to your campaigns, and advocate for your shared cause. But purchase power can also be a dynamic tool, and we’ll show you how to help your community leverage it to drive change.
Purchase Power: A Key Piece of the Civic Engagement Puzzle
One of the most powerful, and often untapped, resources that a nonprofit has is the collective
of its volunteers. Purchase power represents an individual’s ability to make decisions around spending or consumption of goods or services. Each of your
has the ability to make decisions around how they consume or purchase goods and services.
These purchasing decisions may reflect their values or advance a social cause or issue. Buyers may deliberately purchase or avoid purchasing a product or service based on a company’s policies, social causes, size and scale, environmental footprint and more. In the same way your volunteers choose to share their talents with your organization, they may also choose where their purchase power goes.
When considering purchase power, it’s essential to recognize that, for many people, there is limited choice in where or how to shop. This circumstance can be for a variety of reasons, from lack of access to financial limitations, but there is still great value in being more informed and being able to share that knowledge with their own networks.
Even when choices are limited, there is decision-making power in these choices. And in those instances, when the only step we can take is to be more informed and share that information with others, this action is still meaningful and has value. Here are three ways you can help activate the purchasing power of your volunteers.
Curate a List of Businesses to Support
Maintain a list of businesses or brands that support causes that are aligned with your mission and share it on your website. A great example is
to life through nine issues of “Civic Life Today”, a free digital magazine series, each issue highlighting an area of the Civic Circle and taking a deep dive into how people can activate this in their own life. Share the link to the
Highlight businesses in the community you serve to help increase awareness among your volunteers and their networks. Consider engaging local businesses to volunteer with your organization and cross-promote both of your organizations through social media.
How to Support Volunteer Engagement at the Intersection of Civic Engagement and Mental Health
What do civic engagement and mental health have in common? Points of Light Chief Growth and Strategy Officer Christine Schoppe and Crisis Text Line Chief Program Officer Becka Ross got together to talk about these two cause areas and how they intersect, starting with an overview of each organization.
Since 1990, Points of Light has acted as a cultural catalyst, working in partnership with
to build a world where it’s impossible to sit on the sidelines. Through its corporate partners and 177 affiliates in 38 countries, the organization has mobilized 5 million volunteers. In recent years, Points of Light has worked to define a
for the 21st century, one that calls on people to give their time, talents and resources to build a brighter future for everyone.
Crisis Text Line began in 2013, hosting more than 7.5 million conversations around mental health since its launch. The organization provides text-based crisis intervention by empowering a community of thousands of trained volunteers to support people in their moments of need. The service is offered in the U.S., Canada, the U.K. and Ireland. It’s free, anonymous and available round-the-clock.
Both organizations have a deep understanding of mobilizing volunteers and a focus on research in their respective cause areas.
Research Shows That Civic Engagement and Mental Health Go Together
“There’s a lot of research out there around the mental health benefits of volunteering combating loneliness in particular,” said Ross. “Volunteers are telling us that they are using their training in their personal lives, too, and it’s improving romantic relationships and work relationships and being able to build the skill of empathy and understand the importance of validating somebody’s perspective”
is open-source, sharing data-informed insights into mental health with other nonprofits, corporate partners, policymakers, media and the general public to raise awareness around mental health issues.
is also shared publicly and shows that four out of 10 people see mental health as a top cause area of concern. This cause area tops a list of more than 20, including poverty and gun rights. These trends, led by Gen Z and
, a framework of nine pathways to civic engagement. These pathways include volunteerism, listening and learning, using your voice and being strategic when choosing where you work.
“The company you work for, and the internal volunteerism you can do there. The resource groups you can join to advocate for your kind of special interest group, you can use your place of employment to express your values and your beliefs,” Schoppe pointed out. “There’s more than one way to get it done.”
In addition to choosing a workplace that supports your values, Points of Light research shows that the two of the most common actions people are taking to advocate for the issues they care about are
. Points of Light research shows that a strong motivator for people when choosing which social issue to champion is having personal experience around that issue. That connection and personal investment is central to strength and longevity of commitment.
Schoppe and Ross touched upon how to find willing volunteers and how to retain and incentivize them to keep up this work. Efforts should reach beyond how meaningful the work itself is.
