4 Ways Companies Can Encourage Employees to Vote
Voting is a vital part of actively participating in a democracy. Organizations – whether they’re nonprofit or for-profit – have a civic responsibility to encourage employees to vote, from making their own voices heard to volunteering to ensuring others have the same opportunity.
A responsible, engaged company will use its power and influence, from a nonpartisan standpoint, to encourage voter engagement, equipping their workforce with the tools and resources they need to get involved.
As the world braces for a year packed with national elections in over 60 countries, it’s crucial for businesses to take a stand in supporting voter participation and civic engagement. Here’s how your organization can make a real impact:
1. Foster a culture of civic responsibility
Encourage your employees to confirm they’re registered to vote. Whether through a company-wide email, a dedicated section in your internal newsletter, or a quick reminder in team meetings, ensuring your team is registered is the first step. Utilize resources like
Vote 411
in the U.S. and the I
FES ElectionGuide
in international markets to simplify the process. You can also draft a sample email to encourage employees to vote and keep it in your files to use in future election seasons.
“Encouraging your employees to be civically engaged is not just about volunteering. Making the space and creating workplace policies that equip all employees to vote is critical – they expect it, and communities depend on it. Voting is a major way we all take action for change.”
— Katie Stearns, chief program and impact officer, Points of Light
2. Provide paid time off to vote or volunteer
Voting is a fundamental right, but the demands of work can sometimes make it difficult. Offering paid time off to vote is a powerful way to remove this barrier. Review your benefits package to confirm that you offer paid time off for voting – or take it a step further by encouraging your employees to serve as poll workers, an essential role that can be supported through organizations like
Power the Polls
.
3. Distribute resources from trusted organizations
Equip your employees with easy access to voting resources. Platforms such as
When We All Vote
offer comprehensive guides and toolkits that can be shared across your organization. Make sure these materials are readily available and accessible, whether through your company’s intranet or as part of a digital resource hub. And if you haven’t yet read our
Civic Life Today issue on Vote
, we encourage you to check it out. It’s packed with information about the voting process, tips to activate around voting and interviews with political leaders.
4. Host voter education sessions
Educating your staff on electoral issues and candidates is key to informed voting. Partner with nonpartisan coalitions like
Civic Alliance
and
Time to Vote
to access valuable resources and educate leadership teams to organize and lead lunch-and-learn sessions or webinars where employees can ask questions and discuss the issues at stake.
By incorporating these strategies, your business can not only support voter engagement but also lead by example in fostering a culture of civic responsibility. The impact of your efforts will resonate far beyond Election Day, contributing to a stronger, more engaged community.
Working with Points of Light can take your employee community engagement to the next level. The Points of Light
Corporate Service Council
is an annual membership program that empowers and equips CSR and corporate social impact leaders and their teams with actionable resources, insights, training and connections needed to advance their social impact goals and be recognized for their success.
Our mission is to support partners with comprehensive, end-to-end management of volunteer experiences and events that are not only well-executed but also deeply rooted in the community and focused on creating a lasting impact. To learn more about how we can support your work, please
complete this form
.
3 Ways You Can Make a Difference on MLK Day of Service
The
Martin Luther King, Jr., National Day of Service
is a defining moment each year when Americans across the country step up to make communities more equitable and take action to create the “Beloved Community” of Dr. King’s dream. While Dr. King believed the Beloved Community was possible, he acknowledged and fought for systemic change. His example is our call to action. This National Day of Service encourages companies, nonprofits and individuals to make a difference on MLK day.
During the last quarter-century, the MLK Day of Service has grown, and its impact increased as more Americans embraced the idea that citizenship involves taking an active role in improving communities. Here’s how to make a difference on MLK day, taking place on January 15, 2024, regardless of whether you’re working solo, as part of a corporate team or with a nonprofit organization.
Things Companies Can Do for MLK Day
Companies have a unique opportunity to participate in MLK Day, both by encouraging employee engagement and addressing racism and bias in the workplace. First, be sure to put together an internal communications plan that encourages employees to get involved and notifies them leading up to the day. You may also opt to organize a corporate volunteer project for your team or give paid volunteer time off for this day. If you need help with your employee engagement efforts, Points of Light’s
Corporate Services & Solutions
can be a great resource.
