UWM is the #1 mortgage lender in the country, and we’re also proud and fortunate to lend a hand to our metro-Detroit community. Whether it’s through volunteering, donating or partnering with local organizations, our corporate social responsibility extends beyond generating profits. We recognize that when we give back to our community, it helps improve the lives of our neighbors, and also has a positive impact on our team members, too.
Volunteering
Investing in our community comes in many forms. One of the most important is donating our time. That’s why we provide every team member with 4 paid hours of volunteer time each year to use for causes they care about. From helping out at a local food bank to cleaning up a park, there are plenty of ways to make a positive impact.
In 2022, our team members volunteered a total of 4,788 hours. They’ve helped package food for metro Detroit families in need at Forgotten Harvest, assisted with homelessness prevention at Community Housing Network and helped with home renovation projects for survivors at Hope Against Trafficking.
“Nothing is more fulfilling than helping those in need,” says Operations Specialist Elexis Burton. “UWM believes that volunteering is not only good for the community, but also good for our culture and morale. That’s why I love working at UWM!”
Paying It Forward
When a leader or team member at UWM wants to recognize someone for going above and beyond, they give that team member kudos. The kudos earn Pay It Forward points — a program that allows UWM team members to choose where UWM’s charitable dollars are donated.
Some of the most popular recipients include Pontiac schools to help supply all grades with brand new backpacks, LifeLab Kids to help fund therapy sessions for children with developmental limitations, and Affirmations to help provide a welcoming space for the LGBTQ+ community. In 2022, our team members donated 749,280 Pay It Forward points, resulting in more than $300,000 in charitable donations.
Adopt A Family and Annual Donation Drives
One of the most rewarding initiatives at UWM is the Adopt A Family program. Through this program, we partner with local organizations and schools to identify families who are struggling financially and provide them with gifts and essentials for the holidays. Our team members work hard throughout the year to raise funds for this program by hosting fun events like bake sales, raffles and auctions. Thanks to their generosity and dedication, we were able to bring joy and hope to more than 110 metro Detroit families in 2022.
We also organize annual donation drives for items such as coats, canned food, shoes and books. These help us make a difference all year round by providing warmth, nourishment, comfort and education to those who need it most.
Mentoring the Next Generation
UWM’s Winning Futures program gives our team members the opportunity to inspire the next generation of leaders by sharing their wisdom and experience with local high school and college students who need guidance and support. By helping students develop skills such as goal setting, job readiness and career exploration, we better prepare them to overcome the challenges of young adulthood and become self-sufficient, productive adults.
From November to May, team members meet with their Winning Futures mentees for 16 one-hour sessions that cover topics such as emotional intelligence, financial literacy, resume writing and more. At the end of the program team members and their mentees attend a graduation ceremony and a mentorship seminar celebrating their achievements.
UWM is also dedicated in their commitment to the Arts and Technology Academy of Pontiac (ATAP). Not only are their high school students included in our Winning Futures program, we also host their high school graduation ceremony in UWM’s Sports Complex every year. During the holidays we adopt over 25 families from ATAP for our Adopt A Family donation drive and invite all ATAP family and students to our UWM Fair every summer.
Supporting Local Businesses
We love to support the local businesses that make our area vibrant and diverse. To help support their success, we host on-site vendor shows on our campus allowing them to showcase their products and services to our team members. Whether it’s Shop 'Til You Drop, the annual Farmers Market, or the Valentine’s Day Vendor Show, we always have something fun and exciting for our team members to enjoy. We also invite local restaurants — we call them GuestRaunts — to set up every day during lunch.
“I’ve always had such a passion for jewelry, and I’m so grateful that UWM gives me the opportunity to share that passion with their team members,” says Maha Maj of Divine Crystals. “By selling my products at all of the vendor shows, I’ve gained not only a loyal client base, but great friends along the way!”
At UWM, one of our core beliefs is that Service is Everyone’s Responsibility, and we’re always looking for ways to improve ourselves and the world around us. Whether it’s volunteering time, donating money, mentoring students, organizing donation drives or supporting local businesses, we are committed to helping each other and our metro Detroit community thrive and grow.
If you’re interested in making an impact at our company and in our community, check out our open roles.