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This guide explains the basics of Dollars for Doers programs, so your nonprofit can leverage these programs.

Dollars for Doers 101: How to Boost Your Volunteers’ Impact

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Around 63 million Americans volunteer, making up one-third of the nonprofit workforce. Chances are, your nonprofit relies on volunteers who work hard to fulfill your mission. The value they provide is already incalculable, but what if there was a way for them to take their impact even further at no additional cost? Dollars for Doers grant programs can help your volunteers amplify their impact even more!

Dollars for Doers grants can substantially boost your fundraising revenue and grow volunteer engagement. To tap into these corporate volunteer programs, your organization needs to understand the basics, and we’re here to help.

In this article, we’ll break down the definition of Dollars for Doers grants and guide you through effective strategies for raising more. Specifically, we’ll cover:

From educating volunteers to discovering necessary tools to invest in, you’ll know exactly how to find and take advantage of these programs. Let’s first start with a basic definition.

Discover how automation can streamline your corporate volunteer efforts and help you earn more in volunteer grant revenue.

What are Dollars for Doers Grants?

A Dollars for Doers program is a corporate giving program in which companies provide monetary donations to nonprofit organizations based on the volunteer hours contributed by their employees. When employees volunteer their time to eligible nonprofits, the company matches this volunteer effort with a financial grant to the organization, thereby enhancing the impact of the employee’s volunteer work.

A Dollars for Doers program is a corporate giving program in which a company provides monetary grants to nonprofits where its employees regularly volunteer.

Dollars for Doers grants are also frequently referred to by other names, such as:

  • Volunteer Grants
  • Matching Time Programs
  • Dollar-for-Hour Programs
  • Grants for Time Programs
  • Community Service Grants
  • Volunteer Match Programs

These programs encourage corporate philanthropy, increase employee engagement, and provide valuable financial resources to nonprofits.

However, Dollars for Doers programs are often overlooked due to a lack of awareness by both nonprofits and volunteers. Nonprofits don’t always know whether their volunteers work for companies that offer these grants, and volunteers are often unaware their companies even offer such a program.

How Dollars for Doers Programs Work

While every company has its own participation requirements, all volunteer grant programs generally follow the same blueprint. So that your nonprofit can fold these grants into its volunteer management approach, here’s how they work:

The volunteer grant application process, written below.

  1. An individual volunteers with a nonprofit. Dollars for Doers programs require employees to initiate by volunteering like normal. At this stage, eligible supporters volunteer like any other member of your team.
  2. The individual submits a request for a Dollars for Doers grant to their employer. To earn funding from a Dollars for Does program, employees need to alert their employer to their volunteer hours, usually by submitting an application through their employers’ CSR software.
  3. The employer verifies the hours volunteered with the nonprofit. During this stage, some employers may accept employees’ reported volunteer hours without further question, while others might contact you for confirmation. In either case, be prepared by having accurate hour reports.
  4. The employer sends a check to the nonprofit. If the volunteer’s request is approved, your nonprofit should receive a payment from their employer. This payout may come from the business or a CSR software vendor depending on what technology they use to manage their Dollars for Doers program.

It’s that simple! Share this process with your volunteers, let them know you’re there to help, and meticulously track volunteer hours with your volunteer management tools. In no time, you’ll see the volunteer grants start rolling in.

Common Dollars for Doers Criteria

While most Dollar for Doers programs follow similar processes, each company that offers a Dollars for Doers program has unique requirements and guidelines.

These guidelines typically outline:

  • Nonprofit eligibility requirements. Typically, most types of nonprofits, such as arts organizations, health and human services groups, and environmental organizations, will be accepted. The most common types of ineligible nonprofits are political organizations, churches and religious groups, and nonprofits owned by the participating employee or a member of the employee’s family.
  • The minimum number of volunteer hours required to be eligible. There are usually two types of minimum-hour requirements. Some volunteer grant companies provide contributions based on a per-hour basis. Others require employees to volunteer for a certain number of hours in exchange for a flat donation.
  • Grant amounts per volunteer hour or per threshold passed. Most companies put a cap on the number of volunteer hours or the total amount they will donate per employee per year to keep their budgets in check.
  • Employee eligibility requirements. Not every employee who works for a company with a volunteer grant program will be eligible. For instance, some companies may only offer the program to full-time employees who have worked for the business for a certain number of years. In contrast, other organizations may make their program available to part-time employees and retirees.

