Part of finding yourself involves giving yourself to others. Corporate or employee volunteer programs, thus, are a unique form of giving that are designed to make employees champions of a given cause. As a result, businesses can create a substantial impact on communities around them, which results in the creation of a legacy of philanthropic storytelling.
Corporate volunteering is often the result of an organized undertaking. In light of this fact, here are some fundamental tips that form the basis of any employee volunteer program.
Choose a Cause
There are many ways to go about corporate volunteering. Some employees volunteer just for the sake of it, which implies that they are not limited to a specific cause. However, the best way to go about this process is to pick a cause. This, preferably, should be an agenda that has the backing of the company. The best way to go about choosing a cause is to come up with an undertaking which complements both the passions of employees and the organization.
An essential aspect of choosing a cause is to ensure that it resonates with your organization’s interests and objectives. If you are working with a non-profit, for instance, you need to ensure that your organization has a real impact on the non-profit. At the same time, you should avoid being too comfortable by stretching the abilities of yo
ur employees to the maximum.
Develop an Action Plan
Employee volunteering involves bringing a pool of talent together. When dealing with a team of individuals, however, you need to ensure that the actions of each employee are utilized irrespective of the role they play. The best way to ensure that your efforts are coordinated optimally is by adopting and implementing an action plan. Part of having an actionable working plan requires you to set specific goals, come up with a budget, and mobilization resources.
Offer Incentives
Most employees will not want to participate in any volunteer program if they feel that the management is out of touch with the happenings on the ground. In light of this fact, employers should offer incentives to employees that are actively involved in these programs as proof that they are personally interested in the cause. You might provide them with some monetary incentives or other incentives in the form of certificates, celebratory events, and personal acclamation from the management.
Evaluate Your Efforts
Volunteer programs should be evaluated. As such, part of coming up with a volunteer program should involve coming up with evaluation mechanisms aimed at assessing your progress and efforts. You can assess the effectiveness of the experience using some tools such as questionnaires, journals, or active participation methods. Assessing your involvement is key to enhancing employee volunteer programs.
