Donor Advised Fund
ODL, Inc.
When Cy Mulder opened Art Craft Novelty Shop in 1945, he had a few goals. He wanted to embrace his entrepreneurial spirit (and not have a boss!), support his family, and create products that make lives better. Eventually becoming Ottawa Door Lights (ODL), the company has thrived under the careful stewardship of three generations of the Mulder family—Cy, Larry, and Jeff.
Growing beyond its modest roots in Zeeland, ODL has facilities in Canada, Mexico, China, and the United Kingdom, as well as 8 facilities in the US. The company relies upon its core values of Solid, Soft, and Risky to guide all aspects of the business, including culture, employee value, and growth. Solid includes a strong and inclusive workforce, quality manufacturing processes, and fiscal health. Soft means approaching communities, customers, and employees with compassion. Risky encapsulates the spirit of innovation and problem-solving that has driven ODL to become a leader in its industry.
A commitment to the community has been part of ODL’s corporate philosophy since the beginning. Jeff Mulder, who serves as Executive Chairman, explained that in recent years ODL has embraced the idea of philanthropy as something personal. “One of the great parts of charitable engagement is exploring your passions,” Jeff said. “There’s a sense of fulfilment in identifying how and where you want to make an impact.”
Several years ago, as a way to remain disciplined in his passion for cycling, Jeff began signing up for Livestrong Challenges. These challenges not only fueled his cycling, but his charitable giving. Jeff quickly began to appreciate the resources and support Livestrong provided to cancer patients and their care givers. Years later, he found himself connected to a different cycling-related charity, The Great Cycle Challenge, where he could still ride, raise money, and support a cause he had grown to really care about. It was around this time that ODL began to reevaluate its corporate giving structure.
“We wanted our corporate giving to focus on aligning passions and priorities for our team members,” said Jeff. “Our employees’ charitable interests are diverse, and they evolve and change over time.”

“We wanted our corporate giving to focus on aligning passions and priorities for our team members. Our employees' charitable interests are diverse, and they evolve and change over time.”
The ODL, Inc. Employee Matching Fund was launched in 2017 and puts all the decision-making in the hands of employees. Team members’ financial contributions to nonprofit causes are matched 1:1 by ODL. Gifts of time are honored with a $25 donation for each volunteer hour. The fund is administered by CFHZ, who has enjoyed a relationship with ODL since 1996 that includes support for the Community’s Endowment, and administration of a scholarship fund for the children of ODL team members.
Chad Potinsky, Advanced Manufacturing Engineer, has been participating in the Employee Matching Fund program to support his volunteer role as founding member, head coach and mentor of the Allendale Robotics program. The program has opportunities for K-12 students, inspiring them to get excited about Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM). Chad’s dedicated volunteer hours have generated $10,000 in matching funds from the Employee Matching Fund each year. Those contributions helped the team to purchase computer equipment, a trailer, and machinery including 3D printers which helped them reach a new level of competitiveness.
“Tailoring the corporate giving program to everybody’s personal interests and passions is a great benefit. It doesn’t matter what your cause or organization is (within the program guidelines) ODL is there to help you as long as you are also helping,” said Chad. Jeff points to the Employee Matching Fund as an example of ODL’s Purpose – making lives better. “It’s holistic,” he said, “it honors the varied ways in which our employees give back to their communities through time, talent, and treasure, and supports them as the experts in their personal philanthropy.”