Corporate Volunteering FAQ

Answers to the most-asked questions by organizations like yours

UNDERSTANDING CORPORATE VOLUNTEERING

What are volunteer grants?

Volunteer grants (also called “Dollars for Doers” or “time-matching” programs) are a form of corporate giving where companies donate money to nonprofits based on their employees’ volunteer hours. Instead of matching a financial gift, they turn volunteer time into funding. Each company sets its own requirements for eligibility, minimum hours, and payout rates. By encouraging volunteers to log their hours and submit requests, your nonprofit can unlock extra revenue without asking supporters to give more.

How do corporate volunteer programs work?

Corporate volunteer programs allow employees to volunteer their time, either during paid work hours (known as Volunteer Time Off, or VTO) or on their own, and earn company grants for the nonprofits or schools they support. Employees record their hours, submit them to their employer, and once verified, the company sends a volunteer grant to your organization. These programs encourage regular volunteerism and build lasting relationships between companies, employees, and the causes they care about. When your nonprofit streamlines hour tracking and communication, everyone benefits.

How do volunteer grants differ from traditional corporate grants?

Volunteer grants are earned by the time an employee gives (via volunteering), whereas traditional corporate grants are awarded via proposal submission, program alignment, or funding cycles.

In a volunteer grant program, employees volunteer, log their hours, and request a donation from their employer to your nonprofit. Whereas, in traditional corporate grants, nonprofits undergo formal proposal submissions, competitive applications, and longer timelines. Volunteer grants are usually faster and more predictable, making them an easy way to keep your volunteers engaged and your funding steady.

Which companies offer volunteer grant programs?

Many well-known employers (including Disney, Allstate, Verizon, Dell, Bank of America, and Chevron) offer generous volunteer grant programs. Some companies even provide more than $15 per volunteer hour, rewarding nonprofits for their employees’ service. Because program details vary by company, it helps to use Double the Donation’s volunteer grant database to search eligibility requirements, payout rates, and deadlines. Whether your volunteers work for large corporations or smaller businesses, there’s often untapped funding waiting to be claimed.

How can I see if companies near me offer volunteer grants to their employees?

Many supporters don’t realize their employer already offers a volunteer grant or VTO program, so start by asking your volunteers where they work. Then, use Double the Donation’s database to search for companies in your region and check if they track volunteer grant eligibility. You can also review local corporate social responsibility (CSR) reports or annual giving summaries for employee volunteer initiatives. For a more personal touch, reach out directly to HR or corporate philanthropy contacts at nearby companies to confirm their policies.

Do we need to register somewhere to receive volunteer grants?

Some companies require your nonprofit to register with a corporate giving or volunteer management platform before processing a volunteer grant. Registration ensures your organization meets basic eligibility requirements (like 501(c)(3) status) and that funds can be transferred securely.

You can often register on widely used platforms (such as Benevity, YourCause, or CyberGrants) which connect companies and nonprofits for streamlined giving. Once your nonprofit is registered, volunteers can easily select your name when submitting their grant requests.

PROMOTING & LEVERAGING CORPORATE VOLUNTEERING

What’s the best way to promote volunteer grants to our supporters?

To promote volunteer grants effectively, make it easy for your supporters to check their eligibility. Embed a volunteer grant search tool like Double the Donation plugin on your website’s volunteer sign-up, “Ways to Give,” or corporate giving pages. Share matching gift information in your email newsletters and post-event communications, encouraging supporters to log hours and submit requests. Use social media, blog posts, and success stories to show how volunteer hours have contributed to your mission through grant conversions.

How can we get more volunteers to submit hours for dollars for doers programs?

Increase volunteer grant submissions by raising awareness early. Many supporters don’t realize they’re eligible for volunteer grants, so using tools like Double the Donation can guide them to the next steps.

Automate reminders through email and follow-ups during onboarding or after events to prompt volunteers to log and submit their hours.
You can also simplify the process by providing direct submission links or embed forms to walk volunteers step-by-step through the process.
Finally, recognize volunteers with small thank-you gestures like “Thanks for unlocking a $200 grant!”

How do we ensure volunteers are aware of eligibility for corporate volunteering programs?

To ensure volunteers know about corporate volunteering programs, communicate frequently across all touchpoints. Mention eligibility during volunteer registration, in your newsletters, and during orientation. Add a volunteer program search widget like Double the Donation so supporters can instantly check their eligibility. With Double the Donation’s platform, you can automatically identify volunteers eligible for volunteer grants or VTO, streamlining the process and boosting your volunteer program ROI and success.

How do we include volunteer grants into our nonprofit strategy?

Incorporating volunteer grants into your nonprofit strategy starts with making it part of your volunteer management workflow. Tools like Double the Donation help automate outreach, tracking, and submission reminders. Use your donor employment data and DTD’s targeted recommendations to report on your volunteer grant success and ROI. Share these insights to build support for volunteer grant programs. With a clear strategy in place, volunteer grants become a scalable, impactful funding channel for your nonprofit.

CORPORATE VOLUNTEERING WORKFLOWS

How can we use automation to identify volunteers eligible for matching grants?

With tools like Double the Donation, your nonprofit can automatically identify volunteers eligible for matching gift, volunteer time off (VTO), and payroll giving programs. When a volunteer submits their employer information, our system instantly checks for eligibility and provides next-step instructions specific to their employer. You can also automate follow-up emails for volunteers who haven’t submitted their requests yet, ensuring no potential match is missed. This reduces manual effort while increasing capture rates.

How do we track volunteer hours for matching grants?

To track volunteer hours for matching grants, create a centralized system to log volunteer details such as hours, dates, and the specific project or location. Make the corporate volunteer submission process easy for volunteers by integrating this system with a tool like Double the Donation. This way, you can link volunteers directly to their company’s next steps for submitting grant requests, ensuring a seamless process for both your team and your supporters.

How do we measure the impact of corporate volunteer grant programs?

To measure the impact of volunteer grant programs, track the total funds received from these grants over time (both per campaign and annually). Compare this to the effort required to administer the program, such as staff time and systems used. Analyze the correlation between volunteer engagement (e.g., hours volunteered) and the amount of grant revenue generated, to help you understand your ROI per volunteer hour. Segment data by company to identify your most successful corporate partners and target your outreach accordingly.

With tools like Double the Donation, you can also check how many supporters also qualify for other workplace giving programs like matching gifts and payroll giving, so they can get involved in other revenue-driving programs which further increases your ROI. Don’t forget to collect qualitative stories to showcase the program’s impact and boost your fundraising.

How can I use Double the Donation for volunteer grants?

With Double the Donation’s new volunteer grant functionality, you can make it easy for your supporters to find volunteer opportunities and eligibility criteria. Simply embed our search widget on your volunteer registration pages or corporate giving page, and volunteers can instantly see if their employer offers a volunteer grant program. Our system automatically provides detailed next steps and links for grant submission, making the process seamless for your supporters. You can also track volunteer grant submissions and monitor outreach through the Double the Donation dashboard.

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