When you think about your community, what comes to mind first? Is it the geography of where you live, the people who live and work around you, or something else?
Maybe you think about the people and establishments that support your community and help enrich your life and the lives of so many others.
The team at Masco Corporation understands the importance of community impact and that’s why they take the jobs they do far outside the walls where they work.
Masco, an industry leader in plumbing and architectural products, takes seriously its vision for better living possibilities for everyone.
As the company has grown -- to more than 18,000 employees across the globe, currently -- it enhances the lives of those in the community, in more ways than one.
While they are passionate about contributing their efforts, it’s not simply a part of their job or something they do to check a box.
As part of a full-time commitment to supporting diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) progress in the community, Masco launched its Masco Million Differences program in 2018 and continues the program today.
“Masco’s diversity, equity and inclusion strategy focuses on three audiences: our workplace, our communities and our marketplace,” said Renee Straber, Masco’s chief human resource officer. “The Masco Million Differences campaign is at the forefront of our efforts to deliver better living possibilities in the communities where we live and work.”
Straber said the program facilitates employee engagement and volunteerism with partner organizations to broaden its employees’ perspectives of real-life barriers to inclusion.
“Through our annual million-dollar pledge, we equip our partners with financial resources that enable them to continue to be change agents in their community,” she said.
What does that mean? Through the program, Masco has allocated $1,000,000 of its annual philanthropic funding to support nonprofit organizations across the country that are dedicated to breaking down barriers to diversity and inclusion in America’s corporate workforce. But it’s about so much more than financial support.
According to Straber, “The program’s goal was not only to provide financial support to high-impact organizations in our local communities where our employees live, work and do business, but to also enhance our ability to create lasting partnerships and build our own awareness and understanding of the many dimensions of diversity and inclusion.”
Masco’s leaders will tell you that its approach to DEI is holistic and infused throughout its culture and business. Last year alone, Masco and its business units engaged with more than 60 community partners in the DEI space.
“That engagement has deepened our employees’ understanding of others,” Straber said.
The program support is focused on three main areas to support diversity in the workplace:
- The education component: Supports academic opportunities for underrepresented populations to increase their access to the workplace pipeline. This includes scholarship organizations, mentorship programs, college preparedness initiatives and classroom-based learning.
- The job training and employment component: Supports programs to help underrepresented populations gain direct access to the workplace pipeline. This is done through job training, employment services and coaching, internship experiences and work skills development.
- The professional diversity organization component: Supports organizations that work to advance minority representation in a specific field or to develop inclusive workplaces and communities.
“This program provides financial support to high-impact diversity, equity and inclusion organizations in our local communities to help address the barriers and biases that affect people’s ability to fully access opportunities or bring their whole selves to work,” Straber said.
In the six years since its inception, employees across Masco have engaged with Masco Million Differences grant recipients in varying ways, including participating in 5ks, mentoring elementary and high school students, and serving on nonprofit boards, to name just a few.
“Our partnership with the Michigan Council of Women in Technology is a great example of our work in this area. MCWT seeks to inspire and grow women in technology, and to engage and retain female tech professionals in Michigan,” Straber said. “In addition to funding, throughout the past five years, Masco employees have mentored female college students in STEM through the MCWT mentoring program, participated in the organization’s advisory board and supported fundraising events.”
Like many companies, Straber said, Masco leaders believe an environment that is inclusive and leverages diverse backgrounds and perspectives allows them to build stronger teams, create better solutions and increase innovation.
“Masco strives to push beyond that foundation and cultivate a sense of belonging, not only for its employees, but for all its shareholders, customers, suppliers and community partners” Straber said. “We are committed to creating an environment, both inside and outside our walls, where all employees are included, treated with dignity and respect and in a position to contribute to our future success.”
The year 2023 marked the sixth year of Masco’s Million Difference Campaign, dispersing cumulatively more than $6 million in cash donations to the effort to more than 140 organizations nationwide. In 2024, its efforts will continue for the seventh year.
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