Why We Joined Pledge 1%—and Why It Felt Like a Natural Next Step

At Raleighwood Media Group + Raleighwood Event Group, giving back has never been a campaign or a checkbox—it’s simply how we’ve always done business.

Long before we put a name or structure around it, we’ve supported nonprofits, community events, small businesses, and causes that matter to our team and our clients. Sometimes that support has shown up as donated time, sometimes as creative services, sometimes as financial contributions, and often as behind-the-scenes help that never makes it into the spotlight.

So when we officially joined Pledge 1% last month—a global movement for corporate impact—it didn’t feel like a pivot, it felt like a formal way to say yes, this matters—and we’re committing to it long-term.

What Is Pledge 1%?

Pledge 1% is a global movement encouraging companies of all sizes to commit one percent of profit, product, equity, or employee time to philanthropic efforts of their choosing. With tens of thousands of companies across more than 120 countries participating, the goal is simple: make social impact a built-in part of doing business—not an afterthought.

For us, that flexibility mattered. Pledge 1% isn’t prescriptive or performative. It recognizes that businesses grow, evolve, and contribute in different ways at different stages.

Why We Made It Official

We’ve always believed that businesses—especially creative, service-based ones—have both the opportunity and the responsibility to be good community partners. But as our company grows and evolves, I want a more transparent framework to guide those efforts and to hold ourselves accountable.

Joining Pledge 1% helps us do exactly that:

• It gave structure to values we already live by.
• It created a long-term commitment rather than one-off gestures.
• It ensured giving back stays embedded in our business model as we grow.

In short, it helped us put intention behind something we’ve always done from the heart.

What This Looks Like in Practice

Our pledge includes a commitment of time and resources to nonprofit organizations, community initiatives, and causes aligned with our mission—particularly those focused on strengthening local communities, supporting entrepreneurs, and amplifying voices that deserve to be heard.

Some of this work happens publicly. Much of it doesn’t. And we’re okay with that.

The goal isn’t recognition—it’s impact.

Why We’re Sharing This Now

We hesitated, honestly. Talking about giving back can feel uncomfortable, especially when you believe it should be done quietly and sincerely.

But we also believe transparency matters—and that sharing this step might encourage other thoughtful organizations to explore how they, too, can build giving into their business in a way that feels authentic.

If you’re a company that already supports causes informally, Pledge 1% is a powerful way to turn good intentions into a sustainable commitment—without changing who you are.

Encouragement to Join the Movement

If you’ve been looking for a way to formalize your values, align your business with purpose, or simply make giving back part of your company’s DNA, I encourage you to take a look at Pledge 1%.

You don’t need to be perfect. You don’t need to be huge. You just need to be intentional.

That’s something we can all build on.

To learn more about Pledge 1%, visit pledge1percent.org and explore how your business can build impact into what it already does best.

• Category: Pledge 1%
• Tag: Community Impact