Corporate Philanthropy Efforts at WEX

In the global WEX family, “social responsibility” is more than a phrase: it is a way of living, embodied in our history of giving back and engaging with our local communities. WEX donates hundreds of thousands of dollars every year to fund education, basic needs groups, the arts, the economy, and wellness initiatives. We also have a strong committee of WEXers directing funds into the community in support of organizations about which they are passionate.

“Philanthropy is fundamental to WEX because supporting the community is one of our five core values,” says Hilary Rapkin, SVP, General Counsel, and Corporate Secretary at WEX. “The philanthropy work WEX does is demonstrated both in dollars and volunteer time. Community involvement has very, very deep roots at WEX and is something that has always been encouraged and valued. This is a company that cares.”

Philanthropy Focus Areas

WEX’s corporate grants fall under three buckets. Major grant programming focuses on larger gifts that benefit the greater Portland area and the state of Maine. To maximize impact, corporate community philanthropic support is directed toward five overarching categories:

Education: we support education, targeting areas of science, technology, engineering, and math. We believe that education is the engine of economic growth.

Economic Development: WEX is dedicated to strengthening the economies in which we operate, from training new leaders to funding projects dedicated to social change.

The Arts: We believe that the Arts are fundamental to the human spirit. That’s why WEX supports arts programs throughout our communities.

Basic Needs: WEX and its employees give to basic needs groups where food, shelter, health, and safety are secured.

Wellness: WEX is also a firm advocate for wellness. We fund research for public health issues and support organizations that encourage a healthy lifestyle.

WEX also partners with United Way. This year, for the first time, WEXers across the United States are combining resources to field a coordinated WEX United Way effort – WEX United. Through volunteerism and fundraising, we will help to be the change in the communities where we have a physical footprint.

Grant-based Giving

Lastly, WEX offers smaller grants through the volunteer-based Giving Committee. The committee reviews smaller-dollar requests – usually under $2500 – that WEX employees submit on behalf of a charity they are involved in. A little can go a long way for most non-profits, so the grants have a measurable impact and create pride of ownership amongst employees. Rapkin, who has been on the Giving Committee since she joined WEX over 20 years ago, credits the employee-driven grants for not only fostering employee engagement, but for strengthening employees’ leadership skills. Many are given the opportunity to serve in a leadership capacity on the board of the organization about which they are passionate.

In August, WEX hosted its inaugural “Community Engagement Resource Fair” in South Portland. This event was designed to shine light on our strong support of the community, highlighting organizations and causes that we support to more fully engage employees in their impactful work and WEX’s overall Corporate Philanthropy mission and program. You can watch the video here.

“A lot of the employees who are involved in these organizations, myself included, are grateful that they work for a company that continually makes a conscious effort to have a broad impact on the community, and that really supports organizations its employees care about,” says Jason Hanley, VP of Sales Operations and a member of the Giving Committee at WEX.

To learn more about where our corporate philanthropic dollars go and why, check out WEX’s 2015 Corporate Social Responsibility Report.