How to maximize CSR programs using the right solution
- Corporate social responsibility
- Employee giving
- Employee volunteering
- Corporations
- Corporate Social Responsibility
The definition of volunteerism is changing—what was once strictly defined as giving back now encompasses a broader spectrum of behavioral habits or acts of kindness. Think of giving blood, donating goods, or getting a booster shot—these are all ways of giving back, so why not incorporate them into your corporation’s volunteer activities to encourage employee giving?
A great way to incentivize participation in your expanded volunteerism opportunities is through a Dollars 4 Doers (D4D) program. By matching your employees’ efforts with a monetary donation, you’ll demonstrate that you recognize and appreciate their work to give back.
Programs like these are the perfect way to tap into employee purpose with action-based opportunities to support causes that are impacting society today. Leveraging a Dollars 4 Doers program that aligns with current events can significantly boost employee participation and create a sense of community. The awareness factor coupled with the ability to take immediate action makes these programs both appealing and accessible.
Let’s dig into how to activate a Dollars 4 Doers program!
Dollars 4 Doers programs can take many different forms. Some common aliases for these programs include:
Simply put, a Dollars 4 Doers program is a corporate giving initiative in which a corporation provides monetary grants to nonprofit organizations where its employees regularly give back. To establish a successful Dollars 4 Doers program, listen to your employees and figure out where they’re allocating their time and energy. Ask yourself:
Once you’ve identified the causes your employees are passionate about, you’ve got the perfect opportunity to implement a Dollars 4 Doers program and show your employees you care about the causes they are dedicated to.
Companies that employ volunteer matching programs increase employee participation, deepen community impact, and demonstrate authentic support for causes that matter to their employees. Here are three reasons why you should implement a Dollars 4 Doers program:
Through your Dollars 4 Doers program, employees will see that you, as an employer, care about their interests and what they’re passionate about. This will lead to higher employee retention rates, further boosting your corporation’s image and reputation.
Dollars 4 Doers programs are easy to implement for corporations of any size. They generally follow six steps:
While these steps are fairly generic, your corporation may want to define some specific guiding principles when implementing your Dollars 4 Doers program. Ask yourself:
Keep in mind that part of the allure of such a program is its flexibility and its ability to create an impact on nonprofits as well as your employees. For example, in January 2022, Bank of America announced that it would donate $100 to a local food bank for every one of its employees who received a COVID-19 vaccine booster shot before the end of the month. This created a positive impact on Bank of America’s employees and their local communities.
By implementing a Dollars 4 Doers program for your corporation, you can make volunteerism more flexible and accessible than ever before. Since action-based giving can be done from anywhere, your employees will have the opportunity to participate regardless of where they are working from. This allows employees who might not be able to otherwise participate to take part in your company’s corporate philanthropy programs and helps you broaden the scope of your corporate social responsibility initiatives.
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