Charitable Giving is More Than Financial Donations
People are at the heart of UG2. Every day, our employees and customers demonstrate generosity. They do it through the team spirit they bring to work, the respect they show for one another, the quiet ways they support colleagues navigating personal challenges, and their genuine celebration of one another’s successes.
The International Day of Charity is a chance to reflect on those often-unseen contributions that may never make a press release but deeply shape our culture of care. It’s also an opportunity to look ahead and ask: How can we amplify our impact, as individuals and as a company, in the year to come?
Beyond Financial Donations: Giving Skills, Time, and Expertise
The International Day of Charity recognizes the importance of charity in mitigating humanitarian crises and human suffering, and we believe that work starts within our own communities.
Charitable giving plays a critical role in addressing human need and crisis, but it’s not only about financial donations. Many organizations depend just as much on the time and skills that volunteers bring.
Here are three steps to help you identify where your unique strengths can make a difference.
1. Consider Your Skillset
Think about what you already do well at work. Could your professional skills support a nonprofit’s mission? For example:
- Sharing industry knowledge
- Offering mentorship to youth or adults
- Helping with strategy or operations
- Providing technical expertise
Don’t overlook hobbies and interests outside of work. If you enjoy running, you could participate in a charity race. If you’re handy, a local nonprofit might need help maintaining its physical space.
2. Find What’s Most Meaningful to You
Many people start with a personal connection: a family member battling Parkinson’s disease, a beloved pet adopted from a shelter, or a cause that shaped your own life. These connections fuel passion and commitment.
If you’re looking for direction, tools like GiveWell or CharityNavigator can help you find top-rated organizations (based on factors like impact, transparency, financials, etc.).
3. Bring Your Skills and Passion Together
When you combine what you love with what you’re good at, your impact multiplies. For example:
- A dog lover skilled in social media could manage a shelter’s Instagram account.
- A strong team leader could adapt their workplace training style to guide nonprofit volunteers.
- A runner could organize a fundraising campaign where donors pledge based on miles, minutes, or personal bests—adding fun motivation and creativity.
At UG2, our Northern California Regional Engineering Manager, Matt Montanez and his family launched an annual Montanez Golf Invitational in support of the National Kidney Foundation. The annual event raises over $10,000 each year to help fight kidney disease.
When you get creative, there are innumerable ways you can add value to organizations that matter to you.
Diverse Causes Supported by UG2
At UG2, charitable efforts come from every level of our organization. By shining a light on the causes our employees care about, we inspire others to get involved. Some of the areas we support include:
- Children receiving medical care
- Youth homelessness
- Coaching and clothing for women seeking employment
- Families impacted by autism
- Mentoring and scholarships for disadvantaged youth
- Unhoused people seeking shelter
- Supporting immigrants striving to learn English
Specific organizations we are proud to support include:
What Causes Are Meaningful to You?
We want to hear from you. Our charitable initiatives are stronger because they come from the ideas and passions of our employees, customers, and partners across the country.
At UG2, we are proud to support not only the organizations we know well, but also the ones that matter most to the people who make up our community. Together, we can continue to amplify our impact.