If going to work feels like work, then you're not working at KaBOOM!. Today, KaBOOM!, the national nonprofit organization dedicated to saving play, was named one of the Best NonProfit Organizations to Work for in 2010. The annual list of the "Best NonProfits" was created by The NonProfit Times and Best Companies Group. KaBOOM! (kaboom.org) has built more than 1,700 playgrounds in low-income communities and is working to bring play back into the lives of all children. There are a number of reasons to work at KaBOOM!, but what sets the organization apart is the experience of creating positive change in communities across America.

"We believe that play matters not just on the playground but in the workplace as well," said Darell Hammond, CEO of KaBOOM!. "For us, instilling a sense of play into the organization helps fuel the passions of our employees and keeps us focused on our goal of saving play across America. If we don't play ourselves, how can we expect to motivate others to do the same?"

The annual survey and award program was designed to identify, recognize and honor the best places of employment in the non-profit sector. The top organizations appear in the April 2010 issue of The NonProfit Times along with profiles of each organization. KaBOOM! offers generous compensation packages, benefits, and bonus plan, but more importantly, the organization has a strong culture and playful spirit that contributed to its receipt of this prestigious award.

"While we work incredibly hard, it doesn't really feel like work," said Carrie Ellis, the Director of the Project Management team. "We might have to travel across the country, but at the end of the day, it's really rewarding because we get to make kids happy every day."

Our Work is Play

KaBOOM! employees, affectionately nicknamed "Boomers," all share a passion for making children happy, which helps shape the culture. The offices exude a positive energy which comes from the employees as well as the brightly painted office walls and playground equipment such as tire swings and slides. The organization is also focused on ensuring a demographically-balanced and representative workforce.

Other unique features include:

• Play Academy-the entire organization gathers together once a year to regroup and recharge at a three-day retreat;
• Snack-time-all office kitchens are perpetually stocked with milk, cereal, bread, peanut-butter, jelly, and fresh fruit to keep energy levels up throughout the day;
• Lunch- KaBOOM! celebrates PB&J Day once a month-an all-hands lunch that features the most-beloved sandwich of childhood (plus other sandwich makings, chips, cookies and drinks);
• Recess-monthly team-building activities, led by "Culture Captains," including games, singing, contests and more.

Selection Process

Organizations from across the country entered a two-part survey process to determine the Best NonProfit Organizations to Work for. The surveys consisted of an evaluation of each nominated organization's workplace policies, practices, philosophy, systems and demographics as well as an employee experience. Best Companies Group managed the overall registration, survey and analysis process and determined the final rankings.

KaBOOM! combines serious fun with wise use of the money it raises. The organization has a 4-Star Rating from Charity Navigator and is a Better Business Bureau endorsed charity.

About KaBOOM!

Headquartered in Washington, D.C., KaBOOM! is a national non-profit organization dedicated to saving play. Through community building, the company is focused on giving every child in America a great place to play within walking distance. Since 1995, KaBOOM! has used its innovative community-build model to bring together business and community interests to construct more than 1,700 new playgrounds, skate parks, sports fields and ice rinks across North America. KaBOOM! also offers a variety of resources, including an online community, free online trainings, grants, publications and the KaBOOM! National Campaign for Play, which includes Playful City USA and Playmakers "“ a national network of individual advocates for play. KaBOOM! also has offices in Chicago and San Mateo, Calif. For more information, visit www.kaboom.org.

For more information on the Best NonProfit Organizations to Work for program, visit www.BestNonProfitstoWorkfor.com.

KaBOOM!

KaBOOM!

KaBOOM! is the national non-profit dedicated to the bold goal of ensuring that all children, particularly the 16 million American children living in poverty, get the active play they need to become healthy and successful adults. KaBOOM! has been a powerful champion for play since its founding in 1996, working with partners to build, improve, and open more than 15,000 playgrounds, engage more than 1,000,000 volunteers and serve more than 6,600,000 children. KaBOOM! creates and catalyzes great places to play; inspires, empowers and leads play advocates; and elevates the societal conversation about the importance of play in children’s lives. For more information, visit kaboom.org/act.

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