Our Community Work
From employee-led giving to environmental action, we’re committed to making a difference.
At Northwoods, we care deeply about the people we serve and the places we call home. We have one core goal while pursuing multiple initiatives: building stronger, healthier communities.
Whether we’re supporting nonprofits, volunteering time and skills, or donating through the Northwoods Foundation, our focus stays the same.
Every effort reflects our values and our roots in health and human services. You could call it our “peoplework” alongside the paperwork we handle for your agency.
Jump to what catches your interest, or scroll through to see the scope of our dedication to our community.
Giving Back
Northwoods employees receive 20 paid hours yearly to volunteer for causes that matter to them.
Giving back isn’t a side project at Northwoods. It’s an integral part of how we work.
Each Northwoods employee has 20 hours of paid volunteer time annually. They can pursue causes they truly care about, individually or with teammates.
We encourage all Northwoods employees to use this time to create meaningful impact. Our people might bolster local food banks, mentor youth, assemble care kits, or participate in local cleanups. Or they might find another cause near and dear to them.
The Northwoods employee volunteering program is evidence of our respect for health and human services and our communities. You—our agency partners—inspire us. We believe service is a collaborative act, on and off the clock.
Our Partners: Mission-Driven Organization
Together, we strengthen communities and frontline workers.
Northwoods collaborates with organizations that benefit the people who health and human services agencies support.
From foster care to food security to youth mentorship, our partners help us extend our reach beyond software and services. We’re proud to work with nonprofits and community organizations that make a difference, just like the agencies we serve.
Partner Spotlight: My Very Own Blanket
Together, we strengthen communities and frontline workers.
My Very Own Blanket provides handmade blankets to children entering or transitioning through foster care. The team’s aim is to help kids feel safe and seen.
We’ve contributed to their mission for years by organizing fun in-office blanket-making events. We love turning compassion into something tangible for any kids facing uncertainty.
Northwoods Foundation
We uplift people through life’s most trying moments.
The Northwoods Foundation is our employee-driven 501(c)(3) nonprofit. We formed it to offer direct financial support to individuals and families in crisis. And we do so right in the communities where our employees live and work.
Since 2007, the foundation has helped our neighbors with unexpected medical bills, natural disaster damage, and more devastating hardships. It also contributes to local organizations and initiatives aligning with our values, amplifying impact through hands-on volunteering from our employees.
Here are just a few of the ways we give back through the Northwoods Foundation.
Holiday Toy Drive
Each holiday season, employees collect and donate toys and gifts for children in need. Alongside Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Ohio, we brighten the season for families across the state.
Thanksgiving Meal Drives
Northwoods teams shop for groceries, package ingredients, and deliver complete Thanksgiving meals to families facing food insecurity. It’s a tradition rooted in community, culture, and compassion—sharing gratitude, one delivery at a time.
LIFEsports Youth Sports Camp
In partnership with LIFEsports at The Ohio State University, we helped fund a summer camp for at-risk youth in Dublin. We empowered state kids through engaging sports, teamwork, and leadership development.
“Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Ohio would like to take this opportunity to thank you once again for the kind and generous donations for the children and families of our Agency. As a result of your amazing donations, the holidays were made a little merrier and happier for so many deserving children and families!”
— IDA WILLIAMS, LSW, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Ohio
“We had an opportunity to assist a family whose home was destroyed by a fire. As I discussed the family’s immediate needs with the mother, I was brought to tears knowing that they would have nowhere to turn if it wasn’t for the Northwoods Foundation. We were able to help this family and provide relief as they transitioned to a new home.”
— FORMER NORTHWOODS FOUNDATION BOARD CHAIRPERSON
“Jessica and I were finishing up some Christmas shopping and this guy pulled out a credit card and paid for our purchase. His name is Jeff and his company Northwoods lets them do these random acts of kindness. They just became our Christmas miracle.”
— COMMUNITY MEMBER BENEFITING FROM OUTREACH
“Thank you for joining us again in our mission to provide all of our families with a Thanksgiving meal! Our families truly appreciate your kindness!“
— AFTER-SCHOOL ALL-STARS
Northwoods in the Community
Northwoods employees show up for crucial causes: in the office, across our cities, and out in the field.
Support at Northwoods goes beyond financial giving. Our employees raise awareness, volunteer time, and take meaningful action to champion causes connected to health and human services.
From wearing blue to honor child welfare workers to helping lead community boards, we stand tall. We participate in charity events, awareness campaigns, and hands-on initiatives year-round. We also host in-office activities that connect us to local communities and one another.
Here are just a few of our proudest community moments.
Wear Blue for Child Abuse Prevention Awareness
Northwoods wears blue every April during Child Abuse Prevention Month. Why? To honor the tireless child welfare workers who help keep kids safe.
It’s a simple gesture with a powerful message: We stand with the people who make children’s safety possible every day.
Wear Green for Child Support Awareness
August is Child Support Awareness Month, and we wear green to spotlight the importance of financial stability for families.
Ohio’s child support program serves more than 675,000 kids. Employees’ show of solidarity raises awareness of the professionals who power that crucial system.
TechTok Boot Camp
We host “TechTok” boot camps to introduce kids to coding, artificial intelligence, and real-world tech careers.
In partnership with After-School All-Stars, we spark curiosity and show students what’s possible in the technology realm. It’s a powerful way to plant the seeds for futures in tech and innovation.
Environmental Impact of Our Digital Solutions
Digitize paperwork. Enhance sustainability. Reduce environmental harm.
Northwoods digital solutions help health and human services agencies nix the need for paper-based work. And that cuts down on waste, storage, and emissions from day one.
By switching to cloud-based tools (Amazon Web Services, or AWS), our partners also advance long-term goals. That means improved sustainability, energy efficiency, and net-zero carbon emissions.
It’s not just better for workflows. It’s better for the planet.
Data-Backed Environmental Benefits
Here’s how our cloud-based solutions help agencies reduce paper use, streamline documentation, and shrink their carbon footprints.
55.5 million
Case content items stored electronically vs. a paper format
6.8 million
Forms completed and signed electronically vs. via paper
89%*
Potential carbon emissions reduction with cloud tools vs. on-site computing systems (AWS Sustainability Resources)
* Source: AWS Sustainability Resources, https://aws.amazon.com/sustainability/resources/
See Our Commitment in Action
We don’t just talk about community—we build it into everything we do.
We’re proud to be Northwoods employees. Supporting your health and human services agency is at the heart of our mission.
When you work with us, you strengthen your team, your processes, and your outcomes. And together, you help us uplift the communities we serve.
Follow us on Instagram for a behind-the-scenes look at our people, partners, and purpose in action.
Our software and services are ready when you are.
