Build then Bless®
Philosophy

Disrupt corporate philanthropy with us! If you're looking for better ways to serve your community and grow your business, we're sharing every strategy that's helped us get more sales, have happier employees, and impact lives beyond a vague corporate donation.

Abby Haralson
Abby Haralson |
Three kids sit on a step and eat lunch

Brighton Someone’s Day: Brighton Homes Uses Build Then Bless

Every month, team members at Brighton Homes receive funds through Build Then Bless to help people in their communities. From supporting a relative who’d lost her hair to paying off a child’s school lunch debt, the Brighton Homes team is building and blessing, one micro-interaction at a time.  Since 1994, Brighton Homes has been building…

Annika Johnson
Annika Johnson |
young woman with light brown hair

My Gas Station Adventure (That Had Nothing to Do with Cars)

Sometimes the most random turn of events can take us to just the right spot in just the right moment. I walked into my apartment at 9 pm on January 31st and suddenly remembered I had $50 of Build Then Bless money that wasn’t going to roll over into the next month, so I ran…

Alohilani Jacob
Alohilani Jacob |
young woman standing in front of floral wall

Listening Is Just As Important As Gift-Giving

“I realized the power of being willing to listen. By opening up and sharing my own struggles, it created a safe space for her to open up about hers.” I’m currently nine months pregnant, and throughout the past couple of months, I’ve been surprised to have multiple family members confide in me about their struggles…

Abby Haralson
Abby Haralson |
Lemonade Stand co-workers serving in community to help Ukraine

101 Ways to Build Then Bless

Find a little inspiration from 101 of our favorite ways to build and bless your community! Hand-to-Hand, Eye-to-Eye Blessing Sign up for Lasagna Love and deliver food to someone in need Take a care package to a neighbor who had a baby or who is sick Buy food for someone on the street corner or…

Abby Haralson
Abby Haralson |

Lasagna Love: How This Nonprofit Is Lifting Your Community

“I’ve delivered lasagnas to people living in tents and to families living in homes much nicer than mine. Needs are not always outwardly visible and we don’t always know what challenges people are facing.” The goal of Build Then Bless is hand-to-hand, eye-to-eye interactions, so when my coworkers Katie and Lizzie talked about Lasagna Love,…

Abby Haralson
Abby Haralson |
young woman with long brown hair

Either Target Isn’t Charging Sales Tax or a Miracle Happened

“I’m not even sure if we would recognize each other if we passed on the street—that’s how short the interaction was. But the experience took me out of my world and helped me connect with someone else.” Are you the “make a new best friend with the person next to you in the grocery store…

Abby Haralson
Abby Haralson |
co-workers pose with donut boxes

How to Develop Leadership Skills in Employees

Ever heard the saying, “Leaders aren’t born, they’re made”? Well, it’s true. Even a natural leader needs a little polishing. If you’re a business owner or manager, odds are you’ve got an eye on the next generation of leaders within your company. But how do you take your team from good to great? How can…

Abby Haralson
Abby Haralson |
happy employee reading positive feedback

Not All Feedback Needs to Be “Negative” in Employee Reviews

Imagine this scenario: You’re gearing up for your quarterly employee reviews, and something feels off. You’ve noticed that your high-performers receive less in-depth feedback simply because there are no glaring issues to address. Sound familiar? Many of us subconsciously feel pressured to deliver “constructive criticism” instead of recognizing what’s working well. But here’s the truth—effective…

Abby Haralson
Abby Haralson |
happy work team poses for a photo

How Employee Development Improves Team Morale

While employee development is usually seen as a benefit only offered by the corporate big dogs, it’s become a strategic advantage for all companies. And it doesn’t take a corporate budget to access the benefits of helping your employees grow. In fact, investing in employee development can actually improve team morale and have a positive…

Abby Haralson
Abby Haralson |
lemonade stand employees eating cookies

15 Unique Employee Incentives to Boost Morale and Productivity

Building a thriving, engaged team is every manager and business owner’s dream. But how do you keep employees motivated without breaking the bank? The answer lies in creative and unique employee incentives that not only boost morale but also improve productivity. From monetary perks to personalized recognition, we’ve compiled 15 incentives for employees to help…