Jessica Markowitz (right) with Arboretum Foundation executive director Jane Stonecipher.
In the past, businesses supported nonprofits and charities in relatively straightforward ways, such as through direct sponsorship and in-kind donations. This type of corporate giving continues today; however, new avenues for corporate philanthropy have also opened up in recent years, enabling more flexible giving and amplifying causes that employees of these companies care deeply about.
For example, in early October, the Arboretum Foundation received a very generous gift of $6,600 from Jessica Markowitz through her company, Humanitix, an event-ticketing organization that dedicates 100 percent of profits from booking fees to charity.
As Jessica explained in an interview and testimonial, “Humanitix has a beautiful program that allows employees to choose a charity that we want to contribute to in honor of our mission and model of being a nonprofit that donates all of our profits to education charities. This new program allows employees to choose a charity that may have a different impact outside of the education realm, such as the environment.”
Jessica—who is now based in Denver, Colorado—and her family have long had a special relationship with the Arboretum.
“It represents my childhood, my home, and the wonders of Seattle’s nature. Growing up, we would spend lots of time biking, walking, and playing at the Arboretum. After leaving Seattle for college, I continued to return back to the Arboretum for walks to catch up with friends and come back to my favorite place even for a short visit.”
Supporting a Safe, Beautiful Space
Asked what she most hopes her contribution will support in the Arboretum, Jessica responded, “I hope my contribution will support the amazing community events the Foundation puts on for everyone and anyone wanting to participate. Whether it be free music, activities for children, or simply just having a safe, beautiful space to walk freely and enjoy. These are often taken for granted, and we are so lucky to have a Foundation that takes such good care of nature in the city of Seattle.”
The Arboretum has impacted Jessica and her family in various ways over the years, most recently as a place to help cope with profound loss.
“My older brother, Josh, was tragically killed in 2021 by an impaired driver, and this loss changed everything for us. The pain and grief were something we could not understand or handle, but one of the only ways to find reprieve was through nature, parks, and walking. Today, my mom continues to walk the Arboretum as she feels it is a safe place to process her thoughts.”
Personalized Giving Through the Workplace
Employee-designated grants are one innovative method allowing employees to personalize their giving and make their charitable donations more meaningful to them.
Other new programs include corporate matching funds for local community work. The Arboretum hosts volunteer work-service parties for many local business and corporations throughout the year, and—in the case of some companies—not only do the volunteers donate their labor, but their companies will donate money to help offset the cost of materials and project coordination.
To find out what philanthropic programs your company might offer, contact your HR department. To find out about the many ways you can give to the Arboretum, contact us at giving@arboretumfoundation.org.
