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Empower Work is a United States based nonprofit founded by Jaime-Alexis Fowler,[1] in San Francisco, California.[2][3] [4] It provides free services, aimed at promoting healthy and equitable workplaces across the United States.[5]
| Formation | 2018 |
|---|---|
| Founder | Jaime-Alexis Fowler (Founder) |
| Location | |
Area served | United States |
Key people | Jaime-Alexis Fowler (CEO) |
| Employees | 11-50 |
| Website | www |
History
editAt the age of 23, Jaime-Alexis Fowler was publicly criticized by her supervisor in a hallway, an incident that influenced her later work. [6]
In 2017, while working at a small technology startup, Fowler spoke with a young employee who reported difficulties in her workplace. Although Fowler provided assistance, she felt that the employee required more immediate and accessible support. This experience led Fowler to the organization.[7]
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Empower Work experienced a surge in demand alongside other crisis hotlines.[8]
In 2022, Forbes included the organization as one of the Five Standout Tech Nonprofits Of 2022.[9]
In 2023, Empower Work had supported over 400,000 individuals across the United States.[10][11][12]
In 2025, Fowler was named a Mimi and Peter Haas Distinguished Public Interest Technology Fellow at Stanford University.[13]
Partnerships
editSince its inception, Empower Work has partnered with government agencies and companies to expand its impact.
In 2022, it collaborated with Dr. Vivek Murthy's team at the Office of the Surgeon General to create a national framework for workplace well-being.[14]
In 2023, Empower Work partnered with Visible to launch Connection Protection, which provided individuals navigating job loss with workplace support and digital tools.
In 2024, Empower Work received funding from the Truist Foundation and GitLab Foundation to test its model as a career coaching support tool for recent skill training graduates entering the workforce.[15]
In 2025, Empower Work and Total launched a new program, Total Spark, a social impact initiative for Verizon/Total Wireless focused on supporting working students through local community programming, community events, and Empower Work's workplace counseling.[16][17]
Empower Work's organizational donors include #StartSmall, Craig Newmark Philanthropies, Omidyar Network, Verizon, Vodafone Americas Foundation, fastforward, Microsoft, Pineapple Fund, Uncharted, Visible, Atlassian, Robert Half, #RedBackPack Fund, NIA, Pinterest, Margoes Foundation, Full Circle Fund, Twilio, Silicon Valley Community Foundation, All Stars Helping Kids, Clif Family Foundation and PagerDuty.[18]
Research
editThe organization has published workforce research, including the State of Vulnerable Workers Report and the Job Search Report, which examine challenges experienced by hourly workers, women, and people of color.[19]
According to the Empower Work's 2023 Impact Report, 94% of users reported improved mental health, and 80% reported improved financial well-being after a session.[20]
Since launching, Empower Work has found that among the people who have texted them, 80% identify as women or gender fluid, 72% identify as a person of color, and 15% identify as LGBTQ.[21][22]
Awards
editIn 2023, Empower Work received the Jefferson Awards for Public Service for helping people deal with discrimination and harassment in the workplace.[23]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "Fairygodboss of the Week: Jaime-Alexis Fowler". Fairygodboss. Retrieved 6 August 2025.
- ^ Crichton, Danny (10 February 2018). "HR has lost the trust of employees. Here is who has it now". Tech Crunch. Retrieved 6 August 2025.
- ^ Stewart, Emily. "America's so-so economy". Business Insider. Retrieved 6 August 2025.
- ^ Crichton, Danny (10 February 2018). "HR has lost the trust of employees. Here is who has it now". Tech Crunch. Retrieved 6 August 2025.
- ^ Williams, Geoff. "Do You Have to Pay Back Unemployment Benefits?". U.S. News & World Report. Retrieved 6 August 2025.
- ^ Chin, Sharon (18 January 2023). "Nonprofit Empower Work helps people deal with discrimination, harassment on the job". CBS News. Retrieved 6 August 2025.
- ^ Wong, Greg (11 October 2018). "Holiday giving helps this SF org empower workplace well-being". San Francisco Examiner. Retrieved 6 August 2025.
- ^ Noguchi, Yuki (29 March 2020). "Crisis Hotlines See Spike In Calls As Anxiety And Fear About Pandemic Grows". NPR. Retrieved 6 August 2025.
- ^ Farley, Shannon. "Moving Further, Faster, Together: Meet The Five Standout Tech Nonprofits Of 2022". Forbes. Retrieved 6 August 2025.
- ^ Bereznak, Alyssa (21 February 2018). "The Workplace That Susan Fowler Wrought". The Ringer. Retrieved 6 August 2025.
- ^ Weingarten, Elizabeth (12 April 2018). "Tell This Bot About Your Experience of Harassment. It Might Actually Help". Slate. Retrieved 6 August 2025.
- ^ Gowland, Lelia. "Can Text Messaging Help You Resolve A Sticky Work Scenario?". Forbes. Retrieved 6 August 2025.
- ^ "Four changemakers in public interest technology named 2025 Mimi and Peter E. Haas Distinguished Visitors". Stanford University. 23 January 2025. Retrieved 6 August 2025.
- ^ Leonard, Nicole. "U.S. surgeon general launches national workplace mental health guide in Philadelphia". WHYY-TV. Retrieved 6 August 2025.
- ^ Fain, Paul (19 March 2025). "Workforce Training Programs Test Text-Based Coaching for Grads". Workshift. Retrieved 6 August 2025.
- ^ "Verizon's Total Wireless Supports Working Students with First-Ever Social Impact Program, "Total Spark"". Business Wire. Retrieved 6 August 2025.
- ^ Rao, Prushotma M. "Verizon Backs Working Students with 'Total Spark' Social Program". The Fast Mode. Retrieved 6 August 2025.
- ^ "Our Supporters - Empower Work". Empower Work. Retrieved 6 August 2025.
- ^ Madell, Robin (21 June 2023). "Being Unhappy at Work Can Have Long-Term Health Effects". Money Talks News. Archived from the original on 21 June 2023. Retrieved 6 August 2025.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link) - ^ "Our 2023 Impact: Five Years In Five Years of Supporting Workers to Thrive Amidst Adversity". Empower Work. Retrieved 6 August 2025.
- ^ Maclellan, Lila (11 October 2018). "A new crisis hotline lets you text a counselor when you're anxious at work". Quartz. Retrieved 6 August 2025.
- ^ Leiva, Ludmila. "The Problem With Using Your Sick Days For Period Cramps". Refinery29. Retrieved 6 August 2025.
- ^ "Empower Work receives Jefferson Award for helping people deal with discrimination, harassment on the job". For Impact. 19 January 2023. Retrieved 6 August 2025.