“Many of our volunteers come to us because they want to make an impact and make a difference in somebody’s life. [Our crisis counselors] are really changing the mental health landscape, reducing stigma, ensuring that people know that it’s okay to reach out for help and get support,” said Ross. “We center our volunteers and their experience.”
Crisis Text Line knows a lot about volunteer engagement with a volunteer base of more than 55,000 people who have gone through a 30-hour virtual training to become crisis counselors. One of first things volunteers are asked to do is create a self-care plan, so they can recharge after a tough shift.
This type of thoughtful method of supporting a volunteer force is essential to sustainability as volunteerism remains one of the most valued pathways to civic engagement. Points of Light research shows that the top three actions people are taking around the issues they care about are:
Schoppe said, “That’s really what drives our research is understanding those goals, and then creating insights and actions with our ecosystem.”
Listen and Learn About the Intersection of Civic Engagement and Mental Health
Watch the entire conversation between Points of Light Chief Growth and Strategy Officer Christine Schoppe and Crisis Text Line Chief Program Officer Becka Ross:
5 Ways Nonprofits Can Promote Family Volunteer Day
, marking a global day of service that celebrates the power of families who work together to support their communities and neighborhoods. This year, this special day falls on November 19. It’s a great way for nonprofits to highlight how families can help support your mission and your community’s needs. Here are five ways nonprofits can promote Family Volunteer Day and engage families in your community.
1. Create a landing page
Update your website with a landing page featuring family-friendly project ideas for your organization listing your greatest needs where families can help. Need ideas? Points of Light has a number of youth-oriented
full of social media graphics and language that you can use to promote the dayon your social channels. Encourage families in your local area to share the day and join in the opportunity to volunteer as a family – as well as any photos or videos on the day – on their social network of choice using the hashtag #FamilyVolunteerDay.
3. Share via your newsletter
Let folks know to save the date! Download and customize this
for your newsletter to share with your network or create your own call to action. We recommend giving people plenty of advance notice so they can plan accordingly. In fact, you can start promoting Family Volunteer Day now!
4. Link to existing Family Volunteer Day projects or opportunities
Direct people to search for family-friendly volunteer opportunities on your nonprofit’s landing page or volunteer search portal. Need additional opportunities? You can find them on Points of Light’s
or any other volunteer project sources. Engage is a global database with hundreds of thousands of volunteer opportunities, both in-person and virtual. Use the search filters to explore projects that are good for families, teens and seniors. If you are promoting your own Family Volunteer Day projects, be sure to tag them so people can find them easily.
5. Contact local media
Help spread the word about Family Volunteer Day and promote the activities your organization is involved with. Reach out to your local newspapers, magazines and radio stations to see how they’d be willing to promote your organization and the event.
However you choose to participate in Family Volunteer Day, we’re looking forward to watching the way you bring families in your area together. We’d love to hear from you! Tag Points of Light on your social media accounts so we can see what you’re up to for Family Volunteer Day this year.
Family Volunteer Day is a day of service that celebrates the power of families who work together to support their communities and neighborhoods. Volunteering is a great way for kids and adults to make new friends, develop compassion for their neighbors and even pick up a new skill or two.
Know a family who’s a living example of what Family Volunteer Day is all about?
and podcasts you prefer the written word, we’ve got the civic engagement book list you’ve been waiting for.
These books take a deeper dive into the various elements of the Civic Circle, a framework designed to help individuals connect to opportunities and understand that doing good comes in many forms. Written by authoritative voices in their spaces of expertise, these reads are a must for any budding volunteer, donor, social entrepreneur or engaged citizen.
Looking for an easy-to-understand guide on donating responsibly? Advocate Dan Pollotta delivers in this book exploring topics from researching nonprofits to understanding overhead ratios to the actual impact you’re making with your donations. Written for people from all walks of life and of all ages, Dan will demystify donating so you can make better decisions about where and how to give.
American poet, essayist and playwright Claudia Rankine is perhaps best known for her award-winning collection of essays,
Citizen
, but
Just Us
is a powerful confrontation of racism. She demonstrates what racism looks like in the United States – from restaurants to theaters to airports – in this moving arrangement of essays, poems and images.
