According to the Points of Light Foundation, more than 85% of large companies have implemented an employee volunteer program as part of their corporate responsibility. Why? One reason may be due to the fact that a study by the Points of Light Foundation found that more than 80% of companies believe that corporate volunteering has a direct, positive impact on profits.
The reasons for this may be unclear, but part of it could be due to the increased awareness of corporate ethics and the demand for companies to practice business ethically. By creating a corporate volunteer program, businesses send a strong message to their customers that they care about their community.
The Links Between Business and Corporate Volunteerism
Given the choice, most consumers would much rather conduct business with a company that is ethical. Corporate volunteer programs mean that employees can reach out to their communities, get good press and contribute positively to a better world. It’s something companies can add to their marketing materials and website. It’s something that will show customers that the company is ethical. Given the choice, with all things being equal, a customer is much more likely to buy from the company that has donated time and money to worthwhile charities.
How to Begin a Company Volunteer Program
When looking to begin an employee volunteer program, companies should first see what their employees are interested in by conducting a poll. Do employees want to work in the environment? Work with kids? Work with the elderly? Work with the homeless? Business should narrow down the choices and then contact local nonprofits to see if they could use the help. Businesses should stay away from charities that are religiously or politically based, to avoid alienating any part of the client base.
Companies can also consider treating the employee volunteer program like any other project. Companies can appoint or elect representatives, create a list of goals, and revisit those goals on a quarterly or yearly basis. Some goals are amounts of money to be raise for charity, or a set number of hours to be volunteered.
Some companies may consider giving their employees a few hours off to participate in company-sponsored volunteer events. A volunteer program can also be used as a team building exercise. Organizations like Habitat for Humanity get employees working together for a common good. Research shows that corporate volunteering boosts employee morale, and it’s a great way to get people from different departments to learn more about each other.
There's a reason why successful companies have huge employee volunteer programs: It's not just good for the community and the employees. Research shows that it's good for business.
Reference:
World Volunteer Web "Can Corporate Volunteering Support the Bottom Line?" (accessed April 5, 2010)
