Social impact: Community development and DEI

Community development: People-powered programs

With more than 1,200 employees and approximately 10,000 customers, we leverage our unique position in the industry to drive progress and address unique community needs through our key focus areas of combating childhood hunger and supporting opportunities for professional development.

CoreGiving

Link Logistics CEO Luke Petherbridge helped found the nonprofit CoreGiving to combat child hunger, and our team has taken up the cause. Link employees support CoreGiving through annual initiatives including the Bracket Battle fundraising drive and CoreGiving Day, a mobilization that in 2022 saw more than 800 of our people volunteer at food banks across the country. Since its inception, CoreGiving has funded more than 30 million meals for children and families in need.

Community grants program

Link Logistics is focused on having a lasting positive impact on the communities where we live, operate and invest. Through our Community Grants Program, we deploy funding via tangible infrastructure grants to nonprofits in our local markets. Link has committed $4 million to address hunger, education and other needs since 2022.

Paid volunteer time

We encourage Link team members to give back, and offer every employee eight hours of paid volunteer time per year. By helping our people support the causes that matter to them, we can amplify our own impact.

Employee donation match

We also encourage our team members to donate to causes that support the greater good, which is why we match employee donations of up to $1,000 per person each year.

Donating space

Through our Community Link program, we give safe and secure short-term space to support mission-driven groups free of charge. We invite charities, nonprofits and philanthropic organizations to let Community Link help them continue their critical work.

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

DEI ensures that our employees, customers and communities feel supported, seen and fulfilled. The Link DEI Committee is composed of team members from various departments and backgrounds, and guides efforts focused on recruitment, company culture and community impact. We continue to develop tools and programs that help employees find organic ways to get involved and incorporate DEI into every part of our firm.

DEI scholarships: Each year, Link provides four full-time students with financial support, mentorship and access to opportunities. The program is focused on increasing diversity in commercial real estate and raising awareness of the various paths students can take to enter the industry.

Spotlight on employee resource groups

Employee resource groups (ERGs) are employee-led and help to foster an inclusive workplace aligned with our firm’s goals.

Ascend

Women's Employee Resource Group

In an industry that has historically seen few women in leadership roles, Link’s Ascend ERG aims to provide women at the firm with an environment of trust, camaraderie and networking opportunities. “We need talented, passionate women to help push this industry forward,” says Sonya Huffman, Link’s chief administrative officer. “I want those women to feel empowered to move through a career trajectory here and land in the leadership positions they deserve.” While supporting women internally through initiatives like Ascend, Link also signed the Commercial Real Estate Women Network’s CRE Pledge for Action, a CEO-driven commitment to pay equity and advancing women in the industry.

Pride

LGBTQIA+ Employee Resource Group

Pride is Link’s ERG focused on building an open and inclusive environment for LGBTQIA+ employees and allies. Having conversations around identity and personal experience can build understanding and empathy that helps approach complex ideas in our personal and professional lives. By welcoming differences, we seek to ensure every employee feels comfortable and confident bringing their whole, authentic self to work.

Ebony Multicultural Resource Group (EMRG)

Black and African Diaspora Employee Resource Group

EMRG (pronounced “emerge”) fosters an inclusive environment for Link Logistics team members who identify with and/or support the Black and African diaspora community. The group facilitates meaningful professional development, recruitment, community building and learning opportunities to support our employees and invest in the next generation of Black leaders.

Project Destined: Fostering tomorrow’s real estate stars

Link Logistics sponsored the 2022 cohort of Project Destined, an initiative that provides real estate and finance training to students from underserved backgrounds who attend HBCUs and public universities. Following a longer mentorship program, we hosted 10 undergraduates at our New York City headquarters for a day of networking with employees to learn about career paths in real estate, get job-seeking tips and more. We also recently launched a scholarship and mentorship program, through which four students will receive $20,000 for tuition and education expenses, as well as personal mentorship and networking opportunities.

Supporting social responsibility

At Link Logistics, we’re not shy about supporting social issues that contribute to enhanced safety and equity for all. For example, we recently joined letters urging the U.S. Senate to pass gun safety legislation and protect marriage equality. We see this as constructive engagement for the greater good.