The Evolution of Corporate Philanthropy

Community is one of WEX’s core values. We’re committed to embracing and empowering our local communities through philanthropic and volunteer support. Stronger communities make stronger economies, stronger workforces, and a stronger WEX. But, even more than that, community is a mentality ingrained in WEX at every level, from our overall Corporate Social Responsibility program, to our passionate employees who volunteer countless hours around the globe. We’re proud of our community involvement and the work we do to strengthen the neighborhoods where we live and work.

Hilary Rapkin, Senior Vice President and General Counsel, who has executive oversight of WEX’s Corporate Philanthropy program, sat down with us to discuss how the program has evolved , and where she sees it heading in the future.

Where We’ve Been

Corporate philanthropy at WEX has not always been the operation that it is today. When Hilary arrived at WEX more than 20 years ago, community donations were overseen by the Giving Committee, a group of volunteer employees who would handle philanthropic requests.

Hilary joined the committee as a lawyer, screening organizations to ensure WEX wasn’t supporting groups and efforts that were discriminatory or not designated as 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations. Her reasons for remaining on the committee, however, were her passion for service and a desire to give back to her community.

As WEX grew, so did our responsibility to our communities. As a major employer and economic driver, WEX began getting approached more frequently, and for greater amounts. Recognizing the need for a structured philanthropy process, Hilary worked to build a more responsive, data-driven, and strategic philanthropy and volunteer program, centered in Maine. Today, holistically, WEX’s corporate philanthropy programming encompasses a process for larger community grants, international giving driven by each individual WEX office, and local employee-based giving committees, which represent the passions and interests of WEX’s nearly 2,700 employees.

With a new structure in place and a new corporate philanthropy manager to handle day-to-day operations, WEX’s philanthropy program is poised to make an even greater impact.

Where We’re Going

By using data and aligning strategy with WEX’s core values and vision, the Corporate Philanthropy team tailors its donations to increase community involvement across all sectors. According to Hilary, “We want to give to all facets of the community, create stronger organizations, and open windows of opportunity for our employees to get involved, as volunteers and as board members. It’s less of a transaction, and more of a partnership. We want WEX leaders involved in the organizations that we support to create synergies in our social responsibilities, efforts, and leadership development opportunities for our talented team.”

WEX has a clear mission to help the nonprofits we support grow and perpetuate involvement. Although most of the responsibility of allocating money falls on the Corporate Philanthropy team, giving committees are still operational because, as Hilary says, “It’s important that there still be an element of employee-directed money.” This empowers employees who are passionate about volunteer work to get involved, and further illustrates WEX’s dedication to community.

Hilary’s goal for corporate philanthropy is centered around increasing employee involvement, building a robust internal culture of philanthropy, providing more dollars to community organizations, and widening the scope of corporate philanthropy, including a fully globalized program in the next several years.

With a broad international footprint and a history of giving across multiple continents, WEX’s community impact is significant. As we continue to grow, so will our philanthropic commitment to the places we live and work. With an eye towards the future, and a drive to make an impact in all of WEX’s local communities, Hilary and her team are building a comprehensive program that will make the most of our time, talent, and dollars.