GreatAmerica Financial Services Corporation Establishes Employee Advised Fund

Since 2001, the GreatAmerica Financial Services Corporation Donor-Advised Fund has made hundreds of grants to local nonprofits across all sectors. Founded in 1992 by Tony Golobic, GreatAmerica provides equipment financing and related business services across the U.S. and has emerged as one of the most philanthropic businesses in the region.

In October, the company established the GreatAmerica Employee Advised Fund to engage its employees in community giving and effectively double its annual giving to $1 Million.

“The Employee Advised Fund will bring increased awareness of the nonprofit community to GreatAmericans who wish to learn more about and participate in community betterment efforts,” said Martin Golobic, Co-Chief Executive Officer at GreatAmerica. “It’s also an opportunity to understand their perspectives based on their personal beliefs, values and experiences.”

The company uses a competitive application process to make grants from this fund, with the Community Foundation facilitating grantmaking and educating a rotating advisory committee of GreatAmericans. The advisory committee reviews the applications and creates a slate for all GreatAmerica employees to vote on. The new fund requires applicants to have at least one connection with a GreatAmerica employee. Priority areas include health, human services, arts & culture, environment, and public projects.

“The Community Foundation offers a range of services for businesses who want to give back, and it was a pleasure to work with GreatAmerica to find a philanthropic approach that works for them,” said Michelle Beisker, Senior Vice President of Development at the Community Foundation. “This fund is helping GreatAmerica create an engaging philanthropic experience for employees, and we’re excited to help locally grown companies build giving plans that meet their needs.”