7 Corporate Volunteering Insights From the Fall 2025 Summit
Corporate volunteering is an essential part of many businesses’ corporate social responsibility (CSR) strategies, and nonprofits that understand how to tap into this resource can reap significant benefits. However, effectively engaging corporate volunteers requires strategy, communication, and adaptability.
At the recent Workplace Fundraising + Volunteering Summit, nonprofit and corporate leaders shared valuable insights on how organizations can leverage workplace volunteering to boost engagement, strengthen partnerships, and maximize their impact. In this blog post, we’ll break down seven key takeaways from this event that nonprofits can apply to make the most of corporate volunteer opportunities.
- There’s a growing focus on volunteerism among companies.
- Companies and nonprofits are looking for sustainable partnerships.
- Employee Resource Groups can be an invaluable asset.
- Proactive engagement is key.
- Virtual and on-site opportunities go hand-in-hand.
- Using your data can go a long way.
- Marketing corporate volunteer opportunities is a must.
Meet the Speakers:
- Jim Starr of America’s Charities
The President & CEO of America’s Charities, Jim Starr leads initiatives to help nonprofits engage employees in workplace giving and matching gifts.
- Fernando Lorence of JPMorgan Chase
As Vice President of Corporate Social Responsibility at JPMorgan Chase, Fernando leads the company’s efforts in volunteerism and workplace giving.
- Joni Celiz of Martha’s Table
Joni Celiz is the Director of Institutional Development at Martha’s Table, where she leads fundraising and community engagement efforts, including volunteerism.
- Marlene Lee of Alex’s Lemonade Stand
Marlene is the Development Coordinator at Alex’s Lemonade Stand, where she builds partnerships to drive funding for childhood cancer research.
- Beth Amodio of One Warm Coat
Beth Amodio is the President and CEO at One Warm Coat, where she oversees fundraising and donor relations, including matching gifts and volunteerism.
As businesses increasingly prioritize social responsibility initiatives, corporate volunteering has emerged as a powerful tool for nonprofits seeking to build meaningful, long-lasting partnerships. Let’s find out how your team can tap into this opportunity as effectively as possible!
1) There’s a growing focus on volunteerism among companies.
Corporate volunteering programs are no longer just a nice-to-have; they are becoming a core part of many companies’ strategies to engage employees and give back to the community. During the summit, Jim Starr from America’s Charities and Fernando Lorence from JPMorgan Chase highlighted the increasing importance of volunteerism as a tool for employee engagement, corporate reputation, and community impact alike.
Fernando explained that large corporations, such as JPMorgan Chase, are increasingly focusing on skills-based volunteering, in which employees use their professional expertise to benefit nonprofit organizations. This type of volunteering is highly valuable to both the employee and the company, as it allows team members to make a meaningful impact while also developing their skills.
Looking to tap in? Aim for opportunities to engage corporate volunteers in areas such as mentoring, project management, financial planning, or technical support. These skills-based volunteer engagements are highly sought after and often offer more substantial and lasting contributions to nonprofits.
2) Companies and nonprofits are looking for sustainable partnerships.
Corporate volunteer programs are most effective when built on sustainable, long-term partnerships between companies and nonprofits. Fernando stressed that nonprofits should aim to develop relationships with corporate partners that go beyond just one-off volunteer events. By aligning volunteer opportunities with the company’s mission and values, nonprofits can ensure that their partnership is meaningful and long-lasting.
A significant part of this strategy involves constant communication and feedback. Therefore, companies and nonprofits must continually engage with one another to ensure that volunteer programs remain relevant and impactful. After a volunteering event, nonprofits should provide feedback to corporate partners to demonstrate the value of their employees’ efforts. Using surveys, testimonials, and media like photos and videos can help capture the success of these events and show companies how their employees’ contributions are making a real difference.
For more insights into what companies want when it comes to volunteer partnership, watch the Summit session on-demand here.
3) Employee Resource Groups can be an invaluable asset.
One powerful way to engage with corporate volunteer programs is through Employee Resource Groups (or ERGs).
As Fernando Lorence, Vice President of Corporate Social Responsibility at JPMorgan Chase, shared, “ERGs within companies can be a valuable entry point for nonprofits looking to engage with companies for volunteer opportunities.”
