How these Bonterrans live their values 

People are often drawn to work at Bonterra because of its positive impact on the social good sector. It’s probably not surprising then to learn that Bonterrans are also dedicated volunteers, giving time and energy toward organizations supporting causes they care about. Members of the executive team are no different. We recently spoke to three leaders about their volunteering efforts and the positive impacts they’ve experienced over the years. 

By sharing their journeys, they hope to inspire others to make time to give back. According to AmeriCorps, the national volunteering rate grew by more than 22% between 2021 and 2023, with more than 75.7 million Americans serving through an organization. In addition to providing much-needed help to nonprofits, volunteers are also more likely to donate to the organizations they serve. Those who give of their time are the lifeblood of the social good industry, and they’re foundational to reaching Bonterra’s goal of raising total giving in the US from 2.5% to 3% of GDP by 2033. 

Lifelong connections 

Dan Seals, chief information security officer, is passionate about and supports a variety of causes, but one especially close to his heart is the Wikimedia Foundation, the organization that supports Wikipedia. As a kid, Dan didn’t have access to a family-owned encyclopedia, which meant information could only be found at a local library until he bought his first computer in high school. “Going from limited access to a world of information at my fingertips had a lasting impact on me,” he says. “Free and open access to information helps create opportunities for everyone, regardless of background. It’s something we must protect and preserve.” 

Technology is the root of another foundational volunteering experience for Dan, one that showed him how working toward a shared goal can create lifelong connections. Dan served as webmaster and president of his university’s chapter of Alpha Phi Omega, a national, gender-inclusive fraternity and nonprofit focused on promoting service and leadership. He built and launched a digital platform that replaced legacy paper-and-pen processes. “The results were immediate — we saw a 400% increase in volunteer hours the semester it was launched,” he says. “But the benefit that’s stayed with me the most is the relationships; many of the people I served alongside back then remain some of my closest friends to this day.” 

He leans on those relationships to encourage others to support another cause close to his heart — blood donation. When he encountered some health challenges last year, he became aware of the critical shortage in blood supplies. He also learned that his blood type is always in demand, and it inspired him to take action. These days, he regularly donates blood, volunteers at local blood drives, and encourages his friends and family to donate as well. “It truly can save lives,” he says. 

Being part of the solution 

Many of the causes that Matthew Hardy supports are related to social justice, including police reform, prison reform, and sentence reform. Bonterra’s chief financial officer admits the focus is very broad “because the system is so broken, from top to bottom.”  

Choosing where to put time and energy can feel overwhelming, given the scope of the dysfunction. “I find I have to make a conscious effort to focus on activities that will have the most direct impact to drive change,” Matthew says. When he lived in Los Angeles, he volunteered and attended protests with the local chapter of Critical Resistance and Justice LA. It was gratifying to see their combined efforts result in a vote from the LA County Board of Supervisors to end a multi-billion-dollar jail expansion plan.  

Now that he’s relocated to Salt Lake City, he’s finding the state government to be less receptive to change. “I am working on finding allies to drive reform,” he says. It’s challenging on a personal level as well. As an introvert, getting involved requires Matthew to dig deep when he attends a protest or event. “I remind myself that everyone there is like-minded and wants change as much as I do.”   

Volunteering with social justice organizations has given him a sense of agency in a world that often feels out of control. “I used to spend lots of time being outraged at the injustice inherent in our current system,” says Matthew, who’d prefer to see it all torn down and rebuilt from scratch. “I decided that rather than hope for something that was unrealistic, I needed to fight for incremental change.” Watching other activists gain traction and get involved has been healing as well. 

Opening doors 

Kimberly O’Donnell, chief fundraising officer, credits volunteering to her career in the social good space. “While volunteering is always about giving back, it’s also brought me a sense of joy, growth, and connection,” she says. What started out as a volunteer opportunity as a new grad turned into a full-time job as executive director of the Alexandria Volunteer Bureau (now Volunteer Alexandria), where she advocated for volunteerism.  

She’s come to champion the non-profit sector as a whole, especially causes that support youth and education. Two especially impactful experiences have been serving as an emergency foster parent for children and serving on the board of Stop Child Abuse Now (SCAN) of Northern Virginia. “These experiences have deepened my belief that every child deserves safety, stability, and the chance to thrive,” she says. 

Volunteering is a core value for Kimberly, who encourages others to start with a cause that lights them up and then lead by example. “When leaders visibly and authentically engage in philanthropy and activism — whether through giving, volunteering, or advocacy — it signals what matters and inspires others to follow suit,” she says. “It doesn’t have to be big to be meaningful.” 

Stronger together 

Those who work at Bonterra have the unique opportunity to interact with doers of good on a daily basis – customers and colleagues serve on the front lines of important work. While societal problems can feel insurmountable, seeing others work toward change is inspiring and motivating.  

“By engaging authentically in this work and integrating it into the way we operate, we can inspire our teams, support our communities, and ultimately help shift the national mindset around giving,” says Dan. “If we want to reach 3% by 2033, it starts with each of us modeling what that commitment looks like — both inside and outside of the office.”