A North Dakota-based financial services company gave its 500-plus employees a gift that gives back at its annual Christmas party this week. State Bank and Trust will provide each staff member with a gift of up to $1000 on the condition staff "pay it forward" for local individuals or organizations in need. The announcement (complete with Oprah impersonator) generated a lot of buzz within the organization and has already attracted interest from other companies and media internationally.

The idea has merit on several levels:

• creates relationships and profile in the community (and beyond) for the organization
• raises awareness of community needs
• empowers staff (donors) in researching and selecting recipients
• connects staff (donors) with the impact of their gifts
• gives potential for longer term relationships as corporate or individual volunteers or donors
• creates opportunities for leveraging of gifts; some staff members are pooling their donations and seeking matching gifts from other funders
• is relatively simple from an administrative point of view
• opens the door for future PR

The company will publish a report after the deadline concludes in June 2008.