The Business of Giving
Local business devote their time, expertise, and financial resources to help the community.
Sometimes, giving back is as simple as changing an out-of-reach light bulb.
Underwriting the cost of pledge forms.
Donating a portion of your paycheck.
Or doing laundry for someone in need.
The options for getting involved are endless, and many Columbia businesses, both large and small, have found rewarding ways to support their community.
Roofing for a Purpose
Each year, Manor Roofing and Restoration allocates more than one percent of their sales for charitable efforts. Plans are made during their annual budgeting process, and employees are a big part of the decision making.
“We think there’s no better place than the Columbia area to operate a small business, and we’re thankful for the livelihood it provides us,” says Manor’s owner, Nick Allen. “We’re also keenly aware that whatever success we have is diminished without opportunity for all. We just try to do whatever small part we can.”
Allen admits to having a soft spot for kids, and he ensures that the company stays active with organizations like Columbia Public Schools, Ronald McDonald House, K-Life, and Big Brothers Big Sisters. That’s why it was an easy decision when the Boys and Girls Clubs of Columbia called, needing an outdoor lightbulb changed.
“Obviously, we have a lot of tall ladders,” Allen says, “so we sent a crew member out to change it.”
Over time, the company has made the commitment to give of their time and talents. Allen serves on the board of directors for Job Point, which offers skills training and job placement, while business partner Larry Herzing, a Marine veteran, is active with military causes like Central Missouri Honor Flight. This year, the company is excited to partner with Owens Corning, their architectural shingle supplier, to identify an enlisted mid-Missouri military family who needs a roof replacement. Owens Corning will donate the materials, and Manor will provide the labor.
“Our employees are super excited about this opportunity to serve,” Allen shares, “and we think it’s a fantastic way to pay back the family for their service.”
Cultivating a Generous Spirit
Although churches like The Crossing are nonprofit organizations themselves, and most are funded completely by donations, many still consider giving back to the community a worthy use of their time and funds.
“We want to be a church that is good for our city,” says The Crossing’s senior teaching pastor, Shay Roush. “We want Columbia to prosper, to do well.”
Each year, The Crossing gives over $800,000, more than 10 percent of their operating budget, towards missions and serving the poor. Many of these dollars go toward partnering with other local nonprofits.
“We want to team up with organizations that do it better than we can,” says Roush. “They’ve gained expertise with helping people who need what they have to offer.”
That value drives the church’s partnership with organizations like Love INC, Granny’s House, Loaves and Fishes, and the Central Missouri Food Bank, organizations that serve the hungry, poor, and disadvantaged in the city.
The church is also open to helping in areas where experienced organizations may not exist. “Our own people often have a passion as well,” Roush says, “so we like to get behind them and support their vision.”
One such ministry has touched over 2,000 men at the Algoa Correctional Center by building relationships through Thursday night Bible studies. In2Action, another support service, was started by a church member and provides transitional support to those released from prison and returning to mid-Missouri life.
“Over the years, we’ve sought to be a generous church, and the people of The Crossing are generous people,” Roush says. “God has blessed us, and we seek to be a blessing to our community.”
Building a Foundation
Lindsey Sells and Miranda Giger are excited to come to work each day with the task of giving money away.
Along with foundation director Greg Steinhoff, they make up the team for the Veterans United Foundation, a nonprofit organization created and supported by the employees of Veterans United Home Loans.
Early in the company’s development, the leadership team discussed ways they could carry out their values within the community. “Creating a foundation became a way to live out our commitment to our employees, the towns where we do business, and our veterans,” Steinhoff says. “And it’s a great way to keep those values in front of people all the time.”
Launched in 2011, the foundation is supported by employee contributions that are matched dollar-for-dollar by the company. Over 90 percent of employees donate a portion of their paycheck to the foundation, and the structure allows the employees to engage in decision making about where and how the foundation provides support.
“It really is their foundation,” Sells says. “We have 1,900 employees participating across the country, and they’ve donated more than $20 million since the foundation began.”
Decisions on how to spend the funds are placed in the hands of an allocation committee comprised of six elected employees who serve two-year terms. The team meets monthly to review requests and make decisions. Gifts support both local and national programs and causes.
One recent project included giving $100,000 to help build a handicap accessible, nine-hole par-3 course at the Turkey Creek Golf Center in Jefferson City. The course has a limited number of hazards and uses artificial turf on the tee boxes and greens to accommodate players in wheelchairs.
The course opened this past spring, and Giger, along with media relations specialist Chris Cline, got to visit the site and see the results of the gift firsthand.
“It makes you feel like you’re working for a purpose,” Giger says.
The team has also worked with actor Gary Sinise to build adaptable, customizable smart homes for veterans with disabilities around the country, and they’re particularly excited about the opening of Patriot Place, a local apartment complex designed to facilitate a successful transition back into society for displaced veterans.
“Working at Veterans United is about more than just getting a paycheck,” says Cline. “Team members here embrace the culture of enhancing the lives of veterans and giving back to the community.”
