In New York City, helping employees bring purpose and skills to passion projects

From using data to preserve affordable housing to simplifying digital enrollment for assistance programs, from building marketing and storytelling materials to support the aging to fighting the war on rats, a new pilot program launched by the City of New York and Mastercard will harness the talents and interests of the company’s employees to address critical needs across the five boroughs.   

This pioneering public-private partnership will expand Unlocked, the company’s internal talent marketplace for short-term projects outside an employee’s everyday job, to volunteer for projects with a host of city agencies. It’s an outgrowth of Mastercard’s longstanding work with the City of New York, and the company’s commitment to doing well by doing good.  

“When the going gets tough, New Yorkers know it's time to volunteer. Thank you to Gloat, Thrive Global, and Mastercard for joining NYC Service in building TeamNYC as we promote volunteerism across the 5 boroughs,” said New York City Mayor Eric Adams.  

This program’s partners also include the talent marketplace platform Gloat, which supports Unlocked, and Thrive Global, the behavior change technology company founded by Arianna Huffington with the mission of improving productivity and health outcomes. It’s intended to support and engage the growing number of employees who view volunteering as a way to connect to their communities, nourish their passions, support their own wellbeing and grow their skills.  

“Our employees have incredible interest and passion for these opportunities, and with their vast range of skills and expertise, they can make a profound impact,” says Michael Fraccaro, Mastercard’s chief people officer.  

In the recent launch of the pilot program, Mastercard employees can be matched to, or search and apply for projects with city agencies via Unlocked through their profile of skills – data analysis, content creation or marketing strategy, for example – or their interests. “The technology implemented in the TeamNYC partnership has a real impact because skilled volunteers can easily be recruited to partner with our City agencies to contribute in ways that will reach far and wide,” said Chief Service Officer Laura Rog. “Together, we can make a positive impact on our fellow New Yorkers’ lives and increase our collective well-being.” Several projects are already underway, one which is focused on researching and designing process improvements and efficiencies, with additional projects due to begin shortly.  

"We built Gloat on the belief that there's a wealth of untapped talent around us, not just in our workplaces but also within our communities,” says Gloat CEO Ben Reuveni. “Partnering with Mastercard and a dynamic city like New York, where talent and skills are thriving, is a pivotal step in turning our belief into reality. Connecting companies to cities is a launching pad for our broader goal to build an ecosystem of talent, empowering communities with opportunities to build and share skills.”    

“Giving is one of our most powerful well-being tools, transforming the giver as much as the recipient," says Arianna Huffington, founder and CEO of Thrive Global, "And that’s why this partnership goes beyond professional contribution — it's about building well-being and resilience."