How Odyssey Turns 1% into 100% Employee-Led Impact
At Odyssey Advisors, giving back has always been more than a corporate initiative — it’s part of who we are. Inspired by Salesforce’s 1-1-1 model and a 2019 holiday giving column by New York Times writer Nicholas Kristof, we began imagining what a meaningful, authentic, and team-driven approach to philanthropy could look like for our organization.
That reflection led us to develop a hybrid giving model rooted in the Pledge 1% ethos: Odyssey donates 1% of our gross revenues each year, and every team member has the opportunity to direct a portion of that giving to the causes that matter most to them. Rather than leadership selecting organizations, we empower our employees to be the decision-makers, ensuring our impact is personal, diverse, and deeply meaningful.
Why this approach?
Because each team member brings their own passions, lived experiences, and perspectives on the issues affecting their communities. By centering their voices, we not only broaden our charitable impact but also cultivate a culture of empathy, awareness, and shared purpose. Our model allows employees to champion organizations doing work they care deeply about — from local rescue shelters and addiction recovery programs to global health nonprofits and child hunger advocacy groups.
Every year, the range of causes our team chooses reminds us of how powerful collective giving can be. Whether supporting Alzheimer’s research, providing life-saving medical care in Uganda, helping families adopt rescued animals, or ensuring children in the United States have access to nutritious meals, our employees continually highlight the needs they see in the world and the ways we can make a meaningful difference together.
Our goal in sharing this story isn’t to seek recognition, but to inspire. Like so many teams, we asked ourselves: How can we give back in a way that truly reflects who we are? Our Pledge 1% journey has become our answer. Each year, our team drives impact that extends far beyond Odyssey and we’re beyond grateful to our employees and clients who make that possible.
As we celebrate another year of giving, we’re reminded that generosity thrives when people are empowered to lead it. Every contribution, no matter the size, becomes part of a collective effort to renew, restore, and uplift our communities. This is the heart of our tradition and we’re proud to share it as part of the Pledge 1% movement.
