This year’s finalists in the not-for-profit category of Most Innovative Companies have persevered through the trials of 2020, finding original and effective ways to reach people in need, tackle the compound crises that emerged during the pandemic, and lift up voices that for too long haven’t been heard.
1. Get Shift Done
For tackling both job loss and hunger by paying hospitality workers to fill food-bank shifts
Seeing food pantries and shelters struggle to meet the growing need of unemployed Americans during the pandemic, Patrick Brandt, president of Shiftsmart, and Anurag Jain, chairman emeritus of the North Texas Food Bank, had an idea: pay displaced hospitality workers to fill food-bank shifts. With private donations, they launched a local effort that was only supposed to run 12 weeks. It’s since grown to a dozen cities, including Washington, D.C., El Paso, and New Orleans, and has been activated at 110 nonprofit organizations. More than 20,000 people who have either been furloughed or laid off from their hospitality jobs are now registered on the Shiftsmart app, working for nonprofits to provide food to others in need while getting an income themselves. So far, workers have completed close to one million hours of shifts, serving more than 60 million relief meals. And they’ve been paid nearly $15 million for their work.
2. United Nations World Food Programme Innovation Accelerator
For using big data and artificial intelligence to reach those most vulnerable to food insecurity
Recognize your brand’s excellence by applying to this year’s Brands That Matter Awards before the early-rate deadline, May 3.
