The Microsoft Alumni Foundation awards last night were an opportunity to see how former Microsofties are spending their time, money and energy. But the evening was also a window (pardon the pun) into the evolving corporate citizenship strategy of Microsoft Corp. While the alumni foundation is a means for former employees to rally around philanthropy, the company has its own recent news on its giving practices. Microsoft is entering its 30 th year of giving and promoting philanthropy among employees. To date, the software giant has raised $970 million for philanthropy around the globe, and officials expect that to top a billion in the next year. "When you look at our employees, so many have made it because somebody, somewhere, gave them the opportunity to go out and get an education and come here," said Akhtar Badshah , vice president of the Microsoft Alumni Foundation. "They feel that there is something in them to give back." Giving is also something that has supported recruiting efforts and the -- at times -- fanatical love that Microsofties have for the mother ship in Redmond. "Today's generation coming out of college, it's very important to them to go to companies that are doing good in the world," Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation CEO Jeff Raikes said in an interview with the Puget Sound Business Journal. "So that Microsoft tradition is very appealing. I think what you're hearing is that some other companies are recognizing that in order to have access to that talent,