strengthening ties between staff while multiplying impact in communities.

What ties these efforts together is recognition that volunteering has become more deliberate. KPMG has built an internal AI-powered app that helps employees discover causes, find opportunities, and connect with colleagues who share their interests — transforming volunteer matching from a generic assignment into a personalized journey. Environmental cleanups, classroom support, and food insecurity programs round out the day's activities across all participating offices.

"Every year, we are inspired by the sea of KPMG blue volunteering and by the impact of our nonprofit partners," Davenport reflected, capturing the philosophy at the heart of this scaled effort: that corporate responsibility, when done with intention and over time, rewires how companies and their people show up for the world.