It's been a big year for Tradeweb Markets. The electronic trading platform officially became a public company after a very successful initial public offering, and average daily volume at Tradeweb topped $665 billion in April to notch the second-highest total on record. Change and growth is always a constant in financial markets. But after more than 20 years in operation, Tradeweb is the same old company in one important way: Its longstanding commitment to charitable giving and community service.
Through Tradeweb Cares, the company has fostered a culture of philanthropy and generosity at all levels of the firm. These efforts go beyond simply writing a check to include real-world service, said Fred Strobel, the company’s head of human resources.
“Tradeweb offers employees two paid volunteer days per year, but that’s just the start,” Strobel said. “For us, there are three categories of charitable giving: our corporate partnerships and volunteerism, employee matching, and business-directed philanthropy, which is supporting charitable efforts within our industry. These combine to create a comprehensive program, and we’re very humbled to be able to serve so many philanthropic goals.”
That comprehensive program has grown impressively over the years. Some charitable efforts are traditions, such as a partnership with Habitat NYC that began in 2011 through which employees have volunteered to do everything from hang drywall to paint murals at a community center. Others are smaller or newer efforts that instantly connect with employees.
“One of the most heart-warming activities we did recently was in aid of Safe Horizon, which helps empower victims and survivors of violence and abuse. Folks in our office wrapped dozens of gifts for Mother’s Day,” Strobel said.
Then there’s Tuesday’s Children, a charity formed after the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, which hits particularly close to home for longtime staffers at Tradeweb.
“That Tuesday morning, Tradeweb was on the 51st floor of the North Tower, and we were beyond lucky to be able to evacuate our entire office—82 people—during the attack,” said Strobel. “Three Tradeweb employees sit on the board of Tuesday’s Children, and I am hugely honored to be one of them.”
All told, Tradeweb Cares and related volunteer efforts helped to support 18 different charities in 2018, and on top of that the firm matched donations to more than 150 other organizations. And no matter what the future holds for the firm, Strobel said that commitment to giving back isn’t going to change.
“We earnestly believe that building better markets also comes with a responsibility to improve the communities around the world where our employees live and work,” he said. “That’s why we established Tradeweb Cares—to further foster the very strong culture of philanthropy that already thrives within our organization.”
For more information: Visit Tradeweb.com/who-we-are/philanthropy
