Putting Our People First
Our success and exceptional client service are rooted in the unique perspectives, experiences, and backgrounds of our people. We have a commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion, striving to honor the value that each individual brings.
This year, our Stout Pride and People of Color affinity groups joined our Women’s Resource Group in fostering unity, networking, and success among our people. We’ve also launched the LGBTQ+ Scholarship and a new program, Females in Finance, to further support and uplift our diverse workforce.
Community Engagement
Females in Finance Program
Our Females in Finance Program is a virtual, interactive workshop series for students to gain hands-on experience while networking with Stout colleagues across the firm. In the program’s inaugural year, 118 students participated in the workshops.
Future Leaders in Finance Program
Our Future Leaders in Finance Program took place virtually this year, with 47 students in attendance. This three-day interactive workshop allowed students to learn about many aspects of the financial services industry and network with financial professionals. The event included a series of presentations, expert panels, and a team case-study competition, with the goal of expanding each student's skillset and knowledge to begin a career in finance.
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Pro Bono Services
One of the most valuable services we offer to the community is our expertise. We not only help individuals with lower incomes involved in matters that can benefit from our expertise, we support the organizations that work to address underlying issues and challenges faced by communities that are often underserved. Since our Pro Bono practice was formed in 2008, we have been engaged in over 200 matters and eclipsed professional fees of $8.1 million contributed to pro bono service. Over the last five years, our annual professional fee contribution averaged over $865,000.
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Diversity, Equity,
& Inclusion
2011
The Women's Resource Group is launched to create an environment to unite and empower the firm's talented women.
2013
The Women in Business Scholarship is established.
2014
We introduce enhanced family-friendly benefits, including an expanded parental leave program for eligible employees.
2017
We contribute to landmark legislation that provides legal counsel for low-income tenants who are subject to eviction, ejectment, or foreclosure proceedings.
2018
We host a national Diversity Conference for our employees.
2019
Christina Carroll is elected to Stout's board of directors, becoming the firm's first female board member.
2020
We introduce a new leadership-sponsored and employee-led DE&I framework whose purpose is to lead, develop, and support sustainable actions surrounding five key pillars.
2021
Alan Bowser joins our board, expanding the diverse perspective of the firm’s senior leadership team and bringing his experiences as a Chief Diversity Officer to his non-executive, independent advisor role. We sign the CEO Action for Diversity and Inclusion pledge. The Diverse Emerging Leaders Scholarship is established.
2022
We elevate DE&I initiatives to a corporate DE&I advisory committee to strategically review and advise on company efforts. We implement advanced DE&I recruiting strategies to expand outreach and increase our pool of qualified candidates.
2023
The Stout Pride affinity group is formed with the mission of creating an open and safe space for Stout’s LGBTQ+ colleagues and allies. The LGBTQ+ Scholarship is established. The People of Color affinity group is launched with the mission to promote and ensure the long-term success of our people of color by building on Stout's commitment to foster an inclusive and diverse organization.
Stout's Women's Resource Group (WRG) was originally formed in 2011 with the goal of uniting and empowering Stout's network of talented professional women. It was relaunched in 2022 to create an all-inclusive environment to unite and empower the firm's talented women, leverage business and philanthropic opportunities, provide relevant professional development, and offer internal and external networking programs to help female employees achieve success in the workplace and enhance their overall experience at the firm.
Stout Pride
Stout Pride was formed in 2023 to create an open and safe space for LGBTQ+ colleagues and allies to build connections and friendship. It aims to support personal and professional development, provide opportunities to give back through philanthropic activities, and promote diversity, inclusion, and acceptance within the firm by highlighting and addressing unique issues facing the LGBTQ+ community.
+ DIVERSE EMERGING LEADERS SCHOLARSHIP
+ LGBTQ+ SCHOLARSHIP
+ WOMEN IN BUSINESS SCHOLARSHIP
We're proud to recognize the 2023 scholarship winners:
Diverse Emerging Leaders Scholarship Winners
Women in Business Scholarship Winners
