The Impact of Compassion:
C.H. Robinson Foundation
A case study
Company snapshot
C.H. Robinson solves logistics problems for companies across the globe and across industries, from the simple to the most complex. With $22 billion in freight under management and 19 million shipments annually, C.H. Robinson is one of the world’s largest logistics platforms.
The C.H. Robinson Foundation provides financial support to organizations that positively influence individuals, local communities, the logistics sector and the environment. Their philanthropic strategy involves awarding both operational and project-specific grants to non-profit entities, guided by insights from community engagement, discussions with partners and an understanding of regional requirements. In addition to its emergency financial relief program, C.H. Robinson Foundation also includes a broad scope of programs including its volunteerism and giving and Employee Match Program.
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The opportunity
When C.H. Robinson Foundation leadership sought to expand and enhance its employee emergency financial relief program, the precipice for the need was rooted in their desire to positively impact their stakeholders’ financial well-being with a comprehensive global solution that would facilitate the navigation of complex country-specific tax regulations, manage the disbursement of funds, create and reinforce its sense of global community and build employee goodwill.
Unexpected events such as natural disasters, medical expenses or mental health crisis create financial stress, a pervasive issue that significantly impacts employees worldwide across various industries and income levels. The genesis of this stakeholder stress relates to concerns about personal finances, including their difficulty with meeting acute emergency expenses when disasters or hardships suddenly arise.
The effects of sudden financial burdens, caused by unexpected events, on employees can be far-reaching, often leading to decreased productivity, increased absenteeism and reduced job satisfaction. Moreover, it can negatively impact mental and physical health, causing anxiety, depression and physical ailments. As a result, unforeseen financial challenges not only affects individual workers but also has broader implications for organizational performance and healthcare costs. Recognizing the need for an elevated total employee experience, C.H. Robinson and C.H. Robinson Foundation leadership had already been implementing an emergency financial relief program to support their employees and mitigate the adverse effects of unexpected financial stress among its workforce.
Leaders realized that their goal to globally scale their existing emergency financial relief program included scaling solves for additional tax implications and regulatory complexities, administrative burden and potential conflicts of interest (including applicant anonymity). Additionally, Foundation leadership endeavored to quantify the emergency financial relief program’s efficacy and impact on grant recipients. It was important to ensure the grants were making a difference in the individuals’ lives and that they had a trusted tool to measure utilization and impact.
The goals
A compassionate solution:
Emergency Financial Relief
Emergency financial relief options have become increasingly crucial for employees. Across the U.S. workforce landscape, many workers are challenged with unexpected expenses, resulting in 30% of U.S. workers being unable to cover a $500 emergency1. This nationwide financial fragility has resulted in individuals making hardship withdrawals from retirement accounts or accumulating high-interest debt.
C.H. Robinson Foundation leaders proactively implemented a way to help their workforce build financial resilience on a global scale, and to measure the impact of the emergency financial relief grants awarded to their employees. Using E4E Relief’s ImpactStack℠ survey-based analytics, C.H. Robinson Foundation leaders reported to its company executives on a quarterly basis to consistently measure the positive effects of the financial relief program.
Employees thrive
when company compassion is tangible
In stakeholders’ best interest:
An outsourced emergency financial relief program with global reach
The global effect
of Emergency Financial Relief
C.H. Robinson employees were most frequently awarded support after experiencing these top 5 unexpected events
ImpactStack℠ tells the story
with measured results
Employee outcomes
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Reduced financial stress and anxiety (well-being)
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Increased ability to cover unexpected expenses without going into debt or tapping into future resources
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Improved focus and productivity at work
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Higher job satisfaction and loyalty
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Engagement
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Belonging / support
-
Collective action through donations
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Global access

Employer outcomes
- Improved employee retention and reduced turnover costs
- Doubled employee engagement (relief applications)
- Increased productivity
- Opportunity to cross-functionally increase awareness about the fund
- Near real-time and annual ESG and board meeting reporting regarding program utilization and impact
- Ability to be globally benevolent and exhibit good corporate stewardship
- Non-employee fund contribution access

Doing good is good business
The ImpactStack℠ factor
C.H. Robinson Foundation grant recipients report...
Regaining their financial stability
Improved mental well-being
Desiring to continue employment
Maintained work levels
Grant application approvals
What grant recipients are saying...


The value of compassion
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Over $115,000 awarded spanning four countries and 16 U.S. states
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100% application approval rate
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Average grant award: $1,837
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Supporting each other: Over $100,000 employee-raised and company-matched over the program’s lifetime
- 87% of C.H. Robinson grant recipients reported that its average grant award amount of $1,800 helped them recover financially after an unexpected hardship and/or disaster and, for 91% of grant recipients, it increased their desire to stay with their current employer

Sources
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https://www.cnbc.com/2024/04/09/most-of-americans-are-living-paycheck-to-paycheck-heres-why.html
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