Here’s an example of a company profile with these criteria:

Google's dollars for doers program guidelines

Dollars for Doers grants depend on a few factors, and it might not be apparent how much of an impact they can make on your nonprofit. In the next section, we’ll outline some eye-opening statistics that demonstrate why your organization should tap into this powerful form of corporate philanthropy.

Types of Dollars for Doers Frameworks

As you start researching different Dollars for Doers companies, you’ll notice a few common frameworks. So that you’re prepared to leverage these opportunities, here are the three approaches you might encounter:

  1. Grant Based on Service Hours: Companies match volunteer hours with donations to the same nonprofit based on an hourly rate. For example, 20 hours at $10/hour equals a $200 donation. Requirements may include minimum hours, budget caps, and organization eligibility.
  2. Credit Grant Per Service Hour (to Any Nonprofit): This is similar to the first framework, but employees can direct the grant to any nonprofit. For example, 20 hours at $10/hour equals a $200 credit grant for any eligible nonprofit. This framework supports company-sponsored volunteer events while also recognizing and supporting causes that employees are passionate about.
  3. Milestone Grant for Volunteer Goal (Can Be Restricted or Open): Employees become eligible for grants after reaching a set number of volunteer hours. For example, an employee becomes eligible for a $250 grant after volunteering a minimum of 20 hours.

Understanding these frameworks will allow your team to better engage with corporate partners and encourage employee participation in volunteer programs. Make sure your team members fully understand these frameworks, so they can help volunteers when the time comes to request a grant!

The Impact of Volunteer Grant Programs

Not convinced that Dollars for Doers programs should be part of your fundraising strategy? Check out these stats that our team at Double the Donation has uncovered:

Dollars for doers grants related statistics, written out below.

  • 40% of Fortune 500 companies offer Dollars for Doers programs, indicating that a significant portion of influential companies support employee volunteerism.
  • The average corporate volunteer rate participation rate is 33%, meaning your nonprofit has a substantial opportunity to engage with active corporate volunteers.
  • About 63 million Americans volunteer each year, totaling 7.7 billion hours, which equates to approximately $175 billion annually.
  • 80% of companies with Dollars for Doers programs provide between $8-15 per volunteer hour, showing that the majority of Dollars for Doers companies offer generous financial contributions.

Dollars for Doers programs are incredibly impactful because they energize volunteer engagement, drive recruitment, and improve retention by rewarding volunteers for their time. Moreover, they can significantly boost nonprofit revenue and forge stronger, mutually beneficial connections with companies, amplifying your organization’s impact and support network.

These statistics show how common Dollars for Doers programs actually are and how many individuals volunteer annually. Chances are good that at least a few of your volunteers are eligible for a volunteer grant and just need your help in learning about them.

Inspire volunteers to donate to make a bigger difference. Discover how matching gifts drive nonprofit donations and workplace giving.

Top Dollars for Doers Companies

Many companies offer generous volunteer grants. For examples of what Dollar for Doers programs look like in action, check out these examples from three top companies:

Google

Overview of This Dollars for Doers Company

Google needs little introduction, but for reference, it’s a multinational technology company specializing in Internet services and products, including a search engine, online advertising, software, hardware, and more.

To cultivate a positive reputation, create a positive work environment, and do good in the world, Google has multiple CSR programs, such as volunteer grants, Google for Nonprofits, and the Google Ad Grant.

Dollars for Doers Grant Information

For every hour of volunteer work a Google employee performs, the company will provide a $10 grant to the nonprofit. The minimum hours requirement is just 1 hour, meaning volunteers start earning for your cause immediately.

LEARN MORE ABOUT GOOGLE’S CORPORATE GIVING PROGRAMS!

Microsoft

Overview of This Dollars for Doers Company

Microsoft is also a major international player in the technology space. It’s a multinational company that develops computer software, consumer electronics, personal computers, and more.

