Assessing corporate climate for employee volunteer programs

Article icon

Abstract

All companies and employee volunteer programs are different. Successful programs are tailored to best suit the company's culture and mission. Outstanding programs are formed on the understanding that the company's community service involvement contributes to the achievement of its business goals. This effective practice is excerpted from materials developed by Campaign Consultation, Inc.

Back to top

Issue

Creating an employee volunteer program that matches employer, employee, and community goals.

Back to top

Action

These steps, excerpted from materials developed by Campaign Consultation, Inc., have proven effective in creating volunteer programs that work:

  1. Contact your local City Cares Affiliate, United Way, or Volunteer Center, which are clearinghouses for volunteers, community action, and volunteer opportunities.

    City Cares http://www.citycares.org
    United Way http://www.unitedway.org
    Volunteer Center National Network http://www.volunteerconnections.org

  2. Identify corporate priorities. Does your work match up nicely with a particular issue area: the environment, education, or homeland security? Match up your civic priorities with your corporate priorities.

  3. Survey your employees and find out their interests. Employees are more likely to attend service opportunities they are genuinely interested in.

  4. Use successful corporate volunteer program models. Corporate volunteerism is not new. Are there other companies you would like to emulate? The research will help you more efficiently and effectively set up or expand your program.

  5. Determine community needs. Aligning your community involvement with the community's most critical needs will make your program more effective and will garner more community support.

  6. Develop a program structure. A program structure is important as you set your sights on accomplishing community and corporate goals. What is the timeline? What are your goals? Who is accountable? These are all important components of your program structure.

  7. Develop written corporate policies. Expectations and guidelines are important components of any endeavor. State these clearly and share them with all involved.

  8. Join your local Corporate Volunteer Council. A CVC is a forum for sharing ideas and planning collaboration. To find your local chapter, visit http://www.pointsoflight.org/networks/business/cvc/

  9. Evaluate your volunteer program. Have you achieved success? Setting goals and checking in is just as important as other steps. Gather input on your progress from your employees, the community you are working with, as well as any others who are involved.

  10. Publicize your company's volunteer efforts. Shout your accomplishments from the rooftops. Use this wonderful opportunity to promote your work and educate on ways to affect change.

  11. Reward and recognize. Recognizing a job well done is crucial. Seek informal and formal avenues to tell your team that they have accomplished a great task.

Back to top

Context

More employees are working to ensure that their employee volunteer efforts contribute to fulfilling the company's business goals, and bring tangible benefits. When strategically integrated, employee volunteer programs can bring about a number of value-added benefits to the business, employees, and communities in which they operate.

Back to top

Outcome

Benefits to business can include:
  • Improved corporate public image
  • Enhanced impact of monetary contributions
  • Improved relations with community and government
  • Creation of "healthier" communities
  • Attracting better employees and increased retention
    • (Source: Points of Light Foundation in partnership with the Allstate Foundation, The Corporate Volunteer Program as a Strategic Resource: The Link Grows Stronger, 2000)

Specific skills and attributes significantly enhanced by volunteer participation include the following:

  • Teamwork
  • Written and oral communication
  • Employee moral and retention
  • Organization, planning, and time management

Back to top

Posted On

August 26, 2002

Back to top

For More Information

Campaign Consultation, Inc.
2819 Saint Paul Street
Baltimore, MD 21218-4312
Phone: (410) 243-7979
Fax: (410) 243-1024

Back to top

Related Practices

Back to top

Related sites

Topic Areas

Back to top