ERGs are groups within a company that are typically focused on a shared characteristic or cause, such as race, gender, or community involvement. They often have a dedicated pool of motivated employees who are eager to give back to the community.
By understanding the values and focus areas of these groups, nonprofits can form tailored, targeted volunteer opportunities that resonate with these employees. Session presenters emphasized the importance of maintaining communication with ERGs and finding ways to align nonprofit missions with the interests of these groups.
4) Proactive engagement is key.
To maximize the impact of corporate volunteerism, nonprofits must take a proactive approach to engaging with companies. For this reason, Fernando advised nonprofits not to wait for companies to approach them, but rather to research companies, understand their volunteer culture, and pitch relevant volunteer opportunities.
For large organizations, it’s essential to understand which departments or business units are responsible for different types of volunteer programs.
Jim Starr, President & CEO of America’s Charities, emphasized, “It’s crucial to align a company’s volunteer programs with its strategic priorities, such as community growth, small business support, and youth development.”
Companies are more likely to participate in volunteer initiatives that align with their mission and focus areas, so nonprofits should tailor their proposals accordingly.
Actionable Insight: Don’t wait for companies to come to you; instead, research potential partners and proactively pitch relevant volunteer opportunities.
5) Virtual and on-site opportunities go hand-in-hand.
The future of corporate volunteering will be a combination of both virtual and on-site opportunities.
Beth Amodio, President and CEO from One Warm Coat, shared, “Offering both physical and virtual volunteer opportunities has significantly expanded our nonprofit’s reach.”
While traditional coat drives remain popular, the organization has also adapted by offering virtual drives at times when in-person engagement was on hold. This flexibility allows corporate volunteers to participate in ways that suit their schedules, preferences, and locations.
Beth further emphasized the importance of making volunteer opportunities local to employees, as this strengthens their connection to the community they are serving. Even for virtual events, having a local impact, such as providing coats to a specific region, increases the sense of connection between volunteers and the cause.
For even more corporate volunteer management tips, watch the on-demand presentation here.
6) Using your data can go a long way.
Data is a valuable resource when managing corporate volunteer programs.
As Joni Celiz, Director of Institutional Development from Martha’s Table, discussed, “Our team uses tools like Double the Donation to identify which companies offer volunteer time off (VTO) or volunteer grants.”
By tracking this data, nonprofits can then target the right corporate partners and encourage them to use these benefits for volunteering activities. Joni also explained that identifying which companies already offer VTO and other volunteer incentives helps nonprofits maximize engagement and participation.
Sara Herring, National Operations Manager from the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation, noted, “Using CRM systems to track volunteer hours, matching gifts, and other corporate engagement efforts is crucial for maximizing impact.”
Tracking this data enables nonprofits to efficiently manage volunteer activities and leverage the information for future outreach.
7) Marketing corporate volunteer opportunities is a must.
Marketing is an essential aspect of corporate volunteer engagement. Marlene Lee and Joni Celiz both highlighted the importance of making volunteer opportunities visible and accessible. Whether through emails, event QR codes, or social media engagement, nonprofits need to ensure that corporate employees know how to get involved.
Marlene, Development Coordinator at Alex’s Lemonade Stand, shared, “Our team uses omni-channel marketing, including email, social media, and digital ads, to engage a wide audience.”
People consume information in different ways, so having consistent messaging across multiple channels ensures that employees can easily access volunteer opportunities. Joni also pointed out that using QR codes on event and promotional materials makes it easy for employees to access volunteer information and sign up directly from their phones. The easier it is to get involved, the more likely people actually will!
Wrapping Up
Corporate volunteering offers nonprofits a wealth of opportunities to engage with companies, build lasting partnerships, and maximize their impact. By understanding the evolving landscape of volunteerism, proactively engaging with corporate partners, and using data and effective marketing strategies, nonprofits can tap into the full potential of corporate volunteer programs.
The key to success lies in creating sustainable, long-term partnerships with companies that align with your mission, offering a combination of virtual and on-site volunteer opportunities, and leveraging technology to streamline the process. As corporate volunteering continues to grow in importance, nonprofits that embrace these strategies will be well-positioned to harness the full power of employee engagement and make a meaningful impact in their communities.
