A century of giving
Nationwide’s legacy of community support began long before the company carried its now‑familiar name. In the early years of the Farm Bureau Mutual Automobile Insurance Company, employees were already partnering with nonprofit organizations to raise funds and help strengthen local communities while working to ensure farmers received fair value for their auto coverage.
From the 1930s through the 1950s, employees supported a range of national and local campaigns, contributing to organizations such as Community Chest, the American Red Cross, the United Services Organizations and United Defense Fund, the Cancer Society and the Heart Association. Their involvement set the foundation for what would become a century of corporate citizenship.
When the company officially became Nationwide in 1955, its commitment to service expanded further. The Columbus office opened the first full-time corporate donation site in the American Red Cross system. Meanwhile, Nationwide also launched its first United Appeals campaign in 1951, pledging to raise and match $10 for every employee, a goal that would grow into one of the company’s most enduring community relationships. Then, in 1987, Nationwide donated 1.3 million units of food to the Mid-Ohio Food Collective, helping to meet one-third of Franklin County’s goal that year – making it the largest one-company employee response in the country.
Today, this legacy continues through the combined efforts of the company and the thousands of employees who volunteer, raise funds and support the communities where they live and work. Last year, Nationwide employees volunteered nearly 73,000 hours and contributed $7 million to nonprofits across the country. Independently, the Nationwide Foundation matches these financial donations, doubling the impact of each contribution.
As the company celebrates its 100th anniversary, it has set an ambitious new goal: 100,000 volunteer hours in 2026.
“Throughout Nationwide’s history, employees have consistently stepped forward to support their communities, and that commitment remains just as strong today,” said Mark Howard, Nationwide’s chief legal officer. “Our culture of caring is foundational to who we are as a company, and it continues to guide how we show up for the people and communities we serve.”
2026 Company-wide volunteer event
To begin working toward this year’s 100,000 volunteer hour goal, Nationwide recently hosted a company-wide volunteer event that spanned central Ohio, Des Moines, Scottsdale, Milwaukee and San Antonio. More than 1,700 employees assembled over 10,000 snack packs for students to take home, while virtual volunteers wrote handwritten notes of encouragement included with each pack.
“Moments like this company‑wide volunteer event show what’s possible when employees come together around a shared purpose,” said Jayme Smoot, Nationwide’s vice president of Corporate Sustainability. “By engaging employees across locations and roles, we’re able to extend our impact far beyond a single community.”
Learn more about how Nationwide supports communities through its Corporate Citizenship initiatives.