In April, VU’s commitment to giving back earned them the 17th spot on Fortune’s “50 Best Workplaces for Giving Back.”
Donating Volunteer Service
April 10 through 16 was National Volunteer Week, and Columbia residents responded by planning three citywide service days for businesses, church attenders, and Columbia residents.
The United Way Day of Caring took place on Friday, April 8 and hosted 230 volunteers from local businesses. Participants served 12 nonprofit organizations and donated time valued at more than $35,000. Cleanup Columbia followed on Saturday, April 9, when 1,335 volunteers worked 2,488 hours to collect 1,653 bags of litter from 140 locations across the city. On April 22, 34 Columbia churches partnered for the second annual ForColumbia event, which provided 1,600 volunteers to serve alongside two dozen local organizations.
Alan Toigo and his wife, Stephanie, signed up to serve at the ForColumbia event and spent the day cleaning apartments and doing laundry for the residents of Oak Towers. They were two of more than 3,100 local volunteers who donated their time during the month of April to help our community.
Toigo admits to being nervous and initially reluctant to give up his Saturday. “Then, I was reminded that the residents of Oak Tower are people just like me,” he says. “They were friendly and glad for the help.”
Shelly Mayer, ForColumbia event coordinator, believes the service day was timely for the community. “We have so many differences, but the more we come together on the things we agree on, like loving and serving our neighbor,” she says, “the more people benefit.”
Besides the churches who provided volunteers, area businesses like Lowe’s, Westlake Ace Hardware, and Lindsey Rentals provided discounts and support, and Chick-fil-A and Hy-Vee donated food. “They all got behind us and were great to work with,” Mayer says. “Their support and goodwill meant a lot.”
Independent Sector, a nonprofit advocacy group, estimates that volunteer value equates to $23.07 per hour; using that number, the individuals and businesses who participated in the three service days donated time worth over $500,000 to local charities.
Partnering with United Way
For Williams–Keepers LLC, dodgeball and a partnership with the United Way prove to be great tools for supporting the community.
Human Resources Generalist Beth Fitzgerald has led the United Way Committee for Williams–Keepers the last two years. The accounting firm has offices in both Jefferson City and Columbia, and they partner with the United Way in each location.
“The United Way makes it easy to give responsibly because they provide funds for more than 30 agencies,” Fitzgerald says. “They do the research and make sure the money goes where it needs to.”
Williams–Keepers was excited to exceed their 2015 goals for both offices through associate giving and fundraising events. The company also made a corporate donation and underwrote the cost of the pledge forms for the businesses participating in an employee campaign.
One of the firm’s most anticipated fundraising events is the annual Accounting Olympics. Whether it’s dodgeball, basketball, or races involving a big wheel and 10-key calculator, 40 to 50 associates pay $20.00 for a half-day off work to gather in a local gym and play games for a cause. This year’s olympics are slated for July 15 and will provide an early kick-off for the company’s 2016 giving campaign.
The firm also sent seven associates to participate in the Day of Caring in April. The crew worked with Services for Independent Living to provide yardwork at two Columbia homes.
“It was rewarding to mow, move wood, and clean up flowerbeds for people who struggle to do it for themselves,” Fitzgerald says. “And it’s nice to work for a company that allows us to help.”
Williams–Keepers is one of 44 United Way Pacesetter organizations, one of 130 businesses that made a corporate donation, and one of 222 businesses that ran an employee giving campaign in 2015.
“The companies that get involved with nonprofits are our town’s most successful companies,” says United Way Campaign Director David Holtgraewe.
Holtgraewe says 75 percent of funds donated to the United Way come from employee campaigns. Last year, that equated to approximately 10,000 local employees making a financial contribution, about one-third of those who were invited to participate.
For companies with less than 20 employees, the United Way recently created “Live United 365.” Businesses commit to give $365.00 annually, in any way and at any time they choose. Holtgraewe suggests they include something fun as part of their plan and invite their customers to participate. There are currently 12 businesses involved in the program.
Community Impact Director Rachel Finch says skills-based volunteering is also a great place to start. “Corporate engagement really begins when volunteers see the challenges of our community firsthand, meet consumers, and then use their skills to meet a need.”
Marketing Director Jennifer Truesdale is one example. She began her work with United Way by serving on an advisory council for two years. “With my education in nonprofit management, I wanted to get my hands on and read the grant proposals,” she says. She was later tapped to lead the Columbia College campaign and was eventually hired on-staff.
“Volunteers are critical,” Finch says, “There are skills we need, and we want to give as much of the donor dollar to the agencies as possible.” Holtgraewe adds that it will take over 1,000 volunteers this fall just to service the employee campaigns.
“These relationships are mutually beneficial partnerships,” Finch says. “A business’s investment will come back to the business.”
Not sure where to start? The United Way staff suggests giving them a call. “We connect the dots continuously around here,” Finch says. “We can help your business find its niche.”