MRS Property: Built on giving back

By Em Worthington

Built on giving back

At MRS Property, giving back has never been an afterthought. It’s part of the business’s DNA — built in from the very beginning and carried forward into its next chapter.

As the business evolves with a new generation of leadership, CEO Ed Day says the commitment to philanthropy is something to protect and grow.

“It’s a core value of the business,” he says. “The founders have really instilled that, and we’re in a fortunate enough position to be able to give.”

That foundation was set more than two decades ago, when Executive Director Geoff Robertson and the founding team of Andrew McIntyre and Paul Scarborough established MRS with a clear sense of responsibility to give back.

“We wanted our business to have a social conscience and embed giving back from the start,” Geoff says.

In the early days, with just a handful of staff, the team found themselves regularly approached for donations and sponsorships. Rather than making ad hoc decisions, they chose to formalise their approach, setting aside a portion of profit each year for giving.

“We knew there were a lot of good people and organisations doing great work, and we wanted to contribute. So we made giving back a core value and put a structure in place, so we could support organisations in a consistent and meaningful way,” Geoff says.

That decision laid the groundwork for what would become a defining part of the business. As the team grew, so did the approach. When MRS reached five staff, each person was invited to nominate a charity and share why it mattered to them. From that process came long-term partnerships with Autism SA, the Brian Burdekin Clinic, the Julian Burton Burns Trust, and later, Operation Flinders.

From the beginning, staff involvement was key. It ensured that giving reflected the values of the whole team, not just leadership.

Over time, that idea evolved into one of the most meaningful rituals in the business. Each year, every staff member is given $200 to donate to a charity of their choice, with one condition: they must share why.

Those moments, Geoff says, have shaped the culture in ways no policy ever could.

“At our June staff meeting, everyone shares where they’re donating and why,” Geoff says. “The reasons are often very personal and it can become quite emotional, but it’s a trusted environment where staff feel safe to share. It brings the team closer together and helps people better understand what others may be going through.”

Today, with around 60 staff, that initiative supports dozens of causes each year, from well-known organisations to smaller community groups.

“You hear of charities that you’ve never heard of, or didn’t know existed,” Geoff says. “And there’s a reason as to why that particular person’s giving to that cause.”

For Ed, that level of engagement is one of the things that stood out when he joined the business last year.

“It’s a core value of the business, and one that aligns closely with my own values,” he says. “It’s great to see how widely supported that is across the team.”

Alongside financial giving, MRS has also built a strong culture of volunteering. For nearly 20 years, staff have delivered meals through Meals on Wheels each Thursday. On Fridays, team members head to Alberton Primary School to prepare breakfast for children through KickStart for Kids.

“We encourage it, but it’s up to each individual as to whether they actually participate or not,” Geoff says. “The majority of the team do.”

Together, these initiatives represent over 400 hours of staff time each year — a significant contribution, but one that delivers benefits well beyond the immediate impact.

Team members are often paired with colleagues they don’t usually work with, creating space for connection in a completely different context.

“When you share experiences and talk about things that aren’t work-related, you get to know people on a totally different level,” Geoff says.

It also enables people who work together to share in some pretty special things. That sense of connection is something Ed has seen firsthand.

“It’s great to see how widely supported giving back is,” he says. “The staff genuinely enjoy volunteering and look forward to it as part of their week. I’ve done KickStart for Kids, and it’s actually a lot of fun.”

That same energy often extends beyond those opportunities. Over the years, staff have regularly taken the initiative to lead their own fundraising efforts — cooking meals for those in need, organising charity events, taking part in fun runs and the Marilyn Jetty Swim, preparing Christmas hampers, arranging morning teas, and supporting causes close to their hearts.

For Geoff, that’s where the real impact shows up — beyond formal programs and into the culture of the business, in the way people show up for each other and their community.

“You talk about the culture — maybe that’s just a spin-off of what we’ve been able to create. It’s something we’re really proud of,” he says.

Across more than 20 years, MRS has donated, given or helped raise more than $1.5 million. The majority of that has come directly from the business, while other contributions have been made possible through staff, clients and the broader MRS network.

There have been standout moments, including fundraising events that have generated tens of thousands of dollars in a single evening — but Geoff is clear that the impact goes far beyond the numbers.

“If you’re going to make it a core value, then it’s important that you live and breathe it, as opposed to just putting it on a wall and talking about it,” he says.

Geoff believes the benefits flow in many directions, to the organisations being supported, to the staff who feel proud to work for a business that cares, and to the culture that grows when people share meaningful experiences together.

“People like to work for an organisation that has a social conscience,” he says. “It’s a non-financial reason as to why people might want to work with us.”

As MRS looks ahead, the focus is on ensuring that philosophy continues to guide the business long after its founders step back. For Ed, that means building on what’s already there, while thinking about how it can evolve for the future.

“The foundations within the business are so strong that we’ll continue to support it as we have,” he says. “If we can build on that and put structures in place to ensure it continues into perpetuity, that’s a good goal for the next 20-plus years. I’m excited about how we can continue to drive this.”

For Geoff, that continuity is exactly what the founders hoped for when they first embedded giving into the business.

“I think we have a responsibility as businesses to give back,” he says.

“A little bit of money or time spent volunteering can go a long way for a lot of those organisations needing help. There are a lot of people doing great things, and any support can make a lasting difference. It also gives the business a strength of purpose,” Geoff says.

“It’s great to make money, but if you can allocate a little bit of that to make the world a better place and help others, that’s something we should all aspire to do.”

It’s a belief that has shaped MRS from day one — and one that now sits firmly in the hands of its next generation.

Pictured (L-R): Geoff Robertson and Ed Day

Our heartfelt thanks to Geoff and Ed for so generously sharing their giving journey. Stay tuned for more incredible South Australians in our ongoing series.