How to Create an Effective Volunteer Training Program to Elevate Employee Morale

Let’s face it—employee morale matters. A team that feels valued and connected is a team that thrives. But did you know volunteer training programs are one of the preferred ways businesses of all sizes achieve this? According to a 2023 report, 86% of companies now have active volunteering programs, and this trend is on the rise year over year.

It’s easy to see why. Volunteering gives people a sense of purpose and energy. Giving your employees the opportunity to give back means you’re tying these benefits into your company culture. And when your staff feel more confident in their roles, they’ll be more productive and likely to stick around for the long term. That’s not to mention that they’ll pick up new skills such as effective communication, creative thinking, and active listening on the way. So, where to begin? On this page, we’ll walk you through a step-by-step guide to crafting a volunteer training program that elevates employee morale, and watch as those positive vibes boost your bottom line, too!

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Benefits of volunteering for employees

Corporate volunteering programs are useful for so many reasons. Let’s break them down.

Volunteering facilitates capacity building

Think of volunteering as a training ground for real-world skills. It’s a chance for your employees to step outside their comfort zones and tackle new challenges in a supportive environment. What’s more, it doesn’t cost the earth, at least compared to those expensive training courses.

For example, imagine your marketing team volunteers to help a local food bank revamp its social media presence. That’s extra experience in content creation, campaign planning, and engagement—this time for a slightly different audience. 

Or, maybe your finance department could run financial literacy workshops for underprivileged youth. That’d get them to explain tricky concepts in simpler terms, making them better communicators and perfect candidates for a work mentor program.

The point we’re making is that these skills are transferable to any workplace, making your employees even more valuable assets to your company.

Increases connections with the local community

It’s no secret that consumers are more likely to support businesses that align with their values. And these days, social impact is a major factor in purchasing decisions. 

That’s why a strong volunteer program is a must-have for any company looking to build bridges with local communities. But it goes even deeper. Investors also pay close attention to a company’s commitment to social responsibility. ESG frameworks—which stand for Environmental, Social, and Governance—are becoming increasingly important in investment decisions.

So, whether it’s tackling the climate crisis, addressing humanitarian needs, or advocating for social justice, incorporating these into a volunteer program is a surefire way to stand out in your industry.

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Contributing to positive impact offers a sense of purpose and well-being

We all crave a sense of purpose in our lives. And more than ever, people are seeking out workplaces that offer more than just a paycheck—they want to feel like they’re part of something meaningful. 

When employees feel good about the work they’re doing (both inside and outside the office) it translates into increased job satisfaction, greater engagement, and a stronger sense of loyalty to the company. Plus, let’s not forget the personal benefits. 

Volunteering is good for the soul! It reduces stress, boosts mood, and staves off that dreaded burnout. If any of these benefits trickle into your workplace culture, it’s a major win for your company’s productivity.

How to boost employee morale with your volunteer training program

Set the right expectations from the get-go

Before you launch your volunteer program, you need everyone on the same page. What are your goals? What kind of impact do you hope to make? And what kind of commitment are you asking of your employees? Once your stakeholders find consensus, your messaging should be clear to everyone in your organization.

In particular, you must be upfront about the time commitment involved in volunteering. Encourage employees to participate, but don’t pressure them. It’s better to make volunteer schemes an optional extra as part of someone’s work package, such as offering them two days per year where they can volunteer and still get paid for it.

Still, you may find not everyone wants to volunteer, especially if the pressure at work is simply too much to justify spending time on other projects. In this case, it’s your managers who should be the ones encouraging everyone to spend the time on it. 

Be sure to emphasize how volunteering is a core part of your company’s mission, and use a communication and collaboration platform to share the benefits to both the community and the individual with success stories and personal anecdotes. 

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Strategically allocate time, materials, and funds

Like any business initiative, a volunteer training program will require planning and some resource management. Don’t be put off by this; it’s an investment that’ll pay dividends in the near future. For now, your first step is to set a realistic budget for things such as program administration, marketing materials, and even small stipends to cover employee expenses.

Next, think about time. Will you offer paid time off for volunteering? Or flexible scheduling to accommodate volunteer commitments? Importantly, you need to make sure that your volunteer program doesn’t come at the expense of your internal projects—you don’t want someone unexpectedly taking a couple days off work at the busiest time of the year!

And don’t forget the power of technology. You’ll want to use professional services accounting software to manage and keep track of all the moving parts. These tools can help you develop rolling budgets, employee schedules, and calculate the expected working hours required to finish a project. They also come with useful functions, such as analytics, to measure the before-and-after impact of your program.

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Offer necessary skill-specific training

Volunteering is most rewarding—and effective—when people can contribute their unique skills and expertise. But that’s just one side of the coin because it’s also a chance for your employees to pick up new skill sets that benefit them (and your company).

So, before you send your team out into the world, think about how you can equip them to provide real value to the organizations they’ll be supporting.

Let’s say you’re partnering with a local nonprofit that needs help with their fundraising efforts. You could suggest your business development team help with things that cross over with their work duties, such as grant writing or donor outreach strategies. Or maybe you have a team of graphic designers who could lend their talents to create comms materials for a community center?

Remember, you don’t have to be limited to traditional “hands-on” volunteering. Offering pro bono professional services can be incredibly valuable to charities with limited resources. This support can take the form of legal aid, management advice, or even training on nonprofit accounting software to save NGOs time, resources, and help their budget stretch further. 

This allows them to focus on their core mission while your employees gain practical experience and expand their skill sets.

Encourage team building for shared motivation and accountability

Want to take your volunteer program to the next level? Turn it into a group effort! Encourage departments to volunteer together, or create cross-functional teams to tackle a specific project.

Suddenly, those barriers in your organization caused by work silos will crumble away. You’ll see bonds forming as people let their guard down and connect on a human level. That’s where the real camaraderie comes in. You want everyone sharing ideas, cracking jokes, and cheering each other on as they work toward a common goal. That team spirit is contagious!

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Recognize and reinforce employee participation

It’s natural for us to enjoy the feeling of appreciation. It’s why we like giving gifts at Christmas, why we leave positive reviews for our favorite restaurants, and why coffee shops have customer loyalty programs. It’s basic human psychology—and arguably, one of the reasons why we engage in charity at all.

So, shout out your team members whenever you get the chance. Feature volunteer spotlights in your company newsletter, share stories of impact on your social media channels, and celebrate successes with team lunches or small tokens of appreciation. This is an often-overlooked tip that the savvy companies get right, and it can seriously amplify their training program’s effectiveness. 

Final thoughts

As you can see, a volunteer training program offers a unique opportunity to boost employee morale and well-being in your organization. The great thing is that everyone benefits: your team, your community, and the many individuals in between.

But the journey doesn’t have to end there. To truly embed a culture of giving back, you may want to establish an annual volunteer week or month. This dedicated time for service can become a highlight of your company ethos. It also helps with scheduling—especially if you’re a small business.

And to keep the feel-good flowing year-round, why not create a volunteer “alumni” group? It’s the perfect way to get people talking, sharing what they learned in their training session, and brainstorming fresh ideas for next time. You’ll be building a culture of service that lasts long after the initial volunteer project is over.