For every job Goodwill posts, 54 people apply. Now, with the Refresh app, every one of them leaves with job leads, benefits and local resources, and that connection stays in place long after a program or a job ends.
We had the privilege of sitting down with Logan Sugarman (Founder and CEO of Refresh), and two Goodwill leaders, Michelle Roberts (President & CEO, Marion Goodwill) and Adrian Gessen (SVP Organizational Development, Goodwill Northeast Texas), who are putting the Refresh app in the hands of the people they serve.
What We Cover in the Episode
The app sprawl problem. The average corporation runs 200 to 300 apps, tools and channels, and typical HR tools see 10 to 15 percent usage. Refresh sits above all of it and delivers the right resource to the right person.
Tearing down Goodwill's digital wall. With 54 applicants for every opening, most people used to hear "we'll call you." Now everyone who applies gets the Refresh app, and one IT applicant called within 48 hours to say thank you after landing a job in Dallas.
A housing program nobody knew existed. The Goodwill team used Refresh to find a brand-new rent-assistance program that kept a man over 55 from homelessness.
No more benefits cliff. Leaving a program or a job used to cut people off. With Refresh, the relationship, the resources and the community stay.
Scale that's already real. More than 1.6 million licenses are distributed, roughly two new Goodwill territories come on every month, and Catholic Charities, YMCAs and food banks are asking to join.
Get in Touch
Reach out to us to hear more about the opportunity to partner with Refresh and Goodwill: https://www.revotaxpayer.com/?utm_source=revo-taxpayer&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=s4e29-tax-play-employee-benefits-app&utm_content=show-notes.
Interested in Refresh for your organization? Book a demo at https://www.refreshplatform.com. Know a charity that could benefit? Refresh has more licenses coming next year.
Connect With Us
Website: https://www.revotaxpayer.com/
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LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/revo-taxpayer-advocacy
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@HiddenMoneyPodcast
Chapters
[00:00] Introduction: meet the team behind Refresh and Goodwill's rollout
[00:58] Logan Sugarman: 200 to 300 apps and 10 to 15 percent usage
[03:33] What Refresh actually does: sits above it all and delivers it
[04:45] The Google Home analogy: "15 apps to walk into my house"
[06:40] How the HR role got reduced to admin
[08:37] The 401(k) match our own team didn't know about
[09:34] Michelle Roberts: "If I could have all of these things in one place"
[11:19] Goodwill is so much more than a donation drop-off
[12:41] Adrian Gessen: the digital wall and 54 applicants for every job
[14:15] The IT applicant who called within 48 hours to say thanks
[14:43] A warm off-boarding, and no more benefits cliff
[16:11] Learning from Catholic Charities, the YMCA and the Salvation Army
[18:03] Resource guides that were outdated the day they were published
[19:42] One question, a ladder of resources
[21:02] Mimetic drive, repurposed for good
[23:06] "I would like to thank me": gratitude and community in the app
[24:36] Covered vs. uncovered employees, and who gets left out
[27:53] A helper bot, not a DOS prompt
[29:16] The church rent program nobody knew existed
[31:34] Why one case manager, or one book, can't keep up
[32:33] Case managers, financial coaches and legal advice on demand
[32:56] 1.6 million licenses and a queue forming
[35:04] Armed forces, first responders and the wider charitable space
[37:28] How Refresh serves nonprofits and corporations alike
[41:54] Where to learn more about Refresh
[42:49] When people don't know help exists
[45:57] The compounding effect: 14 questions, and data that serves back
[47:43] Caseworker compassion fatigue, and what changes
[49:39] The rollout: about two Goodwill territories a month
[50:40] The 14 social determinants of wellbeing
[52:01] Closing thoughts: "We are so much more than a store"
Disclaimer: This content is for educational purposes and does not constitute tax or legal advice. Always consult a qualified tax professional for your situation.
