When EXP—The Opportunity Engine, a youth education nonprofit—came to Give River, the pandemic and subsequent layoffs had left their team exhausted, disconnected, and struggling with rock-bottom morale. Give River designed a streamlined 30-day Season focused purely on peer recognition. The results were unprecedented: 100% team participation with double-digit improvements across every metric—wellbeing support (up 14%), recognition frequency (up 11%), connection to colleagues (up 17%), and mission alignment (up 10%). The CEO reported that the Season became "the catalyst for a real culture shift" that continued building momentum throughout the year, with the team becoming more open, collaborative, and willing to pitch in.
EXP was in crisis mode. The organization had been hit hard by compounding challenges:
The Perfect Storm:
Key Pain Point: “Our team was in a really tough spot. The pandemic hit us hard, then we had to make layoffs, and our team was just… exhausted. Morale was at rock bottom.”
What they needed: A catalyst for rapid culture transformation that could re-energize a burned-out team and rebuild connection without adding more work to already overwhelmed employees.
Timeline: February 2025 (30-day Season, Valentine’s month and Women’s History Month)
The Approach:EXP came to Give River and said: “We need what you have.”
Season Design:
Implementation Strategy:
Give River Features Used:
Unprecedented Participation:🎯 100% team participation — All 16 employees engaged with the platform
🎯 202 total shout-outs exchanged
🎯 13 shout-outs per person on average in just 30 days
Measurable Culture Transformation (Survey Results):
📈 “EXP recognizes and supports my wellbeing” — UP 14%
📈 “How often do you get recognized” — UP 11%
📈 “How connected do you feel to your coworkers” — UP 17%
📈 “How connected do you feel to EXP’s mission” — UP 10%
Behavioral Changes:The February 2025 Season became a catalyst for lasting cultural transformation:
✅ Team “grew up” — moved from exhausted to energized
✅ More willing to share openly and be vulnerable
✅ Increased collaboration and willingness to pitch in
✅ Passion for mission reignited (was already high, but increased further)
✅ Cultural shift continued to build throughout 2025 after the Season ended
Leadership Perspective:“Give River was the catalyst for a real culture shift. What started in February 2025 continued to build momentum throughout the year. Our team became more open, collaborative, and willing to pitch in.”
Mary Tran, CEO
“Give River was the catalyst for a real culture shift. Our team became more open, collaborative, and willing to pitch in — and it even raised the passion for our mission, which was already high. We had 100% participation in our first Give River season, and the impact was undeniable. The experience sparked lasting culture change and inspired us to launch a second season.”
Best for organizations that:
Timeline to results: 30 days
Participation rate: 100% (16 of 16 employees)
Recognition velocity: 202 total shout-outs (13 per person average)
Key improvements: 10-17% increases across all major culture metrics
Long-term impact: Cultural shift continued building throughout 2025
Commitment: Season 2 scheduled for November 2025
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