As a company focused on driving positive impact, we want to make sure that our own team members are equipped to view the world through a similar lens. While the end result of our grantmaking is incredibly important, empowering people with an understanding of the philanthropic process can be equally impactful and have a ripple effect that can last for generations.
Last month, we kicked off our second annual Employee Give program. The purpose of the Employee Give is to enable MiiR team members to live MiiR’s philanthropic values by participating in a giving program, help them learn more about the nonprofit sector, and make an impact on a chosen issue and people in a geography.
Each year, MiiR allocates a portion of its overall grant fund to our employees so they can make decisions on how to distribute the money. Open to any interested MiiR employee, the six-month program includes guest speakers from the nonprofit sector, tips on due diligence (how do you read an IRS Form 990?) and overviews of issue areas and logic models. Perhaps most importantly, the MiiR team is asked to tap into their own passion for causes which resonate with them on a personal level. We recognize that it’s rare to be in a position to directly support people working to create a better future, and our employees have seized the opportunity.
Last year’s Employee Give grantees, FEEST and Urban Artworks, have accomplished some incredible things in the past year, equipping Seattle-area youth with the tools to strengthen their communities and empower those around them. Stay tuned for more from the 2019 MiiR Employee Give!