If you haven’t hosted training or education on racism, bias and inequalities in the workplace, make an effort to implement this, starting with MLK Day. Acknowledge that discrimination still exists and open the floor for your employees to discuss
diversity in the workplace
. Start off with this
Listen. Learn. Act to End Racism conversation
featuring Bernice A. King, CEO of The King Center, that also offers additional resources for deeper learning.
Other ways you can help employees engage in this work might be centered around an educational opportunity, like a “Lunch and Learn,” to explore microaggressions, biases in communication and more. It could be a meeting that allows for challenging conversations about identity. Or it could be an all-staff email that recognizes the existence of discrimination and reiterates an open-door policy to address these issues with management.
How Nonprofits Can Support MLK Day
Nonprofit organizations
can utilize MLK Day to spark engagement among employees and volunteers alike in a variety of ways. Your nonprofit might run a donation drive, host an event at a food bank or shelter, or run a campaign for donors to give to a specific cause related to dismantling racism and discrimination.
If your organization hasn’t yet, consider adding your volunteer opportunities to
Points of Light Engage
, the world’s largest digital volunteer network. This collection of volunteer opportunities from sites across the web provides the most comprehensive database of volunteer opportunities in the world. Additionally, you can browse the
Points of Light Global Network
to find a nonprofit partner near you to see what
events
they have planned for this day.
Ways for Individuals to Make an Impact on MLK Day
Volunteering is an effective way to create the change you wish to see in your community. Head over to
Points of Light Engage
to get started. It’s a place that connects individuals to hundreds of thousands of volunteer opportunities — in person and virtual — all just waiting for the right volunteer to step up.
You can also check out Points of Light’s collection of
DIY projects
to find a project you can complete in your spare time. And don’t forget that even the smallest act of service, like caring for a sick loved one or picking up your elderly neighbor’s mail, counts as civic engagement and can create a ripple of positive impact in your own backyard and beyond.
Benenova: Promoting Civic Engagement & Inclusive Volunteerism
The
Points of Light Global Network
operates with innovative volunteer-mobilizing organizations that serve more than 145 affiliates across 39 countries around the world. Together, we are inspiring, equipping and mobilizing more people to use their time, talent and resources to create positive change in their communities.
We spoke with Andre Salkin from
Benenova
, a Points of Light affiliate in France, to discuss how the organization is creating positive change in its region and beyond. Benenova was created in 2013 and is currently present in four regions in France: Paris, Nantes, Lille and Rennes. The organization’s mission is to facilitate the civic engagement of as many people as possible by offering a large variety of short, collective volunteer missions accessible to all through special programs of inclusivity.
Learn more about this nonprofit’s outstanding work in the realm of inclusive volunteer opportunities.
What role does volunteerism play in your organization’s overall mission and objectives?
Since 2013, Benenova’s primary mission has been to mobilize citizens to get involved in a wide variety of volunteer missions with a focus on making volunteering accessible. Not only through the variety and choice of volunteer opportunities offered on our website, but also through inclusive programs which provide an entry into volunteering for those with physical or mental disabilities and those in situations of precarity. We do this by working closely with our volunteers and partner associations to ensure each mission is suited to the needs and desires of those involved.
Benenova also promotes a change in the way we envision volunteering. Our programs of inclusivity encourage a reversal of the relationship between the helper and the helped. Our volunteer base is largely young and new to volunteering. Forty-three percent of our volunteers had their first experience with Benenova, and 53% are under the age of 35. Rather than going out and “serving” a community, we want to show how volunteering serves us all, even the volunteers. To volunteer is to strengthen our bond within our cities and neighborhoods – to be really and truly included.
How are you engaging with volunteers to inspire them to participate in community service activities?
Our specialty at Benenova is providing an introduction to volunteering for those who are interested in getting involved. One of the ways we do this is through the “permanence,” in which first-time volunteers, particularly those suffering from situations of economic insecurity or social exclusion, can come to our office and be guided through the process of becoming a fully autonomous volunteer by starting an account and finding missions that suit their needs.
We held 22 permanences last year, allowing us to accompany 110 people in situations of precarity to get involved in volunteering missions. Our most active volunteers, called “supernovas,” help out with these introduction programs, representing Benenova in public spaces.