Similar to Google, Microsoft offers a range of CSR initiatives to engage employees, including a Dollars for Doers program.

Dollars for Doers Grant Information

With no minimum amount of hours required for a grant, Microsoft awards $25 per hour to nonprofits where their employees volunteer.

LEARN MORE ABOUT MICROSOFT’S CORPORATE GIVING PROGRAMS!

Verizon

Overview of This Dollars for Doers Company

Verizon is the second-largest wireless carrier in the United States, serving more than 144 million customers.

Dollars for Doers Grant Information

Verizon offers a Dollars for Doers program with unique requirements. Employees are required to volunteer for 50 hours to earn a $750 grant for a nonprofit. However, each employee can then volunteer another 50 hours at a different nonprofit to earn $750 for that organization each year. This encourages employees to work with multiple causes.

LEARN MORE ABOUT VERIZON’S CORPORATE GIVING PROGRAMS!

How to Get Dollars for Doers Grants

Now that you understand the fundamentals, the next step is to determine whether any of your volunteers work for a Dollars for Doers company.

To ensure as many eligible volunteers as possible earn volunteer grants, nonprofits should invest in software. A volunteer management platform is a great start for storing accurate volunteer information!

Then, go one step further and research matching gift and volunteer grant databases. This type of software provides your volunteers with access to an extensive database of corporate giving programs, including matching gifts and Dollars for Doers programs. The database can help volunteers discover guidelines, grant amounts, hour requirements, and more, so they have exactly the information they need.

When it comes to comprehensive, up-to-date, and user-friendly software, we have to recommend our matching gift solution.

Double the Donation

Double the Donation maintains an extensive corporate giving database that contains up-to-date information on corporate giving programs for 99% of United States businesses and 95% of Canadian companies. It’s the ideal solution for all sorts of nonprofits and universities looking to double their matching gift revenue and tap into Dollars for Doers programs.

When supporters donate on your website or sign up to volunteer, Double the Donation can automatically scan the information they provide, such as their email domain or employer details, to determine their eligibility for corporate giving programs. Depending on their eligibility, the platform triggers customizable emails to the supporter detailing the appropriate next steps to submit either a matching gift or Dollars for Doers grant request.

Use Double the Donation to find more Dollars for Doers grant revenue.

Our software will alert supporters about their eligibility, follow up to drive requests to completion, and thank supporters for submitting an application to their employer, so you don’t have to. Thanks to 100+ integrations with leading nonprofit software, you can rest assured that you’re finding as many volunteer grant and matching gift opportunities as possible!

Explore our industry-leading software!

Marketing Dollars for Doers Grants

Matching gift software ensures these revenue opportunities don’t slip through the cracks, but it’s still important to promote Dollars for Doers grants to your volunteers. After all, many supporters are likely unfamiliar with volunteer grants and will need your nonprofit to give them that initial push to check their eligibility.

Here are some helpful ways to market Dollars for Doers grants:

  • On your website. Create informational content on your website about Dollars for Doers grants. You might include details about these programs on your volunteer information page, add a section to your Ways to Give page about volunteer grants, or create a new page dedicated to corporate giving programs like Dollars for Doers.
  • In your email outreach. In your newsletters, spotlight volunteer grants to encourage your subscribers to research their eligibility. Link them to educational content on your website and let them know they can reach out to you if they have any questions.
  • On social media. Regularly post information about Dollars for Doers grants, and just like with your email outreach, link to your informational content on your website.
  • In direct mail outreach. Include an insert in your direct mail outreach that explains volunteer grants and how volunteers can search for their company’s program guidelines.
  • In volunteer thank-you letters. When thanking volunteers for their hard work, let them know they might be able to take their impact further through their employers’ volunteer grants program.

The easiest way to market available opportunities is by using software like Double the Donation to embed an employer search tool into your website and volunteer registration forms. By directing your supporters to it across your outreach, they’ll be able to find their employers’ Dollars for Doers program information and successfully submit grant requests. Essentially, the easier it is to submit an application, the more supporters will do it, and Double the Donation can make the process as streamlined as possible.

