April 21 kicks off National Volunteer Week, and companies can get involved, too.
National Volunteer Week was established in 1974 to celebrate the many ways that people do good every day, according to Points of Light, a national nonprofit focused on volunteer service.
Volunteerism strengthens business and community engagement.
Companies that want to make a meaningful impact in the community can do so through volunteerism. Local business organizations that participate in volunteer activities can increase positive outcomes for the people and communities in Hampton Roads.
Getting involved in the community shows that you care and helps you to stay in tune with the people you serve.
Plus, there are many ways to help.
Volunteers can use their time, expertise, talents and skills to support a variety of charitable and community causes. Those efforts could involve packing food baskets for families in need or organizing a neighborhood cleanup project.
Throughout my career at Dominion Energy — first as an intern and now as a director — I have been fortunate to work for a company that actively encourages community involvement. Additionally, I am involved in several professional associations that also promote community service. From my experience, organizations that prioritize volunteerism demonstrate their commitment to making worthwhile contributions to the regions where they provide services.
While there are many methods to making a difference in your community, here are six strategies companies can consider using to inspire volunteerism among employees.
Provide volunteer time to staff: Offering staff paid time off to volunteer shows that your organization is committed to community engagement. This method also provides staff with flexibility to assist charitable groups while still getting paid. Volunteer Time Off also empowers employees to make a difference in ways that are meaningful to their community and causes they are passionate about.
Organize company volunteer projects: Volunteering together can improve employee engagement. Company-sponsored volunteer projects provide staff with opportunities to connect with each other while helping the community. This strategy can be especially helpful for companies with staff spread across various departments or locations. It helps to unify employees and work toward a common goal.
Implement a volunteer award: Awards can serve as positive reinforcement. By highlighting the people and projects making a positive impact, companies can encourage others to get involved. For example, Dominion Energy hosts an annual Volunteer of the Year program honoring extraordinary employee volunteers. These types of awards also illuminate the various kinds of projects and efforts that staff can engage with. The award underscores your company’s commitment to volunteerism.
Develop a volunteer project database: Creating a central location of volunteer projects can be a convenient way to inform staff of opportunities to get involved in worthwhile projects. These databases also can provide staff with an opportunity to suggest projects and to collaborate with other employees who have similar interests.
Partner with nonprofit organizations: Companies that partner with charitable groups can strengthen relationships with the local community and the people they serve. Nonprofits are on the front lines of addressing important community needs, and volunteers strengthen and increase their efforts. Collaborating with them can amplify your impact and ensure the people closest to the causes can receive the support that will help make a positive difference.
Share a volunteer story: Volunteer projects offer an opportunity to spotlight worthy causes as well as thoughtful employees. If you’re able, consider documenting the impact of a volunteer program in an annual report, on your website, or on social media. Photos and videos provide additional methods to capture the spirit of volunteerism. These materials serve as reminders of the power of philanthropy and the impact you can have with one simple act of kindness.
Ultimately, fostering a culture of volunteerism helps your company align its values with actions in ways that empower employees and the community every day. Employee volunteer projects can boost engagement, and they provide a window into the community through which you can learn more about the needs of the people you serve.
Although National Volunteer Week lasts seven days, consider ways your company can assist the community all year long.
Tonya Byrd is the director of community engagement and local affairs at Dominion Energy and the 2019 recipient of the company’s Benjamin J. Lambert III Volunteer of the Year – Community Vitality award. In 2023, Volunteer Hampton Roads recognized Dominion Energy as one of the Civic 50, a designation for community-minded companies in the region.
