Corporate or employer supported volunteering describes any effort by an employer to encourage and assist employees to volunteer in the community.

Corporate or employer supported volunteering goes beyond simple philanthropy - it is a desire across the business to achieve common good.

All employer supported volunteer programs are different. Some allow staff one or 2 days a year to volunteer as individuals or in teams on projects such as garden and house renovations. Others acknowledge employees who volunteer in their own time. Whatever form this volunteering takes, it presents a myriad of opportunities for not-for-profit organisations to gain the support they need.

The advantages for the corporate by volunteering in the community over traditional community investments such as cash donations, donations in kind, or donations of equipment, include:

• Visibility
• Team Building
• Developing skills and experience (eg leadership, communication, project management)
• A sense of giving back to the community
• An understanding of community needs

Corporate volunteering can address:

• The Skills Shortage - sharing expertise
• Health System Overload - by keeping mentally and physically active
• Provide a Pathway to Jobs - job experience and CV
• Phased Retirement - a way of retaining key staff nearing retirement
• Winding Down - creating networks outside of the workplace.

The team had a tremendous and very rewarding day with great teamwork ... plenty of laughs and plenty of energy. The CARA team were well organised and had plenty for us to do and they did spoil us with a very enjoyable BBQ lunch. It was also great having some of the residents participating in the day and showing their appreciation for the efforts of the team. We filled two skips, cut off branches, trimmed bushes, and mowed lawns with the only casualty being the muscles in the back of my legs - the rest of the team bounced back really well after a good night's sleep.

- Keith Gillard, State Manager SA, IBM Corporation

VSA&NT has hundreds of volunteer-involving member organisations with thousands of volunteer positions available in areas such as youth, environment, community services, animal welfare and recreation 

Our team can specifically tailor an Employee Volunteer Program to suit your business. With VSA&NT managing your volunteer program, you will be sure of a good match for individual staff and also sure standards are in place so that any voluntary work takes place in healthy and safe environments.

We want a win-win situation for the not-for-profit as well as the corporate.

If you wish to engage VSA&NT to assist you with an employee volunteering program, this service incurs a Project Management Fee which is negotiated depending on staff numbers and the level of management required.

We'll make it easy for you ... 

VSA&NT Management of a corporate/ employee volunteering program includes:

• Initial meeting to discuss  company aims, interests and objectives
• Support with finalising a company Employee Volunteering Policy
• Survey of employees to determine community targets
• Introduction to Volunteering presentation to staff
• Linking teams and individual employees into volunteer positions
• Liaison with community groups to secure placements, logistics and finalise details
• Evaluation / feedback
• Record keeping 
• Featuring Employee Voluntering projects in the Vitality magazine

For more information on how business can become involved in volunteering, please contact the The Employee Volunteering Coordinator or phone (08) 8221 7177

Governor launches Qantas Employee Volunteer Program

Then talk to us! Volunteering SA&NT has corporate groups wanting to volunteer for the community in:

One day projects

Individual one day placements

Projects suitable for a minimum of 10 volunteers in teams and also to include family day volunteering activities on weekends  

Major projects / events (approx 50+ people)

Low-skilled volunteering projects (eg: supporting cleaning up the environment)

Skilled projects (eg: assistance or advice with computer set-up; support in office admin set up; marketing advice; mentoring)

Spontaneous opportunities (as they come to hand) 

NB: Projects must portray a focus of need from the organisation to ensure the corporate experiences a true sense of worth from their volunteering experience.

To discuss opportunities further, contact: Chloe Reschke-Maguire on Chloe.RM@volunteeringsa-nt.org.au or phone (08) 8221 7177