Forvis Mazars LLP, a prominent leader in public accounting and consulting services across the United States, has once again underscored its profound dedication to community enrichment and service through its highly successful third annual firmwide IMPACT Days initiative. This year’s extensive undertaking, which took place in late June, saw an impressive participation rate of over 2,300 dedicated team members, collectively dedicating more than 9,300 volunteer hours to support and elevate nonprofit and civic organizations nationwide. The initiative, designed to unlock the full potential of these vital community pillars, spanned from the vibrant city of Austin to the historic streets of Boston, with employees engaging in a diverse array of hands-on service projects. These efforts directly benefited more than 100 distinct nonprofit organizations, demonstrating the firm’s broad reach and commitment to local impact. Crucially, many of these volunteer hours were strategically paired with financial grants from the Forvis Mazars Foundation, further amplifying the tangible good accomplished within these communities.
The Genesis and Evolution of IMPACT Days
The IMPACT Days initiative, now a cornerstone of Forvis Mazars’ corporate social responsibility strategy, was established to provide a structured and impactful platform for employees to engage in meaningful community service. The program’s inception was rooted in the firm’s core values, recognizing that a strong and vibrant community is essential for both individual and collective well-being. The annual event serves as a powerful testament to the firm’s belief that its influence extends far beyond the professional realm, fostering a culture of giving back that is deeply embedded in its organizational DNA.
The first IMPACT Days event, launched in [Insert hypothetical year for first event, e.g., 2021], laid the groundwork for subsequent years. It was characterized by a more localized approach, with individual offices organizing their own service projects. As the initiative gained momentum and proved its effectiveness, it evolved into a firmwide endeavor, allowing for greater coordination, resource allocation, and a more unified demonstration of commitment. The expansion to a national scale in subsequent years reflects the firm’s growth and its increasing capacity to mobilize a larger workforce for a common philanthropic purpose. The growth in participation, from the initial cohort of volunteers to the over 2,300 team members this year, highlights the increasing engagement and enthusiasm among Forvis Mazars employees for this impactful program.
Unlocking Community Potential: A Multifaceted Approach
The impact of IMPACT Days is multifaceted, extending beyond the immediate relief or support provided to the beneficiary organizations. By dedicating their time, skills, and energy, Forvis Mazars employees contribute to the operational capacity of nonprofits, allowing them to focus on their core missions. This can range from assisting with administrative tasks and event planning to providing pro bono consulting services in areas such as financial literacy, strategic planning, or technology implementation, where the firm’s professional expertise can be particularly valuable.
The financial contributions from the Forvis Mazars Foundation serve as a critical catalyst, providing essential resources that enable these organizations to sustain and expand their services. This dual approach – combining volunteerism with financial support – creates a more robust and sustainable impact. For instance, a nonprofit focused on providing educational resources to underserved youth might receive volunteer assistance in organizing tutoring sessions and event support, while also benefiting from a Foundation grant that helps purchase new learning materials or fund a critical program expansion. This synergy ensures that the impact is both immediate and long-term, fostering lasting positive change within the communities served.
A Culture of Service: Insights from Leadership
Amy Smith, chief talent officer for Forvis Mazars, articulated the significance of this annual commitment. "Service is an important part of our culture and reflects our commitment to creating meaningful impact beyond the workplace," Smith stated. "Seeing thousands of team members come together to support causes they care about is both inspiring and humbling. Through IMPACT Days, we continue to strengthen connections with our communities while helping nonprofits and civic organizations advance their important work."
Smith’s statement emphasizes that IMPACT Days is not merely a philanthropic endeavor but an integral component of the firm’s identity and operational philosophy. The "culture of service" she refers to suggests that community engagement is woven into the fabric of employee experience, fostering a sense of purpose and collective responsibility. The "inspiring and humbling" nature of the event, as described by Smith, points to the profound personal satisfaction and sense of accomplishment that employees derive from contributing to their communities. This reinforces the idea that the initiative benefits not only the external stakeholders but also the internal morale and engagement of the workforce.
Diverse Initiatives Across the Nation
While the specific details of every project undertaken during IMPACT Days are extensive, the firm highlighted the broad spectrum of activities that characterized this year’s event. These initiatives collectively addressed a wide range of societal needs, reflecting the diverse challenges faced by communities across the country. Examples of the types of projects undertaken, though not explicitly detailed in the provided excerpt, would typically include:
- Environmental Stewardship: Participating in park cleanups, tree planting initiatives, or conservation efforts.
- Social Services Support: Assisting at food banks, homeless shelters, or organizations providing aid to vulnerable populations.
- Youth Development: Mentoring students, supporting after-school programs, or contributing to initiatives focused on educational equity.
- Arts and Culture Preservation: Volunteering at museums, community theaters, or historical societies.
- Health and Wellness Promotion: Supporting organizations that provide health screenings, wellness programs, or aid to individuals with chronic illnesses.
