An Evolving Foundation An Evolving Foundation of Giving: A Story of of Giving: A Story of Institutionalizing Institutionalizing GenerosityGenerosity

Jane E. DuttonJane E. DuttonAdam M. GrantAdam M. GrantBrent D. RossoBrent D. RossoUniversity of MichiganUniversity of Michigan

Goals of the Goals of the PresentationPresentation Intrigue youIntrigue you – generosity as – generosity as

institutionalized practiceinstitutionalized practice Invite youInvite you – analysis is fresh and – analysis is fresh and

preliminarypreliminary Inspire youInspire you– new domain of org – new domain of org

inquiry that taps “humane basis inquiry that taps “humane basis of organizing” (Germann, 2006)of organizing” (Germann, 2006)

Short-term Question and Short-term Question and Long-term QuestLong-term Quest

Short-term: Short-term: – How does an How does an

organization organization institutionalize institutionalize generosity?generosity?

Long-term:Long-term:– How does a How does a

generosity lens generosity lens enrich how we enrich how we think about think about organizational organizational behavior ?behavior ?

Starting definitionsStarting definitions

GenerosityGenerosity: Open-handed, characterized by : Open-handed, characterized by a noble or forbearing spirit, magnanimous, a noble or forbearing spirit, magnanimous, liberal in giving liberal in giving (Merriam-Webster Dictionary)(Merriam-Webster Dictionary)

InstitutionalizationInstitutionalization: Process by which a set : Process by which a set of practices and corresponding meanings of practices and corresponding meanings become shared, accepted, and made routine become shared, accepted, and made routine within an organizationwithin an organization

FoundationFoundation:: 1) A basis upon which 1) A basis upon which something stands or is supported, 2) A something stands or is supported, 2) A designation for an 5013c not-for-profit entity designation for an 5013c not-for-profit entity that raises and disburses money that raises and disburses money

Game planGame plan

Situating HFSituating HF Why study the institutionalization Why study the institutionalization

of generosity?of generosity? A taste of the findingsA taste of the findings Theoretical implicationsTheoretical implications Points of intriguePoints of intrigue

What is the Hope What is the Hope Foundation (HF)?Foundation (HF)? Founded Founded in 1996 as 501C non-profit organization in 1996 as 501C non-profit organization

intended to help Bed Company employees in needintended to help Bed Company employees in need Bed Company is a global, public retail corporation Bed Company is a global, public retail corporation

with 1200 stores, employing 32,000 employeeswith 1200 stores, employing 32,000 employees Formal mission of HFFormal mission of HF: “Strengthen the Bed Co, : “Strengthen the Bed Co,

family through programs that support employees family through programs that support employees and their communities”and their communities”

As of 2006, given $As of 2006, given $2.22.2 m to m to 18001800 employees. 56% employees. 56% of employees give - over 15,000 employeesof employees give - over 15,000 employees

Expanding activitiesExpanding activities: provides grants and resources, : provides grants and resources, scholarships, bereavement baskets, money schoolscholarships, bereavement baskets, money school

Financial supportFinancial support: matched paycheck deductions : matched paycheck deductions (fifty cents to the dollar) and fundraising(fifty cents to the dollar) and fundraising

GrassrootsGrassroots– run for the employees, by the – run for the employees, by the employees employees

Situating HF in studies of Situating HF in studies of organizational givingorganizational giving

SpontaneoSpontaneous givingus giving

Managed Managed givinggiving

ExternalExternal Local Local organizing of organizing of giving giving programs programs

PhilanthropyPhilanthropy

CSR CSR programsprograms

InternalInternal Org Org citizenship citizenship behaviorsbehaviors

HF HF

Origins

Ben

efi

cia

ries

Why study the Why study the institutionalization of institutionalization of generosity?generosity?

Reveals potency of certain Reveals potency of certain organizational programs or organizational programs or practices in generating meaningpractices in generating meaning

Window into the challenges of Window into the challenges of trying to institute “the good”trying to institute “the good”

Generosity as base condition for Generosity as base condition for care, compassion, hospitality and care, compassion, hospitality and other humane behaviorsother humane behaviors

How we are studying How we are studying this process?this process? 12 interviews with key informants12 interviews with key informants 40 store interviews over phone40 store interviews over phone

(20 managers, 20 store employees in 10 high- (20 managers, 20 store employees in 10 high- contributing and 10 low-contributing stores)contributing and 10 low-contributing stores)

Observations of HF committee meetings Observations of HF committee meetings Will do 3,000 web surveys this summerWill do 3,000 web surveys this summer Done as part of teaching undergrad class Done as part of teaching undergrad class

on Organizational Generosityon Organizational Generosity

Findings thus farFindings thus far

1.1. Giving programs Giving programs infuse different infuse different forms of meaningforms of meaning (about fellow (about fellow employees, organization and employees, organization and self)self)

