It Gets Better Summary — Growth and Development

It Gets Better Project, an LGBTQ+ advocacy nonprofit, faced the challenge many remote teams know well: when people work in silos, it's easy to feel disconnected from leadership and coworkers. Their Give River Season emphasized River Runs—daily wellbeing micro-learning modules—paired with peer recognition to bridge the remote work gap. Post-season surveys showed 10-15% improvements in handling stress, feeling supported by the organization, and feeling supported by colleagues. The platform proved particularly effective for distributed teams, with leadership noting it's "more than just software; it's a tool to help create a sense of belonging across the organization."

‍

Testimonial

“The platform is truly exceptional! It offers a much-needed pause during the day, providing tools that are beneficial not only in a professional setting but also in managing personal life. I find the platform incredibly valuable, especially the module on trust in the workplace.”
‍
‍Ariella Assouline, Manager of Programs and Operations

‍

The Challenge

As a small, remote nonprofit team focused on LGBTQ+ youth advocacy, It Gets Better Project faced common challenges of distributed teams:

Before Give River:

• Remote silos: Team members working separately with limited touchpoints
• Connection gaps: Easy to feel disconnected from leadership and coworkers
• Wellbeing needs: Staff needed daily support tools beyond traditional HR offerings
• Rapport building: Limited organic opportunities for team bonding
• Recognition inconsistency: No systematic way to celebrate contributions

Key Pain Point: Tools to bridge the remote work gap, create genuine rapport, build a sense of belonging, and support employee wellbeing in both work and personal contexts.


‍

Key Takeaways

Best for organizations that:

• Have remote or distributed teams
• Prioritize employee wellbeing and life skills development
• Want customizable learning content
• Need tools that support employees holistically (work + life)
• Value intuitive, easy-to-use platforms
• Seek both recognition and development in one system
• Need to bridge silos and build sense of belonging