What resources or tools are you providing to volunteers to help them get involved in their community?
Our main resource is accessibility. We offer a wide variety of volunteer opportunities on the online calendar. Across four cities, over 800 monthly listings relating to the fight against poverty, protecting the environment and aiding the youth and aged populations.
In addition to the permanence, we offer a specialized inclusive volunteer program to make volunteering accessible to those with disabilities – mental or physical. We also follow up with both volunteers and associations to ensure missions are going smoothly and everyone’s needs are being met.
Share one success story of a volunteer (or a group of volunteers) in your community who have made a significant impact.
One of our most notable success stories is that of Seijirô, a young man with ASD (autism spectrum disorder) who we accompanied as he began his volunteer journey. We started with an interview to better get to know Seijirô, his interests and his desire to help others feel useful. We were also able to identify some difficulties to take into account in order to propose adequate missions – for example, his sensitivity to noise, or difficulties related to fine motor skills or speech.
We worked with Seijirô to find a form of volunteering that worked for him, and we worked with the volunteer associations to ensure the task remained suitable for Seijirô. While Seijirô admitted the tasks were difficult for him at first, volunteering made him feel useful, and like he was able to help others. Alexia, a psychologist who has worked with Seijirô and his parents for years, echoed Seijirô’s positive sentiments, saying that volunteering made it easier to go about daily tasks, improving Seijirô’s mood and sense of personal autonomy.
The entire mission of Benenova revolves around adapting and welcoming every person willing to give time to a cause or an association. In that sense, the inclusive volunteer program is simply an extension of our values and core mission.
What are some future plans for your organization to continue promoting volunteerism and civic engagement?
There are two large yearly milestones for Benenova – World Refugee Day (June 20) and World Volunteer Day (December 5) – both big opportunities for Benenova to raise awareness and rally involvement in volunteerism.
We are also in the process of making a film about our 10 years of social involvement, incorporating spoken testimonials from those involved at every level of the organization. In addition, one of our most current objectives is the expansion of corporate volunteerism – getting salaried employees engaged in volunteering by presenting real initiatives to companies.
What’s one piece of advice you’d give someone who’s looking to get more involved in their community through volunteerism?
The best advice is to stay human-centered. We can never be in touch with every individual, but we can stay available and accommodating. All people can give is their time – the least we can do is be thankful.
Civic Engagement Creates Change, but Volunteers Respond Now
Volunteers are often the first to respond to a community’s needs. They’re on the front lines when a disaster strikes, cleaning debris and comforting others. They hand out meals and food each week at food banks and pantries that support those working to make ends meet. They lead nonprofits nationwide as volunteer board members, informing decisions and steering strategies.
In short, volunteers do what’s needed. During
Global Volunteer Month
, we celebrate their impact, enthusiasm and commitment.
Unfortunately,
research from AmeriCorps
found that from September 2020 – September 2021, formal volunteering dropped 7% to 23.2%, or 60.7 million people. While we can certainly account for the pandemic being a driver of the decline, we can’t assume it will bounce back on its own.
The founder of Feeding America recently said they currently have about 30% fewer volunteers than they did pre-pandemic, but as we know, the number of people facing food insecurity rose significantly. And now
the government is cutting SNAP benefits
, making the needs even greater. For people experiencing homelessness and the communities trying to support them, finding shelter continues to be a challenge in cities around the country — as just one data point, in Arizona, the unhoused population
jumped 23% from 2020 to 2022
.
These are just two examples in which more volunteers are needed to meet increasing short-term needs.
Both
Points of Light’s civic engagement research
and AmeriCorps’ research show there’s an increase in people getting involved in informal ways and working to make a difference by voting or using their voice.
Points of Light’s Civic Circle® gives you a path for how you can combine actions to amplify your social impact. We believe the intentional combination of these actions accelerates change. Some efforts drive long term sustainable change, like using your voice, voting and or even running for office or becoming a public servant. But volunteers are still absolutely critical to meeting immediate needs.
Global Volunteer Month is a moment to organize volunteers, share their stories to inspire others and recognize the volunteers who make a difference. Volunteers like
Daily Point of Light Award honoree Julia Krass
, a teen who raised more than $20,000 for a local food organization to have a down payment on a refrigerated van to deliver perishable food to Miami residents.
