October 19, 2018

The secret to workplace greatness?Disrupt philanthropy by putting employees in charge

Miriam WolmanDirector, Employee Engagement

& Communications

About Bates White• Economic consulting firm located in Washington, DC

─Provide complex economic and financial analysis, strategy, and expert testimony to law firms, companies, and government agencies

─250 employees, many with advanced degrees§Economists, financial analysts, and operations support

• Our employees─Love to solve problems─Think analytically─Enjoy teaching─Work collaboratively─Care deeply about the community

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BW Community Connection—goals• Tap into passion for giving back• Build a grass-roots approach• Provide opportunities for employees to

connect to each other• Cultivate leadership

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How it works• Anyone can propose an initiative that:

─Supports a 501c3 nonprofit organization─Includes an activity

• To increase fundraising, we include a Friday jeans day• Coordinating Committee

─Group of 6 employees that serve two-year alternating terms─Reviews and approves proposals─Helps with scheduling, communications, resources

• Activity is scheduled and communicated to employees─Email─Meeting invites─Internal newsletter─Intranet─Electronic signage

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Support•Communications•Graphics•Logistics•Facilities•Planning time•Financial support

─Materials and supplies─Matching donations─Raffle items

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The raffle!• Employees earn 1 raffle ticket for every ½ hour service or $5 donation• Week of holiday gala, each employee receives a spreadsheet

─Indicates # tickets earned and received as gifts─Separate tab lists prizes─Employees enter drawing for each prize, as desired─# tickets for each prize is published on intranet and updated daily─Employees can reallocate tickets throughout the week─End of week, raffle closes─Winners and year-end results

announced at the holiday gala

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Tracking raffle tickets on our intranet

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Initiatives limited only by creative thinking!• Competitions

─Pedometer challenge─Bates White Madness─Throwdown!─Great Bates White Bake-off─Bates White-a-THON

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Other initiatives• Working in the community

─Mentoring middle school students ─Preparing meals at DC Central Kitchen─Sorting food at Capital Area Food Bank

• Sponsoring teams in races─Lawyers Have Heart─Walk & 5K to End HIV─Rockville Rotary Twilight Runfest

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Other initiatives• Events where food takes center stage

─Bagel breakfast for Abramson Cancer Center─Smoothies for G-PACT─Truffle Tuesday for Higher Achievement─Salad and taco bar for Zamfund

• Collecting and distributing items─Clothes for Bread for the City─Holiday gifts and clothing for Children’s Law Center─Backpacks for Horton’s Kids─Children’s books for the Campagna Center

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And more!• Balloon Wars for Camp Kesem• Ghosts & Goblins for Hope

Connections• Field trips for students• Disaster relief

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Bottom line• Every year…

─Average more than 30 initiatives─40 to 50 people organize programs─Donate more than $100,000─Give out more than 16,000 raffle tickets

• What that means─Higher-quality candidates─More leadership opportunities─Increased engagement─Lots of fun ─A great place to work!

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Your turn!• Select an organization• Propose an initiative

─Include component that enhances interaction─If you have multiple offices, find ways to connect them─Demonstrate how you will raise money─Determine needed support

• Report back to the group

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