Does your organization rely on corporate volunteers?
In an attempt to better understand both the advantages and challenges associated with this volunteer demographic, VolunteerHub surveyed 132 nonprofits on the subject. We’re very excited to share the findings and offer best practices for recruiting and engaging corporate volunteers.
Most Nonprofits Rely on Corporate Volunteers
A majority of nonprofits (70%) report that they partner with corporations to gain volunteers. Many of these organizations (61%) say that corporate volunteerism accounts for a small but significant segment (under 25%) of their total volunteer rosters.
When it comes to the number of EVP (employee volunteer program) partners, one-third of nonprofits reported having between six and ten partners, while almost another third reported having more than twenty partners.
Challenges
When asked to share their biggest challenges, three common problems rose to the top of the list. Thirty-five percent are looking for a better way to customize the experience for EVP participants, while thirty percent expressed difficulty in engaging corporate volunteers. Another ten percent struggled with showing appreciation to partners and volunteers.
Growing Corporate Volunteerism
Our study also asked participants about their best practices for increasing corporate volunteerism. Networking at community events topped the list, followed closely by the use of social media and inviting prospective partners to gala events. Other techniques included emailing businesses and requesting referrals from existing partners. A few organizations report either mailing letters or cold-calling for-profit organizations.
Tailored Landing Pages Increases Process of Engaging Corporate Volunteers
Our data reveals that nonprofits prefer customizing the experience for those volunteering through an EVP. Sixty percent of respondents feel that a landing page customized to the for-profit company’s branding (logo, color scheme, messaging) is a preferred means of engaging volunteers. By approaching EVPs in this manner, employees can instantly view events that were created specifically for them.
In addition, some nonprofits have gone a step further and used landing pages to solidify existing corporate partnerships. As discussed in our recent case study of the Food Bank of the Southern Tier, this type of engagement can even lead to new income streams.
Volunteer Management Headaches
Among nonprofits not using VolunteerHub, over thirty percent reported a greater need for automation, noting the significant amount of “time required to (manually) confirm volunteer availability and send reminders.” A similar percentage struggles with keeping volunteers engaged, citing particular difficulty with “getting volunteers to return year after year.”
Good News for Managing Corporate Volunteers
If your nonprofit is struggling to manage volunteers from EVPs, there is good news. VolunteerHub’s landing pages can be customized for a specific for-profit group, making it easy for a company’s employees to sign up and register. The page can also contain targeted messaging, your corporate partner’s logo, and a color scheme that will appeal to your volunteers.
In addition, the time needed to manage EVPs greatly decreases with VolunteerHub. Corporate volunteers can view and register for opportunities anytime – and at their convenience. VolunteerHub sends out confirmation and reminder emails, including automated thank-you emails after events. As each volunteer registers for the first time, contact information can also be synchronized to your CRM (learn more about our integration with nonprofit CRMs). This creates an opportunity to cultivate a relationship with the volunteer beyond his or her corporate commitment to your organization.