If you’re looking for ways to create change, you can:
While civic engagement is critical to build thriving communities and a thriving democracy, volunteers who step up and respond to the current community needs are invaluable. Let this Global Volunteer Month be a time we are inspired by them, celebrate them and join them.
2023 Global Network Gathering Recap
We’ve spent three and a half amazing days with NGO affiliate members of the
Points of Light Global Network
in São Paulo, Brazil, March 14-17. Our gracious hosts,
Atados
, CEO Daniel Morias and staff were incredible (anfitrioes incriveis!), and of course, this event wouldn’t have been possible without our generous sponsors at UPS. We were welcomed, introduced to Brazilian social engagement leaders, offered learning opportunities, and given experiences within the Brazilian culture in São Paolo that will stay with us forever. Thank you, Atados team and UPS! Obrigado equipe Atados e UPS!
The Points of Light Global Gathering is an annual get together of our affiliate members where we convent with NGOs from small towns in Texas to Hong Kong, China, share around
volunteerism
,
civic engagement
and social impact and the failures we’ve learned from and the successes we’ve seen. We connect with each other to strengthen and uplift the community programs each of us is driving and take those learnings back to our teams. And there’s always a bit — ok, a lot— of fun, laughter and some dancing sprinkled throughout.
“Bringing together Points of Light affiliates from across the globe is an energizing and powerful experience. This gathering gave us the opportunity to learn about civic leadership programs in California and then about innovative corporate volunteer programming in Spain. We also heard from our affiliate in the Ukraine about refugee relief work,” said Vanessa Diamond, SVP civic innovations, Community Foundation for a greater Richmond. “As we learn about new program models, unique ways affiliates are integrating the
Civic Circle
®, we each walk away with insight on how we can make our localized programming more efficient, equitable, and in turn, create more positive change in our communities. As we are catalysts for volunteer action in our own communities, in bringing us together, Points of Light created an opportunity to inspire and educate us so we can do more.”
We kicked off our time together on Tuesday, March 14, with a visit to Atados headquarters in São Paolo, where participants of the Service Project gathered to meet and exchange gifts with their Pen Pals after exchanging letters for weeks leading up to the Global Gathering. We were treated to a delectable dinner Tuesday night with a special welcome dinner at MSTC, The Roofless Movement from the Center, led by Carmen Silva. This activist organization rehomes the city’s unhoused population into previously abandoned buildings. MSTC provides access to healthcare, education, work opportunities and is the model for more than 160 similar sites in the area. It will live with us as a moment of shared understanding of Brazilian culture.
Points of Light Global Network Gathering Photo Gallery
Wednesday, March 15, was the first Social Engagement Summit in São Paolo that brought together Points of Light Global Network affiliates, local São Paolo corporations and leading NGOs in Brazilian social impact work for a day of learning and collaboration. The morning panels delved into current social impact trends featuring our own Interim CEO Diane Quest, Atados Founder Daniel Morias, and Points of Light Board Member and Assembly Chair Vanessa Diamond. I was honored to be invited to speak on the ways data is changing civic engagement, particularly in post-pandemic societies. Points of Light affiliates shared their expertise on panels ranging from disaster recovery and relief to examples of collaboration and innovation in corporate partnerships. Points of Light Board Member Michelle Gavin shared insights on the Civic Circle and its role in societal change.
“Being the host of the global gathering in Brazil proves the power of collaboration. It is an opportunity to bring international knowledge to Brazil and shows the strength of the Points of Light Global Network,” said Daniel Morais, founder and CEO, Atados. “Together with Points of Light, we could bring methodologies and credibility for our work and access to new networks. We hope it was also good for Points of Light to have a Brazilian experience.”
Our affiliates then transitioned into a day-and-a-half of Global Network discussions and learnings where we kept belonging, learning and strategy at the forefront. Vanessa Diamond, SVP of civic innovations for Community Foundation for a greater Richmond, along with Julia Aramendi, project director of Volies and Vice-Chair of the Network Assembly, talked about the catalytic nature of being together. They explored the value proposition of being a member of the Points of Light Global Network – from affiliate to Points of Light, and Points of Light to affiliate – and how the current structure of the network offers opportunities for shared learning through communities of practice, and local regional roundtables.
