Giving back is part of who we are
At PowerToFly, community is not just something we talk about. It is something we practice.
Each year, our team comes together for Secret Snowflake, a tradition rooted in generosity, care, and connection. Team members are paired anonymously and invited to donate to an organization their match cares about. The result is a collective act of giving that reflects our values as a company and the diverse communities we are part of.
If you are looking for organizations to support this holiday season, or at any point during the year, the list below highlights some of the causes PowerToFly supported through Secret Snowflake. It also offers a reminder that when companies give back intentionally, the impact extends far beyond a single donation.
Organizations PowerToFly supported through Secret Snowflake
Through Secret Snowflake, PowerToFly team members supported organizations working across healthcare, human rights, mental wellbeing, community access, and inclusion. Below are a few we would like to highlight, followed by a complete list of additional organizations that received support.
Highlighted organizations
Laurel House
Provides shelter, advocacy, and support for survivors of domestic violence during some of the most vulnerable moments of their lives.
GLAS Foundation
An LGBTQ+ organization in Bulgaria focused on community support, Pride organizing, HIV/AIDS awareness, and combating hate crimes.
Hospital Garrahan
Argentina’s leading public pediatric hospital, delivering specialized care to children and adolescents regardless of their families’ ability to pay.
KidSport Canada
Helps children access sports and physical activity by covering registration fees and equipment costs for families facing financial barriers.
Mental Health Foundation
A globally respected organization dedicated to mental health prevention, education, and research.
Ipas
Works internationally to reduce preventable injury and death from unsafe abortion through evidence-based healthcare and advocacy.
Give Kids The World
Creates joyful, cost-free experiences for children with critical illnesses and their families.
Additional organizations supported
In addition to the organizations highlighted above, PowerToFly team members also supported a wide range of nonprofits and initiatives, including:
- ACLU
- Accessible Festivals
- AGFA – American Genre Film Archive
- Breast Cancer Research Foundation
- CETLAVET – Latin American Training Center for Veterinary Education
- Groundswell International
- Mom Relaunch Foundation
- Proyecto Omega
- Red Nacional de Refugios
- Samaritan’s Purse – Operation Christmas Child
- World Vision
- Happy Paw
- Meraki House – Home for Girls at Social Risk
Why giving back as an organization matters
Corporate giving is often framed as something that benefits communities. It does. But research consistently shows it also has a meaningful impact inside organizations, shaping culture, engagement, and how employees experience their work.
Giving back boosts morale, engagement, and retention
Well-designed corporate giving and social responsibility programs are strongly associated with higher employee morale and engagement, especially when employees perceive those efforts as authentic.
A review of workplace giving and CSR data shows that 88 percent of companies believe employee engagement programs centered on giving and volunteering help attract and retain employees, and employees who participate in corporate giving programs tend to stay significantly longer than those who do not.
Academic research supports this. A peer-reviewed study published in the Journal of Business Ethics found that when employees view corporate social responsibility initiatives as genuine and aligned with their values, it increases organizational pride, job satisfaction, trust in leadership, and overall wellbeing.
The takeaway is not that giving back alone fixes engagement challenges, but that purpose-driven programs, when clearly communicated and embedded into culture, strengthen how people feel about where they work.
Purpose and values matter to today’s workforce
For many employees, especially younger generations, corporate giving is not a “nice to have.” It is part of how they evaluate employers.
According to Deloitte’s 2024 Global Gen Z and Millennial Survey, 86 percent of Gen Z and 89 percent of millennials say having a sense of purpose is important to their overall job satisfaction and wellbeing. Nearly half of Gen Z respondents said they had turned down an employer or assignment because of personal ethics or beliefs.
McKinsey research reinforces this connection between purpose and retention. Employees who feel they are living their purpose at work are more likely to stay, more resilient, and more willing to go above and beyond in their roles.
Corporate giving is one of the most visible ways organizations signal what they stand for. When those actions align with stated values, employees notice.
Supporting local communities strengthens businesses too
For companies with physical offices or strong regional ties, giving back locally can create a powerful feedback loop between community wellbeing and business resilience.
Research on community-focused businesses shows that local investment strengthens economic stability, job creation, and social capital, which in turn improves long-term business outcomes. A 2025 economic analysis of community businesses in the UK found they generated £1.5 billion in direct economic value, with significantly higher local employment rates than traditional firms.
Studies published in ScienceDirect also show that businesses engaged in community-oriented practices often experience stronger performance and higher levels of trust from local stakeholders.
Whether a company operates locally or globally, investing in the communities it touches helps create healthier environments for both people and businesses to thrive.
Engaging ERGs makes giving more meaningful
Employee Resource Groups can play an important role in shaping how companies give back.
Research from McKinsey shows that employees who consider their ERGs effective are far more likely to feel included at work compared to those without strong ERG support. Data from Perceptyx similarly links ERG participation to higher feelings of belonging and authenticity at work.
When ERGs are involved in decisions about charitable giving, companies benefit from lived experience and deeper insight. For example, consulting a Parents ERG when selecting organizations that support caregivers or working families helps ensure donations reflect real needs rather than assumptions.
Involving ERGs turns giving into a shared effort, not a top-down initiative.
Giving back should happen all year, not just during the holidays
Seasonal giving plays an important role, but research and nonprofit partners consistently emphasize the value of sustained, year-round support.
According to Benevity, employees who engage in giving programs throughout the year are two to three times more likely to participate during peak giving seasons, helping build long-term habits and stronger cultures of generosity.
From the nonprofit perspective, recurring and predictable funding allows organizations to plan more effectively and reduce the costs associated with one-time fundraising pushes. Analyses of recurring donors show they provide greater long-term stability and engagement than seasonal contributions alone.
When giving is embedded into company culture rather than limited to a single moment on the calendar, its impact grows.
Closing: Turning values into action
Secret Snowflake is one way PowerToFly brings its values to life, but the lesson extends beyond a single initiative. When organizations give back intentionally, involve their teams, and commit to doing so consistently, the benefits reach far beyond the donation itself.
For companies, giving back can strengthen culture, engagement, and connection. For communities, it can provide stability, access, and opportunity. And for employees, it reinforces that their work is part of something larger.
Whether during the holidays or throughout the year, thoughtful giving has the power to bring people together and create lasting impact.
