Fuel Employee Engagement with Community Impact Programs

As an employer, fostering employee engagement both inside and outside the workplace is essential to building a satisfied workforce and creating meaningful community impact.

In today’s work environment, coupled with the rise of Gen Z in the office, companies must adapt to new expectations of what giving back means. Whether through establishing a corporate foundation for grantmaking, hosting volunteer days to have feet-on-the-ground experiences, or simply spreading the good word about nonprofits in our community, providing these resources boosts employee engagement by building camaraderie among colleagues and making them proud to work for your company.

We recently spoke to representatives from corporations to learn about their creative approaches for employee community impact programs. Check out some of our favorite ideas that may spark inspiration for your own company’s initiatives.

Center corporate giving around employee interests

Employers can include their employees in corporate giving by involving them directly in decision-making. Rather than solely selecting charitable causes on behalf of senior leadership, consider allowing all employees to share what matters most to them. This gives employees across various departments and levels of management a voice in the final decision, showing them that they do matter and can make a philanthropic impact. This could look like:

• Creating a process for employees to apply for grants from your company’s foundation to support their favorite charities.
• Allocating a specific dollar amount to each employee to use for personal grantmaking.
• Offering corporate matching gift programs for both personal donations and volunteer hours.

Create opportunities for active community involvement

With thousands upon thousands of nonprofits in the ecosystem, it can feel very overwhelming searching for where to get involved in the community. Employers can help by connecting employees to specific organizations that spark their interest. Providing resources about these opportunities can help foster a sense of shared purpose and morale amongst colleagues. Your company could consider:

• Hosting quarterly lunch and learns with local nonprofits to hear about how they serve the community.
• Organizing group volunteering activities where departments can participate as a form of team bonding.
• Encouraging employees to serve on nonprofit boards and get involved with community engagement programs.
• Offering volunteer time off (VTO) packages, so employees can volunteer at the nonprofit of their choice while still on the clock.

Highlight your philanthropic success stories internally

Keep employees engaged in your company’s great work by regularly updating them on your philanthropic efforts. Sharing stories of community impact can create excitement, foster a sense of pride and encourage involvement in future programs. Spread the word by:

• Publishing blog posts on your company’s intranet to share recent and upcoming events.
• Creating a year-end report showcasing data and impact stories from the year.
• Presenting updates at all-staff meetings.

Let us know if your company is interested in learning more about engaging your employees through corporate philanthropy.