We then delved into how our world has transitioned to people seeing themselves as “taking action” vs. the historically more traditional role of volunteering. We heard examples from five affiliates around their community projects in alignment with the
Points of Light Civic Circle
® including Rosie Drumgoole with Chicago Cares, Bia Lin with Hands On Hong Kong, Stephen Davalos with LA Works, Leo Petrov with Children for a Better World and Amy Lytle with Hands on NW North Carolina.
On the final day of the gathering, four affiliate partners, including Daniel Morais with Atados, Hannah Wojno of Ruach Tova, Monica Gil with Hands on Colombia and Celina Lesta with Volies, shared what makes successful and not-so-successful collaborations both as network members and overall. Afternoon conversations centered around the Civic Circle and how
meaningful community change extends beyond volunteering
. Group discussions explored how the social impact landscape is evolving and the ways the Civic Circle applies to our collective work with various audiences – from nonprofits and NGOs to corporations to individuals, including youth activation. We talked about what we need to extend the reach and understanding of all civic actions with audiences in different parts of the world.
“I have so much gratitude for the expertise, knowledge sharing and commitment of our network. The 2023 Global Gathering in Brazil forged new and strengthened existing connections and grounded us all in the important collective work we’re doing together,” said Diane Quest, interim CEO and president of Points of Light. “We are so grateful for our host team Atados and leave Brazil with a better understanding of the work they are doing to build a social engagement society.”
We ended the day with an invitation and brainstorming around the next time we would be together in Chicago at the annual
Points of Light Conference
.
We’ll leave you with some of our new favorite Portuguese phrases from the group:
- Bom = good
- Xicara de café = cup of coffee
- Obrigado = thank you
Together we inspired each other, we laughed at our shared human fallibilities, we explored Brazilian culture, and we created memories and friendships that are at core of the Points of Light Global Network.
Everything to Know About the Top Civic Engagement Conference
Every year, the
Points of Light Conference
brings together thousands of changemakers from across the world to convene, learn together, share ideas and explore the current landscape of
civic engagement,
and 2023 promises an excellent experience. This year, we’re thrilled to be hosting our leading civic engagement conference at the
Chicago Marriott Downtown Magnificent Mile
, situated right in downtown Chicago, on June 14-16, 2023. As we gear up for this landmark event, here’s what you can expect – and how you can save your spot to attend.
What Will the Conference Include?
The Points of Light Conference 2023 is a leader among civic engagement conferences. It’s a global gathering for people, like you, who are passionate about civic engagement. It empowers
nonprofit
, government,
business and civic leaders
to make a bold impact in their communities, providing the resources and inspiration to do so.
When you attend the Points of Light Conference, you can expect more than 50 workshops with actionable takeaways led by industry experts, compelling leadership discussions highlighting best practices and connection with fellow changemakers ready to collaborate and amplify your efforts.
The Points of Light Conference 2023 Theme
Every Points of Light Conference features a different theme around which speakers base their topics and facilitators plan their workshops. The Points of Light Conference 2023 Theme is, “Leading Change Together.” Today,
companies
,
nonprofit organizations
and
everyday people
are all rallying toward real, sustainable change. Communities have distinct goals, and together, we can lean on our unique and collective backgrounds, experiences and perspectives to change the world.
Register for updates
to find out when we unveil this year’s powerhouse speakers, who are making big impacts in their communities, companies and beyond, as well as to roll out high-value workshops that will leave you feeling inspired, educated and equipped with new knowledge and ideas to implement in your spheres of influence.
Next Steps to Attend the Points of Light Conference 2023
We’re featuring an early bird special, so mark your calendar now. Early registration runs from March 1 through 31, 2023. These discounted tickets will be priced at $675 for corporate tickets and $575 for government or nonprofit tickets. Make sure you’re on our
email list
so you can reserve your spot as soon as registration opens.
General Registration tickets go on sale from April 1 through May 31, 2023. Corporate spots are $775, while government or nonprofit registration is $675. Need the full cost picture? We even have
hotel rates
available so you can have a full picture of associated expenses.
