In theory, the idea of a startup giving away money doesn’t make much sense. An early stage company that is already scrounging for dollars doesn’t have much to spare, right?

But for many tech startups in the Fargo-Moorhead community, the payback for giving isn’t monetary.

The team at Heat Transfer Warehouse, a local heat transfer material manufacturer, has made giving back a part of the culture for over 2 years, said founder and CEO Kirk Anton.

His team notices.

“It’s being involved with each other, not just at work but outside in the community,” said Karly Bondy, a Heat Transfer Warehouse teammate. “It makes us stronger.”

Myriad Mobile, a local software solution startup, sees it as a way to be a part of the community.

“It’s our responsibility as community members to give back,” said Camille Grade, Myriad Mobile marketing and communications manager. “Our nonprofits provide vital services and without proper funding those services would decrease, or even worse, cease to exist.”

The Giving Heart’s Day Challenge

This year for Giving Heart’s Day on February 11, local tech startups have a new way to give. A project designed by Impact Foundation and Emerging Prairie challenges local tech startups to get involved – down to the very last employee.

Here’s how it works:

a.    For 75% employee participation in Giving Hearts Day giving: Impact Foundation will give $500 to the company’s charity of choice

b.   For 100% employee participation in Giving Hearts Day giving: Impact Foundation will give $1,500 to the company’s charity of choice

c.   For the business whose employees collectively give the greatest total on Giving Hearts Day: Impact Foundation will give an additional$2,500 to the company’s charity of choice (subject to Dakota Medical/Impact Foundation budget).

Participating startups include:

• Emerging Prairie
• Hash Interactive
• Heat Transfer Warehouse
• Clifton Labs
• Myriad Mobile
• Coschedule

Anton at Heat Transfer Warehouse jumped on the idea, intrigued by the team aspect, he said.

“As a team we’ve done donations but as a company everybody is going to give a bit individually,” he said. “It’s getting everybody involved. It’s like a next level. It’s doing more.”

“I think that’s really good for us,” he added.

For some teams, who *cough* may only have four members, the 100% mark is easier to hit. But for others, not so much. Grade said that at Myriad Mobile, “free food always helps,” and they’ll be luring in the team that way on Thursday. Both companies happily reported that the outlook was good.

Learn more about Giving Heart’s Day here!