by Nita Kirby
As we move through 2016, research continues to show that effective corporate giving programsremain beneficial to all key stakeholders, including the company, employee donors and the benefitting charities. Research suggests the presence of corporate philanthropy programs have the potential to increase revenue by up to 20 percent, reduce staff turnover by up to 50 percent, and can even have an effect on the overall mood and health of employees.
Employers continue to recognize the benefits of strong employee giving programs with over 80 percent of the participating companies and organizations agreeing or strongly agreeing that their company is committed to a giving program. Further, they indicate that employee giving remains a priority that impacts their ability to attract and retain talent with the key steps of finding the right fit and program set for your company.
The concept of signing up and giving to a cause that is both worthwhile and meaningful has been around more than two decades. Although times have changed, the idea of true options around corporate social responsibility (CSR) has come full circle. This evolution in support of broader programs not only includes the gift of money but the gift of time and the management of both of those processes through automation and technology.
Most potential employees, especially millennials ages 18 to 34, who will make up 50 percent of the workforce by 2020, expect their companies to have a mechanism to meet community needs as a staple. In fact, the 2015 Project ROI report found that 61 percent of millennials would rather work for a company that offers volunteering opportunities. This requirement has demanded that HRIS, employee wellness and other HR-related teams are focused on ensuring employees have a wealth of options that they can participate in; such as, a giving program, volunteer time off, skill-based and pro-bono volunteerism, and matching gifts.
