What began with contributions of $20,000 in 2014, has grown into a more than quarter million dollar powerhouse for corporate philanthropy in our community.  The Built 2 Give Back fund allows their employees to pool their giving and amplify their impact on local organizations in a significant way.

As one of the largest employers in Hamilton, ThyssenKrupp Bilstein provides jobs to more than 750 employees. In 2014, they partnered with the Hamilton Community Foundation to begin their fund and pursue a wide range of charitable initiatives.

From 2014 to today, the Built 2 Give Back Fund has donated over $269,000 to charities and organizations around the community and has contributed to 28 different organizations this year alone.

According to Built 2 Give Back treasurer Stephanie Flannery, the Hamilton Foundation is a tremendous resource when trying to identify proper charitable organizations.  

“The Foundation makes Built 2 Give Back easy by hosting our account in a convenient and online platform that makes it simple for my team to work on their account. It also helps with repeat or outside donations, since it is as easy as a click of a button, literally.” says Flannery.

The Fund is supported through regular elective contributions from employees with the company matching donations. In addition, to financial contributions, employees can also elect to donate their time and physical efforts to charitable causes the fund supports.

The Built 2 Give Back Fund supports:

• Causes that help childhood development like Big Brothers and Big Sisters in Hamilton

• Causes that improve safety like The Greater Hamilton Safety Council

• Causes that prevent domestic violence and support women’s rights

• Causes that combat poverty

ThyssenKrupp Bilstein is a testament to the power of a corporate advised fund and its ability to address a variety of needs in the community.  

What is a Corporate Advised Fund?

Corporate advised funds are one of the best ways for businesses, large or small, to make a positive difference in the community and they can even empower employees to lend their time and money to causes they care about.

Just like any charitable fund, corporate advised funds allow businesses to give back to the community and can be a powerful alternative to a private foundation. These accounts are  designed to support the charitable goals of the organization as well as involve employees and leadership along the way.  

The Built 2 Give Back Fund sponsored by ThyssenKrupp Bilstein, is a great example of how corporate advised funds can be a long-term difference that engages corporate employees while addressing a variety of needs.