Industry charitable giving and volunteerism: A call to bolster momentum

The end of the year presents an opportunity for businesses to review not only profits and losses, but to reflect on the work performed in support of greater good – the impact we made through our companies on our communities.

In 2024, the insurance industry once again was an impressive force, working as individuals, as companies and as an industry to better the communities where we live and work. But – as is often the case – although we have accomplished so much, communities remain in need.

As an industry founded on the premise of helping others when they need it most, we need to sustain that momentum in continuing to care for our communities.

Opening doors

I started my career in asset management at Solomon Smith Barney in New York, but after the September 11 terrorist attacks, I joined Aon. I had just completed my Master of Business Administration (MBA) and the company was looking to rebuild after losing several colleagues tragically in the attacks. It was a challenging time for all of us at the firm.

Early on at Aon, I noticed a corporate commitment to giving back that I’ve only seen grow during the years. But, in those early days, I also recognized a need for helping others grow professionally, particularly women.

As I ascended the ladder, I decided to form my own nonprofit alongside other female leaders in the insurance industry. The idea was to gather female leaders across the insurance industry to network and work together to develop and enhance their professional skills.

Today, that organization, known as The Bridge, is an inclusive nonprofit aiming to support the development of female talent across financial lines, including insurance and reinsurers and increase the number of diverse professionals in senior roles. We host leadership and educational events, a six-month mentorship program, golf instructions, networking gatherings and more. The initiatives have been so successful that, recently, The Bridge expanded to launch new chapters in the West, Midwest, Southeast and Texas.

Making a difference together

As an industry created to solve clients’ needs after lifechanging events, a desire to help others is embedded in everything we do. As a result, our industry tends to attract people who want to problem solve and give back.

In recent years, insurance has gotten much better at presenting opportunities to individuals to give back as they join the industry. We see this at Aon. People are interested in meaningful work and getting involved in charitable giving and volunteerism upon hire. As a result, companies like Aon are becoming more visible and vocal with their efforts using our website, social media, blogs and more to share our stories and our impact.

The benefits of a workforce engaged in giving back are manyfold. It allows us to connect better with our colleagues, our partners, customers and vendors and invites our employees to connect on different levels with each other and our community.

Other companies looking to create new philanthropic initiatives might find inspiration in some of Aon’s successful efforts, which this year were honored by the Insurance Industry Charitable Foundation (IICF) with the IICF Northeast Division “Double I” Award, recognizing a company’s impact in the community and influence on the industry.

Leading initiatives focused on supporting the broader communities at Aon in the US include:

Taking action

While Aon hopes to inspire others in the industry to further fuel philanthropic momentum for 2025 and beyond, we are not in this alone. Many companies across the industry have prioritized charitable giving and volunteerism in recent years. In fact, the IICF found that giving by a select group of only 120 companies across the industry in 2022 totaled more than $1 billion.

Leaders in our industry who want to continue to advance this movement should consider these best practices:

Finally, it’s imperative for our industry to unite in this effort. We can make a greater impact by motivating each other and continuing to share best practices. Staying connected and sharing in this mission to serve others together is how we will sustain a culture of charitable giving and volunteerism in 2025 and beyond.

Christine Williams is Northeast Region Leader at Aon. She is also founder and vice president of The Bridge. Christine will be accepting the IICF "Double I" Award on behalf of Aon at the IICF Northeast Benefit Dinner Dec. 4 in New York City.