When stay-at-home orders went into effect and restaurants and stores were shuttered in response to the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020, RSM developed a program to support its clients, colleagues and communities.
Employees were trying to navigate work, school, childcare, eldercare and more in a very uncertain environment. Clients in the restaurant and retail industries were struggling as they had to shut their doors to customers and rely on delivery or curbside pickup. Communities were trying to figure out the best way to feed children and families—many of whom relied on schools for healthy meals.
To help address these challenges, RSM provided a $50 per week per-diem to every employee, partner and principal to use for meal delivery or groceries in March and April. In addition to helping RSM’s people and their families, this program supported businesses and injected capital into local communities at a critical time.
RSM knew that not every person in the firm would use the per-diem, so the firm decided to donate any unused funds through the RSM US Foundation. One of the objectives of the foundation is to create national impact while supporting local communities, so each of the firm’s office leaders in the U.S. and Canada selected a food pantry or food bank in their local community to receive funds.
Overall the program contributed $4.7 million in the months of March and April—with $2.9 million spent by RSM’s people to support local businesses and $1.8 million donated to food banks.
“Thank you for your generous donation,” said one charitable recipient. “100% of the funds are going to providing food for students and their families during this very difficult time.”