Additional Dollars for Doers Resources

Dollars for Doers programs are underutilized funding resources. Set your nonprofit up to secure the grants your volunteers have earned with proper hours recording policies, a volunteer grant education campaign, and the right corporate giving database.

To learn more about volunteer grants and how they impact the social good sector, explore these resources:

Use our software to make the most of dollars for doers programs, matching gifts, and other corporate giving opportunities.

This is a basic guide about how you can use corporate giving to increase employee engagement at your company.

Increase Employee Engagement with Corporate Giving

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The importance of employee engagement, which is defined as the emotional and functional commitment an employee has to their organization, cannot be overstated. According to Gallup, companies with engaged employees outperform those without by up to 202%.

As we discuss in another article, engaged employees are also happier, stay with companies longer, and are more philanthropically minded.

While the benefits are clear, employee engagement is a struggle for most companies, with over 71% of employees reporting that they are not fully engaged.

One effective way your company can increase employee engagement is through corporate giving. When companies offer accessible ways for employees to get involved in philanthropic endeavors, whether that’s through matching gifts, corporate volunteerism, or other forms of nonprofit support, employees will be more likely to participate. This in turn boosts their engagement level.

In this article, we’ll discuss some basics of employee engagement and dive into how you can use corporate giving programs to increase your employees’ engagement. This includes:

Let’s get started.

Here are the key drivers of employee engagement.

Three Key Drivers of Employee Engagement

It’s said that employees don’t leave companies; they leave people, and it’s true. Many of the reasons employees claim they aren’t engaged in their company have to do with people.

Let’s take a look at these statistics and the key drivers behind employee engagement:

Here are the three key drivers of employee engagement.

  1. Employees’ relationships with their direct managers: 80% of employees who were dissatisfied with their direct manager were disengaged.
  2. Employees’ belief in senior leadership: 70% of employees who lack confidence in the abilities of senior leadership are not fully engaged.
  3. Employees’ pride in working for the company: 54% of employees who are proud of their company’s contributions to society are engaged.

Offering corporate giving programs can have a positive impact on all three drivers of engagement. When leadership takes an interest in corporate philanthropy and makes a point to focus on how the company can help the community, employees tend to view this in a positive light.

Here's how you can increase employee engagement at your company.

How Companies Can Increase Employee Engagement

There are many strategies companies can use to increase employee engagement. Dale Carnegie highlights five great reasons to do so, and we’ve added a few ideas that our own research has shown enhances employee engagement:

  1. Senior leadership must articulate a clear vision to all employees. Without a clear goal, employees will not know what they’re working toward.
  2. Employees should be encouraged to openly communicate and influence the company’s vision with their input.
  3. Direct managers should foster healthy relationships with their employees.
  4. Senior leadership should continuously demonstrate that employees have an impact on their work environment.
  5. Managers should show employees that they are valued as true contributors, giving them a sense of empowerment.
  6. Managers should organize and encourage team volunteerism in communities as a way of giving back and encouraging social interaction outside the office.
  7. Companies should give back to local nonprofits. Corporate giving programs, like matching gift programs and volunteer grants, are a great way for corporations to support organizations that employees care about.

Management and senior leadership should take a hands-on approach to encouraging employees to engage with these opportunities at their company. Now that we’ve covered the basics of employee engagement, let’s jump into corporate giving specifically.

This is how you can use corporate philanthropy to boost your employee engagement levels.

Using Corporate Philanthropy to Increase Employee Engagement

Keeping employees engaged and helping the community at the same time seems like a pretty great deal, right? That’s why many companies are investing in corporate social responsibility (CSR) to help improve the communities in which their employees live and work. 

One major component of CSR is corporate philanthropy, and within that, there are several corporate giving programs companies can offer. When employees participate in those programs, this enhances their view of the company and gives them an opportunity to help nonprofit organizations that they care about. More and more companies are realizing these benefits, leading to an increasing trend of corporate philanthropy programs being implemented and expanded by businesses across the country.

In order to boost employee engagement, companies can:

This is how companies can increase employee engagement using corporate giving programs.

