End-of-Year Strategies to Grow Volunteer Grants

End-of-Year Strategies to Grow Volunteer Grants

/in /by

As the year draws to a close, nonprofits have a unique opportunity to maximize their funding through volunteer grants. These programs, offered by corporations to reward employees for their volunteer time, can significantly increase your nonprofit’s resources without requiring additional fundraising effort. Unlike traditional donations, volunteer grants directly link community engagement to financial support, creating a win-win scenario: employees feel recognized for their time, and nonprofits gain critical funding to advance their mission.

In this article, we will explore actionable strategies to maximize volunteer grants during the end-of-year giving season. You’ll learn how to engage volunteers, leverage corporate social responsibility initiatives, implement effective marketing strategies, and use technology to streamline volunteer management. We’ll cover the following tips and tricks:

The holiday season and year-end planning also mean employees are reflecting on how they’ve contributed throughout the year. This period is perfect for encouraging volunteers to track their hours and submit volunteer grant requests. By strategically promoting volunteer grants during this time, nonprofits can capture new revenue, deepen engagement with supporters, and strengthen corporate relationships.

Raise Awareness Among Volunteers Leading Up to the Year’s End

Many employees remain unaware that their companies offer volunteer grant programs. Without awareness, potential funds may go unclaimed. Nonprofits play a crucial role in bridging this gap by actively educating volunteers on how their hours can translate into financial contributions for your organization.

Raising awareness starts with clear communication. Volunteers should understand that even a few hours of service can yield grant funding. For instance, an employee who volunteers 10 hours may trigger a $250 grant from their employer. Highlighting tangible outcomes like this helps volunteers see the direct value of submitting a request.

Leading strategies for driving awareness include:

  • Host Informational Sessions: Schedule workshops or webinars explaining how volunteer grants work. Include step-by-step instructions for logging hours and submitting requests.

  • Distribute Flyers or Newsletters: Use printed and digital materials to showcase success stories and benefits of volunteer grant programs.

  • Leverage Email Campaigns: Send periodic reminders to volunteers about upcoming deadlines and how to submit grant requests.

Beyond these strategies, consider integrating volunteer grant reminders into your onboarding process for new volunteers. Making grant awareness a standard part of engagement ensures that every supporter knows how to maximize their impact.

Tie Volunteer Grant Marketing in With Matching Gifts

Volunteer grants often work hand-in-hand with matching gift programs, which match employee donations to nonprofits. Promoting both programs simultaneously can amplify results, encourage higher engagement, and increase total giving.

A few expert-proven marketing strategies include:

  • Create Joint Marketing Materials: Develop brochures, flyers, or email campaigns that clearly explain both volunteer grants and matching gifts. Include step-by-step instructions and deadlines.

  • Share Success Stories on Social Media: Highlight volunteers who have earned grants for your organization. Emphasize the financial impact of their hours to inspire others.

  • Host Recognition Events: Celebrate volunteer achievements with end-of-year gatherings or virtual events, reinforcing the link between volunteer hours and grant funding.

Combining marketing efforts enables nonprofits to reach volunteers and donors through multiple touchpoints, thereby increasing the likelihood that employees will take action and submit grant requests before the end of the year.

Encourage Existing Volunteers to Complete a Batched, Annual Request

To maximize volunteer grants during the year-end season, nonprofits should encourage their existing volunteers to complete a batched, annual request from their employer. Many volunteers may not be aware of their eligibility or may forget to submit the necessary forms. By reaching out and providing clear instructions, you can ensure that no eligible hours go unreported before the end of the calendar year.

A batched request allows volunteers to submit their hours all at once for the full year, making the process more efficient for both volunteers and your nonprofit. This approach helps avoid missed deadlines and ensures maximum participation, especially since many corporate volunteer grant programs have annual submission windows that close at the end of the year.

To encourage volunteers to take action, send personalized reminders, include submission instructions, and highlight the impact of these grants. A clear communication strategy, along with a sense of urgency as deadlines approach, can significantly boost volunteer grant funding.

