Corporate philanthropy programmes, also known as, Employer giving programmes, are opportunities provided by companies to engage their employees in small acts of kindness that can contribute to major social or environmental changes.
What is Employer Giving?
In simple words, employer giving is the donations made by a company and its employees to non-profit organizations. Many of the world’s top companies have a workplace giving program through which they support nonprofits and engage with their local communities.
An employer-giving program can involve making tax-deductible donations to nonprofits and providing funding for volunteer grants. Providing opportunities to participate in philanthropic activities makes employees happier and proud of the organization they are working for. Non-profit organizations and charities benefit as well from having more resources. The company itself gets a chance to make a positive impact on the community. The more a firm’s employees are participating in these programmes, the greater the outcome for everyone involved.
However, while many of these programmes have willing participants, sometimes getting employees to take action and volunteer in employer-giving programmes can be a little difficult. Especially if the firm is at the beginning stages, or the employees are relatively new.
Creating an effective employer-giving program can be a bit challenging. So whether your firm is new in the field of employer-giving programmes, or you have some experience under your belt, some tools and tips are mentioned here in this article that might help you along the way in creating employer-giving programmes.
Benefits of Employer Giving
In addition to lending a helping hand to a good cause, employer-giving programmes also benefit the company and its employees. It can be a great way to make your employees feel proud of the company they are working for and reduce employee turnover. Engaging your workforce in these programmes brings major tangible advantages to both the company and the charities to which you are contributing.
Win-Win for the workplace and charities
Non-profit organizations and charities benefit from employer-giving programmes organized by companies. They get regular financial support, volunteers and sponsorship. It is a good opportunity for charitable programmes to secure strong partnerships.
On the other hand, employers see an increase in productivity and a sense of satisfaction in their employees. It is believed that the joy of giving lasts longer than the joy of receiving because the act of giving back to the community is associated with chemical changes in the mind and body called Helper’s High.
Helper’s High is a dopamine-induced physical sensation usually experienced after an act of giving and validated by research. It is known to carry big-time advantages as it makes us feel happier, calmer, physically healthier and less stressed. A good employer wants their employees to be in this exact state of mind.
Increase in employee engagement
Employees expect more from their employers than ever before. Employees look for employer-giving programs they can join when they check their job description as according to them opportunities to support causes and issues they care about are just as important as wellness programs or tuition reimbursements. Charitable programmes that a firm engages their employees in say much about the work culture in that firm. Millennials and Gen-Z, in particular, are expecting certain benefits when starting at a company and a giving program is on that list.
It makes prospective employees happy when they find an employer who expresses their culture through corporate social responsibility. Therefore, offering giving programmes for employees will ensure that your company is prepared for the top talent of the future.
Building a Reputation
It’s beneficial to spend some time working on your brand image. Employer-giving programmes help in building a positive reputation in the market. Fundraising and providing resources for employees can help your business greatly. It works wonders for how people view you as an employer. Participating in social events for a worthy cause helps in building trust among the general public. Many customers appreciate companies that contribute to the good of society. It also helps attract both potential clients and employees in the long run.
Different Types of Employer Giving
Leading companies in recent years have come up with many strategies to encourage employees' participation in workplace giving initiatives. Some of these are listed below:
Donation Matching
Companies encourage employees' participation in workplace giving programmes is donation matching. People will want to make donations to a worthy cause but may feel a bit hesitant. To encourage monetary donations by employees, the employer matches the donations contributed by the employee. This is called employee donation matching. It has also been observed that when an employer provides a matching gift, it creates a larger impact for the recipient nonprofits as more and more people show a willingness to participate in such programmes and gain recognition.
Gifts or in-kind donation
Charitable giving doesn’t always need to be about donating money. Everyone can’t give away large sums of money for social causes. One way to encourage employees to give gifts or in-kind donations is by organizing “Donation Days” where employees can give away their old possession to people in need helps in de-cluttering their homes, and they can leave the office with a light heart knowing they have helped someone in need. There are some charitable organizations out there that would benefit more from material possessions such as food, clothing, medicinal supplies, sanitation products etc.
Employee Volunteering Grants
Employee grants are the best way to encourage employees to participate in a charitable cause. Volunteers are always welcome in non-profit organizations that need a few extra hands. Companies provide volunteers that want to do social work independently because they don’t have the timetable to line up with group organized activities. In this type of employer-giving initiative, employees receive a financial grant depending on the number of hours they’ve committed to their chosen cause. The additional monetary incentive alongside the feeling of fulfilment for helping the community works as a great motivator for employees to participate.
How to set up a workplace-giving program
There are numerous ways employers can organize employer-giving programmes or events. Some are mentioned below:
- Tie up with NGOs and organizations with whom you can partner for programs around the year.
- Communicate the program and opportunity
- Make room in your workflow calendar to accommodate these activities. Allow employees some time off their schedule to engage in them.
- Design a micro-site or platform dedicated to engaging employees around the theme.
- Create cheerleaders and ambassadors to steer the initiative. Let them spread the vibe – not just internally but externally on social networks as well.
- Plan community activities and volunteer opportunities for your employees
- Focus the giving programme’s activities around kindness, gratitude, and generosity.
Important points to remember about Employer Giving
To establish themselves in the “giving culture”, employers at first and foremost need to connect with the spirit of corporate philanthropy by embracing the “giving nature” in its many forms and avatars. Companies need to show their willingness to help others in need through their actions, both to the general people and their employees. The best way to do this is by leading by example because after all, charity starts at home – or in this case – the office.
Recognition to those who care
It is important to applaud the intent and effort of your employees at every step for participating in a charitable cause. It encourages them to participate in these giving programmes wholeheartedly. Let them know that their efforts to make this world a better place are accounted for alongside their career growth.
Networking
To develop effective employer-giving programmes, it is important to stay in touch with recognizable NGOs and Non-profit organizations. Ask them to keep you notified about their latest programs and innovations. At, the same time, work on making your firm’s charity circle so that word can be spread about your company’s and its employees’ willingness to give back to the community.
Indulge workforce
Appoint an ambassador, or contact person from amidst your existing workforce, or make a workplace club that takes care of the details regarding employer giving programmes in particular – like reaching out to charities, advertising events held by the company, encouraging more employees to participate etc. It will make your employees feel even more included in the company’s philanthropic projects. Let employees reach out to the community and express their altruism on their own. It will create greater chances of participation, involvement, and fulfilment for them.
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A 27-year-old writer from the small town of Bilaspur in Chhattisgarh, India, pursuing Masters in Arts (English Literature) and has a passion for storytelling. Currently working on honing my skills as a novel writer and working on my first book, the title undisclosed at the moment. Loves reading and gaining knowledge and developing content based on my unique perspective of all the latest happenings around the
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