In the final post of our Employee Resource Group (ERG) spotlight series, we highlight BitlyCares and its leader, Steve Aveni (Director, Customer Operations & Services). BitlyCares is an employee-driven group committed to positive and sustainable social impact through charity and community outreach. Through these employee-led efforts, BitlyCares reinforces our holistic approach to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DE&I).
What motivated you to lead BitlyCares?
Steve: Bitly employees (aka our Bitizens!) have always been open and willing to help each other, and that’s now extending to our community. I saw BitlyCares as an opportunity to share our internal giving culture and provide a stage for Bitizens to showcase that character externally. It allowed us to share what matters most to us beyond our workday.
One of my StrengthsFinder qualities is that I’m an “includer.” I want to bring people together and elevate them. I want to make sure people aren’t left out. BitlyCares is my way of being who I am, leading by doing, and helping make a difference more significant than myself.
Instinctively, I like to see the good in people. BitlyCares is the platform for me to highlight the good in our Bitizens.
What are the key areas of focus for BitlyCares?
Steve: BitlyCares exists to provide Bitizens with the resources and support needed to work together toward positive and sustainable social impact through community outreach initiatives. We seek to reinforce our ongoing and collective efforts focused on the greater good in areas that matter to us, such as the environment, education, social justice, and humanitarian crises like Ukraine.
What charities, nonprofits, or organizations has BitlyCares supported in the last year?
Steve: In 2022, we focused on a few key areas: the environment, supporting Ukraine, and mental health access. While much of this came from individual employees, they were supported throughout the year with several matching donation campaigns from the company.
In March, we mobilized immediate action to support Ukraine through the International Rescue Committee. We’ve also supported nonprofits such as the World Resources Institute and the National Alliance on Mental Illness throughout the year.
Additionally, through various events and initiatives this year, including Giving Tuesday, Bitizens donated to over 50 other charitable organizations of their choice.
How does this impact the Bitly culture?
Steve: I call it the “cycle of giving.” The more we encourage people to give, the better our results, which fuel the next round of excitement for more giving and a more profound impact.
Everyone has the opportunity to contribute and can make an impact in their way. There’s not one way to give: You can give your time, raise funds, ask for donations, lead volunteer events, or help behind the scenes to execute initiatives. Generosity comes in many forms, and I love how BitlyCares really champions the most inclusive side of our company.
How does the BitlyCares program bring the DE&I tagline “Every Bit Counts!” to life? What does it mean to you? What does it mean for this group?
Steve: One example was our marketing campaign during Advertising Week in New York City last fall. Instead of just handing out swag to attendees, we used our activation for social good. At our booth we were, of course, talking about the power of Bitly as a marketing tool, but we were also appealing to people’s sweet tooth by handing out cookie dough from a local vendor, Cookie Dough NYC. The dough was the lure, Bitly was the chit-chat, and then we turned every visit into a “dough-nation” to the World Resources Institute.
Another example that stands out was our “Global Catalysts for Movement” challenge last May. Our goal was to see if we could collectively move 6,283 miles (10,111 kilometers); that is, the distance from our San Francisco office to our office in Bielefeld, Germany.
We said, “a mile a day in May” will help us achieve our goal. With over half of the company participating, we encouraged them to get outside and move—literally! Every bit that people biked, ran, walked, or rolled helped impact our 6300-mile goal while improving everyone’s daily lives.
Every movement. Every interaction at a conference. They all contributed to making a bit of a difference for BitlyCares and the causes we support.
Visit Bitly to learn more about all of our ERGs and our mission to be a catalyst for connections for our customers, employees, and communities.