Volunteerism – Perks for a Purpose

Tom Farndon is the Director of Client Experience at Impact 4 Good, where he helps companies bring their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) strategies to life through innovative employee engagement and give back programs. Passionate about the intersection of for-profit and nonprofit work, Tom specializes in motivating companies to embrace corporate citizenship and deepen their impact in local communities. With more than half his life spent facilitating events and inspiring others through public speaking, he continues to challenge and improve the ways people give back and support nonprofits nationwide.

A few years ago, I was catching up with a longtime friend over coffee and shared my concerns about the challenges of convincing meeting attendees that charitable work and giving back to the community is a worthwhile use of their work time. He reassured me it is, and reframed the challenge for me: think of volunteering like PTO, or sponsored gym memberships – a perk employees will use if it’s available. 

That perspective stuck with me. 

Why do people volunteer? It’s a simple question with many answers. Some are called to a mission, others see unmet community needs, some want to expand their social network, and many simply enjoy it. Regardless of the reasons, when done well, volunteering always creates a net-positive change. 

Work offers many satisfactions. Whether it’s a promotion, project completion, conflict resolution, or simply knowing you did your job well. It creates a positive feedback loop, causing us to pursue another moment of fulfillment. However, these moments can be fleeting. More and more evidence points to charitable engagement (volunteering) as a good business decision, benefitting not only employee morale and skill building, but also skill development. 

Let’s look at some of the reasons why charitable giving and volunteering should form a major pillar of your organization:

• Community Around a Cause – Traditional team bonding experiences like happy hours and in-office celebrations can build connections, but they can also leave some people feeling excluded. Not everyone drinks and for those with responsibilities outside the office, staying late isn’t always an option. Mission-driven activities, however, give everyone a chance to connect – either during office hours or outside the workplace – to dedicate time to a cause they care about! 

• Employee Satisfaction – Studies show employees who volunteer through programs offered by their organizations report higher job satisfaction (79%) than those who don’t (55%).  That’s a nearly 25% increase in job satisfaction. When employees take part in volunteer programs they are eager to share their increased satisfaction with their colleagues. Volunteering then creates a ripple effect as one person’s positive experience inspires others, bringing team members together in new ways that further allows that satisfaction to compound.

• Skill Development – Volunteering also enhances teamwork, responsibility, communication and problem solving, as reported by the same ARES study.  Encouraging employees to practice these skills translates directly into stronger workplace performance. 

Since that conversation I’ve added a line into every CSR event that I run: “You may bristle at the word team building, but I’m here to say that the team you build is your community, and in turn that community is your team.” 

Volunteering reminds us that we are not different people at work or while volunteering in our communities–our core values stay the same. When we live those values through service we are helping those around us, and strengthening those who we work with everyday. 

Instituting volunteer programs doesn’t just boost employee happiness, it also cultivates new skills and increased engagement all while creating meaningful change in local communities. 

‘Tis the Season to GIVE Back!

Ready to bring the perks of volunteering to your team? Let Impact 4 Good’s Volunteer Connect match you with the perfect volunteer opportunity! Click here to connect with us!