When founding partners Josh Fogelman and Aaron Von Flatern launched FVF Law in 2014, their ambitions extended beyond winning cases. The Austin-based personal injury firm set out to change how the public views personal injury law, one client at a time. More than a decade later, that mission has grown into something the city itself has come to depend on.
In May, FVF Law was honored at the Association of Fundraising Professionals' annual Philanthropy Day Award Ceremony, where the firm was named Outstanding Large Philanthropic Corporation of the Year. The award recognizes organizations that provide meaningful financial, in-kind, and volunteer support while actively encouraging others to take leadership roles in charitable giving. For those who work alongside FVF Law in Austin's nonprofit sector, the recognition comes as no surprise.
"What sets FVF apart is their genuine compassion for people at the heart of their business," said Arden Whitley, senior development director at Ronald McDonald House Charities of Central Texas, where FVF staff have volunteered monthly for years through the Meals from the Heart program. "They're humans who care about other humans."
That spirit shows up consistently. Fogelman himself has been spotted rolling up his sleeves to wash dishes after cooking meals for families navigating pediatric medical crises. Von Flatern attended the opening of Ronald McDonald House's new Texas Children's location and asked staff how they planned to serve families there. The firm has also made a naming gift to sponsor a bedroom in the organization's forthcoming Mueller expansion, a building designed to eliminate a seven-year waitlist that has left families without housing during medical emergencies.
The partnerships FVF cultivates are not one-time gestures. Since 2018, the firm has been a cornerstone supporter of the Health Alliance for Austin Musicians, better known as HAAM, which provides access to health and wellness services for Austin's music community, where more than 75 percent of members earn under $31,000 annually. FVF has underwritten HAAM Day, supported Corporate Battle of the Bands, funded the organization's capital campaign, and sponsored Music Mondays on We Are Austin, a weekly broadcast that gives local musicians a platform on KEYE CBS Austin.
"You can't put a money value on a lot of this," said HAAM CEO Paul Scott. "It's really about leveraging their relationships and connections to cross-promote what we're doing." Scott, himself a former attorney, added that FVF's internal culture is something rare in the legal world. "I think if I had been with a firm like FVF, I probably would have been happy and stayed in law."
Chief of Staff Caitlyn Macaluso, who has led FVF's community giving program since joining the firm in 2018, describes how the portfolio of partnerships developed organically around a clear set of values. The firm looks for organizations that feel uniquely Austin, whether that is music, animals, waterways, or educational initiatives like Girls Empowerment Network and Go Austin/Vamos Austin. Staff suggestions and an employee donation match program help surface causes that resonate across the team.
"We are an Austin law firm," Macaluso said. "Austin is part of our identity. We would not have this place without this community."
Since 2019, FVF has contributed roughly $700,000 in philanthropic giving. This year, the firm doubled its giving budget, with plans to reach $200,000 annually, alongside a developing emergency mini-grant program aimed at smaller nonprofits, providing small gifts to keep their programs running. Board seats, committee involvement, and pro bono legal services round out a model that community partners describe as consistently transformational rather than transactional.
The AFP award is a formal acknowledgment of something Austin's nonprofit community has understood for years. FVF Law has built something harder to quantify than a verdict or a settlement — a reputation as a firm that shows up, stays committed, and treats community investment as a core business strategy rather than a line item.
"What sets FVF apart is their genuine compassion for people at the heart of their business." - Arden Whitley