What makes a company worth working for or doing business with in the long-term? We have many choices when it comes to doing business nowadays, and more and more, job seekers and potential customers say they want to work with companies that care. As a result, organizations of all sizes are intentionally building philanthropy into their workplace cultures.

Why Should You Give?

Let’s be real – the optics are good. Differentiating your company by making positive change is positive PR, but that’s not the whole story. Giving back feels good, too. Making a positive difference is infectious. It’s a win-win. Giving isn’t just for the tax break anymore.

• A 2017 survey of US employees showed 57% believed getting involved in charitable events through work made for happier teams.¹
• Also, 37% of respondents felt more connected to their company culture after participating.

Where to Begin

Each company has its own model when it comes to charitable giving. At Midco, it’s woven into the very fabric of our culture. I’m going to share what that actually means in practice, but first a disclaimer. If you’re looking for ideas about where to begin, just remember: giving something is always better than giving nothing.

Choose a simple starting place, empower your employees to join in, and you’ll be surprised by the generous hearts that surround you. Midco team members initiated many of our avenues of giving – and in turn, they’re happier employees.

Where We Begin

Here’s where everything begins and ends for us – at Midco, we treat others the way we want to be treated. The Golden Rule is the touchstone of every interaction we have with one another and with customers, and it’s what guides our corporate giving. We believe that good companies understand the value of giving and the importance of strong corporate social values.

The Foundation

There are a number of specific ways Midco gives back. Established in 1987, the Midco Foundation provides funding to organizations that assist in achieving socially desirable goals within the communities Midco serves. In three decades, the Midco Foundation has awarded more than $3.9 million to nonprofits across five states. What really sets our foundation apart, though – it’s comprised of team members who represent the company’s many regions, departments and levels of seniority.

Midco proudly supports the Headwaters School of Music and the Arts in Minnesota.

The Match

The Midco Gift Matching Program encourages team members to give to nonprofits that speak to their hearts. Starting at $15 and going all the way up to $500, Midco team members’ gifts are matched by the Midco Foundation. To make giving as easy as possible, Midco also offers automatic payroll deductions to the United Way – following a very eventful and fun United Way rally month each fall.

A few of Midco's Fargo team members pose for a photo op for the LIVE UNITED partners for United Way of Cass Clay. (Photo credit: 5foot20)

Our Time and Effort

Providing time for volunteering and board involvement is also a critical component of Midco’s giving. We encourage our team members to take active roles on nonprofit boards. Board involvement reflects unique passions and personal commitments.

We also have a volunteering arm – known as the Midco ACTS arm. From building homes for Habitat for Humanity to packing meals for Feeding South Dakota, ACTS builds comradery and community pride. 
A group of Sioux Falls team members and their families participating in Midco ACTS to pick up litter for the Adopt-a-Highway program.

Use What You’ve Got

Because of Midco’s roots in cable TV, public service messages are a unique way the company helps area nonprofits. Charitable organizations often don’t have the funds to promote their message or event, so Midco provides video production and air time.

Community Events

Financial support through sponsorships is another way Midco gives. The Boys & Girls Club of Lawrence, the Great Plains Zoo in Sioux Falls, the International Falls Bass Championship, Emerging Prairie in Fargo, and local family events are just a few of the more than 100 organizations that benefit from our sponsorships.

Midco presenting Elizabeth Ballard Community Services with a donation in Lawrence, KS.

Why We Give – Really

When combined with grants from the Midco Foundation, Midco’s financial gifting totals a significant investment in our communities each year. But this is about more than the numbers. You see, corporate social responsibility isn’t just talked about at Midco. It’s part of our fabric. We take great pride in giving back and having an impact on the communities we serve.

We also know our core value of living by the Golden Rule resonates with our team members and provides them with additional purpose. So, why do we give? Because it’s the right thing to do.