The　paper　examines　how　executive　motivation　and　firm　capability　jointly　influence　corporate　contribution　to　poverty　alleviation.　Using　a　sample　of　Chinese　listed　firms,　we　find　that　firms　whose　executives　possess　political　connections　or　experienced　poverty　in　childhood　contribute　more　to　poverty　alleviation.　Moreover,　better-performing　firms　with　politically　connected　executives　make　even　more　contributions,　whereas　firm　performance　does　not　affect　the　relationship　between　executives’　childhood　poverty　experience　and　corporate　contribution.　We　also　document　that　the　strength　of　political　connections　and　the　type　of　childhood　poverty　experience　matter.　Moreover,　executive　background　and　firm　performance　only　affect　corporations’　cash　contributions　but　do　not　influence　their　material　contributions.　Overall,　our　study　reveals　that　corporate　contribution　to　poverty　alleviation　is　affected　by　both　strategic　and　altruistic　motives　of　executives　and　is　subject　to　the　influence　of　firm　performance　especially　when　executives　are　driven　by　political　motives.　©　Springer　Nature　Limited　2024.