Call for Proposals Deadlines
If you’re interested in presenting on stage or via a workshop this year, you’ll want to save these in your calendar and be prepared to submit your proposal. From January 3-17, 2023, Points of Light will be accepting presenter proposals. We’re eager to see what stories, wisdom and insights you have to share from your experience with civic engagement in your community, company or nonprofit organization. Past speakers have included best-selling authors, nonprofit and governmental leaders, service members, and even news anchors and entertainers. Make sure to
sign up for updates
so you’ll be the first to know when we open our call for proposals.
Don’t wait! Whether you plan to attend this year’s conference or want to submit a proposal to be featured as a presenter, start preparing today. Speak to your management team about securing your spot, and stay tuned for details on our request for proposals.
4 Facts to Make the Case for Your Employee Engagement Program
When launching an employee
engagement program
, you may need to provide supporting reasons for your leadership to invest. Here are four facts to help you make your case for formalizing employee engagement.
Employee volunteers have strong social impact
We know that
volunteers
can be a valuable human capital resource for communities, especially as local governments are often left with a shrinking pool of resources. Employee volunteers may hold the key to bolstering nonprofits and boosting community impact.
- According to VolunteerMatch, nonprofits continue to operate with reduced resources when compared to pre-pandemic operations, even in light of the record number of philanthropic dollars given in 2020.
- 65% of nonprofits said they’re working with reduced resources compared to before the COVID-19 pandemic.
- 10% reported their operations were “temporarily halted” altogether.
- Almost 90% of nonprofits say the demand for their services is rising while nearly 60% say they can’t meet demand.
Add to this picture the fact that
more than 40% of Gen Z employees
see a sense of purpose at work as more important than a big paycheck, and you’re left with an unprecedented opportunity for companies to step up to lend their time and talent to drive positive impact in communities
Volunteers provide a skilled and talented volunteer pool to raise awareness of critical community needs and create quantifiable social impact. In fact,
the
average nonprofit
spends just 2% or less of its total budget on infrastructure, compared to the 20% average traditionally spent by companies.
Employee engagement and employee retention are linked
Employees can discover a host of benefits through their engagement, including the satisfaction that comes from sharing time and talent for a good cause and amplified awareness about the diverse needs of their community.
Gen Z
wants to work for
companies with purpose
.
Ninety-one percent of employees
say their company’s purpose makes them feel like they are in the right place through tumultuous times, like the pandemic and economic instability.
Turnover dropped by 57% in employee groups most deeply connected to their companies’ giving and volunteering efforts, according to
Benevity
. And employees who were more engaged in
donating
and
volunteering
showed markedly
lower turnover rates
. In fact, social impact projects can
reduce employee turnover
by roughly 50 percent.
Employee engagement supports employee wellbeing
According to
MIT Sloan Management Review
, nearly one-third of all employees mention opportunities for education in their reviews. Through a wide variety of volunteer opportunities, employees have access to growing their skills at work and becoming community ambassadors at the same time.
Pride and sense of purpose can come from a strong employee engagement program, enabling volunteers to feel good about their coworkers, their team and the company itself. It builds camaraderie and teamwork and allows for a change of pace by doing something different or applying talents and skills to a new situation. In fact,
studies show
that the more a person volunteers, the happier they become. In fact, people who begin with lower levels of happiness may get an even bigger boost from their engagement.
Varied perspectives give your CSR program a competitive edge
Creating a successful community engagement program takes hard work, an investment of time and resources, and a variety of perspectives. Many companies invest too little in their programs, making measured success difficult to attain. Companies that don’t invest enough will often get limited results, leading to potential cuts in program investment and poor participation. This deterioration continues until the program is so misaligned with the company’s goals that it simply no longer makes sense.
An increasing body of
research
shows that companies with diverse and inclusive cultures have a competitive edge. It’s not a reach to see how the same idea would generate better outcomes for employee engagement. Getting participation from multiple functional areas of the company and senior leaders is essential, each offering different motivations and perspectives. Managers have the difficult task of bringing these diverse parties together to develop a successful volunteer program that molds and adapts as the business continues to grow. A well-thought-out volunteer program can satisfy overlapping motives and unify all stakeholders.
A
s you build your case for initial or deeper investment in your social impact strategy, consider partnering with a knowledgeable and experienced strategic partner like
Points of Light
to help you create a strong employee engagement program.
