Employees are demanding companies be socially responsible. Companies are listening and reacting to employees’ calls for social impact by implementing corporate volunteering. These purpose-driven companies are not only doing good for their community through volunteering, but they are also gaining the many benefits of volunteerism:
- Improved employee happiness & well-being
- Increased employee engagement
- Competitive employer brand & employee retention
- Company-wide culture of giving
What is corporate volunteering?
Corporate volunteering empowers employees to give their time and skills together to the causes and charities they are most passionate about.
79% of Built In’s 2022 Best Places to Work offer their employees the opportunity to volunteer in their local community. Plus, 82% of employees who volunteer through an employee volunteer program feel more committed to their company (Cone Communications).
Whether it’s team volunteer events, skills-based volunteering, or virtual volunteering, corporate volunteerism has several benefits (listed below). To help plan successful volunteer events, Percent Pledge social impact managers published the step-by-step guide they followed for 300+ successful volunteer events.
What are the benefits of corporate volunteerism?
Corporate volunteerism creates a positive ripple effect throughout a company. From employee wellness to employee engagement, the benefits of volunteerism continue to grow in parallel with the employee volunteering program. Below are a few areas where corporate volunteering can positively impact your company.
Employee happiness & well-being
Employees want to volunteer. 56% of employees want to both donate and volunteer at work.
I believe when everyone in the village contributes to others' well-being, we are taken care of and no one is alone. We are all 1 life change away from needing help and I am dedicated to being the change.
Employee volunteer
Employees are dedicated to making change for their happiness and well-being, that’s why almost 6 in 10 employees currently support causes and nonprofits. So by allowing employees to support various charities or causes they believe in and are already supporting, it empowers them to bring their full selves to work as their company supports their passions and beliefs.
Employee engagement
Imagine…83% of your employees are more loyal to your company. That’s right, 83% of employees are more loyal to a company that helps them contribute to social and environmental issues. Plus, 88% of millennials and 74% of employees say their job is more fulfilling when given opportunities to impact social issues positively (Cone Communications).
Corporate volunteering is one of the most perfect ways to engage employees and connect them to each other, your company, and your community.
It felt great to volunteer at the shelter and be with my team outside of work. It was special to be helping something we all have a passion for and was a great bonding experience!
Employee volunteer
As the employee volunteer reported above in a recent Percent Pledge curated volunteer event, corporate volunteering is the perfect way to team bond.
Employer branding & employee retention
Corporate volunteerism leads to happy and engaged employees, which ripples to creating a competitive employer brand and employee retention. Don’t believe us? Here are the stats:
- 71% of employees say it is imperative or very important to work where the culture supports giving and volunteering (America's Charities Snapshot Employee Donor Research).
- 64% of millennials won’t take a job from a company that doesn’t have strong corporate social responsibility (CSR) practices (Cone Communications).
- 75% of millennials would take less pay to work for a socially responsible company (Cone Communications).
Today’s talent has a desire for a great culture and socially responsible company. Once there is a direct link to a volunteer program, it inherently boosts employer brand and employee retention.
Company-wide culture of giving
Doing good makes you feel good. With a consistent corporate volunteering program, your company can easily create a sustainable culture of giving where everyone feels included.
We have had our struggles in working together and this volunteer event really brought us closer together…it was great seeing the team interact and have fun outside of work in a way that also did good!
Employee volunteer
Whether it’s an entry-level employee or an executive, corporate volunteering makes employees feel loyal, connected, happy, and engaged – all great feelings to surround your purpose-driven company.
Clearly, corporate volunteering has too many positive benefits to pass up. So to help you plan successful volunteer events, Percent Pledge social impact managers published the Step-by-Step Guide to a Meaningful Corporate Volunteer Event. From designing the program and partnering with the right nonprofit to recruiting volunteers and impact reports, the guide shares all of the information and resources you need to build a volunteer event that will engage employees while making an incredible impact – guaranteed.
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