Aug 3, 2026

How Charity Captains strengthen TQL’s culture of giving

Employee volunteers turn their passion for service into community impact

By Shannon Russell

Key points:

TQL Charity Captains empower employees to lead local volunteer and fundraising efforts.
The Charity Captains program strengthens communities while building leadership, teamwork and connection.
Charity Captains are part of a companywide culture of giving that helped deliver $4.5 million, 8,400+ volunteer hours and support for 3,600 nonprofits in 2025.

Employee giving is meaningful when it's personal.

At TQL, Charity Captains turn that belief into action by organizing volunteer projects and fundraising efforts in their local communities. Through TQL Cares, the company's community service and volunteerism program, 138 Charity Captains currently coordinate volunteer and giving initiatives across 65+ offices.

Since launching in 2018, the Charity Captains program has given employees ownership of local giving efforts while helping them build leadership, communication and project management skills through service. Whether organizing a school supply drive, planning a day of service or coordinating a fundraiser, they create lasting impact close to home.

First-year Charity Captain Kelsey said connecting teammates with causes has been a highlight of her role.

“There’s something incredibly rewarding about bringing people together to support those in need and seeing the positive difference we can make as a team,” Kelsey said.

Explore the TQL giving series:

Building a culture of service, one event at a time
Behind every volunteer event and fundraiser is a Charity Captain who creates opportunities for coworkers to give back. For Jordan, the Charity Captain for TQL’s Fort Wayne office, that meant building a culture of service that continues to grow.

Fort Wayne was just beginning to establish itself in the TQL Cares Volunteer Challenge, a three-month initiative that encourages employees to serve their communities through team volunteerism, when Jordan took on the leadership role.

Two years later, Fort Wayne ranks among the Volunteer Challenge’s most active offices.

Jordan organized five events from April through July at the Ronald McDonald House Kindness Kitchen, a program where volunteers prepare meals to provide comfort and support for families with children receiving medical care. TQL’ers served meals, interacted with families and supported kitchen operations.

That was exactly the kind of connection Jordan hoped to build after a Group Sales Manager approached him about becoming a Charity Captain.

“What motivated me to lead this effort was the belief that our team could make a real difference if we simply provided opportunities for people to get involved, knowing that even small acts of service can have a significant impact on people's lives,” Jordan said.

Since taking on the role, Jordan has connected coworkers with causes they care about, from the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Northeast Indiana to The Rescue Mission in Fort Wayne and United Way.

Jordan said Volunteer Challenge events were “more rewarding than I ever imagined.” Supporting families during difficult times was inspiring, and seeing Team Fort Wayne members enthusiastically come together to serve the community made the effort even more special.

"They have fully embraced the culture we set out to create two years ago," Jordan said. "Watching that impact continue to grow and multiply has been the most meaningful part of this experience."

How small acts create a bigger impact
Jordan’s experience reflects what Charity Captains across TQL do every day: turn local ideas into opportunities for employees to serve.

The work of Charity Captains is part of a larger culture of giving across TQL. Since 2006, TQL has contributed more than $36.9 million to charitable causes, supporting nonprofits and communities nationwide.

TQL Cares’ reach extends beyond individual volunteer events. Its commitment to employee engagement and community impact, including the Charity Captain program, was recently recognized with a Nextpower Supplier Worker Wellbeing Award.

In 2025 alone, TQL’ers:

Donated $4.5 million through employee contributions, company matching programs and TQL Foundation initiatives
Supported 3,600 nonprofits nationwide
Volunteered more than 8,400 hours, an 11% increase over 2024
Participated in 216 team volunteer events and 111 employee-led fundraisers

Throughout the year, Charity Captains rally their offices around companywide giving initiatives, including the Annual Giving Campaign, Military Month and Cancer Awareness Month. They also organize local projects and fundraisers based on the needs of their communities.

More: TQL and Jennifer Garner team up to feed the hungry

“One of the things I've appreciated most is that TQL doesn't just encourage volunteering – it actively creates opportunities for employees to get involved. Having organized volunteer events, company support and teammates who are willing to show up makes it easy to give back, even with busy schedules,” Charity Captain Marianna said.

TQL supports those efforts with paid time off for volunteering, a 50% donation match for employee contributions, a $10 donation for every volunteer hour served, and up to $250 to support team volunteer events.

The moments that inspire employees to lead
Charity Captain Max’s motivation to serve comes from understanding the importance of showing up for others during difficult moments. Through his own experiences, he knows how meaningful a simple conversation, a smile or a moment of support can be for people going through tough times.

“I know from experience how much a smile and a brief conversation about anything else can mean the world, especially to a child and their family,” Max said.

More: How TQL employees turn holiday giving into community impact

Kelsey said serving as a Charity Captain has been rewarding because it unites her office for a greater purpose and strengthens coworker relationships while positively impacting the community. She has also involved her children in volunteer events.

“It’s important to me that they learn the value of giving back and understand that not everyone is fortunate enough to have a safe home or a strong support system. Being able to teach them compassion and a servant’s heart through these experiences is incredibly rewarding,” Kelsey said.

“Some of my favorite opportunities have been supporting the Sam Hubbard Foundation and the Boys & Girls Club. Knowing that we, as a TQL team, can positively impact the lives of children in our community is truly meaningful.”

Through Charity Captains, employees turn ideas into action, build connections with coworkers and create lasting change in their communities.

Want to do meaningful work with a company that shows up for its communities? Check out TQL’s job openings.

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