From employee retention to corporate social impact, workplace volunteering is a fun and meaningful way to make a difference.
In the past five years, enterprise companies have exceeded all expectations and established a new baseline for corporate social impact. Looking ahead to 2024, the most important area of improvement will continue to be flexible, diverse, and meaningful employee volunteering.
Here are three emerging trends from the past few years are reshaping the future of CSR and empowering organizations to make a more significant impact on their communities.
1. Embrace the future of giving with flexible, virtual volunteering
In 2024, enterprise employees are embracing the future of doing good alongside partners like Goodera and VolunteerMatch. Because as we continue to navigate a world shaped by remote work and digital connectivity, enterprise organizations are redefining volunteerism with flexible virtual volunteering. In 2024, it's not just about physical presence; it's about making a difference from anywhere.
From lululemon to Airbnb, the world’s biggest, most forward-thinking companies are leveraging technology to create virtual volunteering opportunities that align with employees' skills and interests. From coding workshops to virtual mentorship programs, the options are vast and varied. This shift not only accommodates the diverse skills within your workforce but also enables employees to contribute meaningfully without geographical constraints.
The benefits are twofold: employees can engage in volunteer activities that resonate with them personally, fostering a sense of purpose, while organizations can broaden their impact beyond local communities. In this way you can discover how leading companies are leveraging technology to facilitate remote volunteering opportunities. From skill-based projects to virtual mentorship programs, redefine your employee engagement strategies and empower your teams to make a difference from anywhere.
2. Diversity, equity, inclusion—and belonging—will be of increasing importance
We know, we know: The social impact industry uses too many acronyms. But this one really matters.
In 2024, enterprise organizations are placing a stronger emphasis on belonging—that is, ensuring that all their employees, who represent a wide diversity of thought and identity—feel like they matter when they decide to volunteer.
This shift involves not only considering the diverse talents and skills within the organization but also understanding the unique needs of the communities being served. Integrating DEIB in volunteer programs goes beyond mere representation—it's about creating initiatives that are culturally sensitive, inclusive, and genuinely impactful.
Social impact platforms can help you make sure that every employee feels their precious time, money, and talent is valued, impactful, and a cause for celebration. This not only enhances the impact on diverse communities but also strengthens the bond between employees and the company's commitment to social responsibility.
3. Calculate your total social impact
Ever worry that some employee volunteer hours and donation dollars may be slipping through the cracks? Ever get a last minute request for impact data, and dread the effort required to get the numbers you need? Ever spend a whole day pulling and organizing data, trying to make sense of it so you can make informed decisions?
In-depth reports and real-time dashboards help you make the data-driven decisions your organization needs to maintain and grow its social and environmental impact.
Deed offers a wide range of out-of-the box dashboards and report templates to help you keep track of your corporate and employee impact data basics. And because we know every organization is different, our data team is dedicated to working with you to understand your unique needs and priorities and customize your dashboards and reports accordingly.
Final thoughts: Engaging the new wave of employee volunteers
From Airbnb to lululemon, the world’s most innovative companies trust Deed’s all-good-in-one social impact platform for all their employee volunteering needs.
Deed is a workplace giving and volunteering platform that puts people first, because user experience shouldn’t stand between you and doing good. We help social impact and DEIB teams foster genuine human connection by empowering employees to support causes they care about together in-person and online, with the data and insights needed to drive engagement. Backed by PayPal and a solid infrastructure of trusted payment processors, our Fortune 500 partners support +2 million nonprofits with ease. And together, our community is doing more good deeds everyday at work, at home, in our neighborhoods, and all over the world.
Book a demo today to start rallying the new wave of employee volunteers.
