Uncommon Together: Husch Blackwell’s Powerful Community Impact Strategy
Husch Blackwell is a national law firm with more than 20 offices across the United States, including a virtual office, The Link. The firm operates in various regions, providing legal services across multiple industries.
Husch Blackwell’s commitment to social impact is exemplified through its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) efforts, which include robust programs in employee and corporate giving, disaster relief matching, in-person and virtual volunteering, and strategic engagement initiatives. These programs are a core part of Husch Blackwell’s culture and reflect the firm’s dedication to being “Uncommon Together”—leveraging collective strengths to make a meaningful difference in communities nationwide.
The company achieved significant increases in both their donation engagement rate and total donations in 2024 and were featured in the 2025 CSR Industry Report. We interviewed Sara Williams, Corporate Social Responsibility Manager, to learn how Husch Blackwell managed such incredible results.
Can you share a bit about Husch Blackwell’s work to formalize a CSR strategy and what your aims are with CSR programs?
Husch Blackwell has taken strategic steps to formalize its CSR strategy under the “Uncommon Together” initiative. This strategy aligns the firm’s philanthropic vision with intentional action through structured programs, clear policies, and technology-supported systems such as YourCause CSRconnect. The firm’s CSR goals center on creating sustained impact, fostering a culture of giving, and supporting the communities where Husch Blackwell attorneys and business professionals live and work.
By implementing volunteer time-off policies and supporting local initiatives through firm-organized events, Husch Blackwell ensures CSR is integrated into teammate experiences and broader firm goals. By integrating CSR into the firm’s strategic framework, Husch Blackwell seeks to make a meaningful and lasting impact on the communities it serves.
What strategies have you found to be successful in encouraging employees donations towards giving campaigns, and to fundraise for disaster relief?
To foster a culture of generosity, Husch Blackwell has implemented several successful strategies to encourage its attorney and business professionals to make donations and fundraise for disaster relief. These include corporate matching of those donations, making it easy to give through platforms like CSRconnect, and organizing firmwide events that highlight pressing community needs. The firm runs annual Employee Giving Campaigns, which empower team members to support causes they are passionate about.
In 2024, these campaigns raised more than $230,000 for 44 charitable organizations, with 408 attorneys and business professionals participating. Additionally, the firm launched a blood donor appreciation program that recognizes those who donate blood, further promoting a culture of giving and social responsibility. Clear communication, compelling storytelling, and leadership participation help drive enthusiasm and elevate awareness across all office locations. Notably, in 2024 the firm contributed more than $2 million in charitable donations and facilitated 69 volunteer projects, demonstrating the success of these strategies in mobilizing collective impact.
Why is engaging new hire employees important and how do you incentivize it?
Engaging new hires from the outset is crucial to embedding CSR into Husch Blackwell’s culture. The firm quickly introduces new teammates to its Uncommon Together initiatives and provides simple ways to get involved. New hire engagement is supported through YourCause CSRconnect which streamlines participation in giving and volunteering. Additionally, the firm offers incentives such as paid volunteer time off and integrates community service into firm retreats and team events, reinforcing CSR as a shared value across roles and offices. This approach not only helps new attorneys and business professionals feel connected to the firm’s values but also encourages them to contribute to the firm’s social impact initiatives from the start of their journey with Husch Blackwell.
Data has the power to encapsulate impact and communicate inspiring stories. How does Husch Blackwell think about data collection and impact reporting?
Husch Blackwell recognizes the power of data in encapsulating impact and communicating inspiring stories. Through the YourCause platform, the firm tracks volunteer hours, the value of those hours, donation amounts, and the specific outcomes achieved to quantify its CSR footprint. In 2024 alone, the firm’s attorneys and business professionals logged 2,349 volunteer hours across 69 projects. This data not only captures the breadth of engagement but also helps communicate success stories that inspire continued participation.
Impact metrics support transparency, enable continuous improvement, and serve as a powerful tool in demonstrating the value of the firm’s social responsibility initiatives to both internal and external stakeholders. This data is used to create comprehensive impact reports that highlight the firm’s contributions, and the positive changes brought about by its efforts. By leveraging data, Husch Blackwell can effectively demonstrate the tangible benefits of its CSR programs and inspire continued engagement and support from its stakeholders.
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