Using your wallet to make a statement? Influence your clients and customers to do the same? Become a conscious consumer and master marketer for good with this comprehensive guide to marketing based on shared values and a unique brand purpose. Even if you aren’t in marketing, this book can help you more fully understand how the companies you support with your dollar are marketing to you. A must read!
It’s not often we get to peek into the personal lives of military personnel, and even less common for us to hear detailed narratives from women in combat. Journalist Helen Thorpe follows the lives of three women deployed to Afghanistan and Iraq and the effect of their military service on their personal lives and families – over the course of twelve years. It’s a compelling illustration of just what it takes for military personnel to serve their countries.
If only social entrepreneurs had some kind of manual for exactly how to launch their enterprise… psst – they do! This playbook is the authoritative guide on the three phases of the start-up to scale-up process. Written by two Wharton professors, this tough-love approach will help social entrepreneurs avoid common pitfalls and navigate the landscape of solving the world’s toughest issues in innovative ways.
Penned by journalist Erin Geiger Smith, this book looks at the past, present, and future of voting, including the ongoing fight for voting rights. It covers the voting process, actionable steps for voters to take to become more civically engaged, and an examination of why, in the 2016 presidential election, about 40 percent of Americans didn’t vote. Even the most well-versed voter will walk away having learned something new about democracy from this read.
Your voice matters, but using it to better the world is not always clear-cut. Get a leg up with insights about the ways you choose to live your life. Jonah Berger takes us deep into the concept of social influence and how others’ behavior shapes our own. Once we fully understand why we do the things we do, we can decide what we want to to resist and what we want to embrace.
Poverty remains one of the leading issues our world has yet to solve, and it can feel so big and overwhelming that you may not know where to start. Join Peter Singer on this journey of exploration into the current state of global poverty and how you can be part of the solution. You may be surprised at some of the ways you can start working to end poverty right now, in your very own community.
VeraWorks President Bea Boccalandro teaches readers how to transform “meaningless” jobs into purpose-driven ventures in her book about making work more fulfilling. Through real-life stories and plenty of tools, tips and techniques, she offers employees in any industry a way to draw civic engagement into the workforce.
Intrigued? Time to get reading!
Tag us on social media
to share your favorite book from the list, and let us know how it impacted you and your journey of advocating for the causes you care about.
This piece is part of a series that highlights the many ways you can activate the
, we’re looking at nine podcasts about civic engagement that highlight timely and relevant ways for you to champion social good.
Points of Light’s Civic Circle is a framework designed to demonstrate the various ways that individuals and organizations can lead, lend support and take action for causes they care about. After all, volunteering and donating are important facets of civic life, but doing good comes in many other forms, too. The following list of podcasts* about civic engagement will help you bring all nine elements to life.
*Note: These podcasts may contain mature language or content. Parents and caregivers, we recommend being mindful to listen first, before sharing them with children.
This podcast, brought to you by BBB Wise Giving Alliance Give.org, exists to educate and empower people who are interested in donating responsibly. By showcasing stories of philanthropic leaders, government figures and active donors who have a passion for giving, episodes discuss strategies and tools to help listeners make impactful gifts that stretch far and benefit many.
This episode of the podcast Hidden Brain tackles the idea of “listening and learning” head-on. When we believe we are experts in something, we imagine that we know more than we do. Psychologist Adam Grant discusses what actually happens in the brain when we choose to challenge our own deeply held beliefs.
Green Dreamer is a beautifully produced podcast for those pursuing more environmentally conscious lifestyles. It takes on the concept of capital as a means of expressing deep values
and building a more responsible economy. The podcast features themes of creative transformation as it discusses the deconstruction of harmful economic systems, healing from materialism, addressing global waste and how people can repair their relationship to consumerism.
Each week this podcast interviews a different person with a career in public service to gain insights on why they do what they do. You can hear from U.S. Senators, think tank employees and leaders of advocacy groups on their journeys to public service. If you’re interested in serving in any capacity – whether on your local school board or in national government – this podcast is for you.
This multi-award-winning podcast is sure to move you to action (and possibly tears) with incredible stories of courage and purpose. Finding Humanity takes listeners into the heart of the most complex social and political issues facing our world, featuring global leaders, human rights experts and more. Each season of the podcast zeroes in on a specific realm of advocacy, and the “B Lab Special Series” focuses on people in the business sector who are addressing today’s biggest challenges.