Utilize the Right Technology for Efficient Management

Managing volunteer hours and associated grants can become complex, especially during the year-end rush. Investing in volunteer management software streamlines tracking, ensures eligibility for grants, and reduces administrative burden.

When selecting software, nonprofits should look for:

  • Time Tracking Capabilities: Accurate logging of volunteer hours is critical for ensuring all eligible contributions are reported.

  • Integration with Corporate Volunteer Solutions: Simplify the volunteer grant process by looking for a VMS that integrates with leading corporate volunteer software like Double the Donation Volunteering.

  • User-Friendly Interfaces: Platforms should make it easy for volunteers to log hours and submit requests, minimizing barriers to participation.

Technology also allows nonprofits to monitor trends, identify highly engaged volunteers, and quickly generate reports for corporate partners. This data not only ensures accurate submissions but also provides insights for improving volunteer engagement strategies in the future.

Foster Strengthened Corporate Volunteer Partnerships

Strong, long-term corporate partnerships are essential to maximizing volunteer grants. Companies are more likely to provide grants to organizations they trust and with which they have a history of collaboration.

Here are a few actionable practices you can adopt:

  • Engage Local Businesses: Approach companies in your area to explore volunteer opportunities. Demonstrate how their employees’ volunteer hours translate into meaningful grants.

  • Attend Networking Events: Participate in corporate events, chamber of commerce meetings, and CSR conferences to make connections with potential partners.

  • Follow Up Regularly: After initial meetings, maintain communication to keep your organization top of mind and to share the impact of previous collaborations.

Partnerships can evolve beyond volunteer grants, leading to sponsorships, in-kind donations, and employee engagement programs that provide lasting support for your nonprofit.

Provide Transparency and Accountability with Volunteer Grant Funding

Trust is a critical factor in securing ongoing volunteer grant funding. Corporations and individual volunteers want to know their contributions are making a real difference. Here’s how you can use your reporting and communication efforts to help:

  • Provide regular Updates: Share updates on how volunteer grants are being used and the impact achieved.

  • Highlight Success Stories: Showcase individuals or communities directly benefiting from volunteer-supported programs.

  • Open Dialogue with Corporate Partners: Maintain transparent communication regarding grant outcomes and opportunities for further collaboration.

Transparency not only encourages continued support but also strengthens your nonprofit’s credibility and reputation, paving the way for future grant opportunities.

Engage Supporters Through Social Media

Social media is a powerful tool for raising awareness about volunteer grants and inspiring participation. Platforms such as Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram can amplify your message and showcase the impact of volunteers.

A few of our favorite social media strategies include:

  • Post Regular Updates: Highlight volunteer efforts, grant achievements, and upcoming opportunities.

  • Encourage Personal Sharing: Ask volunteers to share their experiences on personal accounts to broaden your reach.

  • Use Relevant Hashtags: Hashtags like #VolunteerGrant, #EmployeeEngagement, or #EndOfYearGiving can increase visibility and attract new supporters.

Not to mention, sharing creative content, such as short videos, infographics, and volunteer spotlights, can make the process engaging and encourage others to participate.

Conclusion & Next Steps

The end-of-year fundraising season provides an ideal opportunity to maximize volunteer grants, turning employees’ time and effort into tangible financial support for your organization. By raising awareness among volunteers, leveraging corporate partnerships, implementing dual marketing strategies, and using technology to streamline processes, nonprofits can significantly increase funding while deepening engagement.

With a strategic, proactive approach, your nonprofit can fully unlock the potential of volunteer grants, strengthening your organization’s impact and creating a strong foundation for the year ahead.

Boosting Revenue and Engagement with the Right Tools

To truly maximize the potential of your volunteer programs, it’s essential to leverage the right tools that simplify and automate the process. With resources like Double the Donation Volunteering, you can effortlessly connect volunteers to workplace giving opportunities, boost engagement, and increase revenue without adding more strain on your team.​

Request a demo today and see our tools in action!