Carmichael Lynch’s ‘Founders’ Grant’ backs employee-driven ventures with $5,000

Carmichael Lynch embraces the philosophy of “come together, stand apart.” The ad agency’s Minneapolis rooftop serves as a destination for community-building activities such as yoga, live music and food courtesy of the in-house BBQ crew. Carmichael Lynch’s “work from where you need to” model ensures that employees’ evolving needs are met, prioritizing long-term mental health solutions over short-term fixes. The agency’s commitment to wellness includes an annual health and wellness stipend and for new parents, the phased return policy allows part-time work with full-time pay for the first four weeks after parental leave. Bereavement leave has also been expanded to include pregnancy loss, providing employees time to manage difficult personal events. Ad Age Best Places to Work 2025 50 companies doing a standout job See the full list here Carmichael Lynch also honors employee excellence through peer nominations, recognizing achievements in collaboration, creativity, humanitarianism, innovation and leadership. The Founders’ Grant is an annual agency award that provides $5,000 and additional paid time off for passion projects. The company in its own words: “Business outlets are noting that the current trend is to push their employees to go back to how we worked before the pandemic. They are also cutting back on DEI teams without paying heed to the social equity revolution that pushed for important change. Enough. In the time of cutbacks, we see culture as an investment, not an expense.” Ad Age Best Places to Work 2025 50 companies doing a standout job See the full list here

Carmichael Lynch’s ‘Founders’ Grant’ backs employee-driven ventures with $5,000

Featured Stories