GSR Annual Report 2025
Philanthropy Pillar
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7 minute read
Philanthropy Pillar Building Possibility Through Long-Term Partnerships
Consistency defined our work in 2025. As many nonprofit partners faced funding instability and increased demand for services, our team stayed focused on long-term relationships and practical support. The priority was to remain integral and indispensable in the communities where we operate.
A CONVERSATION WITH
Diane Shelton, Philanthropy Pillar Leader
If you had to choose one word to sum up our team’s efforts, what would it be?
Committed. The focus remained on consistency and reliability. Our long-standing partnerships are centered on creating opportunities for under-resourced youth and that direction stayed steady even as conditions shifted.
When you think about the work this year, what stood out most?
What stood out most was how teams showed up for partners. Across DPR’s family of companies, volunteer participation increased and engagement deepened. Teams stepped in to support partners navigating heightened need and uncertainty.
What progress were you most proud of this year?
Engagement expanded across regions and companies, reflecting continued momentum. We saw broader participation in volunteer efforts and stronger alignment across teams working in their local communities.
Where did philanthropic commitments translate into meaningful community impact?
Impact comes from sustained involvement. In many regions, we are deeply integrated in the communities where we work and serve as part of our partners’ extended teams. Ongoing engagement and dependable expertise helped organizations navigate a challenging environment and continue serving their communities.
What is the most important thing you want people to know about our Philanthropy work in 2025? Our approach is long-term. We stay engaged with our partners, especially when conditions are difficult. That consistency builds trust and allows us to contribute in practical, meaningful ways.
Thank you to Diane Shelton for her many years of service and the lasting impact she has made during her tenure at DPR. We wish her all the best as she transitions into her next chapter. Moving forward, we are pleased to welcome Stephanie Bormann as the Philanthropy Pillar Leader.
Strategy & Focus How We Show Up
Philanthropic work remained focused on long-term relationships and disciplined engagement that builds possibilities for under-resourced community members. Efforts concentrated on where sustained involvement could make the greatest difference for partners and communities.
This approach requires the same rigor and intentional decision-making applied elsewhere in the business, ensuring efforts remain aligned with partner needs, workforce access and community priorities.
Across regions and our family of companies, teams shared their skills and professional resources to strengthen and provide stability for communities during a year of heightened need. That steady involvement reinforced trust built over time and reflected our long-term presence in the communities where we operate.
By the Numbers
* Value of skills-based volunteer time is based on Independent Sector, Chief Executives for Corporate Purpose Pro-Bono Valuation Guide, internal discussions and the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
2025 “By the Numbers”
Report
Read the 2025 “By the Numbers” report for a deeper look at the key metrics achieved by our volunteer teams.
SKILLS-BASED PROGRAMS
Facility Construction & Renovation
Our annual support of community partners continued through skills-based volunteering focused on facility improvements they would not otherwise be able to undertake. Teams applied construction expertise, labor and resources in response to needs identified directly by partner organizations.
This work starts with listening. By working closely with partners to understand how their spaces are used, teams focus on improvements that are realistic, durable and appropriate for long-term operation. These projects are designed to strengthen facilities without creating additional cost, maintenance burden or complexity for the organizations they serve.
- 10K+ volunteer hours pro-bono (for all construction)
- $1.9M overall value of construction and renovation projects
SPOTLIGHT
Boys & Girls Clubs in New Jersey
Our employees and volunteers continue to support Boys & Girls Clubs in New Jersey through hands-on construction, workforce engagement, and long-term partnership. Through its statewide network of 21 Clubs serving nearly 60,000 young people, Boys & Girls Clubs in New Jersey provide safe, supportive environments during critical out-of-school hours.
Since 2018, more than 120 team members have contributed time and expertise to projects across Garfield, Clifton, Newark, Northwest New Jersey, Union, and surrounding communities, helping strengthen the physical spaces that make high-quality youth programming possible.
In 2025, two projects expanded the Clubs’ ability to serve youth in safe, functional spaces:
- Boys & Girls Club of Pequannock: A former storage area was converted into functional program space to better support before-
and after-school activities. - Boys & Girls Club of Wayne: One large room was reconfigured into two classrooms, increasing program capacity and allowing the Club to serve more youth each day.
We are proud to work alongside DPR Construction, and we deeply value their continued commitment to expanding opportunities for young people across New Jersey. Since 2018, DPR has applied its expertise as builders to transform Club spaces and expand career exposure opportunities while increasing access, strengthening capacity, and creating long-term opportunity for New Jersey’s Club youth.”
