For an organization with the tagline “shaping a more livable world,” you would expect to find a commitment to helping the local community. But Development Alternatives Incorporated, with their employee-owned business model, truly goes above and beyond when it comes to encouraging volunteerism within their organization.
Founded in 1970 by three graduates of the Harvard Kennedy School, DAI has always been a company that has chosen to do things a little bit differently. “Our founders set out to change the way international development was carried out,” Steven O’Connor, Director of Communications at DAI told me. “They approached every assignment as a startup, focusing on innovative implementation of projects, and taking a process approach of recording feedback during implementation.” It was this unique strategy that has made DAI the leader in international development it is today.
With offices around the world, and over 350 employees in their Bethesda Headquarters, DAI harnesses the passion of their employees to make a difference in localities around the globe, including Washington D.C. “DAI attracts the kind of people who want to give back to their community,” O’Connor said. “We are employee-owned, and respond to what our employees want from the company. So we facilitate volunteerism through the firm’s actions.”
One of the strongest philanthropic partnerships DAI has is with the Linda Norgrove Foundation. Started in memory of a DAI employee who was kidnapped and killed while on assignment in Afghanistan, the Foundation works to build schools and host other development projects benefiting women and children in northern Afghanistan. In early October, DAI organized a 5K run/walk event for the Foundation. 75 runners participated, with nearly $4,000 being raised. David Sardi, an Associate for the Africa Region at DAI helped to organize the event.
“DAI does an amazing job of giving larger scale responsibilities to younger employees,” he said of his role recruiting participants for the event. “All employees at DAI genuinely want to make a difference in the world.” Including of course, Sardi himself. Outside of the DAI hosted volunteer events, Sardi also volunteers for Streetwise Partners, an organization that pairs corporate professionals with lower income individuals, to give them career advice and resume help.
Aside from the Linda Norgrove Foundation, DAI also gives locally, through sponsored projects with Habitat for Humanity, and annual donations to the Duke Ellington School of the Arts in Georgetown. “We tend to gravitate toward youth focused organizations,” O’Connor said of what DAI looks for in partnerships. “We want to work with organizations that are reputable and effective.”
This year DAI is taking their giving to the next level, by awarding the new David H. Gunning Comminity Service Award to an employee with the most impressive volunteering resume. The winners of the award will get $5,000 from the company to donate to the organization of their choice. “We want to encourage and reward volunteerism,” O’Connor said. “Our motive is appealing to our employees own aspirations, those are the kinds of people we want to attract.” But, O’Connor is quick to point out that DAI’s philanthrophy is much more than well crafted PR. “Giving is our brand,” he said.
