Giving back to the community has been at the heart of JE Dunn since its founding. The company has been donating 10% of its pre-tax net income to charities each year since John Ernest “Ernie” Dunn started the company in 1924.
Bill Dunn Sr. championed his father’s legacy of philanthropy, and Bob Dunn, Bill’s youngest son, was the first person in a leadership position overseeing the company’s charitable efforts. For 35 years, Bob Dunn led the department, working side–by-side with his father until Bob’s retirement in 2023. Nancy Phelps, who started under Bob Dunn in 2019, now leads the department as the Community Impact Director, uniting the collective vision to improve the communities we call home.
“We have always had a commitment to giving back as part of building not just incredible facilities, but also strong communities,” Phelps said. “What’s amazing about JE Dunn is that giving is also foundational to our employee owners. It’s not just the corporate commitment to give back. Employees show their commitment through time, talent, and resources.”
In addition to donating to charities across the country, Community Impact also leads national campaigns, like National Volunteer Week and Suicide Prevention Month. In 2020, the Community Ambassador Network launched, with individuals in each office leading engagement in their communities and planning volunteer activities. This has amplified efforts and created a cohesive approach to community impact. In 2022, an education manager was hired to help build the future of JE Dunn through a K-12 construction education initiative centered on bringing awareness to construction careers. Building the Future was launched, and in just two years, the company has connected with thousands of students.
Through all of these efforts, employees donate an average of 50,000 volunteer hours annually. Thanks to its employee match program, community ambassador network, and philanthropic leadership within each of the 26 local offices, the company contributed to more than 1,000 nonprofits in 2023.
A national Centennial initiative, Building a Legacy: A Century of Generosity, will kick off in 2024, extending JE Dunn’s community impact and celebrating the employees and communities that have been foundational to the company’s success and longevity. Ten worthy organizations will be selected by employees to receive a $100,000 gift to empower and inspire work in the communities where JE Dunn employees live, work, and build, for a total impact of $1 million nationwide. More information about this important effort will be shared in 2024.
“I am so proud to be a part of such an incredible company that is so focused on giving back,” Phelps said. “From the interns to the leadership, JE Dunn employees exemplify how philanthropy should look, and our communities are truly impacted because of this support.”