A Culture of Giving Back
Van Meter Fosters Employee-Driven Approach to Philanthropy
Over the last 96 years, Van Meter has grown into one of the region’s top distributors of electrical components. In more recent years, the company has emerged as a model for engaged corporate philanthropy.
Founded in 1928 in downtown Cedar Rapids, Van Meter now has 850 employee-owners in 25 locations throughout the Midwest. As the company has grown, so has its commitment to its employees and the communities they live in. In 2005, Van Meter established a donor-advised fund at the Community Foundation to make it easier to give back to those communities.
That year, Van Meter granted more than $41,000 from the fund. In 2008, Van Meter’s giving increased significantly in response to the flood.
“Times were tough for a lot of people,” said Danielle Monthei, Community Impact Program Manager. “But Van Meter’s thought was, ‘times are tough—double down.’”
In this case, ‘double down’ is not figurative language. Van Meter granted $97,000 from the donor-advised fund in 2007, compared to $208,000 in 2008. Employees even moved to a new office three weeks ahead of schedule so displaced Alliant Energy workers could use their office space.
In 2022, as Van Meter closed in on $2 million granted through its donor-advised fund, the company set out to formalize community impact efforts and once again double down. With a staff member dedicated to community impact and a committee of employee volunteers, the company set up a process to get everyone involved in giving back.
Van Meter employees, no matter where they’re located, can recommend an organization to the community impact committee. The committee meets once a month to review requests, learn about the issues and organizations, and award grants.
“Van Meter started in Cedar Rapids, but we’re also in Ottumwa, Duluth, Sioux City,” Danielle said. “Just because we have three employees in Keokuk doesn’t mean we’re not going to be a part of that community. We want to know the local organizations and issues and show up for them just as if we had 250 people there.”
Van Meter’s unique approach goes above and beyond asking employees for grant recommendations. For the last 65 years, Kathy Etscheidt has worked in accounts payable, writing checks to vendors and grantees. She now also volunteers her time to serve on the community impact committee.
“For most of the grants we make, I notify the employee so they can personally deliver the news,” Kathy said. “They like to go in and hand them a letter and talk to them. It’s very personal for them.”
As a 100% employee-owned company, the employee-driven approach to philanthropy is a natural fit. It gets employees engaged in the process, but it also helps build relationships within their communities. This can make it much easier to identify and respond to challenges. When one employee heard that students at Cedar Rapids’ Wilson Middle School couldn’t wash their clothes, Van Meter’s network of employees, customers and volunteers took action. Within days, the school had a new washer and dryer hooked up and ready for student use.
It is a testament to Van Meter’s culture that employees are not just recommending grants but are actively working alongside one another to strengthen their communities. Van Meter employees get eight hours of paid time off to use for volunteering. Other efforts bring large groups of employees together for events or projects, sometimes tapping into the company’s other resources.
“I’m of the opinion that giving our time is just as valuable,” Danielle said. “Last year, one of our priorities was using our trucks to help.”
The company helped move nearly 40 semi loads of food, furniture and other necessities for local nonprofits. With CDL drivers on staff, Van Meter could also establish a partnership with the Iowa Giving Crew to provide free food for families to cook at home on Thanksgiving. Last year, this program provided meals to 1,500 families.
Encouraging employees to volunteer their time and talents—and connecting them with opportunities to do so—has helped Van Meter foster a culture that values giving.
“Volunteering is important to me and my family,” said Freight Administrator Amy Korsmo, who coordinates Van Meter’s Salvation Army bell ringers each year. “Whether I’m ringing with my sons or helping with my husband at Watermelon Days, I’m proud to support Van Meter’s culture of giving.”
Building that culture of giving is the real goal of Van Meter’s philanthropy. Though their priorities are kids and veterans, a look at their grant history reveals few boundaries to their giving.
“It’s really important to the decision makers on the committee to support what our employee-owners care about,” Danielle said. “Our process is intentionally fluid. We have some guidelines and precedents, but we have the opportunity to make a difference in nearly all requests.”
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