As a United States citizen, one of the most powerful ways to ensure your values are represented in government is to participate in democracy. This nonpartisan podcast examines a different aspect of democratic life each week — from voting to criminal justice to the free press. You might be surprised at what you learn about the origins and issues of these facets of democratic life, as well as what you can do to help build and sustain a healthy democracy.
This riveting podcast highlights impactful people working for social change, including educators, activists, social workers and more. Each guest shares a bit about their personal journey as well as real-life stories from the field. Discussions are honest and bold, with guests leaving listeners tangible tips for getting involved in addressing issues like racism in education, equity in mental health, immigrant rights and responsible crisis intervention.
The Pro Bono Perspectives podcast from nationally-recognized nonprofit Common Impact covers a wide variety of topics, including social impact, CSR, philanthropy, partnerships, climate justice, how companies can take action for racial equity, where pro bono can be a solution for some of society’s biggest challenges and much more. You’ll finish each episode feeling inspired by social impact thought leaders who are creative transformative change in their spheres of influence.
The Fairer Cents podcast is a cheeky, often comedic podcast taking on some serious issues, like the wage and wealth gap, the economics of motherhood and the roots of economic inequality. Whether you’re a woman in the
or simply curious about the role of your money and career on your personal relationships, this is a fantastic podcast to start exploring big themes.
Now you’re equipped with these nine podcasts about civic engagement you can listen to on your next walk around the neighborhood, daily commute or unwind time before bed. If you find one you really love, tag us on social media to let us know! Remember, educating yourself on the issues is just one piece of the puzzle, so be sure to find ways you can
3 Labor Day Employee Engagement Ideas to Help Busineses Reach CSR Goals
Labor Day is a federal holiday that recognizes the social and economic accomplishments of American workers. It celebrates a proud history that deserves to be remembered and honored. It’s the perfect day for
contributions of their employees. Here are three Labor Day employee engagement ideas to help you reach CSR goals, both big and small.
Why Do We Celebrate Labor Day?
Labor Day is officially celebrated on the first Monday of September. Labor activists began advocating for a holiday in the 1880’s. They used their collective
. First recognized among individual states, it was eventually deemed a holiday when Congress passed an act to officially recognize it as such on June 28, 1894.
How COMPANIES Can Support Employees on Labor Day
1. Give Employees the Holiday Off, and Pay Them for It
Provide your employees with a paid holiday. This practice can include just Monday, the actual holiday, but may also include the Friday before the weekend. Not only is observing important historical holidays like this an important part of staying civically engaged and culturally relevant, but it allows your employees time to recharge and come back refreshed, which means better productivity. It’s a win-win proposition.
In some parts of the U.S., this holiday can coincide with the first week or two of school, so many parents will be thankful for the additional time off. Employers can largely prevent burnout by supporting employees with regularly scheduled holidays and time off… and a strict no-work policy on holidays whenever possible.
2. Provide Volunteer Opportunities and/or Volunteer Time Off
Offer a paid volunteer day in addition to the holiday. Many organizations opt to host a company-wide volunteer day on the Thursday or Friday preceding the Labor Day holiday. Work with your
(or multiple activities, if you have employees or different locations.)
Provide clear communication about the volunteer event to your employees in advance so they can plan accordingly. Be sure to share that the time spent volunteering will still be paid. Alternatively, you can provide “volunteer time off,” allowing employees to choose their own volunteer activities. And if you don’t yet have an
in place, now is the time to start mobilizing towards creating one for your next fiscal year.
3. Review Your Internal Systems and Structures to Ensure Adequate Employee Support
It’s a great idea to do an annual audit of your internal processes and policies – and what better time than around the Labor Day holiday? You might choose to begin with an anonymous employee survey you can send out company-wide to gather current data and important feedback about improvements. In fact, we recommend keeping some channels for employee feedback and suggestions open year round. Often, employees are eager and willing to set up their own initiatives or suggest solutions, but only if they feel welcome to speak up.
Examine your current pay structures, benefits packages and recognition programs. How often are you saying “thank you” to your employees through competitive salaries, insurance plans and paid time off, annual bonuses, paid lunches or corporate retreats? This internal audit is also an excellent opportunity to review your diversity, equity and inclusion efforts. Where do you stack up among other employers in your industry with training and resources on DEI, as well as providing a safe and inclusive environment for your workers?