2.2. Meaning of a giving program Meaning of a giving program generates feelingsgenerates feelings

3.3. Programs intended to promote Programs intended to promote virtuous action raise virtuous action raise challengeschallenges in meaning management in meaning management

Meaning made about Meaning made about HF from many anglesHF from many angles

From employeesFrom employees From administrators in corporate From administrators in corporate

headquartersheadquarters– Formal administratorsFormal administrators– VolunteersVolunteers

From customers From customers

Finding 1Finding 1: HF fosters : HF fosters different forms of different forms of meaningmeaning Seeing fellow employees differentlySeeing fellow employees differently

Connection to:Connection to:

“ “This is really more about us caring about our employee base and This is really more about us caring about our employee base and wanting to help them. And I think it--you know, the other piece that’s wanting to help them. And I think it--you know, the other piece that’s important at a subtle--maybe more subtle level, is just that community important at a subtle--maybe more subtle level, is just that community connection of creating a means for the entire organization, whether connection of creating a means for the entire organization, whether you’re a part-time, hourly employee or an officer of the company, to you’re a part-time, hourly employee or an officer of the company, to kind of stay connected to the people of the organization more.” (AK)kind of stay connected to the people of the organization more.” (AK)

Admiration forAdmiration for : :

””And once I got involved with the Foundation and started hearing what And once I got involved with the Foundation and started hearing what was going on in their personal lives, it just amazed me, the hardships was going on in their personal lives, it just amazed me, the hardships for one thing, that they could still come to work and do their jobs so for one thing, that they could still come to work and do their jobs so well under those conditions. And I was so impressed with our well under those conditions. And I was so impressed with our employees.” (k-8,p.4 )employees.” (k-8,p.4 )

Seeing the organization differentlySeeing the organization differently

Caring:Caring:““A very important part of the company. It’s clearly something A very important part of the company. It’s clearly something that distinguishes us as an organization. The employees see it that distinguishes us as an organization. The employees see it as a company-sponsored, you know, organization that shows the as a company-sponsored, you know, organization that shows the caring of the organization. So it’s very, very important.” (DS)caring of the organization. So it’s very, very important.” (DS)

Mission affirmative:Mission affirmative:““And I...I feel like the Foundation is completely aligned with the And I...I feel like the Foundation is completely aligned with the mission statement of Bed Group and its companies in treating mission statement of Bed Group and its companies in treating the employees with dignity and respect. So I think it’s...it’s the employees with dignity and respect. So I think it’s...it’s almost like a mirror, you know, one...one supports the other, and almost like a mirror, you know, one...one supports the other, and their mission statements are almost parallel.” (K8, p,12)their mission statements are almost parallel.” (K8, p,12)

Making the abstract concreteMaking the abstract concrete““But I think if you're talking to someone about Bed Co. and you're trying But I think if you're talking to someone about Bed Co. and you're trying to put something concrete on why is Bed Co,, you know, what makes to put something concrete on why is Bed Co,, you know, what makes Bed Co. a compassionate company, or a caring company, or a--you know, Bed Co. a compassionate company, or a caring company, or a--you know, that kind of--the Bed Co.. is something concrete that really reflects that.” that kind of--the Bed Co.. is something concrete that really reflects that.” (General manager at a store)(General manager at a store)

Seeing self differentlySeeing self differently

As a virtuous personAs a virtuous person:: “So it was little things that just really, really touched our

heart and even in this building, the Foundation has helped quite a few people in this building, in the corporate office. And so it was just...just a very gratifying—I felt like Mother Teresa [laughter] all the time, because, you know, and...and just to treat people, our employees with dignity and respect, you know, that...And not to pass judgment on them, like how did they...how did they possibly get themselves in this type of situation and...And, you know, no one was there to pass judgment.” (AK)

As less focused on the bottom line:As less focused on the bottom line: “ “All business can make you very focused on money, and you All business can make you very focused on money, and you

get very frantic I think. And this kind of releases you from get very frantic I think. And this kind of releases you from that whole--to think about other people, to reach out to that whole--to think about other people, to reach out to others in need.” (R17-17) others in need.” (R17-17)

Finding 2: Meaning Finding 2: Meaning infused with feelingsinfused with feelingsVulnerability: Connection to mortalityVulnerability: Connection to mortality

“ “I think that that...the collective import of that to me has I think that that...the collective import of that to me has been to, ah, you know, just make me realize that, you been to, ah, you know, just make me realize that, you know, all of us to a degree are vulnerable to bad things know, all of us to a degree are vulnerable to bad things happening to us. I mean, I think it has put me in touch happening to us. I mean, I think it has put me in touch more with my own, you know, mortality, so to speak. Just more with my own, you know, mortality, so to speak. Just because bad things happen.” (T B, p. 20)because bad things happen.” (T B, p. 20)

