Northern Trust: Leadership in Community Service

About Project

Communitas Awards Nomination
Empowering Communities Through Employee Volunteerism at Northern Trust

Purpose:
Achieving Greater Together (AGT) was launched as Northern Trust’s signature global month of service, held annually in October. The initiative was born from a desire to deepen and broaden our community impact and reinforce the company’s culture of service. AGT reflects Northern Trust’s belief in the power of collective action by mobilizing employees to give back through hands-on service, skills-based volunteering, and charitable engagement.
AGT solidifies our deep-rooted commitment to civic engagement, dating back to our founding in 1889. Our commitment goes beyond service—it’s about weaving philanthropy into the very fabric of our culture and inspiring every employee to become a catalyst for change in their communities. By giving back to the places where we live and work around the world, we affirm our dedication to creating opportunities and fostering financial stability for all.

The program seeks to address some of the most pressing challenges in the communities where Northern Trust employees live and work, including economic inequality, limited access to quality education, and barriers to financial empowerment. Studies show that when essential human needs are met, benchmarks of long-term financial success—career opportunities, savings and home ownership—rise substantially, and paths to improved opportunity become more accessible. In support of those paths, Northern Trust is deploying a long-term community investment strategy designed to drive individual advancement and broader wealth creation. We are focusing our resources, capabilities and business expertise on four key areas of fundamental impact that—when strengthened from the start—enrich our communities and the lives of everyone in them. Through strategic partnerships, volunteerism, and philanthropic investments, AGT aims to create pathways for educational success, workforce development, and inclusive economic growth, helping communities thrive and fostering opportunities for all.

Challenges:
In response to the evolving nature of hybrid work environments, Northern Trust adapted our employee engagement strategies to incorporate virtual volunteering platforms. These innovations ensure that volunteer opportunities remain accessible to employees working remotely or residing in regions with limited in-person options. Through events such as virtual interview preparation, mentoring sessions, and online networking, Northern Trust continues to demonstrate our enduring commitment to community service, even in the face of logistical challenges. These innovations allow us to continue to scale AGT and increase the number of hours served and employees engaged.

A compelling example of this methodology was showcased in our most recent global campaign, where U.S.-based employees partnered with colleagues in India to produce a children’s audiobook for worldwide distribution. This initiative reflects Northern Trust’s dedication to fostering meaningful cross-border collaboration and demonstrates how we leverage advanced technology to unite teams across continents. By transforming geographic distance into an opportunity for innovation, we not only enriched the campaign’s impact but also reinforced our commitment to creating inclusive, globally connected experiences that benefit communities everywhere.

Beneficiaries:
Community partners actively shape AGT by submitting volunteer opportunities and co-creating events that reflect local needs. Stakeholders, including nonprofit leaders, beneficiaries, and civic partners, play a vital role in amplifying the campaign’s reach, while Northern Trust enhances its impact through strategic philanthropy, such as meal donations tied to volunteer hours. This dynamic, reciprocal engagement fosters sustainable relationships and drives measurable outcomes that extend far beyond the month of service.
The campaign benefits a wide spectrum of individuals and organizations across the globe. More than 1,500 nonprofit partners including organizations such as Habitat For Humanity International, Ronald McDonald Charities, and Feeding America receive hands-on volunteer support, capacity-building assistance, and financial contributions. The direct beneficiaries of our volunteer initiatives include individuals facing food insecurity, homelessness, and barriers to education and healthcare. Beyond these critical areas, Northern Trust volunteers also support organizations dedicated to animal welfare, early childhood development, senior care, and the arts, with many other causes included as well. This broad spectrum of engagement underscores our commitment to addressing diverse community needs and creating meaningful impact across multiple sectors.

Results:
In 2025 alone, AGT achieved the following:
- Volunteer Hours: 63,000+
-Unique participants: 12,096
- Meals Donated: Over 3 million meals donated
- Thousands of meals, hygiene kits, educational supplies, and enrichment activities delivered across regions globally.

Engagement Metrics: Weekly committee meetings and platform analytics ensure real-time tracking and accountability. Northern Trust utilizes YourCause’s iVolunteer platform which tracks volunteer hours and participants by region, country, and business unit during the month of AGT.

Resources Invested:
Northern Trust invests in significant financial, human, and technological resources to ensure the success of Achieving Greater Together (AGT), our global month of service. In 2025, we donated 3.17 million meals through food bank partners, funded by corporate contributions tied to volunteer hours. In 2024, Northern Trust donated a comprehensive $14 million to charities across the globe. Employees receive two paid volunteer days annually, enabling record participation—over 63,000 hours logged across 20 countries—and contribute skills-based expertise in mentoring, financial literacy, and job readiness. AGT is powered by dedicated global committees, a robust iVolunteer platform for tracking impact, and strategic communications, amplifying engagement and visibility. These investments reflect Northern Trust’s commitment to mobilizing resources for measurable, sustainable community impact.