Corporate giving in the United States totaled $18.55 billion in 2019 and continues to increase annually. Corporate charity benefits untold numbers of groups, from homeless shelters to healthcare organizations and everything in-between. In this article, Adam Ferrari, CEO of Ferrari Energy, shares how participating in corporate charitable events also provides the internal benefit of increased employee engagement in the businesses that do the giving.
Charitable Giving Directly Promotes a Healthy Corporate Culture
Businesses in every industry are becoming more aware of the importance of their company culture to employee satisfaction and engagement. Human resource departments spend much energy on understanding and focusing on the overall influence of corporate culture on positive feelings and workplace pride. Charitable work is a tangible way for companies to demonstrate their values and priorities. Employees readily recognize that a philosophy of giving back to the community shows organizational compassion and commitment to a healthy workplace. Employees value the opportunity to help organize and promote charitable events and sponsorships and their pride in company investment in giving shows in their attitude and opinion of corporate purpose.
Charitable events can quickly become traditions that employees look forward to each year. Team members become engaged in working to improve each event and work hard to promote a positive corporate image through giving.
Charitable Events Promote Strong Team Building
Recurring events promote a spirit of teamwork and optimism as everyone wants to be involved in worthwhile work that provides direct benefits to those in need. When individual employees are simply asked to contribute financially or to give time to charities, the return to each person may seem insignificant. When your company promotes teamwork and group efforts, however, the impact is always more obvious and satisfying. When each employee has a role in a team effort that results in significant results, the return to the group and the company as a whole are much greater. Team effort strengthens each individual’s connection to the company’s culture and leads to increased job satisfaction. Employees also respond positively to competitions within a company’s giving programs. Departments and other groups of employees enjoy working in close teams to out-perform other groups in structured events. Organized charitable events are also a great way to improve corporate diversity and engagement between departments that don’t get to regularly work together.
Strategies for Giving Programs That Build Employee Engagement
In addition to structured events, consider implementing a general volunteer program for employees. Giving employees one or two days per year for a paid volunteering day at a listed charity often becomes one of the most anticipated holidays of the year. Employees also respond very well to charitable matching programs. A company that commits to match specified contributions to designated charities will find that employees become more focused on the company’s charitable programs and overall mission.
When selecting charitable organizations to partner with, companies should look for those that align with their preferred image and corporate culture. Employees will identify the mission of quality charities with your company. Your company’s charitable efforts will be recognized and appreciated by employees who will take personal ownership and pride in the giving mission.
About Adam Ferrari
Adam Ferrari is the founder of the Denver-based mineral acquisitions company Ferrari Energy. He is a chemical engineer by degree and is an accomplished petroleum engineer by profession. He also has experience in the financial sector through his work at an investment banking firm. Under his leadership, his company supported organizations including; St. Jude Children’s Hospital, Freedom Service Dogs, Denver Rescue Mission, Coats for Colorado, and Next Steps of Chicago.