A corporate volunteer program that encourages workers to lend a hand to local charities is good for the community, boosts employee morale and benefits the company’s social image, according to a new survey.
The 2010 Deloitte Volunteer IMPACT Survey shows the vast majority of corporate executives believe that volunteering can be a powerful tool for cultivating critical business and leaderships skills and that supporting local programs adds value to the workplace experience.
“We are thrilled that the business community is realizing the high potential of skilled volunteerism to make a real difference,” said Laurie Londergan, managing partner for Deloitte & Touche LLP in Hartford.
“Now more than ever, Hartford’s nonprofits need the continued support of the business community. It is important that companies use all of their assets, including the best thinking of their people, to make a significant impact.”
Deloitte has conducted a series of corporate volunteer studies for the past seven years as part of its goal to promote dialogue about community involvement and spark advances in the field, according to its most recent survey.
The company knows a thing or two about giving back: Deloitte’s Impact Day, an annual event, engaged more than 30,000 employees in a day of making a difference last year.
A growing number of companies today realize the value of having some type of philanthropic initiative or community campaign that donates time and resources to local programs. Londergan said companies recognize the important role they play in having a positive impact on communities around the U.S.
“Nonprofit organizations are not just looking for more and more people to volunteer; they are looking for people who have specific skills and can help them accomplish sophisticated goals,” said Evan Hochberg, national community involvement director at Deloitte Services LP.
More than eight in 10 companies (84 percent) believe that volunteerism can help nonprofits accomplish long-term goals and are increasingly offering skills-based volunteer opportunities to employees.
The survey found that at least a third (36 percent) of companies select volunteer projects with the expectation that it has a high potential to alleviate a social issue. Corporate managers report other priorities in volunteering include helping nonprofits function more effectively (31 percent) and serving more clients (31 percent).
Respondents also said they use corporate volunteer programs to help build their company brand (15 percent), improve employee morale (23 percent) and enhance workers’ professional development (12 percent).
Deloitte reported that 91 percent of respondents agree their employees’ business skills would be valuable to a non-profit organization. This is up from 78 percent in 2009.
About 60 percent of corporate managers and other executives polled say they offer skilled volunteerism where employees select the issue and 64 percent offer skilled volunteerism where projects address a company’s philanthropic focus area. The study also revealed that measurement and accountability are lacking.
Just 37 percent of respondents always discuss how the company can help the nonprofit collect data on resulting social impact prior to embarking on a project; 38 percent customize metrics that specifically measure the impact of volunteer time and 47 percent said they require nonprofits in receipt of volunteer time to report back on the resulting social impact.
