{"id":9550,"date":"2021-06-08T11:28:53","date_gmt":"2021-06-08T11:28:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.answerconnect.co.uk\/blog\/?p=9550"},"modified":"2022-05-24T16:27:20","modified_gmt":"2022-05-24T15:27:20","slug":"employee-volunteer-program-giving-back","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.answerconnect.co.uk\/blog\/business-tips\/employee-volunteer-program-giving-back\/","title":{"rendered":"Employee Volunteer Program: 6 Easy Steps To Build Giving Back Into Your Business Strategy"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

We all have a responsibility to contribute to a brighter, fairer and greener society. And businesses are no exception.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This comes back to the triple bottom line concept<\/a> of business. For a business to succeed in 2021, it must prioritise people, planet and<\/em> profit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Volunteering time is a great way to give back. After all, why donate money when you can donate time? And it\u2019s not just good for the charity and its beneficiaries. Developing your own Employee Volunteer Program is essential to building employees’ self-worth and corporate camaraderie. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Build a human brand<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

As Mark Schaefer says in his book Marketing Rebellion<\/a>, \u201cIt\u2019s hard to create an emotional connection to an ad, or a logo, or to a branded content; create connections to people.\u201d We all have causes we care about, and your business should be no exception. Your business is an extension of your own values.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

By aligning yourself with worthy causes, you distinguish yourself from competitors<\/a>. Perhaps more importantly, you\u2019ll attract customers that identify with the values that underpin your brand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Woman<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Support your local network<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

When developing your Employee Volunteer Program, look at involving other local brands, and yes, that includes competitors. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This isn\u2019t about furthering your own business interests. Sure, it can help enhance your visibility in the local community, but this is ultimately about doing good and giving back<\/a> to the community.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And when you support your community, your community supports you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Develop your network anywhere<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

I know what you\u2019re thinking: What if you\u2019re based anywhere and don\u2019t have a \u201clocal community\u201d? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Well, there are still ways to contribute to a community. Many charities now offer digital events staffed by digital volunteers. Alternatively, you can support your employees in volunteering in their own locale. Just make sure to follow the steps below to make the most of each volunteering opportunity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

1. Identify volunteering opportunities <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

To maximise the value of the opportunity for you, the charity body and its donees, you have to identify the right opportunity. If you\u2019re a restaurant, for instance, you could look at volunteering at a local food shelter. If your business specialises in technology, you could look for initiatives aimed at providing technology to underprivileged children.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Above all, it\u2019s vital you choose volunteering opportunities that align with your own brand values.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here are a few things to consider when looking at volunteering opportunities: <\/p>\n\n\n\n

  • When will the event take place?<\/li>
  • Is the event local and will most (if not all) of your team be able to attend?<\/li>
  • Is it a cause your customers are likely to support?<\/li>
  • Will your team be able to attend without any risk to themselves? This is particularly important in light of current covid restrictions. The safety of your staff and others is paramount!<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n

    Of course, you should consider where you can make the most impact. But sometimes, little and often is better than the occasional grand gesture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \"Team<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

    2. Plan \u201cGiving back\u201d days<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    Will you participate in an event every week? Every month? Or every year? Before choosing specific dates, you\u2019ll have to consider the availability of your team. Will you be attending the event on the weekend during work hours, on the weekend, or in the evening?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    If you choose to attend over the weekend, how will you encourage team members to attend? Coordinate with your team before choosing dates. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    You could also look into sharing the event with external stakeholders who may wish to get involved. Again, this isn\u2019t about promoting your own altruism but looking to make the most impact on your local community.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \"Team<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

    3. Explore partnership opportunities<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    Single events can be a great way to raise funds or help out a good cause. But if you want to make a recurring contribution to a local cause, look for partnership opportunities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    By partnering with a local charity, you can enjoy access to <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Connect with customers, suppliers and other local businesses to find new opportunities. Try to build relationships with local charities and religious organisations. In the UK, National Volunteer Week is a great opportunity to get involved in events on a local and national scale.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \"Business<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

    4. Reward key volunteers & incentivise<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    Of course, the altruistic benefit of volunteering alone should be enough to incentivise people. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    But many businesses find it beneficial to offer a further incentive to volunteers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    That\u2019s why more businesses have made giving back a key strategy of their work model where employees receive time off during the workweek to volunteer. In that way, they are technically being \u2018paid to volunteer\u2019.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Look at recognising members of staff who went above and beyond in their volunteering. Even a simple prize like a hamper can lift spirits and incentivise your employees to go the extra mile at the next volunteering event.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \"Team<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

    5. Promote the charity\/service on your channels<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    Again, this isn\u2019t about showing off your own generosity. It\u2019s about promoting the charity and the incredible work of the volunteers. But sharing is caring, and promoting the event on your social channels can help it reach a wider audience and create new connections for future events.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Coordinate with the organisers to promote the event before, during and after the event. This enables you to maximise reach, but also offers an opportunity to encourage others to get involved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Encourage your employees to take photos, but check with the event organisers first to confirm you\u2019re allowed to take photos. Some charities may prefer you don\u2019t take photos during the event to protect the identity of their patrons.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \"Woman<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

    6. Review new opportunities<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    Volunteering isn\u2019t just a one-time event. Unfortunately, there will always be a need for more volunteers. As a successful business, you have the opportunity to contribute to your community and build a brighter future for everyone. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Try to plan out your volunteering events in advance and look for new events through social channels and local news networks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    This could include seasonal work, or themed months in which you support different charities according to the theme.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Of course, you could organise your own event. You can set up anything from a bake sale to a charity auction. If you\u2019re an office-based company, you can even host the event at your office.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \"Hands<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

    So there you have it; six actionable steps to help you create a powerful Employee Volunteer Program and make giving back a core part of your business. Again, the most important <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Already offering an Employee Volunteer Program in your business? Let us know your top tips in the comments!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    Businesses recognise the importance of giving back to their local community. With an employee volunteer program, they can make a lasting difference today.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":9559,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[15],"tags":[132,131,83,130,69],"class_list":["post-9550","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-business-tips","tag-business-values","tag-charity-work","tag-corporate-accountability","tag-employee-volunteer-program","tag-giving-back"],"yoast_head":"\nEmployee Volunteer Program: 6 Steps To Start Giving Back As A Business<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Does your business have an Employee Volunteer Program? 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