Championing Change: How One Woman's Career Shift Is Making a Profound Impact on the Nonprofit Sector

Welcome to our latest blog post, where we delve into the inspiring journey of a key figure in corporate charitable giving. In this Q&A, we sit down with Robin Jones, the Executive Director of the Arbella Insurance Foundation, who transitioned from a dynamic career in journalism to making a profound impact in the nonprofit sector. With over 25 years of experience in strategic planning, fundraising, and advocacy, Robin shares how her passion for helping children, youth, and families led her to the Arbella Insurance Foundation. Join us as we explore her remarkable path and the exciting work she is now spearheading at Arbella.

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Please tell us a little bit about yourself. How did you begin your career in corporate charitable giving and what brought you to the Arbella Insurance Foundation?

I was a journalist for nearly eight years, working in both television and radio as a political reporter and producer. Outside of election cycles, my responsibilities varied, often reporting on high-stakes stories such as homicides in Boston, the shortage of shelter beds on bitterly cold nights, or tragic cases of abandoned infants. Over time, I realized that I wanted to shift from merely reporting on these crises to pro-actively addressing them. This epiphany led me to transition into the nonprofit sector, where I could utilize my skills in writing and communication to advocate for organizations that primarily help children, youth, and families in need.

For over 25 years, I have dedicated myself to assisting these groups in strategic planning, fundraising and advocacy. I eventually founded my own company, which represented both 501(c)(3) human services organizations and private family foundations. My role expanded from leading and facilitating five-year strategic plans, board development and engagement, to enhancing awareness, fundraising, and advising private foundations on strategic philanthropic investments.

Around seven years ago, through a nonprofit I collaborated with and later joined the board of, I met John Donohue, CEO of the Arbella Insurance Group. Arbella’s Charitable Foundation was, and remains, a major donor to this nonprofit. John and I regularly discussed how Arbella’s Foundation could align some future investments through its Social Justice Initiative. In 2022, John asked me to assess the Foundation's overall impact, both internally and externally, as Beverly Tangvik, Arbella’s Charitable Foundation President, was retiring after 40 years of service to the company. This led to John offering me the role of Executive Director following Beverly's retirement.

What excites you the most about the work you are doing at the Arbella Insurance Foundation?

What excites and inspires me most about the Arbella Foundation is its profound dedication to the issues that matter deeply to its employees, agents, and communities. These issues range from housing and homelessness to food insecurity, education, healthcare, immigration, and various school and faith-based community initiatives. The Foundation genuinely prioritizes the concerns of its stakeholders. It is also invigorating to experience the generosity of the corporate sector while addressing the great need to support non-profits within our communities. Arbella’s Foundation is committed to helping nonprofits build their capacity and meet the immediate needs of the people they serve.

How does the Arbella Insurance Foundation follow the insurance industry’s history of giving back and service?

Historically, insurance companies have been in the business of promoting public health and safety to reduce risk and prevent loss. Auto insurers have been instrumental in promoting road safety measures and helping people and businesses rebuild after a catastrophe. The Arbella Foundation has been out front on educational awareness around distracted driving, promoting designated driver programs and supporting other important and impactful climate change programs.  

Insurance companies play an integral role in their communities. Local independent agents live and work in the communities they serve, which positions them well to understand and address local needs. They provide grassroots support for a broad range of issues from hunger and homelessness to baseball teams and town holiday parades. The Arbella Foundation works closely with our agents to support their philanthropic interests through our Agent Matching Gift program.

Encouraging employee volunteerism is another hallmark of the insurance industry's commitment to philanthropy. Employees are encouraged to support a charity important to them and suggest a team volunteer event which takes place during the workday. Employees love to get involved but many may not know where to begin. We offer on and offsite volunteer activities to help encourage volunteerism. We also match employee donations to their non-profit donations. Arbella’s Foundation offers employees a diverse menu of volunteer programs and charitable event opportunities that reflect their values and passions.  

Additionally, when our communities are in distress, The Arbella Foundation gives back. Arbella has provided relief in response to catastrophic events over the years, including the devastating tornado that tore through Western, MA over a decade ago and aid to farmers in western Massachusetts after flooding ruined their livelihood just last year. Our financial support for those in need also reaches those who need us, outside of our business footprint. We provided aid to residents of Maui after the wildfires, and to those in need in war torn Ukraine.  

Insurance companies have always been natural advocates for community support and resilience-building.

Arbella has been awarded a best place to work in Massachusetts. What makes having a foundation a unique aspect and how does this contribute to recruiting efforts for an insurance company like Arbella?

Working at Arbella has been a truly remarkable experience, and I can confidently say it is the best place I have ever worked! Despite having been here for just a year, it is clear from the constant positive buzz—everyone talks about how exceptional and welcoming the company culture is. This praise is absolutely deserved! Placing employees first is the top core value here, followed closely by customer relationships, satisfaction, trust, performance, citizenship, and diversity and inclusion. These principles are not just words; they are the bedrock of our organization, shaping a work environment that values trust, citizenship, and diversity at every level.

These core values are also the pillars of the Arbella Foundation. Arbella’s Human Resources team is seeing that potential hires choose Arbella because we have a deeper interest in community engagement, and we generously give back. This reflects the values of what many young employees increasingly seek in their careers—the opportunity to contribute time and resources to meaningful causes. The Foundation’s robust employee volunteer program is a testament to this commitment, allowing team members to participate in service days and support nonprofit organizations important to them. These activities not only foster team bonding but also provide tangible help to those in need, whether through serving meals or filling school backpacks. Our employees take great pride in knowing their efforts are helping others in ways that can’t be measured.  

How does the Foundation encourage employees to give back in the community, and what organizations do your employees feel the biggest connection to?

Volunteering is never obligatory, and we recognize that work must always come first. However, we do keep our employees informed about various volunteer opportunities for individual and team-building events through regular communications. The Foundation strives to make the process seamless for our employees, organizing the logistics of these experiences and always welcoming their suggestions for new activities. We also believe it is crucial to acknowledge the time, passion, and dedication our employees invest in community service. Among our most cherished activities are cleaning the turtle tank at the New England Wildlife Center, serving meals to veterans at the New England Center and Home for Veterans, and preparing backpacks and snacks for children at the various YMCA and other community youth programs. There are so many more examples of our community involvement, each highlighting the spirit of giving that really defines Team Arbella.

What are some of the highlights the Foundation witnessed in 2023 and what work are you most looking forward to in 2024?

One of the most touching moments in 2023 was when we learned that our support enabled multiple families with young children and newly arrived immigrants, to spend two weeks in a warm hotel room over Christmas. Such stories highlight the profound impact of our efforts, from employee donations matched by the Foundation to Team Arbella participating in a 5k walk to combat the stigma surrounding mental health. These actions reinforce our identity as a company who cares and for whom giving back to the communities we serve is not just a duty but a defining trait of who we are.

2024 holds the promise of further strengthening our existing relationships and partnerships with employees, agents, and our non-profit partners. Our efforts this year will continue to span across all areas of what it means to live a safe, healthy, and productive life. Whether it’s through our support to help put another mobile health unit on the streets of the Merrimack Valley this summer, caring for those who are homeless, aiding newly arrived refugees, supporting the aging and LGBTQ+ communities  live their lives with essential supports in place and with dignity, Arbella is where our employees, agents and customers live. We will continue to discover meaningful opportunities for giving back in a way that emphasizes collaboration among all of our stakeholders while enhancing our collective impact. We live by the words…. Arbella. Here. For Good.