It Gets Better Summary — Remote Team Connection

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."

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 Need: 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.

The Solution

Timeline:

• First Contact: Early May 2025
• Partnership: June 2025
• Season Duration: July 14 - August 29, 2025 (6.5 weeks)

Implementation:Focus on two core elements for remote team:

1. River Runs (micro-learning for wellbeing)
2. Recognition to build rapport and connection

Platform Customization:

• Created customized River Runs content
• Included River Run on “Trust in the Workplace” (particularly appreciated)
• Designed content to support both work context and personal life skills
• Kept implementation simple and intuitive

Give River Features Used:

• River Runs (micro-learning and wellbeing tools) - primary focus
• Peer recognition system
• Pre and post-engagement surveys
• [Note: No charitable giving component in first season]

The Results

Adoption & Engagement:

• 83% participation rate across 9-person team
• 3 power users (33% of team) drove significant engagement
• High completion rates on River Runs

Platform Experience:✅ Intuitive and easy to use — Staff found it immediately accessible

✅ Daily wellbeing breaks — Provided tools useful both in work and personal contexts

✅ Skill development — Practical tools for managing life challenges

✅ Team rapport building — Created connections across the remote organization

Measurable Culture Improvements (Pre to Post-Survey):

📈 Handling stress well — UP 10%

📈 Feeling supported by my organization — UP 13%

📈 Feeling supported by my colleagues — UP 15%

Employee Feedback:The team’s response showed genuine engagement rather than perfunctory participation.

Long-term Value for Remote Teams:The platform proved particularly effective for distributed teams, providing:

• Bridge across silos created by remote work
• Opportunities for genuine rapport building
• Ongoing recognition and connection
• Sense of belonging that traditional tools don’t create

Client Testimonials

Ariella Assouline, Manager of Programs and Operations

“The platform is really great! It has been so great to have this break within the day for tools to help not only in a work context, but really provide necessary skills and tools for how to manage life. I really enjoy the platform. I really liked the one on trust in the workplace.”

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

Timeline to results: 6.5 weeks

Participation rate: 83% (9-person team)

Power user engagement: 33% of team drove significant activity

Key improvements: 10-15% increases across stress management, organizational support, and colleague support

Best for: Small remote teams (under 25 employees)

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