  1. Offer matching gift programs. Nearly two-thirds of Fortune 500 companies offer a matching gift program that makes employees’ charitable contributions go twice as far. Matching gift programs help engage employees by showing them that the company not only encourages donating, but takes part in it as well. Employees can feel proud knowing their employer gives back.
  2. Encourage volunteerism. Whether a company offers paid time off for employees to volunteer or encourages employees to team up and participate in fundraising events, employee engagement can skyrocket when volunteerism is part of a company’s philanthropic culture. Allowing employees to band together to better the community helps them feel like the company supports them and will boost their dedication.
  3. Offer volunteer grants. Volunteer grants are donations that companies make to nonprofits after an employee has volunteered for a certain amount of time. Volunteer grants demonstrate a company’s commitment to helping worthy causes and instills a shared sense of philanthropy among employees, boosting engagement and satisfaction.

When companies support the causes their employees care about, this helps strengthen the relationship between not just the company and its employees, but also between the company and the nonprofits they help. All of these effects come together to create a positive reputation for the company, happy employees, and a better community.

This is how you can implement and maintain your corporate giving program as you focus on employee engagement.

How to Implement or Enhance Your Corporate Giving Program

When it comes to corporate giving, managing your program can be overwhelming. After all, if your company offers a matching gift or volunteer grant program, you’ll need to track each employee donation and volunteer hour, as well as the requests that come through for matches or grants.

Corporate giving software for companies is an effective option that many corporations already take advantage of. These solutions allow companies to manage workplace giving, matching gifts, volunteer opportunities, and more.

For example, the right corporate giving solution equips your company to:

  • Set up and view employee donations, such as automatic payroll deductions.
  • Review and/or automatically approve matching gift requests.
  • List volunteer opportunities for employees.
  • Track employee volunteer hours.
  • Manage and approve volunteer grant requests.

Whether you’re setting up a new corporate giving program or trying to build on what you already have, corporate giving software can help you get the most out of your program. After all, the easier it is for employees to log in and participate, the more engagement you’ll get in the long run.

If you’re looking to get started with corporate giving or improve and better manage your company’s philanthropic programing, working with a software provider will allow you to incorporate all of the recommendations above and begin seeing real results as soon as possible.

This is why corporate giving programs are a win-win for everyone when it comes to employee engagement.

Conclusion: Why Corporate Giving Programs are a Win-Win for Everyone

In summary, there are many benefits of incorporating giving programs like matching gifts, volunteer grants, and volunteerism. These include:

  • Employees getting to experience an enjoyable and rewarding team-building event.
  • The corporation giving back to the community.
  • The corporation’s reputation in the community being enhanced through positive press coverage and other channels.
  • The nonprofits receiving volunteer support and/or additional funding.

While there are a multitude of ways to increase employee engagement, utilizing corporate giving programs can be one of the most beneficial options for employees, companies, and nonprofits alike.

Here are some additional employee engagement and corporate giving resources.

Additional Employee Engagement & Corporate Giving Resources

If you’re interested in learning more about corporate giving and employee engagement, we’ve compiled some excellent resources for you:

Find out how to drive corporate philanthropy at your company!

Small Companies Matching Gifts

11 More Companies with Volunteer Grants Greater Than $15/hour

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Over the past few months we published multiple lists of companies which provide volunteer grants of more than $15 per hour.

Campbell Soup Company

The Campbell Soup Company provides volunteer grants worth $20 per hour. For every 25 hours which an employee volunteers, the company will provide a $500 grant. Employees can apply for multiple grants each year.

The Campbell Soup Company also matches employee donations to educational institutions.

View additional details on Campbell Soup’s volunteer grant program.

AMD

AMD offers multiple types of volunteer grants.

Through the company’s Grant Incentives for Volunteer Efforts (GIVE) program, the company provides volunteer grants of $15 per hour up to $3,000 annually. The program is open to U.S. and Canadian employees as well as their spouses.

AMD also offers Team Development Grants. When teams of five or more AMD employees volunteer together, they can apply for an additional $500 grant. Click here to learn about similar companies which offer team volunteer grants.

AMD also matches donations made to most nonprofits so the impact of employee contributions is doubled.

View additional details on AMD’s volunteer grant program.

