We work every day to create a sense of home in people’s lives, and this mission guides our giving and volunteering strategy. We support a range of causes that reflect the passion and dedication of our associates and resonate with our customers, allowing us to raise funds to support the causes we believe in. Through volunteering and community outreach, we give back to the communities where we work.
Corporate, Customer & Associate Donations
Since 2012, we have donated over $63 million in corporate, customer and associate donations. Our partners include organizations that promote and strengthen the wellbeing of children, women, families and LGBTQ+ communities, such as St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital®, No Kid Hungry, AIDS Walk and Canada Children’s Hospitals.
St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital®
Since 2005, when our partnership with St. Jude began, we have raised more than $47 million for research and the care of children and families facing childhood cancer and other life-threatening diseases. We are also the sponsor of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital Cure4Kids.org, an online resource for healthcare professionals dedicated to enhancing the care of children who have cancer and other life-threatening diseases in countries around the globe.
No Kid Hungry: Share Our Strength
In 2010, we began our partnership with No Kid Hungry. In 2017 alone, we raised over $2 million in one month to help connect children to nutritious meals in their communities. Our ongoing partnership has grown to reach associates and customers, including an annual series of celebrity-designed spatulas as well as customer donation collections.
In-Kind Donations
We also support organizations and partners, like GlobalGiving and Good360, that assist those whose homes have been damaged or lost. We give charitable grants, donate our merchandise, donate proceeds from the sale of certain products, and provide matching gifts to our associates.
Volunteering
Volunteering deepens our presence in the community, enhances our relationships with customers and strengthens employee engagement. We support our communities through our associates’ time and leadership, and we provide 8 hours of paid Community Involvement Time each year. We encourage our associates to volunteer for local causes.
Associates log 10,000+ volunteer hours annually, with steady increases each year. Associates choose where to devote their time, with efforts ranging from school renovations to habitat restoration. Annually, we hold a company-wide day of service in recognition of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. Associates around the country participate in this inspiring event, with activities in San Francisco—our corporate home, Brooklyn—where West Elm is headquartered, and Portland—Rejuvenation’s home.