Strategies for Large Orgs to Grow Volunteer Grants

Volunteer grants represent a significant opportunity for large organizations to amplify their impact and secure additional funding streams. These grants, offered by corporations to reward their employees’ volunteer efforts, can translate countless hours of service into meaningful financial support.

As organizations grow in size and complexity, the challenge becomes how to efficiently manage and maximize these volunteer grant programs. Large organizations often have extensive volunteer bases and multiple departments involved in volunteer engagement, making it essential to adopt strategic approaches that centralize data, automate processes, and foster collaboration. By doing so, they can unlock the full potential of volunteer grants and build sustainable partnerships with national and international corporations. In this guide, we’ll cover:

Why Do Volunteer Grants Matter for Large Organizations?

For large organizations, volunteer grants are a critical component of scaling impact and meeting the expectations of corporate social responsibility (CSR) partnerships. These grants provide a way to convert the collective volunteer hours of thousands of supporters into tangible financial resources that can be reinvested into programs and infrastructure. Unlike smaller nonprofits that may focus on the immediate benefit of unrestricted funding, large organizations must consider how volunteer grants fit into a broader strategy of impact measurement and resource allocation.

Scaling Impact Through Centralized Systems

Large organizations benefit from implementing centralized volunteer management systems that track hours, employer information, and grant eligibility. These systems reduce administrative burden and ensure accurate reporting, which is essential for maximizing grant revenue. Centralization also facilitates cross-departmental collaboration, allowing fundraising, volunteer coordination, and corporate relations teams to work in harmony.

Meeting Corporate Social Responsibility Expectations

Corporations increasingly expect their nonprofit partners to demonstrate alignment with CSR objectives. Volunteer grants serve as a measurable way to showcase employee engagement and community impact. Large nonprofits that effectively leverage these grants can enhance their reputation and attract further corporate support.

Aligning with ESG and International Partners

Many large organizations operate on a global scale and engage with multinational corporations. Volunteer grants provide a mechanism to connect with these partners’ ESG initiatives, supporting sustainability and social responsibility goals worldwide. This alignment can open doors to new funding opportunities and collaborative projects.

Best Practices for Large Nonprofits to Grow Volunteer Grants

Turning volunteer time into funding requires intentional strategies, streamlined systems, and robust infrastructure, especially for large organizations with complex operations. Given the scale of volunteer engagement in large nonprofits, it’s essential to implement practices that not only manage large volumes of volunteer data but also foster collaboration and optimize volunteer grant revenue.

The key lies in automation, data integration, effective communication, and leveraging technology to scale efficiently. Here are some best practices to help large organizations grow volunteer grants:

Leveraging Automation and Data Integration

Automation is critical for large nonprofits to effectively manage and scale their volunteer grant efforts. By reducing manual data entry and follow-up tasks, staff can focus on high-priority initiatives such as engaging with corporate partners and volunteers. For instance, integrating volunteer databases with grant submission tools or platforms like Double the Donation can help organizations automatically track eligible volunteers, generate reports, and manage submitted grants.

This data-driven approach not only saves time but also helps organizations identify trends, such as which volunteers are more likely to submit grants or which companies provide the most matching gifts. Armed with these insights, nonprofits can target their outreach more effectively, creating personalized engagement strategies that increase conversion rates and maximize grant opportunities. Moreover, automating reminders, follow-ups, and grant submission processes ensures that no opportunities are missed, even during busy periods.

Fostering Cross-Team Collaboration

In large nonprofits, volunteer engagement often spans across multiple departments, such as volunteer services, fundraising, and communications. Without coordination, these efforts can become fragmented and less efficient. To effectively grow volunteer grants, it’s essential to foster collaboration among teams.

Establishing clear communication channels and aligning team objectives is key. For example, regular cross-departmental meetings can help staff stay updated on ongoing volunteer grant opportunities and progress. Using shared dashboards and project management tools can ensure transparency and real-time tracking of volunteer grant submissions. This way, teams can quickly identify gaps or opportunities to enhance outreach and ensure all volunteers are aware of available grant programs.

Creating a unified approach also helps create a consistent volunteer experience, ensuring that volunteers receive cohesive and timely communications. Cross-department collaboration is also vital for tracking the outcomes of volunteer grants, with teams from development, volunteer management, and finance working together to report the financial impact these grants have on the organization.

Utilizing Volunteer Management Systems (VMS)

A robust Volunteer Management System (VMS) is essential for large nonprofits to efficiently track volunteer hours and maximize volunteer grant revenue. These systems can integrate seamlessly with other nonprofit software, enabling organizations to automate many aspects of the volunteer grant process. A VMS can track volunteer hours in real-time, capture employer information (especially when integrated with a workplace giving tool like Double the Donation), and automate eligibility checks for grant submissions.