Levi Strauss

Levi Strauss provides volunteer grants of $20 per hour. Employees are required to volunteer for a minimum of 10 hours before they can request a volunteer grant. Above 10 hours, there are the following tiers multiple tiers:

10 hours = $200 grant (minimum)
20 hours = $400 grant
40 hours = $800 grant
80 hours = $1200 grant
100 hours = $1600 grant
120 hours = $2000 grant
140 hours = $2400 grant (maximum)

Levi Strauss also matches donations to almost all nonprofit organizations.

View additional details on Levi Strauss’s volunteer grant program.

Peabody Energy Corporation

Peabody Energy not only matches employee donations to nearly all nonprofits dollar for dollar, but the company also provides volunteer grants worth $25 per hour up to $1,000 per employee annually. There are four thresholds which employees can meet:

10 hours =  $250 grant
20 hours = $500 grant
30 hours = $750 grant
40 hours = $1000 grant

View additional details on Peabody Energy’s volunteer grant program.

Symantec

Through Symantec’s Dollars for Doers program, Symantec encourages employees to volunteer on a regular basis by offering grants of $15 per volunteer hour. Symantec provides up to $1,000 in volunteer grants per employee each year.

Additionally, the company also matches donations up to $1,000 per employee each year.

View additional details on Symantec’s volunteer grant program.

Hospital Corporation of America (HCA)

Hospital Corporation of America offers multiple types of volunteer grants for employees who volunteer in their communities.

  1. Through HCA’s Dollars for Board Service, HCA provides $500 grants when an employee serves on a nonprofit’s board.
  2. Through HCA’s Dollars for Doers program, HCA awards $500 grants to nonprofits when an employee volunteers for at least 25 hours.
  3. Through the Team HCA Project, the company is willing to provide up to $500 in funding for materials when a group of HCA employees volunteer together with a nonprofit.

As an added bonus, the top ten nonprofits based on the total number of volunteer hours registered receive a $1,000 bonus grant each year.

View additional details on HCA’s volunteer grant program.

Thomson Reuters

Thomson Reuters provides grants to nonprofits where employees volunteer for at least 20 hours in a year. There are two thresholds:

  1. 20-39 hours = $500 grant for the nonprofit
  2. 40+ hours = $1,000 grant for the nonprofit

Additionally, Thomson Reuters matches employee gifts to nonprofits at a 1:1 ratio.

View additional details on Thomson Reuters’ volunteer grant program.

FBR Capital

FBR’s Giving Incentives for Volunteer Efforts (GIVE) Program provides FBR Capital with an opportunity to show its support for the volunteer activities of its employees. For every hour that an employee volunteers at a non-profit organization, FBR will donate $20 to that organization up to 50 hours or $1,000 per year.

FBR Capital also matches employee donations up to $1,000 annually at a dollar for dollar ratio. Any donations above $1,000 are eligible for the company’s incentive match program where the company provides a 10% match.

View additional details on FBR Capital’s volunteer grant program.

SAP

SAP supplements the contributions of SAP employees who volunteer their time to
nonprofit organizations with monetary grants. The grant per hour varies based upon the role the employee plays. The three levels are:

  • Level 1: If you serve on a nonprofit board, your time is matched with a $20 grant per hour.
  • Level 2: If you provide hands-on volunteer service, your time is matched with a $40 grant per hour volunteered.
  • Level 3: If you provide emergency services, your time is matched with a  $60 grant per volunteer hour.

In addition to the volunteer grants, through SAP’s Dollars for Dollars (SAP$4$) Program, the company matches employee donations to nearly every nonprofit.

There is a $10,000 combined limit for both SAP’s Dollars for Dollars and Dollars for Doers programs.

View additional details on SAP’s volunteer grant program.

John Wiley & Sons

Employees at John Wiley & Sons are eligible to request volunteer grants of up to $500 annually. There are two different levels of volunteer grants.

  • 12-30 hours = $250 grants
  • 30+ hours  = $500 grants

John Wiley & Sons also offers a matching gift program where they double donations made by employees up to $2,000 annually.

View additional details on John Wiley & Sons’ volunteer grant program.