How to Align Your Mission with Millennials and Civic Engagement
Using their
voices
, their
involvement
, and their
power
, millennials are shaping what civic engagement looks like today.
America’s millennials are poised to reshape society to a greater degree than any generation since the Greatest Generation. As 2 million baby boomers retire each year, millennials are projected to constitute 75% of the workforce. For
businesses
and
nonprofits
looking to navigate perpetually “unprecedented” waters, the key to future success is understanding this generation and engaging with it successfully.
That’s exactly what
Points of Light
sets out to do. Our team, in partnership with research and design firm INFLUENCE|SG, conducted a study on
millennials and civic engagement
to gather some crucial data points. While it’s impossible to define a group of 72 million Americans, this data did provide insight into trends around how to partner with millennials and where they stand with civic engagement.
The Big Picture on Millennials and Civic Engagement
Findings from our research showed that almost 50% of millennials believe more in civic engagement now than before the COVID-19 pandemic. Sixty-nine percent are more likely to volunteer and 85% think people should help their community and the world.
With few exceptions, “spent time learning more about the issue” was the number-one action millennials took to support social issues.
Millennials are prime for civic impact and are actively looking to feel connected to your mission. So how can you better communicate with this generation and leverage their desire to do social good? Here are five things to include in your outreach and a few to leave out.
Speak directly to your audience.
The research shows that the millennial generation is motivated by more than simply helping others. They need to feel personally affected by the issues and want to channel that concern into action.
Use the “you” and “we” in your messaging to show that you recognize their personal experience and identification with an issue, and that you’re in it with them. This tactic is effective across all of your collateral, from social media to ad copy to your newsletters and annual report.
Demonstrate your desire for real change.
Millennials are masters at spotting lip service with. Instead of catchy slogans or gimmicky challenges, offer data points about what you’ve accomplished so far and what you hope to achieve with millennial involvement.
This generation does its research, and numbers can tell a strong story. Regular updates, as well as a comprehensive annual update, can help build trust among your millennial supporters.
Ask how you can partner with them.
Avoid soliciting contributions and involvement. Instead, open an honest and open two-way dialogue about what you as an organization can do to equip and empower millennials for social change.
Many millennials engage primarily through social media, so take note of the stats around volunteers and social media for your organization. Invite dialogue and seek feedback on the issues themselves, your organization’s proposed solutions, and any other ideas that this important demographic might offer to move the needle forward.
Home in on skills-based volunteer opportunities.
According to a
2020 Fidelity Charitable Report
, 65% of millennial respondents volunteered by “using a specific skill,” significantly more than Gen X or baby boomer respondents. Millennials are eager to apply skill sets that they already use (or don’t get the chance to use) in the workplace toward issues that they care about.
Since so many volunteers today are virtual, it’s a good idea to make volunteer roles in communication, marketing, technology, accounting or other skill areas widely accessible.
Provide learning opportunities.
Remember,
learning
about the issue was the top-ranked way that millennials practiced civic engagement. You don’t need an existing program or a solution to a social issue in order to get this generation involved. Provide learning opportunities by hosting forums or webinars with experts in the field to help educate everyone about the issue at hand.
This option can also help build an asset-based approach to volunteering, where volunteers support community members from a place of greater awareness and honor their lived experience rather by working with the community rather than “saving” it. To get started, check out Points of Light’s
Civic Life Today
series, comprised of nine digital magazine issues that each focus on one element of the Points of Light Civic Circle.
3 Steps to Help Employees Find the Right Election Volunteer Opportunities
Election Day is drawing nearer and we’ve reached the fourth and final installment of our series on how to activate your employees to more fully participate in democracy and find the right election volunteer opportunities. Pr
eviously we’ve explored how you can support employees to
vote
, to
listen and learn
, and to
use their voice
.
There are countless opportunities for volunteerism on Election Day – which will take place Tuesday, November 8, 2022 – as well as early voting during the days and weeks leading up to it.
In this article, we’re covering some of the top ways you can
mobilize your workforce
to lend their time and talent in volunteering to promote voter turnout and advocate for the causes and candidates they believe in.
Recognize that Corporate Responsibility Plays a Role in Voter Turnout
Points of Light’s recent
research
shows that today’s workers expect businesses to lead by example. Sixty percent of people choose where they work based on their beliefs and values, and companies are starting to take notice of this trend.
