Employer Supported Volunteering: The Practice and the Promise of Community Engagement Employer Supported Volunteering: The Practice and the Promise of Community Engagement

Employer Supported Volunteering: The Practice and the Promise of Community Engagement Employer Supported Volunteering: The Practice and the Promise of Community Engagement Acknowledgements Developed by Volunteer Canada and the RBC Foundation Based on a report produced for Employment and Social Development Canada Created in 2014 by the RBC Foundation, Volunteer Canada and Carleton University’s Master of Philanthropy and Nonprofit Leadership Program This primer is the Institute’s first publication

Employer Supported Volunteering: The Practice and the Promise of Community Engagement Employer Supported Volunteering: The Practice and the Promise of Community Engagement Introduction Employer-supported volunteering (ESV) is any activity undertaken by an employer to encourage and support the volunteering of their employees in the community Canada Survey of Giving, Volunteering and Participating (Statistics Canada):

Employer Supported Volunteering: The Practice and the Promise of Community Engagement Employer Supported Volunteering: The Practice and the Promise of Community Engagement Four Significant Trends Integration, relationships and reciprocity Partnerships that mutually benefit businesses and non-profits Alignment of community engagement strategies with business objectives Businesses work with stakeholders to understand how core services can be used to impact communities Professionalization and consumer expectations Courses and certificates as part of business degrees or as stand-alone programs Globalization and cross-border approaches Unify a global corporation through desired international social impact What may be appropriate in one jurisdiction may be inappropriate in another

Employer Supported Volunteering: The Practice and the Promise of Community Engagement Employer Supported Volunteering: The Practice and the Promise of Community Engagement A Global Force Significant regional differences around the world Non-profits are a vehicle for involvement in social change 87% of global consumers believe that businesses should place equal importance on society’s interests as on business interests (2012 Edelman goodpurpose study) “Corporate volunteering is a dynamic, global force, driven by companies that want to make a significant difference to serious global and local problems, while realizing very real benefits to their companies and their employees.” International Association for Volunteer Effort 2012 Global Companies Volunteering Globally Study

Employer Supported Volunteering: The Practice and the Promise of Community Engagement Employer Supported Volunteering: The Practice and the Promise of Community Engagement 24 Benefits in the Workplace Talent Recruitment Employee Engagement Employee Retention Employee Morale Team Building Internal Communication Social Awareness Understanding Community Knowledge of Consumers Productivity Reduced Absenteeism Team Performance Brand Recognition Company Image Stakeholder Relations Professional Networking Business Development Expression of Employer’s Values Expression of Employees’ Values Responsiveness to Expectations of Younger Workers Skills Development Professional Development Leadership Development Multi-Sector Collaboration

Employer Supported Volunteering: The Practice and the Promise of Community Engagement Employer Supported Volunteering: The Practice and the Promise of Community Engagement Why Employees Volunteer Deloitte’s 2010 Volunteer Impact Survey:

Employer Supported Volunteering: The Practice and the Promise of Community Engagement Employer Supported Volunteering: The Practice and the Promise of Community Engagement Seven Challenges Power imbalances and starting the conversation Pressure to accommodate an employee volunteer activity from a funder Cultural differences Language, authority, timing, organizational structure, decision-making, work rhythm Unclear expectations Screening practices Capacity and resources Shifts in the economy and resource requirements Staff and budget cuts make ESV a viable way to develop skills and be exposed to new people and ideas Relationship building and follow-up

Employer Supported Volunteering: The Practice and the Promise of Community Engagement Employer Supported Volunteering: The Practice and the Promise of Community Engagement Five Things Needed to Facilitate ESV Bridges, brokers and networks Share ideas, learn about each other’s culture, create a common language, develop tools and resources and build healthy and resilient communities Tools, training and capacity-building Readiness assessment tools to evaluate objectives, resources, leadership commitment and management capacity Accessible research Strategies for small and medium-sized businesses Unique challenges due to small staff and flexibility Public recognition

Employer Supported Volunteering: The Practice and the Promise of Community Engagement Employer Supported Volunteering: The Practice and the Promise of Community Engagement Five Elements of Successful ESV Programs Named volunteer programs Consistent guidelines, support and recognition Families and retirees are included Combine family time with a work-related activity Enhance retiree wellbeing and increase capacity thanks to their skills, expertise and time Access core competencies and infrastructure Asset inventory Connect employees to volunteer opportunities Help meet personal and career development goals Respond to community requests that meet company objectives Shared-value

Employer Supported Volunteering: The Practice and the Promise of Community Engagement Employer Supported Volunteering: The Practice and the Promise of Community Engagement Conclusion A mainstream practice among today’s employers Focus on broadening and deepening partnerships between employers, employees and communities No central body consistently bringing employers and community organizations together to build bridges and co-create knowledge “Global and local partnerships with NGOs are an essential element of success in corporate volunteering. They have gone from useful to essential, from local to global, from philanthropic to transactional to transformational.” Kenn Allen, Lead Author International Association for Volunteer Effort 2012 Global Companies Volunteering Globally Study