At Catchafire, our mission has always been to connect corporate America with nonprofits, creating opportunities for meaningful and impactful skills-based volunteering. We’ve launched a brand-new product feature that elevates both employee engagement and corporate philanthropy: employee-led volunteer events. This exciting new offering is designed to empower teams of employees to come together, identify a cause they’re passionate about, and make a tangible impact through their collective skills, expertise, and enthusiasm. By giving teams the autonomy to propose volunteering events, team impact events allow companies to deepen employee engagement while fostering greater collaboration with the nonprofit sector.
Why employee-led volunteering?
When offered, group volunteering initiatives enable employees to propose and lead impactful projects for nonprofits. Unlike traditional volunteer programs, where employees may need to wait for opportunities to be presented to them, our feature flips the model. Here, employees are empowered to take charge, create volunteering events based on their own skills and passions, and invite nonprofits to apply for the support they need.
This innovative approach puts employees in control of their giving experience and allows nonprofits to benefit from the collective power of skilled volunteer teams. Whether employees want to host a strategic workshop for a nonprofit’s leadership team, offer creative consulting services, or provide technical expertise, our event solution creates opportunities for meaningful, high-impact engagements.
How it works
1. Propose an event
Teams of volunteers—whether from the same department, a cross-functional group, or even a group of like-minded colleagues across the company—initiate a volunteering event by proposing an idea. These events range from offering strategic planning for a nonprofit, hosting workshops for staff, or even providing creative brainstorming sessions to help nonprofits generate new ideas.
2. Nonprofits express interest
Once the event is proposed, nonprofits send a message to express interest in participating. They’ll communicate with the team via a messaging platform to discuss their goals and visions for the event, ensuring that the volunteers understand the nonprofit’s unique challenges and needs. This ensures that the work is impactful and aligned with the nonprofit’s mission.
3. Make an impact together
After selecting a nonprofit to partner with, the team of employees collaborate on the project. By leveraging their collective skills, expertise, and passion, employees work together to achieve the nonprofit’s goals. This group-based approach not only allows for a more comprehensive solution but also fosters camaraderie and team-building among the volunteers.
The importance of employee engagement in volunteering
Employee engagement is tied to the emotional commitment an employee has to their organization and its goals. When employees feel engaged, they are more likely to be motivated, satisfied, and productive. A Gallup analysis revealed that companies with higher levels of engagement report 18% higher productivity and 23% increase in organizational profitability, demonstrating the direct impact that employee engagement can have on the bottom line. In recent years, employee engagement has become a major focus for companies looking to retain top talent, improve workplace culture, and increase overall performance.
One of the most effective ways to increase employee engagement is by providing employees with opportunities to contribute to causes they care about. Volunteering is a powerful employee engagement activity that enables employees to connect with their communities, develop new skills, and collaborate with their colleagues outside of the usual work environment.
Employee engagement software like Catchafire helps organizations track participation, measure impact, and fine-tune their employee engagement strategies. In fact, studies show that companies that invest in employee engagement activities, such as volunteering, experience higher levels of employee satisfaction and retention. Employee-led events are a perfect example of how companies can use structured volunteer programs to boost employee engagement.
Understanding the benefits of employee engagement is crucial for any organization aiming to foster a thriving workplace culture. Engaged employees are more committed to their work, more likely to contribute innovative ideas, and tend to stay with the company longer, reducing turnover and enhancing overall performance.
Increased employee retention
Employee engagement and retention go hand-in-hand. Engaged employees feel a sense of purpose and belonging within the organization, which directly impacts their decision to stay. When employees are actively involved in activities like team impact events, they are more likely to feel that their work is meaningful, which increases their loyalty to the company.
Improved collaboration and communication
Participating in group volunteer projects allows employees to work together in a new context, which strengthens relationships, improves communication, and fosters teamwork. These experiences carry over into the workplace, leading to more effective collaboration and improved performance on job-related tasks.
“I am a data person. I didn’t know what I could add, but I found that I had so many ideas by being able to look at the problem from a new angle. I felt like I really helped and also got to meet some great fellow associates in person.”
Corporate employee
Professional development opportunities
Employee engagement activities like volunteering offer employees the chance to develop new skills, such as leadership, problem-solving, and communication. These opportunities for growth are particularly valuable for employees looking to expand their capabilities and take on new challenges within the organization.
