Date Posted: 05.18.2026
Mithun has been recognized by the Puget Sound Business Journal (PSBJ) with a 2026 Corporate Compassion Award, honoring the firm’s long-standing commitment to community-centered design, philanthropy, and service. The annual awards highlight organizations across the region whose giving is deeply rooted in the passions and contributions of their people — companies that integrate community support into everyday practice rather than treating it as an afterthought.
“As a multidisciplinary design firm committed to making positive change in people’s lives and the health of the planet, it’s a great honor to be recognized for our community impact, “ said Mithun president David W. Goldberg. “As designers and planners, we’re able to help shape and hopefully improve the lives of everyone who interacts with the diverse spaces and places we create. This is a beautiful community; we couldn’t be more proud to be a part of it and do our part to help nurture it into the future.”
At Mithun, corporate citizenship is inseparable from the firm’s Design for Positive Change mission. From concept through project delivery, this commitment shapes both the work of the built environment and the firm’s broader engagement with communities.
IslandWood CEO Megan Karch presented introductory remarks at the event: “I can’t think of a company more deserving of this award than Mithun. IslandWood’s work with Mithun goes back over 25 years when they so brilliantly designed a magical campus for us on Bainbridge Island. But it didn’t stop there. They continued by involving their entire staff and teams for the last 25 years in contributing to our organization: they have sat on our board, they have contributed financially, and they’ve done multiple pro bono projects over the years… But their work doesn’t stop with IslandWood. We are one of so many organizations that they have contributed to.”
While this award highlights impact in the Puget Sound region, Mithun’s approach to corporate citizenship extends across all three communities where the firm has offices — Seattle, San Francisco and Los Angeles — reflecting a shared commitment to local engagement in each location.
COMMUNITY IMPACT THROUGH DESIGN
Mithun’s approach to giving is holistic — spanning design, volunteerism and philanthropy. The firm contributes more than one percent of net revenue annually to mission-driven organizations and consistently ranks among the region’s leading corporate philanthropists.
Over the past year, this commitment translated into tangible, community-centered impact. Projects included affordable housing partnerships with Mercy Housing Northwest and Imagine Housing in the Pacific Northwest, Chinatown Community Development Corporation (CCDC) in San Francisco and Community Corporation of Santa Monica. Design work supported diverse cultural and educational institutions such as Pike Place Market, the Northwest African American Museum, as well as several city parks departments and public school districts.
Mithun also extends its impact nationally through pro bono design services — providing planning, design and technical expertise to nonprofit partners who might not otherwise have access to these resources. In 2025, these efforts totaled more than $90,000 in support of mission-driven organizations.
The Mithun Los Angeles team volunteering at the St. Francis Center food pantry.
EMPOWERING EMPLOYEE-LED GIVING AND SERVICE
At the core of Mithun’s community impact is a culture that empowers individuals to lead. Each employee receives two paid days annually for volunteer service, resulting in over 1,400 hours of engagement each year with organizations such as Food Lifeline, Boys & Girls Clubs and Bike MS.
Mithun team members support a wide range of organizations through volunteering, fundraising and mentorship, including a more than 20-year partnership with the ACE Mentor Program and growing involvement with NOMA Project Pipeline, connecting high school students to careers in the built environment.
A SUSTAINED COMMITMENT TO COMMUNITY
As a 75+ year old, mission-driven practice, Mithun’s community engagement extends beyond financial contributions. Leadership actively supports regional organizations through board service, while staff-led initiatives raise funds and awareness for nonprofits aligned with local needs in each office location.
In 2025 alone, Mithun contributed more than $200,000 in direct financial support to nonprofits, alongside $90,000 in in-kind services and significant volunteer engagement. Collectively, these efforts reflect a sustained and integrated commitment to strengthening communities — advancing equity, supporting essential services and building capacity for long-term resilience.
PSBJ also recognized Mithun in 2019 with the Healthy Community Champion Award for Basic Needs, highlighting the firm’s giving and work to expand access to affordable housing, as well as educational and environmental causes.