Engaging Volunteers with Personalized Communication

One of the most effective ways to increase volunteer grant revenue is to directly engage with individual volunteers and make them feel valued. Personalization is key; customized communication can significantly enhance participation rates. Start by identifying volunteers who are eligible for volunteer grants and sending them personalized messages detailing how their hours can be converted into financial support for the organization.

Using email, SMS, or direct mail, share success stories of how their volunteer efforts have helped fund important programs and invite them to participate in the grant process. Providing clear instructions on how to apply for volunteer grants, along with reminders and deadlines, can improve participation and conversion rates. Offering incentives, such as recognition or small thank-you gifts, can further motivate volunteers to complete the grant application process.

Educating Volunteers and Raising Awareness

Even with an automated system in place, it’s essential to ensure that volunteers understand the significance of volunteer grants. Many volunteers may not be aware that their time can translate into monetary contributions. Therefore, nonprofits should prioritize educating their volunteers about how the program works and the impact it can have on the organization’s mission.

This education can happen in various ways: during volunteer orientations, in monthly newsletters, through social media posts, or via targeted campaigns. Providing clear, easy-to-understand materials, such as step-by-step guides on how to apply for volunteer grants, can demystify the process and empower volunteers to take action. Additionally, creating an easily accessible FAQ page or offering a helpdesk for volunteers with questions can ensure that everyone has the information they need to successfully navigate the grant application process.

Tracking Outcomes and Reporting Success

Once the volunteer grant process is running smoothly, it’s essential to measure and report the success of these efforts. Tracking both the financial contributions generated from volunteer grants and the number of volunteer hours converted into funding allows organizations to evaluate the effectiveness of their strategies and make data-driven decisions.

Furthermore, showcasing the success of volunteer grants in annual reports, newsletters, and donor communications helps reinforce the value of these programs to both volunteers and donors. Highlighting the total amount raised through volunteer grants, as well as the direct impact on the nonprofit’s mission, motivates further engagement and can attract new corporate partners.

Creating a Culture of Volunteerism

Finally, creating a culture that values volunteerism and encourages grant participation is essential for sustainable growth. Large nonprofits can do this by integrating volunteerism into their organizational culture and mission, ensuring that volunteer grants are seen as an integral part of their fundraising strategy. When volunteerism is embedded in the core values of the organization, both employees and volunteers will be more inclined to contribute their time and seek matching grants.

By building an organizational culture that celebrates and supports volunteer engagement, nonprofits create an environment where volunteers feel empowered to participate and contribute to the organization’s overall success.

Overcoming Common Volunteer Grant Challenges for Large Orgs

Many large organizations leave volunteer grant dollars unclaimed due to challenges such as data silos, complex processes, and limited cross-departmental coordination. Addressing these barriers requires strategic solutions that streamline workflows and improve data accessibility.

Centralizing Employment Data

Large nonprofits often struggle with disparate data sources. Consolidating this information into a single platform ensures accuracy and simplifies reporting. This centralization supports timely grant submissions and reduces errors that can delay funding.

Automating Cross-Team Workflows

Automation tools can coordinate tasks between volunteer coordinators, fundraisers, and corporate relations teams. For example, automated reminders can be sent to volunteers post-service, prompting them to submit grant requests. This reduces manual follow-up and increases the likelihood of capturing available funds.

Leveraging Analytics to Refine Strategy

Data analytics provide insights into volunteer demographics, employer participation rates, and grant success metrics. By analyzing this data, organizations can tailor outreach efforts, prioritize high-impact partnerships, and allocate resources more effectively.

---

Wrapping Up & Next Steps

Volunteer grants represent a high-impact, underutilized revenue stream that can significantly benefit nonprofits of all sizes. For large organizations, these grants offer a way to scale impact, meet corporate social responsibility expectations, and justify investments in volunteer infrastructure. Whether an organization is small, mid-size, or large, adopting strategies tailored to its capacity can unlock substantial corporate funding tied to volunteerism.

To take full advantage of volunteer grants, nonprofits should evaluate their current volunteer engagement practices and tools. Identifying gaps in data management, communication, and process automation can reveal opportunities for growth. By implementing targeted improvements, organizations can increase volunteer grant revenue and deepen supporter engagement, ultimately advancing their mission more effectively.

Discover How Double the Donation Volunteering Can Help Your Large Org

Ready to unlock the full potential of your volunteer grant program? Double the Donation Volunteering offers a powerful solution to streamline the process, automate tracking, and engage your volunteers more effectively. With easy integration into your existing systems, our platform simplifies volunteer grant management, ensuring you never miss an opportunity to earn matching gifts.

Start leveraging volunteer hours for additional funding and build stronger, lasting relationships with your supporters today. Explore how Double the Donation can help your organization maximize its volunteer grant revenue and enhance your fundraising efforts; request a demo now!