- An employee volunteers with a nonprofit and logs the hours they contribute.
- The employee requests a Dollars for Doers grant from your company.
- Your company reviews the request and verifies the employee’s volunteer hours with the nonprofit.
- Your company approves the employee’s request and makes a donation to the nonprofit.
Through Dollars for Doers, employees can support nonprofits with both time and money. Plus, you can even offer team-based volunteer grants that allow employees to work together toward earning a donation to a charitable organization. For instance, you might establish a policy that says if a team of five or more employees volunteer over 50 combined hours with a nonprofit, you’ll give $2,000 to that organization.
Increase participation by recognizing employees who regularly volunteer through your corporate giving program. Spotlight trailblazers and frequent volunteers in social media posts and company newsletters. Create eCards that team members can use to celebrate one another for giving back to the community.
3. Boost brand reputation.
A well-managed corporate giving program demonstrates to employees, customers, and other stakeholders that your company prioritizes ethical business practices and its community’s well-being. This commitment can help you stand out among competitors and appeal to more socially conscious consumers and job seekers.
An inspiring example to learn from is the Philadelphia Eagles. This community-focused football team makes philanthropy an integral part of its identity by:
- Providing free eye exams and glasses to Philadelphia youth through its Eagles Eye Mobile program.
- Participating in initiatives such as Play 60 to inspire children to engage in healthy physical activity.
- Hosting an annual Eagles Autism Challenge that raises funds for autism research and care by engaging participants in a walk, run, or ride.
Let’s say that many of your employees care deeply about hunger relief in your community. With this in mind, you might organize an in-kind donation drive, encouraging employees to donate canned food and other non-perishable items to support a local hunger relief nonprofit.
No matter what you choose to do, however, remember to report on the impact of your initiatives. According to Astron Solutions, transparent communication is essential to instilling trust in your employees. Share updates through your website, social media pages, and email newsletter to help employees and other stakeholders understand how your company is really making a difference.
4. Build community partnerships.
Expand your reach and tap into more positive PR opportunities by establishing strong community partnerships through your corporate giving program. A long-term collaboration with a local organization allows you to boost brand awareness and create a lasting impact that all of your employees can take pride in.
Here are some real-world examples: Actualize Consulting is a financial services firm that partners with The Doe Fund, a nonprofit that provides housing and career training to formerly incarcerated men, to host mock interviews with program participants. Gilbane Building Company partners with the ACE Mentor Program to help students prepare for STEM-related careers.
When seeking potential partners for your company, look for nonprofits that align with your mission and values. Doing so ensures that you nurture mutually beneficial relationships that last. A life insurance company, for instance, might collaborate with nonprofits that focus on financial literacy or healthcare. A solar energy company, on the other hand, might partner with environmental conservation organizations.
To set your program up for success, look for corporate giving software with comprehensive tools for managing all of your activities on one platform. You should be able to facilitate employee engagement and measure program performance to continually improve your strategy over time.
Start by researching popular solutions online, reading reviews, and requesting demos of your top picks to see how the platforms work for yourself. With the right software, you’ll be able to effortlessly incorporate generosity into your workplace, boosting employee engagement and your bottom line.
