Earlier this year, Canadian ICMIF member Gore Mutual Insurance Company (Gore Mutual) introduced its refreshed brand grounded in Purpose—to provide what it refers to as Insurance that does good. As part of its Purpose strategy, Gore Mutual announced this week that it is seeking grant requests from charities and non-profit organisations wanting to partner on programmes, initiatives and capacity building in the areas of poverty, equity and climate change. The deadline to submit a grant request for Strategic Charitable Partners is Friday 29 July 29.
“As a modern mutual, we’ve always been committed to building thriving communities and have a history of philanthropy. We’re now taking a deeper, more focused approach with the goal of greater impact,” says Andy Taylor, Chief Executive Officer. “We have a unique and exciting opportunity to collaborate with charitable partners, broker partners and employees to have a positive impact on local communities where we live and work.”
“We’re bringing this purpose to life and encourage charities and non-profits to partner with us,” says Gaby Polanco-Sorto, Head of Purpose and Sustainability. “Through the insights and collaboration of our employees, broker partners and charitable partners, and the changing tides for the most vulnerable within our communities, we’re excited to leverage the momentum we already have and support the identified areas that are most important in our communities.”
The company’s Purpose strategy now aligns with the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals, a set of 17 goals identified as the most critical social and environmental issues globally. Of those goals, Gore Mutual’s Social Impact Strategy will focus on three main pillars, poverty, equity and climate change which the mutual sees as being inter-connected. Administered by the Gore Mutual Foundation, the company’s Social Impact Strategy consists of three granting streams: Strategic Charitable Partners, Brokers for Good programme and Circle of Good Employee programme.
Polanco-Sorto noted, “We believe there is more than enough good to go around, that’s why we’ve enhanced our existing programmes and introduced new focus to have a holistic vision making a bigger impact on local communities, while contributing to larger global goals.”
The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) were first adopted by the United Nations in 2015 as a call to action to end poverty; protect the planet; and ensure that, by 2030, all people enjoy peace and prosperity. With this week’s announcement, Gore Mutual joins a growing number of ICMIF members who either align their strategy with the SDGs and/or are reporting against the SDGs. In the recent ICMIF Members Sustainable Investment Report, 33 % of responding members said they are embedding the SDGs in their company strategy and reporting against the SDGs. Indications from this year’s sustainable investment survey of ICMIF members show that this number is growing.
For more information, eligibility and to apply, people can visit www.goremutual.ca/purpose/spread-good. The Strategic Charitable Partners programme and application process is in addition to the Brokers for Good programme, where Gore Mutual will match grants made by broker partners which support causes and charities in their local communities.
Built on a foundation of financial strength for more than 180 years, Gore Mutual Insurance Company is one of Canada’s first property and casualty insurers. With offices in Cambridge, Toronto and Vancouver, they are a Canadian mutual company offering competitive insurance products through trusted broker partners. Every decision and investment made is anchored in the long-term benefits to customers, members and communities.
Insurance that does good – this, says Gore Mutual, is their Purpose. Grounded in this purpose and guided by core values, the belief at Gore Mutual is that being good and doing good by their employees, customers and broker partners will benefit not only these groups but also the company —which in turn allows Gore Mutual to spread good in its communities and reward the good in others. This is what is driving Gore Mutual’s work to become a purpose-driven, digitally led national insurer.
