Giving back
Loans are what we do. Not who we are.
Fairway runs two nonprofits, moves first when disaster hits, and challenges the rest of the industry — publicly — to keep up. If culture is a factor in your move, start here.
American Warrior Initiative
Fairway’s nonprofit for veterans and first responders — 450+ life-changing service dogs placed, plus business grants, home upgrades, and mortgage-free housing.
- Founded by Fairway in 2015; Fairway underwrites all expenses so donations go to the mission
- Funded its 400th service dog in April 2025 — more than 450 placed to date
- Certified Military Mortgage Specialist (CMMS) education for real estate professionals
- Red Fridays — remember everyone deployed
Fairway Cares
Love, courage, strength, and hope for anyone in the Fairway circle facing critical illness, trauma, or the loss of a loved one.
- More than 15,000 care packages shipped — every one with a handwritten note
- More than 2,000 financial grants to individuals and families in need
- Funded by Fairway employees; powered by volunteers
- “Loans are what we do, not who we are.”
In the news
When it matters, Fairway moves first
Not marketing copy — press coverage.
Fairway donates $1,000,000 to Texas flood relief
Within days of the catastrophic Texas flooding, Fairway committed $1M through Wood Group Gives — and publicly challenged every other mortgage company doing business in Texas to match it.
Read the coverage — PR Newswire / HousingWire →October 2024$1,000,000 to Hurricane Helene relief in Florida
After Helene tore through Florida, Fairway put up $1M for relief — and paid hotels, dinners, and storage for clients whose closings were disrupted, challenging competitors to do the same.
Read the coverage — National Mortgage Professional →November 2025Steve Jacobson opens Jake’s Place
Fairway’s funding enabled Tellurian Behavioral Health to purchase and renovate a Madison facility reopening a medically monitored drug detox program — named Jake’s Place in honor of Steve Jacobson’s father, Darryll Jacobson.
Read the coverage — PR Newswire →Why Fairway — in sixty seconds
The nonprofits are why a lot of us stay
Mercedes Forslund on what "why Fairway" actually means when the answer runs through the American Warrior Initiative and Fairway Cares. Ask ten Fairway people why they're here — the nonprofits come up ten times.
Every AWI expense is underwritten by Fairway, so donated dollars go to the mission. Fairway Cares is funded by Fairway employees themselves. This isn't a CSR page — it's the payroll deduction half the company signs up for.
100% confidential — always
Culture questions? Julie's the one to ask.
Six straight USA TODAY Top Workplaces awards — judged entirely on confidential employee feedback. Julie Fry owns that culture and answers candidly.