EmpathyEmpathy “ “I think it will always, I mean for the rest of my life, I will I think it will always, I mean for the rest of my life, I will

always be a more compassionate person. I always was, always be a more compassionate person. I always was, but more so now. Definitely nonjudgmental. You know like but more so now. Definitely nonjudgmental. You know like there’s that saying ‘there but for the grace of God go I,’ there’s that saying ‘there but for the grace of God go I,’ you know, because I could be in their shoes tomorrow, and you know, because I could be in their shoes tomorrow, and it doesn’t really matter your education level, things it doesn’t really matter your education level, things happen to people, unexpected things. So they may not be happen to people, unexpected things. So they may not be prepared for them properly with insurance or whatever.” prepared for them properly with insurance or whatever.” (k-8, p. 17)(k-8, p. 17)

Feelings suggest Feelings suggest importance of filling the importance of filling the meaning void in routine meaning void in routine

workwork ““There are days when maybe I... I don’t like my job, or There are days when maybe I... I don’t like my job, or

it’s very stressful... But because of the Foundation and it’s very stressful... But because of the Foundation and what it really says about the company, it’s like...it’s what it really says about the company, it’s like...it’s like the little breath of fresh air that I need to go in like the little breath of fresh air that I need to go in when I would go to that meeting during a particularly when I would go to that meeting during a particularly stressful or difficult time period at work. It was like, stressful or difficult time period at work. It was like, okay, this is really what’s important. Now at the end of okay, this is really what’s important. Now at the end of the day, does anyone care how much it costs to send the day, does anyone care how much it costs to send a book from here to there, maybe not. But if we help a book from here to there, maybe not. But if we help somebody move on in their life, then, and put their life somebody move on in their life, then, and put their life back together, that to me is why I feel the Foundation back together, that to me is why I feel the Foundation is so important.” (SB)is so important.” (SB)

Feelings associated with Feelings associated with positive meaning can positive meaning can override/buffer the negativeoverride/buffer the negative

“ “For all of those things that we do, there is a For all of those things that we do, there is a kind of spirit quality to them, you know. Kind kind of spirit quality to them, you know. Kind of enhances esprit de corps ….You know, that of enhances esprit de corps ….You know, that we’re consistently associated with good we’re consistently associated with good things, you know. The company goes through things, you know. The company goes through much more rise and fall of economics and... much more rise and fall of economics and... business and retail is down and the stock is business and retail is down and the stock is down or the stock is up. I mean, I...And I down or the stock is up. I mean, I...And I think that although we...like what do you think that although we...like what do you think of the foundation, we’re doing think of the foundation, we’re doing something good” (TB, 50)something good” (TB, 50)

Finding 3: Dangerous Finding 3: Dangerous edges: edges: Challenges in managing Challenges in managing meaning for a program intended to meaning for a program intended to

foster the “goodfoster the “good”” Challenge: Challenge: Being and looking like good Being and looking like good

custodianscustodians Challenge: Challenge: Spreading the word about HF Spreading the word about HF

impact but not trying to benefit from impact but not trying to benefit from people’s sufferingpeople’s suffering

Challenge: Challenge: Being fair but accommodating Being fair but accommodating people’s special circumstancespeople’s special circumstances

Challenge: Challenge: Being professional but also Being professional but also being ‘human’ and grassrootsbeing ‘human’ and grassroots

Challenge: Challenge: Looking like Bed Co. but Looking like Bed Co. but separate from Bed Co. separate from Bed Co.

Theoretical Theoretical ImplicationsImplications Institutionalized programs as Institutionalized programs as

important sources of work important sources of work meaningmeaning for multiple audiences for multiple audiences

MeaningMeaning of program of program derived fromderived from how program’s existence and use how program’s existence and use shapes shapes people’s interpretations of people’s interpretations of employees, of the organization employees, of the organization and of selfand of self

Theoretical Theoretical implications implications (continued) (continued)

Positive feelingsPositive feelings associated with a associated with a program’s meaning may indicate program’s meaning may indicate effective filling of a meaning void effective filling of a meaning void and buffer impact of negative org and buffer impact of negative org conditionsconditions

Management of programs for Management of programs for their meaning can be delicate their meaning can be delicate because of “because of “dangerous edgesdangerous edges””

Take-awaysTake-aways

Giving programs Giving programs infuse different infuse different forms of meaningforms of meaning

Bring about Bring about challenges in challenges in managing managing meaning in meaning in process of process of institutionalizing institutionalizing generositygenerosity