Enhanced employee well-being
Research shows that giving back to the community positively impacts mental and emotional well-being. When employees engage in volunteering activities, they often experience reduced stress levels, greater job satisfaction, and a stronger sense of purpose. All of these factors contribute to an overall healthier and happier workforce.
Strengthened corporate culture and reputation
Companies that prioritize corporate philanthropy and charitable giving through structured employee engagement programs not only improve their internal culture but also enhance their reputation in the community. Purpose-driven companies are more attractive to job seekers and are often seen as leaders in corporate responsibility.
How this benefits companies
For companies, employee-led events represent a unique and highly effective way to engage employees in meaningful work that aligns with both personal values and corporate social responsibility initiatives. By giving teams the autonomy to propose and lead volunteering projects, companies foster a culture of collaboration, innovation, and social responsibility.
Unlike traditional corporate volunteering programs that require employees to submit applications or wait for pre-arranged opportunities, team impact events put employees in control. They are able to identify causes they’re passionate about, design projects around their own skills, and make an immediate impact. This autonomy not only enhances employee satisfaction and retention but also strengthens the company’s reputation as a purpose-driven organization. Additionally, team-based volunteering provides a platform for employees to develop new skills, deepen their connections with colleagues, and gain a sense of fulfillment by contributing to causes they care about.
"With our team still being relatively new, I thought this was a great team-building exercise. It gave our team additional time to get to know each other and share ideas outside of our normal day-to-day activities.”
Corporate employee
Employee engagement solutions like team impact events help companies address key questions such as how to increase employee engagement and how to improve employee engagement. By offering employees the opportunity to participate in meaningful projects, corporations improve their employee engagement metrics while simultaneously making a positive impact on the community.
Corporate philanthropy and charitable giving
Corporate philanthropy refers to a company’s efforts to contribute to charitable causes, either through direct donations or by supporting employee volunteerism. Companies that prioritize philanthropy often see higher levels of employee engagement, as employees feel proud to be part of an organization that cares about making a positive impact.
Charitable giving also plays a crucial role in enhancing a company’s reputation and building stronger ties with the community. Employee-led events are an excellent way for companies to demonstrate their commitment to corporate philanthropy while empowering employees to take an active role in giving back.
How this benefits nonprofits
Nonprofits stand to gain immensely from employee-led events. By participating in these events, nonprofits tap into a wealth of professional expertise that might otherwise be out of reach. Whether it’s receiving strategic guidance, technical support, or creative solutions, nonprofits leverage the diverse skill sets of volunteer teams to advance their missions more effectively.
Ultimately, this feature provides nonprofits with access to resources that drive sustainable growth and long-term success. Through employee-led events, nonprofits develop long-term partnerships with companies, resulting in ongoing support and collaboration.
Nonprofits also benefit from the deepened relationships that employee-led events foster between volunteers and nonprofit organizations. As employees work closely with nonprofits, they develop a deeper understanding of the challenges these organizations face. This often leads to ongoing support and collaboration, creating lasting partnerships that benefit both the nonprofit and the company.
The role of employee engagement software
One of the most effective ways to track and improve employee engagement is through employee engagement software like Catchafire. Our reporting tools allow companies to monitor participation in volunteer programs, gather feedback from employees, and measure the impact of their corporate social responsibility initiatives.
By leveraging employee engagement software, companies identify trends, understand which programs resonate most with employees, and continually refine their employee engagement strategies. This data-driven approach ensures that companies maximize the effectiveness of their employee engagement efforts and make informed decisions about how to allocate resources for future programs.
Improving employee engagement through volunteering
Volunteering is one of the most powerful ways to foster engagement within an organization. Improving employee engagement through employee-led events not only benefit the employees themselves but also strengthens the company as a whole. When employees are given the opportunity to participate in meaningful projects that align with their personal values, they are more likely to be motivated, satisfied, and committed to their work.
Volunteering also enhances the employee experience by providing opportunities for collaboration, skill development, and personal growth. By creating an environment where employees feel empowered to make a difference, companies create a culture of engagement that drives long-term success.
Request a demo
Whether you're a team looking to make a difference or a nonprofit in need of skilled volunteers, Catchafire’s employee-led events are the perfect way to connect and collaborate. This feature not only broadens the scope of volunteer opportunities but also ensures that nonprofits can access the collective power of passionate teams, enhancing corporate philanthropy and charitable giving efforts.
Ready to propose your first team impact event? Learn more here.
Contact partnerships@catchafire.org to learn more about how to unlock this feature to improve employee engagement and make a lasting difference.