Above all, remember that your organization simply wouldn’t exist without your employees. Take this opportunity to celebrate Labor Day in a way that will feel meaningful to your workers. Remembering to thank them not only creates a culture of gratitude, it’s the right thing to do.
Explore Civic Engagement Concepts in Your Classroom This School Year
With school starting across the U.S., educators have the chance to think big when it comes to civic engagement. You are at the forefront of shaping the next generations for a more equitable world, and while you may be somewhat limited in scope based on curriculum, there are ways of incorporating
Work With Administrators to Address Curriculum Gaps or Resource Needs
As you teach certain principles such as equity, diversity or inclusion, and you identify areas that are lacking culturally relevant supporting materials, speak to your administrators. It might help to
. This nonprofit provides educators a curated set of books with LGBTQ characters for either middle or high school students, along with a detailed curriculum for the books, written by experienced English educators and adapted to Common Core State Standards.
Use the Impact of Storytelling to Instill Values in a Memorable Way
Educators know that teaching is not just about relaying information but using proven methods for students to comprehend and retain that information. One of the most potent ways educators can do this is through storytelling. Whether it be through personal stories that are age-appropriate and honor the boundaries of the student-teacher relationship or with illustrations of others who are impacted by the issues you’re teaching about, storytelling can resonate deeply and powerfully with young minds. Relate lessons to current events; have students examine political issues or real-time Supreme Court cases to explore their thoughts and feelings around them.
found out that her eighth-grade English teacher was waiting for a kidney transplant, and discovered that approximately 120,000 people in the U.S. are waiting for life-saving transplants and 22 people die each day while waiting for one, she took matters into her own hands. She started by volunteering with existing organizations before
Look for Opportunities in the Classroom to Demonstrate Concepts Taught
Just like storytelling can help students retain concepts, so too, can relating concepts to daily occurrences happening in the classroom. Try assigning a writing prompt that asks students to identify a need they see in the classroom or among their peers and propose a solution. Perhaps there’s an assignment for students to write anonymous notes of support or encouragement to each other. Whether it be recognizing when students share notebook paper, pencils or food with one another or demonstrating what compassionate and empathetic communication looks like in a conflict among students, you can teach lessons in a practical, relatable and hands-on way that can have a deep impact.
, to foster growth, personality and empathy. During the pandemic, when most learning was happening virtually, Wendy allowed students to spot needs and help meet them. “Some kids felt isolated and frustrated during the pandemic, so one of our student volunteers created a virtual exercise class, and we also hosted online conversations for younger students,” Wendy shared.
As you prepare to teach concepts around inclusivity, empathy and civic engagement in your classroom, you can reference Points of Light’s
, a framework designed to help individuals connect to opportunities and understand that doing good comes in many forms. The Civic Circle represents your unique power as an individual or organization to lead, lend support and take action for causes you care about.
Since a big part of being civically engaged is being informed, we’re offering nine interesting, must-see documentaries that will educate, inspire and stay with you as you continue on your own journey to make the world a better place.
*Note: As these documentaries are capturing real situations and circumstances from across the globe, viewers may find some scenes to be graphic or disturbing. Parents and caregivers, we recommend being mindful to screen these films first before showing them to children.
This incredible documentary has won more than 60 international film festival honors. It challenges each of us to consider whether what we’re contributing could actually be part of a big problem that has developed in the world of philanthropy. With over 200 interviews filmed in 20 countries, the film will empower you to donate your dollars, goods and time more consciously.
When this film was released on Netflix, it became one of the most-viewed documentaries the streaming network had seen. In a world where many people are receiving the bulk of their information via social media, which, unlike credible news media or peer-reviewed publications, isn’t vetted by experts. This film gives some great insight into how this phenomenon is shaping public opinion.
Fashion can be a fun and unique way to express oneself, but “fast fashion” has devastated many critical cause areas, including the environment and workers’ rights. This film documents the lives of real people around the world living in poverty and war-torn areas, who make clothes for the world’s fashion. It will have you thinking twice about doing your research on clothing brands you support and how to spend your dollar in a way that supports sustainable fashion.
