Tips to Celebrate National Volunteer Week
Next week (April 21-27, 2024) is National Volunteer Week, a time to celebrate volunteers, recognize their impact, and encourage volunteerism in our communities. Volunteerism is critical for the success of nonprofit organizations and community initiatives! Without volunteers, we wouldn’t have some of the programs that many communities rely on today.
Whether your organization is a for-profit or a nonprofit, every company should celebrate and honor this important week with their employees. Here are a few tips and ideas:
How FOR-PROFITS Can Celebrate National Volunteer Week
– Offer paid volunteer time off
To show your employees that your organization values volunteerism, you can offer paid volunteer time off during National Volunteer Week. Employers are beginning to offer this as an annual employee benefit to attract new talent, grow loyalty, and increase their corporate social responsibility! In fact, a recent study shows that:
- 81% of employees who volunteered in their company found a higher sense of loyalty.
- In Fortune’s top 50 most admired companies, 96% have highly engaged employee volunteer programs.
- 70% of employees believe that their company’s commitment to volunteerism makes them feel more a part of the team.
– Plan a company service event or donation drive
Offer a team bonding experience with purpose by setting up a team volunteer event. If your team is unable to get together outside of the office, you can also set up a donation drive for team members to bring donated food cans, clothing, or other items to be delivered to a local nonprofit organization.
– Highlight your corporate social responsibility initiatives
This is the perfect week to remind your employees and stakeholders about your company’s corporate social responsibility (CSR) program. Highlight your CSR initiatives in next week’s marketing communications, along with a list of nonprofit organizations that align with your values to encourage your community to support them during National Volunteer Week.
How NONPROFITS Can Celebrate National Volunteer Week
– Educate your supporters on volunteer opportunities
What better time to spread the word about volunteer opportunities than during National Volunteer Week? Your supporters may be interested in volunteering but unaware of the various ways to get involved. Include a list of volunteer opportunities (both in-person and virtual, if applicable) in next week’s marketing communications.
– Highlight your organization’s top volunteers
Shine a special spotlight on your top volunteers throughout the week. You can request a photo of them along with a testimonial quote about why they choose to volunteer for your organization. By highlighting them on social media or in your newsletter, you are expressing gratitude for their support while educating others about volunteer opportunities.
– Send a personalized thank you card to volunteers
A personalized thank-you message can go a long way, and your volunteers deserve it! Express your sincere gratitude for their support over the past year by writing and sending personalized thank you cards to everyone who has volunteered. This will not only help them feel appreciated but may also encourage them to continue (or increase) their volunteer time in the upcoming year!
Looking to integrate volunteering into your organization’s CSR program, optimize National Volunteer Week, or enhance your social impact? Look no further! Strat Labs boasts a team of seasoned experts ready to assist you every step of the way. Contact us today!