Deepen Corporate Donor Relationships by Engaging Volunteers

Guest blog by: Carmen Argersinger, Manager of Strategic Partnerships, Delta Dental

National Volunteer Month is a great time to explore how volunteer engagement can take corporate donor relationships to the next level.

Strong connections with corporate donors establish a reliable pipeline of support. That’s why it’s vital to form genuine, meaningful relationships. One highly effective way to do this is by offering valuable volunteer engagement opportunities. 

By creating impactful and rewarding experiences for corporate volunteers, you can establish access to an expanded volunteer network that supports your mission, while taking your relationship with the corporate donor to a new level.

Here are tips to deepen corporate donor relationships through volunteer engagement:

Learn what your volunteers want

Before corporate volunteers start contributing to your organization, it’s essential to find positions that align with their interests. Take the time to meet with the person who coordinates volunteers for the company. Ask questions such as:

• What days and times work best for your employees?

• Are you interested in skills-based volunteering and if so, are there specific skills you have that could translate well into volunteer work?

• Does in-person or virtual volunteering work best for your group?

• Tell me about previous volunteer opportunities your employees have participated in that were well received/successful.

By understanding the company’s preferences, you can match their volunteers to roles that resonate with them and fit their schedules. Many companies now offer paid volunteer time for their employees, so Monday through Friday during the workday might be preferred for corporate volunteers, whereas evenings and weekends are typically the preference of individuals. Asking questions might reveal that a company has several employees who enjoy outdoor work, or that they have a group in their IT department that would love to lend their expertise.

While you want to be sure you are offering volunteer opportunities that are meaningful to the volunteers, it is also important to remember that you should never create a volunteer opportunity to meet their needs if it does not truly benefit your organization. At the end of the day, volunteers want to contribute and make a real difference.

Communicate thoroughly

Effective communication ensures that corporate volunteers feel confident and capable when they arrive to help. Be clear about start and end times, proper attire, location, parking, check-in process, the tasks they’ll be performing and any other helpful details. Offer training or task demonstration as appropriate. Be sure to clearly convey how their volunteer time will directly affect the community or cause your organization serves.

Plan properly

Proper planning increases the likelihood that volunteers will enjoy the experience and want to return. Do your best to determine the number of volunteers needed to complete the task you have planned in the time you’ve allotted. It is important that you have enough for each volunteer to do, so that everyone can contribute and the time you have scheduled is used well. If you request too many volunteers and several are left with nothing to do, or you complete all the work in half the time allotted, this can leave volunteers feeling unfulfilled and unlikely to sign up to help in the future. In this case, “the more the merrier” does not apply. 

Demonstrate volunteer appreciation

Show genuine gratitude for corporate volunteers’ time and effort. Thank them when they arrive to volunteer and before they leave. Consider recognizing their contributions by spotlighting them on your website or social media platforms, and always tag the corporate partner! If the volunteer group is small, you might consider sending personalized thank-you notes. Follow up with the company volunteer coordinator to thank them and to request their feedback. When volunteers feel valued, they are more likely to stay engaged and deepen their commitment.

Highlight the impact of volunteer work

Donors want to know the impact of the donations they make, including their donations of time and talent. Show them how volunteer work fits into your organization’s larger mission. Share success stories and tangible outcomes resulting from corporate volunteer efforts. Communicate the positive changes made possible by their efforts.

Many corporate donors are interested in learning the monetary value of the time that their employee volunteers provide. Each year, the Independent Sector releases a report announcing the value of a volunteer hour. In 2022, it was $31.80 (the 2023 figure had not been released as of the date this blog was written). Consider using the current year figure to calculate and share the value of your corporate donor’s employee volunteer time.

Solicit feedback

Engage corporate donors by seeking their input. Asking volunteers for feedback gives your organization access to valuable insights about what’s working within your volunteer program and what needs to be improved. Not all corporate volunteers want to share their email address with you. Consider building in a few minutes at the end of your volunteer time to have them fill out a survey on-site. This isn’t as efficient as an email survey, but is likely to result in a higher response rate, and the feedback will be fresh in their minds.

Use this feedback to enhance your volunteer programs and tailor opportunities to better meet their expectations. Don’t forget to request feedback from the company volunteer coordinator. Their perspective from the planning end may be different from that of the volunteers. By actively involving both the volunteers and the coordinator in shaping the volunteer experience, you strengthen their collective connection to your organization.

Conclusion

Corporate volunteering is a powerful way to deepen donor relationships and create a win-win situation for both nonprofits and companies. By strategically engaging corporate volunteers, nonprofits can tap into valuable resources, strengthen their impact and foster lasting partnerships.

Remember, each volunteer brings unique skills and perspectives—nurturing these relationships can lead to sustained support and shared success.

Carmen Argersinger works every day to build healthy, smart, vibrant communities as head of corporate citizenship and community affairs for Delta Dental of Michigan, Ohio, and Indiana.

She leads the company’s corporate responsibility program, including charitable giving, employee volunteerism and nonprofit relationships. She is a proactive community partner, connecting with organizations to create a positive impact throughout Delta Dental’s tri state footprint.

Prior to joining Delta Dental, Carmen worked with the Muscular Dystrophy Association and the Boys & Girls Clubs of Lansing, Michigan, gaining expertise in nonprofit management.

She has a bachelor’s degree from Saginaw Valley State University.