What Happens When You Let Team Members Direct Charitable Giving?  It’s A Beautiful Thing

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In January 2022, KLC rolled out a program we call KLCares.  While I’ve been fortunate to work for some fantastic companies (including three Fortune 200 brands), I have never been prouder of a company sponsored giving program.

My former large employers give a lot back. That’s a good thing and I hope they continue to do it.  What’s different about KLCares is who gets to decide where the money goes.  In many (maybe most) companies an executive or small group of executives chooses where the donations go.  We decided to do it differently at KLC and our incredible team has made it a success.

I wish I could claim to be the mastermind behind KLCares, but it wasn’t my idea.  That honor goes to Founder and CEO Kevin Lonnie and his wife Susan, and it emerged from a simple thought:  What would happen if we let the team decide where the money goes?  After a year, I’m amazed and proud of the answer to that question.

So, what exactly is KLCares?  It’s simple:  Each month the name of one employee is randomly drawn and she or he gets $2,000 to donate to a charity or charities of choice.  That’s it.  No restrictions.  No fine print.  We trust our team and want our giving to reflect the diverse interests and experiences of each person. 

And what does KLCares look like in practice?  Below is a list of all the charities employees chose in 2022.  It’s a mix of local, national, and international organizations.  Some you will know, some you may not. Ultimately, I find it a beautiful reflection of a fantastic team!

  • St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital
  • Big Brothers & Big Sisters of Coastal & Northern NJ
  • Doctors Without Borders
  • Mike Rowe Works Foundation
  • Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation
  • UNICEF Children of Ukraine
  • Monmouth County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA)
  • American Foundation for Suicide Prevention
  • Planned Parenthood
  • The Trevor Project
  • The Critical Role Foundation
  • Ellis Square Friends
  • One Tree Planted
  • United for Iran
  • CHOP Cell Therapy and Transplant
  • Kyle’s Quillows
  • Fighting H.A.R.D.
  • Helping Hands Foreign Missions
  • Helping Mamas
  • Literacy Action, Inc.
  • Rescue Me Georgia

I’m looking forward to watching this list grow in 2023!