Before planning a project, companies need to consider a few things in order for it to be efficient and have a real impact. Careful planning and strategic execution are both key, so read on to discover key actions that need to take place. 

Ask yourself some key questions which will assist you in defining your key objectives. You could start with the following as examples: 

I want to... 

• Strengthen the relationship with the community? 
• Foster the personal development of employees?
• Contribute to a specific cause such as education, environment or social inclusion? 

Defining clear objectives will allow your project to be aligned with the company's values. It will also allow you to identify which SDGs you are aligned with.  

Once you have set out the goals you want to be linked to your programme, you can ask yourself the following questions to make sure they are SMART:  

• Define the actions: Identify the specific activities and initiatives that will be part of your volunteer programme.
• Scheduling: Stipulate how long it will take to plan and execute each activity and set deadlines for each step.
• Assign responsibilities to individuals or teams within the organisation.
• Determine financial resources.
• Decide whether the activities will be carried out within working hours or at additional times. Try this first option!
• Make sure that tasks are accessible to employees with different levels of availability and skills.   

Employees' opinions matter, as they will actively participate and feel proud to be part of a company committed to social change. You can organise surveys or meetings to find out what motivates them.  

• Be approachable and authentic when communicating. More than just informing potential volunteers about the initiative, you must connect with employees' values.    
• Tell stories: generate empathy and engagement by explaining why the project is important. Talk about the potential impact on the community and alignment with corporate values.
• Use a visual approach: Present engaging material, such as short videos, infographics or dynamic presentations, that highlight the objectives and benefits of the programme in a visually striking way.  
• Drive word of mouth: Identify programme ambassadors among employees to share their enthusiasm and encourage their peers to participate. 
• Be transparent: Communicate the steps in the process, from enrolment to evaluation, so employees know exactly what to expect and how they can contribute. 
• Involve management: A message of support from company leaders can motivate the team and demonstrate that volunteering is an organisational priority.  

It is true that the impact of volunteering can be intangible and sometimes difficult to measure, but some useful baseline measurements can be considered.

 For example:   

• Community impact: Number of beneficiaries, tangible improvements or activities carried out.  
•  Internal impact: hours spent by employees, team satisfaction, alignment with corporate values.   
• In addition, measure how activities contribute to the SDGs identified in the planning phase.  

Recognise to motivate! Organise recognition events, award certificates or share success stories on internal channels.   

The United Nations (UN) International Volunteer Day was celebrated on 5 December, an opportunity to celebrate the efforts of volunteers and organisations, share their values and promote their work among their communities, NGOs, government authorities and the private sector. 

Corporate volunteering has become a strategic tool that enables companies to connect with communities while strengthening employee engagement, enhancing corporate reputation and aligning the company with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

What does corporate volunteering consist of? It is simple, corporate volunteering is considered to be volunteering which is carried out freely by volunteers who are under the employ of a company.