Susan Haspel
State Director, Boys & Girls Clubs in New Jersey
The partnership extends beyond construction. Our teams engaged students through a Construction Career Day at the Boys & Girls Clubs of Hudson County, introducing 2nd and 3rd graders to careers in design and construction through hands-on activities.
In Monmouth County, team members met with 5th and 6th graders to discuss career pathways in the industry, including opportunities for women in construction, and helped build awareness of diverse and inclusive workforce opportunities at an early age.
Our commitment also includes leadership engagement and statewide strategic support. One of our employees serves on the Corporate Advisory Board for Boys & Girls Clubs in New Jersey, contributing industry insight to strengthen planning and impact across the network.
Separately, the DPR Foundation has provided nearly $200,000 in grant funding since 2018 to support youth leadership and statewide initiatives, including a $50,000 contribution in 2025. Together, these efforts reflect our commitment to strengthening communities through construction expertise, youth development, workforce pathways and long-term community infrastructure across New Jersey.
SKILLS-BASED PROGRAMS
Education & Career
Preparing the next generation of builders is central to how we approach community engagement. Through Build Up and other skills-based programs, we connect students to hands-on learning, mentorship and clear career pathways within construction. These efforts support workforce readiness while creating meaningful access to opportunity for under-resourced youth.
Build Up High School Internship
DPR’s signature education initiative is the Build Up High School Internship in construction management. High-achieving, STEM-curious interns from under-resourced backgrounds spend the summer working full-time on large projects, learning about the various professional roles and education pathways in construction.
2025 By the Numbers
For a current list of locations offering the Build Up Internship, visit www.dpr.com/build-up-high-school-internship or contact [email protected].
SKILLS-BASED PROGRAMS
Operational Support
In addition to hands-on construction support, we contribute operational and professional expertise to help nonprofit partners strengthen their internal capacity. Through direct engagement and board service, our leaders provide guidance in areas such as strategic planning, workforce development, financial oversight, marketing and leadership coaching.
By aligning our business expertise with partner needs, we help organizations operate more effectively and sustainably, enabling them to expand their impact in the communities we serve.
Our Supportive Non-Profit Partners
DPR supports the operational capabilities of many of our non-profit partners, including:
(DPR) provided tools and insight for team building and helped staff understand their workstyles through the use of the Enneagram model. These workshops are valuable because we rarely get the opportunity to focus on topics outside of social work.”
Second Story Reston, VA
The DPR Foundation
The DPR Foundation operates with its own governance and focus, complementing broader philanthropic efforts across the company. Founded in 2008 as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, the Foundation supports organizations committed to building opportunities for under-resourced youth.
In 2025, the Foundation distributed more than $2 million in grants to 34 organizations nationwide, an increase of more than 46 percent from the prior year. Nearly 40 percent of grant recipients have partnered with the Foundation for more than a decade, reflecting the emphasis on sustained relationships and long-term impact. Several organizations entered into multi-year funding commitments and an additional round of grants was scheduled for mid-year distribution.
Since its inception, the Foundation has provided $16.1 million in unrestricted grants. Funding is directed toward organizations with a demonstrated ability to expand access, strengthen youth leadership development and create clear pathways to opportunity.
Beyond financial support, the Foundation’s work aligns with DPR’s broader community engagement efforts. Employees contribute skills-based volunteer time through facility improvements, construction career education and operational support, extending the impact of grant funding in the communities served.
By the Numbers
$2M+
Worth of Grants Distributed in 2025
34
Organizations Funded Nationwide
46%
Increase in Grantmaking Year Over Year
~40%
of Partners have Worked with the Foundation for more than a decade
$16.1M
in Unrestricted Grants Since Inception
Looking Ahead Priorities for 2026 & Beyond
In 2026, we will continue prioritizing long-standing relationships with community partners to help them serve youth and families more effectively. By staying consistent in how we engage, especially during periods of funding uncertainty, we aim to remain a steady and trusted partner while supporting workforce access and community stability.
Deepening Long-Term Partnerships
We will continue investing in community partners where sustained involvement creates measurable impact. Multi-year engagement, regular presence and shared accountability remain central to how we contribute our time, expertise and resources.
Expanding Skills-Based Engagement
Applying our construction and professional expertise where it creates lasting value will remain a priority. Facility improvements, operational support and hands-on engagement will align with partner-identified needs and long-term use, ensuring our involvement strengthens both physical space
and organizational capacity.
Broadening Employee Participation
We will expand opportunities for employees to engage in meaningful community work. Increased participation strengthens community impact, reinforces connection within our teams and deepens shared ownership of the work we do beyond our projects.
Explore More of the GSR Annual Report 2025
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Posted on June 16, 2026
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