Firms giving back: RSM US donates $4M via Birdies Fore Love

Top 25 Firm Eide Bailly announced the winners of its 2020 Nonprofit Resourcefullness Awards, highlighting nonprofits with creative revenue ideas from Arizona, Colorado, Minnesota and North Dakota. Grand prize winners receive $10,000 each.

“We are proud to continue showing our commitment to the nonprofit community through the Eide Bailly Resourcefullness Award," said Deb Nelson, partner-in-charge of Eide Bailly’s nonprofit group, in a statement. "The innovative and creative ideas that are shared each year continue to inspire me. Not only are nonprofits rising to financial challenges, but they continue to serve their communities more than ever in this uncertain time."

2020 Resourcefullness Award recipients include:

Arizona: Treasures 4 Teachers
Colorado: PBS 12
Minnesota: Page Education Foundation
North Dakota: Family HealthCare

For more information, head to the firm's site here.

Grant Thornton has named Hope in a Box as the sixth nonprofit recipient of its Purple Paladin initiative — a program designed to help emerging nonprofit organizations move from startups to more sustainable organizations via funding, business advice and volunteer support.

Founded in 2018 by Joe English, Hope in a Box provides educators with literature, curricula and coaching to improve school environments for LGBTQ+ students. The group offers free boxed sets of materials, designed for high school and middle school students, with boxes containing books featuring positive LGBTQ+ characters and themes.

"Hope in a Box is an inspiring organization that’s found a way to make an enormous difference for young people facing what can be a challenging time in their lives," said Grant Thornton CEO Brad Preber in a statement. "It’s the kind of organization that is making our society more inclusive and equitable. And Grant Thornton shares this mission, which is why we are eager to help Hope in a Box grow and thrive so it can do even more great work."

Hope in a Box joins five other nonprofits previously designated as Purple Paladin recipients by Grant Thornton: Weird Enough Productions, Invisible Hands Deliver, Pal Experiences, Sneakers for Soldiers and Coming Up Rosies.

RSM US presented a check worth more than $4 million to the Davis Love Foundation as part of its employee-led Birdies Fore Love campaign, in connection with the 11th annual RSM Classic PGA Tour event.

RSM's staff across the U.S. and in Canada, with matched donations from the RSM US Foundation, raised funds for various nonprofits focused on education and quality of life for children and families in need.

“It’s such an honor to be able to support the communities where our 13,000 people live and work across the country and in Canada,” said Doug Opheim, chief financial officer with RSM US and chair of the RSM US Foundation, in a statement. “Thanks to the support of our people, our clients and others, as well as the leadership efforts of this year’s Birdies Fore Love efforts, Andrew Lynch and Chris Waddail, we’re proud to have raised more than $4 million this year to enhance our communities. The RSM Classic has become not only a unique Seaside tradition for our clients and friends, but part of the very fabric of our firm. We are grateful to Davis Love III and the rest of our Team RSM members, the PGA Tourand others for helping elevate our firm’s fundraising efforts to benefit those in need.”

Charitable donations raised through the RSM Classic are distributed by the RSM US Foundation and the Davis Love Foundation, a 501(c) (3) nonprofit organization that manages the RSM Classic tournament. Established in 2005, the Davis Love Foundation was founded by professional golfer and Team RSM member Davis Love III and his wife Robin.

“RSM’s sponsorship of The RSM Classic and the firm’s support for the Sea Island community as well as the other communities where RSM’s people live and work are essential to the success of the tournament, and make a profound positive impact in the world,” said PGA Tour golfer Davis Love III in a statement. “Through the actions of its people, RSM proves day after day and year after year that its core value of stewardship is at the center of everything the firm does. I’m proud to be a Team RSM member, and am humbled by everything that we’re able to achieve together.”

The 2021 RSM Classic is scheduled for Nov. 15–21 at Sea Island Golf Club in Georgia’s Golden Isles.