Pay It Forward

16 Years | $30 Million in Giving

 

Pay It Forward is a unique initiative at Bell Bank, putting dollars into the hands of our Bell team members every year so they can give where they see the most need. This tradition has empowered millions of dollars in grassroots giving and impacted tens of thousands of lives.

Bell Bank group photo with donation check to Dare 2 Stand Out
Pay it forward wristbands

History

2007  Bell president and CEO Michael Solberg announces the Pay It Forward initiative at the company's Christmas party.

 

2008  Employees starting giving away their Pay It Forward funds, carefully choosing needs and causes they care about.

 

2010  Pay It Forward at Bell reaches $10 Million in giving since the program began.

 

2020  During the pandemic, Bell's majority owners announce they are doubling employee's Pay It Forward dollars for 2020.

Pay It Forward Giving

16 Years

$30 Million in Giving

$3,107,504

Giving in 2023

$2,882,465

Pay it Forward gifts

$225,039

In matching funds

How it Works

Every year, each Bell Bank employee receives funds to give as they choose to individuals, families and organizations in need.

 

Each full-time employee gets $1000 and each part-time employee gets $500.

Featured Stories

Giving Stories

Bears and More

For a young child who is hurt or afraid, there’s often nothing so comforting as hugging a soft teddy bear. That’s why for Bears & More is such an important project every year.

Giving Stories

Hero at Heart

Cindy didn’t know what to expect when realtor Angie Degel let her know of the upcoming meeting with the Bell team. Cindy was taken aback by the generous gift she received.

Giving Stories

Valuing Our Volunteers

In tiny Michigan, N.D., a volunteer ambulance service has responded to local emergencies since it was established in 1972. For Natalie Schultz, those calls are a vivid memory from childhood.