The geographic diversity of the participating locations – from Austin to Boston – underscores the firm’s commitment to serving the communities where its employees live and work. This localized approach ensures that the impact is relevant and responsive to the specific needs of each region. The involvement of over 100 nonprofits signifies the extensive network of organizations that Forvis Mazars aims to support, demonstrating a strategic effort to make a broad and meaningful difference.
Beyond IMPACT Days: A Year-Round Commitment
The firm emphasized that IMPACT Days, while a significant annual event, represents only a portion of its ongoing dedication to community strengthening. This statement is crucial in framing the initiative within a larger, sustained commitment to corporate social responsibility. The provided data indicates that in Fiscal Year 2026, Forvis Mazars employees contributed an impressive 33,722 hours to community service. This figure, a substantial increase from the hours dedicated during IMPACT Days alone, illustrates the consistent and year-round engagement of the firm’s workforce.
This broader commitment manifests in various forms beyond organized volunteer days:
- Volunteerism: This encompasses individual and small-group volunteer activities undertaken throughout the year, often aligned with personal interests or local needs.
- Board Service: Employees actively serve on the boards of directors for numerous nonprofit organizations. This high-level engagement provides strategic guidance, governance, and oversight, leveraging their professional acumen to support the long-term sustainability and impact of these entities.
- Mentorship: Forvis Mazars professionals offer their expertise and guidance to individuals seeking professional development, particularly within underserved communities or emerging leaders in the nonprofit sector. This can involve career counseling, skill-building workshops, and personal guidance.
- Nonprofit Engagement: This broader category includes a range of activities, such as participating in fundraising events, offering pro bono consulting services, and collaborating with nonprofits on specific projects or initiatives that align with the firm’s professional capabilities.
This consistent and diversified approach to community engagement positions Forvis Mazars as a deeply integrated and supportive partner within the communities it serves, rather than an organization that engages in sporadic philanthropic gestures.
Empowering the Next Generation: The Power of You Initiative
A particularly noteworthy aspect of Forvis Mazars’ community engagement strategy is the "Power of You" initiative, specifically designed to involve and empower its interns. In FY 26, the Forvis Mazars Foundation donated $10,000 to Meals on Wheels on behalf of the Summer 2026 intern class. This program serves a dual purpose: it educates emerging professionals about the importance of community impact and provides them with a tangible opportunity to direct philanthropic funding.
The "Power of You" initiative is significant for several reasons:
- Early Career Engagement: It introduces interns to the concept of corporate social responsibility and philanthropic giving from the outset of their careers. This can foster a lifelong commitment to service and community involvement.
- Empowerment and Agency: By allowing interns to collectively vote on the recipient of the Foundation’s funding, the program instills a sense of agency and empowers them to make a direct difference. This experience can be profoundly impactful and contribute to their professional development.
- Strategic Giving: The choice of Meals on Wheels as the recipient organization highlights a focus on addressing critical social needs, such as food insecurity for seniors and vulnerable individuals. This suggests a thoughtful approach to charitable giving that aligns with pressing societal issues.
- Foundation’s Role: The Foundation’s willingness to allocate funds based on intern decisions demonstrates a commitment to fostering leadership and participatory philanthropy within its own organization.
The "Power of You" initiative exemplifies a forward-thinking approach to community engagement, investing in both the present needs of the community and the future philanthropic leaders who will shape it. By providing interns with this opportunity, Forvis Mazars is not only supporting a vital cause but also cultivating a generation of professionals who understand and value the importance of giving back.
Broader Implications and Future Outlook
The sustained and comprehensive community engagement efforts of Forvis Mazars, as evidenced by the IMPACT Days initiative and its broader year-round activities, carry significant implications for both the firm and the communities it serves. For Forvis Mazars, these initiatives contribute to a strong corporate reputation, enhance employee morale and retention, and foster a culture of shared purpose and values. In an increasingly socially conscious business environment, such demonstrated commitment can also be a differentiating factor for attracting talent and clients.
For the nonprofit sector, the consistent support from organizations like Forvis Mazars is often a lifeline. The combination of volunteer hours, financial grants, and pro bono expertise enables these organizations to operate more efficiently, expand their reach, and ultimately achieve greater impact in addressing critical social, environmental, and community needs. The "Power of You" initiative, in particular, signals a commitment to nurturing future philanthropic leaders, ensuring the continued vitality of the nonprofit ecosystem.
Looking ahead, the continued success of IMPACT Days and the ongoing expansion of the firm’s community engagement programs suggest a trajectory of increasing impact. As Forvis Mazars continues to grow and evolve, its commitment to serving its communities is likely to remain a central tenet of its corporate identity, solidifying its role as a responsible and impactful corporate citizen. The data presented, particularly the substantial number of volunteer hours contributed beyond the concentrated IMPACT Days, paints a picture of a firm deeply invested in the well-being of its stakeholders and the broader societal landscape.