According to the
Civic Alliance Corporate Civic Playbook
, 94.7% of respondent companies gave their salaried and hourly employees time off to vote. That time included anywhere from two hours to a full day off. When you indicate to your employees that fulfilling the civic responsibility of voting and promoting voter turnout is crucial to participating in democracy, you demonstrate that your organization cares about more than just your bottom line.
Provide Paid Time Off to Vote and Volunteer on Election Day
While providing time off to vote is no doubt a critical component of sustaining and fostering a healthy, thriving democracy, so is the support of volunteer-related activities around elections. Consider giving your employees the opportunity to engage in any one of the many election volunteer opportunities that exist during this season, from staffing the polls to providing transportation for voters who need it. You might even host a polling place at your company site, allowing your employees to volunteer their time and efforts throughout the day.
“Many Americans believe that U.S. democracy is at risk. Today, it is business and specifically ‘my employer’ that is seen as the most trusted institution and sector best poised to drive social impact. Companies have the ability and perhaps even the responsibility to signal trust in the democratic process through workplace policies and incentives that support all employees in voting and participating in our country’s electoral process.”
– Christine Schoppe, chief strategy & growth officer, Points of Light
Publicize Election Volunteer Opportunities
In addition to supporting your workforce in volunteerism on and leading up to Election Day, you can also provide them with tools and resources to find election volunteer opportunities. Send an all-staff email blast or mention volunteer opportunities in your next team meeting or newsletter.
Points of Light Engage
offers a global database with in-person and virtual volunteer opportunities in your area and beyond. Include a link to Engage in your internal communication materials to support employees in finding election volunteer opportunities that best suit their needs and capacity.
For more on the importance of volunteering in creating and sustaining democracy, check our
Civic Life Today: Volunteer
. This digital magazine explores the power of every single volunteer, finding the right volunteer opportunity, the diversity gap in volunteering and much more.
Don’t miss our first three posts in this four-part series that cover ways to activate around
voting
,
listening and learning
, and
voice
.
What is Civic Engagement?
At Points of Light, we believe we’re on the cusp of a new era, one we call the
Civic Century
– an age when people become the driving force that transforms our world. We believe when future generations look back on this time, they will see it as an era of sustained and meaningful civic engagement. But
what is civic engagement
?
Answering the Question: “What is Civic Engagement?”
Simply put, civic engagement is change led by the power of people. In this modern era, it isn’t as always as simple as individuals volunteering their time and effort to advocate for the changes they wish to see in the world. Today’s generations engage in a variety of ways – from how they spend their dollars with socially responsible companies to how they use their voices on social media. People are eager to understand, identify and engage in the full scope of civic life.
That’s why we created the
Points of Light Civic Circle
, a framework designed to help individuals and organizations lead, lend support and take action for causes they care about. The
nine elements of the Points of Light Civic Circle
demonstrate the many ways people can become more civically engaged, whether it be their career calling, making an informed donation to a cause or taking a small action taken in the workplace.
Here are some articles on civic engagement you can read through for more information. And be sure to check out our digital magazine,
Civic Life Today
, for deeper dives into each of these elements, including interviews, supporting resources and more.
Listening and Learning to Foster Equity in Volunteerism
Karmit Bulman
, Esq., executive director of the Minnesota Association for Volunteer Administration (MAVA), talks us through
listening and learning
to build equity in volunteerism and providing services. We discuss MAVA’s recent initiatives and the important work they are doing as an organization to listen and learn.
Helping Communities Through Voter Engagement
Voting
is one of the key ways communities can advocate for themselves and an important part of participating in a democracy. But since 501(c)(3) charitable organizations are limited in what they can legally do during elections, we published some guidelines on how to help your community members
activate to vote and build accessibility and equity
among all voters.
How to Leverage People’s Purchase Power to Move Your Mission Forward
Have you considered the collective
purchase power
of your volunteers? The truth is that the way your volunteers spend their dollars and consume their goods can have a lasting impact on the communities you serve – as well as the world at large. In this article, we share
three ways you can help activate the purchasing power of your volunteers
in ways that serve the very causes your organization is addressing each day.