This film, narrated by Annette Bening, has garnered accolades too numerous to count. It dives into the nearly six decades of the trials and transformations of this agency through stories from its incredible host country nationals, Peace Corps Volunteers and staff, as well as scholars and journalists.
This fascinating documentary will not only help you understand the concept of social entrepreneurship but also follows the journeys of three Millennial changemakers who are prioritizing meaning and purpose above financial considerations. You’ll finish this film feeling inspired by how entrepreneurial-minded people are using their skills to find creative ways to solve some of the world’s toughest issues.
Tune into this intimate account of legendary U.S. Representative John Lewis, following his life, legacy and more than 60 years of extraordinary activism, from the bold teenager on the front lines of the Civil Rights movement to the legislative powerhouse he was throughout his career.
It will leave you feeling empowered in your right to vote in every eligible election and championing the right for all people to vote.
When it comes to the power of one voice to make an impact on an issue or cause area, perhaps few modern people come to mind as vividly as Greta Thunberg. This compelling documentary follows the teenage climate activist from Sweden on her international crusade to get people to listen to scientists about the world’s environmental problems.
Volunteers share their time and talent with organizations working to advance the causes they care about. Volunteering is one of the best ways you can directly support the solutions to any issues that you’re passionate about, but volunteering comes with responsibility too. This documentary illuminates the impact of international volunteering on local communities. If you’re interested in volunteering overseas, you’ll want to watch this first so that you can plan to do so consciously.
Who says that businesses and their employees can’t use their for-profit work as a way to change the world for the better? Real Value is an award-winning economics documentary that interviews top leaders in the world of agriculture, apparel, insurance and biofuel. This inspiring look at what happens when businesses value the planet and its people in the same way as its profit will leave you both informed and inspired to make change in your own workplace and want to support socially-minded businesses too.
With nine documentaries highlighting nine different ways to lead a civically engaged life, we know you’ll find one that speaks to your specific passions and interests. Once you’ve watched,
and the news was sobering. UN Secretary-General António Guterres stated in his forward, “As the world faces cascading and interlinked global crises and conflicts, the aspirations set out in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development are in jeopardy.” Some thought leaders suggested that based on current levels of action, attitudes and shifting priorities, we could not reasonably expect to achieve these goals for another 60 years beyond 2030. This expectation must be challenged.
When the SDGs were originally announced in 2015, the business community rallied as champions, including many of Points of Light’s partners. More than 50% of the companies Points of Light supports and partners with signed on to the
, a public commitment to advancing the SDG agenda that asked companies to “…first do business responsibly and then pursue opportunities to solve societal challenges through business innovation and collaboration.”
Since this time, the expectations for companies have only grown. According to Points of Light’s
released in April 2022, 82% of respondents believe companies play a critical role in addressing societal challenges.
So what needs to be done? Points of Light suggests a return to fundamentals. When the SDGs launched, Guterres stated, “It simply is not possible to attain the SDGs without a wide range of people engaged at all stages, at all levels, at all times” and called for increasing community-based engagement for success to be achieved.
For Points of Light, the fundamentals of corporate community engagement are represented by
. Since it was launched in 2012, The Civic 50 has provided a framework for community-based engagement and good corporate citizenship. This framework is broken down into four dimensions: investment of resources, integration across business functions, institutionalization through policies and systems and impact measurement. Companies that are building their strategies across these dimensions have better fundamentals and are well positioned to achieve their social impact objectives, including those defined by the SDGs.
Investment: How the company strategically invests its resources in community engagement and social impact activities through volunteerism, financial giving, in-kind contributions, civic engagement and advocacy.
Integration: How the company integrates its community engagement and social impact programs throughout its business functions and interests.
Institutionalization: How the company institutionalizes its community engagement and social impact programs through organizational policies, systems and incentives.
Impact: How the company measures the social and business impact outcomes of its community engagement and social impact programs.
. This report not only recognizes the 50 most community-minded companies in the United States as determined by the above dimensions, but it also provides a great indicator for the overall state of corporate community engagement.
The data in this year’s report suggest that the challenges of the last two years have dampened some aspects of the community involvement of the country’s best corporate citizens, The Civic 50, and grown other aspects.
