Harper Engineering is a Renton-based aerospace industry engineering company that has been giving back to their community through the Renton Regional Community Foundation for nearly 20 years. This community spirit was embedded in the company through its founder, OJ Harper. In 2006, Mr. Harper and his friend, Walter Cook, established the Harper Engineering Children’s Need Fund at RRCF to support the needs of kids in the Renton School District. The Children’s Need Fund gave out more than $200,000 to support students over 17 years before closing in 2023.
In addition to this fund, the company created the Harper Employee Giving Fund in 2018 to continue Mr. Harper’s spirit of generosity in the community. Every year, Harper Engineering sets aside an amount of money from their annual profits to donate to local nonprofit organizations. In a unique way, they open the giving process to their employees. Employees get to vote for the organizations they care most about to receive donations. By involving employees in the decision-making process, they aim to create opportunities that give everyone a sense of purpose and pride in contributing to the greater good.
Just a few of the organizations Harper Engineering has supported through their fund are Way Back Inn, REACH, Renton Schools Foundation, Babies of Homelessness, Communities in Schools, Key to Change, Vision House, and RRCF’s CARE Together Fund.
We were excited to hear that Harper Engineering is committed to supporting nonprofits both financially and through service. They host volunteer days and do employee food drives, coat drives, and more to support these organizations throughout the year. They want to provide volunteers and goods to support the organizations and build a deeper connection with them so their relationship is more than transactional.
The company also set up a scholarship fund with RRCF in 2016 to support students seeking post-high school education and training related to the aerospace industry. Recognizing that the aerospace industry is such a big part of the Renton community and wanting to encourage students who grow up here to return here for jobs is part of their goal, but ultimately their scholarship is about giving back to the community and supporting youth in Renton.
Harper Engineering is driving change in the community. They are an inspiration for how companies can give back to the community and empower employees to be involved in the process. RRCF is proud to partner with them to help them accomplish their philanthropic goals. Our hope in sharing this story is to inspire other companies to take a similar approach to supporting their community.