Each year, more organizations launch initiatives focused on giving back in their communities and beyond. The rise of corporate service and giving campaigns indicates that brands are realizing even small contributions of funding, time, labor, opportunities, goods, and services can have a substantial impact. Not only is corporate giving a responsible and ethical practice, but it can improve employee morale, boost community quality of life, and inspire new advocates for a generous company.
The following organizations (including our own team) count on Submittable software in their endeavor to foster good will and positive change through corporate giving.
1. Blackfoot
Blackfoot Communications provides advanced voice, data, cloud, and IT solutions for businesses and individuals across Montana and Idaho. Founded in 1954, Blackfoot is dedicated to giving back through community and educational funding. In addition to scholarships and backing for public schools and public libraries, Blackfoot supports organizations and groups focused on arts and culture, community service, wellness and healthy families, and veterans and military, among other endeavors.
In light of its motto (Giving back. Looking ahead.), Blackfoot sponsors community events, facilitates employee volunteering, and supports many local causes, including American Cancer Society Relay for Life, Camp Make-A-Dream, and Special Olympics Montana. As a result of their commitment to corporate giving, Blackfoot has received awards from United Way of Missoula County, Thrive Bozeman, and Phillipsburg Chamber.
2. HBO Community Impact Program
The HBO Production Assistant Training Program is an initiative seeking to foster community in areas where network programs are filmed on location. According to Dennis Williams, vice president of corporate social responsibility at HBO, the program was designed to address how “we work with our productions to be good citizens.” The Production Assistant (PA) initiative, launched in New Orleans on the set of Treme, involved partnership with NOVAC: New Orleans Video Access Center, as well as Veterans in Media and Entertainment and Ghetto Film School.
Through this program, individuals with an interest in film trade jobs and film production careers have been afforded paid training and short-term employment opportunities on sets across the country. PA’s and interns have worked on shows such as Ballers, Sharp Objects, Barry, Crashing, and Big Little Lies, among others. Roles range across departments depending on the location and production, from office, art department, and wardrobe to set construction, props, and special effects. Through the PA Training Program, HBO seeks to firmly ground corporate citizenship in its regular filming practices.
3. Lifespan
Lifespan, a Rhode Island not-for-profit organization, is a healthcare partnership focused on compassion, accountability, respect, and excellence. Founded in 1994 and the state’s first integrated health system, Lifespan is now affiliated with The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, and partnered with Rhode Island Hospital’s pediatric division, Hasbro Children’s Hospital, Bradley Hospital, Newport Hospital, and Gateway Healthcare. As part of its corporate citizenship endeavors, Lifespan supports community projects, events, and programs as well as education and research initiatives.
Lifespan and its affiliate hospitals provide funding and in-kind support to certified 501c(3)’s working in three primary focus areas: health and wellness activities, workforce development and high education, and community and environmental improvements. In 2018, Lifespan President and CEO Timothy J. Babineau received the Business Excellence Awards’ Corporate Citizenship Award from Providence Business News.
4. State Employee Charitable Giving Campaign
Montana’s State Employee Charitable Giving Campaign (SECGC), part of the State Human Resources Division, supports nonprofits by servicing state employees who wish to donate locally. The SECGC campaign gives these donors direct easy access to approved organizations for giving, organizations selected through an application process facilitated by Submittable. Eligible groups include Montana 501(c)3’s that are independent, affiliated with nonprofit federations, or affiliated with federations.
As of November 2018, the SECGC had helped facilitate $435,827 in total giving for 2018—in previous years over $500,000 in funds has been distributed within Montana communities. Nonprofit organizations that participate in an SECGC campaign are also eligible to take part in an annual Campaign Kickoff Event in the state capital’s rotunda to celebrate the program and further engage with state employees who are potential donors.
5. New Belgium
Founded in 1988 in Fort Collins, CO, New Belgium Brewing is an employee-owned business that helped spearhead the U.S. craft beer movement. New Belgium is dedicated to environment protection—they’ve had an in-house sustainability department since 2003 and in 2009 put into place the largest private solar array in the state of Colorado at the time. In addition to sustainability initiatives, partnerships, and advocacy, New Belgium supports nonprofits and community development through grants, in-kind donations, and volunteering.
New Belgium launched its grant program in 1995 and since that time has awarded $10.5 million through small and large grants (nearly half of $26 million in total donations dedicated to environmental and social issues). In-kind donations are another way New Belgium seeks to give back to the community. Additionally, the New Belgium Family Foundation, a distinct entity that began in 2012, provides grants and funding with a focus on climate change, food systems, and land and water stewardship. New Belgium has been acknowledged as certified B Corp by the nonprofit B Lab for meeting high standards in “social and environmental performance, transparency, and accountability.”
6. Submittable
Submittable’s giving program supports not-for-profit endeavors through micro-grants, event sponsorship, and volunteer assistance. Each year’s corporate giving is dedicated to particular issues—in 2019, the focus for funding is social justice and the environment. In 2018, Submittable contributed over $3,500 to community and literary organizations through donations and over $3,000 in sponsorships.
Now in its third year, Submittable’s Eliza So Fellowship is dedicated to serving creative writers from underserved communities with book-length projects of exceptional merit. The 2019 fellowship will support one Native American writer and one U.S. Immigrant writer with a month-long residency, public reading, and stipend. Submittable also organizes bi-annual team volunteer outings—recent full-day trips have included service at the local food bank, clean up at a community bicycle organization, and landscaping on a homestead.
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There are many benefits to corporate giving and countless ways to launch and manage a robust program. The flexibility of Submittable’s software makes it well-suited for these initiatives, from accepting sponsorship, donation, and volunteer requests to facilitating grants, fellowships, and scholarships. However you choose to manage the process, Submittable salutes your philanthropic endeavors and wishes you the best success in giving back.
Interested in exploring Submittable for your corporate giving program? Please reach out anytime.
The header image shows the Submittable team volunteering at Moon Randolph Homestead and the thumbnail was taken on a volunteer day at Free Cycles Missoula.
Rachel Mindell is a Special Projects Editor at Submittable. She also writes and teaches poetry. Connect with her on LinkedIn.