Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors

Encouraging Employees to Change The World

Doris and Don Fisher have long believed that anyone with a creative idea and an entrepreneurial spark can change the world. To honor the Fishers upon the 35th anniversary of their successful business — Gap Inc. — the company established the Founders’ Award in 2005. The unique global program recognizes Gap Inc. employees who, like the Fishers, have tapped inner reserves of passion, commitment and creativity to make a difference in their communities.

Our team worked closely with Gap Inc. executives to design, develop and implement the Founders’ Award, and the program is now gaining recognition in the corporate world as a model for encouraging and recognizing employee volunteerism. Award winners receive up to 80 hours of paid leave to contribute to their community through their nonprofit partner organizations. In addition, the organization receives a Gap Inc. grant of up to $50,000 to pursue its worthy goals.

In its inaugural year, the Founders’ Award attracted more than 200 applications from individuals and teams in 40 states and 10 countries. From these applicants, a winner and a runner-up were selected — both of whom are true role models of the spirit of Doris and Don Fisher. Winner Sarah Heitkamp, a store manager in Grand Forks, North Dakota, has a plan to provide travel and nutritional assistance to needy cancer patients in her home state. Runner-up Sal Aguilera, associate store manager in San Diego, California, is making repairs and adding more teachers to a school in Tijuana, Mexico that serves children who live on the city’s garbage dump.