Company Culture: Doing Good Works (asi/222095), the 2020 recipient of the Bess Cohn Humanitarian Award, has mission baked right into its corporate identity. The primary objective across all departments is the same: changing outcomes for members of the long-underserved fostered youth system, says Logan Altman, director of customer experience. As part of its giveback model, the company donates proceeds directly to the foster community, hires former fostered youth, and encourages volunteerism directed toward the cause.

“Everyone understands our purpose,” Altman says. “We have mission updates during our weekly all-hands meeting, so we can hear about our impact. That drives retention and excitement.” Team members also recognize individuals and teams for jobs well done. “It lets them know that their time and energy are supported,” adds Altman. “We need to be intentional with appreciation, so people don’t feel so isolated.”

Employees also like flexibility; they’re often not required to dock PTO for personal time. “If they want to visit a family member, go to the mountains or volunteer, they can do so,” says Altman. “Everyone knows what the expectations are, and we respect each other. People are so important – they’re what make the organization prosper, and we want their professional and personal lives to work together.”

COVID Changes: Most of the Doing Good Works employees are still working remotely. Only members of the company’s distribution, kitting and supply chain team are in the office. “The goal was to bring everyone back in Q1 but then omicron hit,” says Altman. “We miss the camaraderie, but we’re not making any rash decisions. We have a very communal workforce, made up of a lot of Gen Z members.”

Over the past year, the company has hired at a healthy pace, including employees from the company’s workforce-development program for fostered youth. “We’ve been hiring by word-of-mouth when possible,” says Altman. “It’s good when someone who works for us has experience working with the prospective hire. It’s better than blindly hiring someone we don’t know.”

Parting Tip: When bringing on new people, ask them about their interest in the purpose and mission of the company. Their answer could be eye-opening. “We ask what motivates them and we float our mission by them,” Altman says. “We gauge their level of interest, because it has to excite them. If they’re driven, we can train them in the job, but we can’t train heart.”