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Description
The benefits and process of business volunteerism
Like a large organization, a small business has the employees and expertise to set a good example of corporate volunteerism. Yet a small business has something a large corporation does not, something that inhibits many a small business from supporting corporate volunteerism. This author describes that inhibiting factor and describes how a small business can meet the challenge and volunteer its knowledge and talent.
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Corporate volunteers are integral to the success of non-profit organizations as they increase the quantity and quality of services rendered. Studies demonstrate that business volunteers provide expertise superior to general-population contributors, thereby maximizing community benefits (Filipowski, Benefits of Participation in Corporate Volunteer Programs: Employee Perceptions, Personnel Review, March 1993). Quantity is evidenced as well: 63.8 million Americans volunteered via their companies according to the 2003 Corporation for National and Community Service survey.
Corporate volunteerism clearly impacts the success of non-profit services. Volunteers have helped in creating ways to measure the impact non-profits have had on individuals so that they can substantiate their work to funding sources. Volunteers have also helped non-profits translate their mission into specific action plans towards the community. Other areas of volunteer influence include the creation of strategic plans for fundraising, financial analysis, market research, and web site development. Small businesses face particular challenges in volunteering their resources and employees. This article identifies those challenges and prescribes ways to manage them.
Volunteerism
Whether they work for large or small businesses, employees reap rewards when they volunteer. By offering their expertise, volunteers are able to refine and enhance their job skills while increasing networking opportunities; this is particularly poignant for recent college graduates. AAA of Northern California has found a positive correlation between employee promotions and those whom volunteer. The company attributes this relationship to increased visibility of employee skills to management. (Stannard--Friel, How Employees Volunteers Multiply Your Community Impact, On Philanthropy, 12/2/05).
A business also benefits from promoting volunteerism.... |
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