"Despite the difficult circumstances of the last two years, we’ve seen the good in people—and what we can accomplish when we all work together." Read more from Shana Hayes, Northern Trust’s director of corporate philanthropy, and our philosophy on giving.
When Northern Trust’s founder, Byron Smith, seeded a relief fund in 1893 for victims of a horrific fire at the Chicago World’s Fair, he was doing more than helping his neighbors; his actions demonstrated the role he believed business could play in uplifting society. We have followed his lead for more than 130 years—working to uplift communities around the world.
It’s become a companywide ethos, with $160MM donated and a million hours volunteered over the past decade. We’ve also continued to pivot to respond to the world around us—providing resources when and where they’re needed most. The last two years taught us a lot about that, as the pandemic continued to ravage every community, especially those who were already facing challenges. But despite the difficult circumstances, we’ve seen the good in people—and what we can accomplish when we all work together.
In 2021, Northern Trust went well beyond providing financial grants; we provided care, assistance and hours. Collectively and individually, our employees reached out within the communities we serve and beyond to lend their talents, their expertise or their presence when someone needed it.
In the end, it’s not about tallying the financial support; it’s about how we’ve helped to improve situations. I invite you to explore our 2021 Philanthropic Impact Report, and read about the people and places that have inspired us to do more.
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