Overall corporate giving is down, but contributions as a percentage of revenue are up. In aggregate, companies represented by The Civic 50 contributed a total of $2 billion in cash and $1.8 billion in-kind to societal causes. These figures are not only less from pre-pandemic levels but less than 2021. On the other hand, contributions as a percentage of revenue increased. As the global economy faces headwinds related to inflation and other disrupters, we will continue to pay attention to the impact this has on the critical investment needed in social causes areas.
External volunteering has not returned to pre-pandemic levels, but internal volunteering is higher than ever. Across companies represented by The Civic 50, 22% of employees participated in external volunteering activities and engaged in 5.8 million hours of volunteering, compared to 40% and 10.5 million hours in 2019. What is encouraging is that we are continuing to see high levels of internal volunteering, with 48% of employees participating in activities like employee resource groups, green teams and more. This is up from 33% in 2019 before the pandemic.
One hundred percent of The Civic 50 companies reported significant efforts in integrating their community engagement into business functions. Community engagement is best served when companies share accountability across business functions. This responsibility must extend beyond expected departments, like Human Resources and Corporate Social Responsibility, and into departments and functions, such as marketing and PR, purchasing and procurement, research and development, sales and more.
Impact measurement is still a challenge. The Civic 50 report showed that even the country’s top corporate citizens are struggling to consistently measure the social and business impact outcomes of its community engagement and social impact programs. This challenge was mirrored in The Sustainable Development Goals Report 2022, where the report cited that despite some progress, serious data gaps persist in SDG monitoring.
The fundamentals may not be easy, but as The Sustainable Development Goals Report 2022 shares the outputs and outcomes of the world’s collective efforts, it is important to cross-reference it with reports like The Civic 50, which track the inputs of corporate efforts toward community engagement. The trajectory of business as a societal leader is without question, and we want a promising future for our planet and its people to be without question too.
3 Themes From the 2022 Points Of Light Conference to Support Your Nonprofit’s Impact
yields a wealth of unique opportunities, and a big one is hearing from experts in the nonprofit sector on current issues, innovative ideas and best practices. The 2022 conference hosted a variety of inspiring speakers from nonprofit organizations from around the world offering insightful and educational messages. Here are a few key takeaways for nonprofit leaders that emerged from this year’s stage:
People will engage with what they’re most passionate about.
, but it isn’t always easy. Knowing how to keep the flame alight among your team, your volunteers and your stakeholders is crucial to avoiding fatigue and burnout. This year’s conference theme was “Revitalize. Reimagine. Recommit.” and we featured speakers and sessions that spoke directly to this mission… like Jennifer Taylor, who shared on the topic of “rage giving.” With increasing polarization on the political and social landscapes, now is the time for nonprofits to develop specific strategies that allow people to act on the very causes they feel most strongly about. How can you leverage what you and your stakeholders are most excited, hopeful, frustrated or angry about to sustain your impact?
Listen to the communities you serve to learn what they need.
Intentional listening and learning in the communities you serve allows you to find solutions to the
true
unmet needs of that community, rather than the issues you might
assume
to be the most pressing. In the Opening Plenary, Points of Light CEO Natalye Paquin shared a story about
, an Orlando native. When she chose to voluntarily live alongside the people she was working with who were unhoused, she found that food insecurity was not their greatest unmet need, but hygiene was. This knowledge led her to create Street Team Movement, a nonprofit providing laundry services, haircuts and hygiene products to people experiencing homelessness, offering solutions to the exact needs the community expressed were most urgent.
PEOPLE FEEL significant positive impact from VOLUNTEERING.
Several conference sessions discussed the immense benefits that come from volunteer work – not just to communities, but also to the volunteers themselves. Points of Light
one in four people said a reason they took action was, “I believe it supports my own personal well-being.”
As you engage volunteers in your efforts, keep in mind that they are likely benefitting from this work as much as the communities they serve. Volunteering can
Volunteers are as healthy as non-volunteers who are five years younger.
Volunteering activities on a resume can yield higher employment opportunities.
You can begin to see that this benefit goes beyond the altruistic feelings of spending worthy time in support of social impact. Often, volunteers walk away with new skill sets, relationships and perspectives they may not have the opportunity to gain anywhere else. Framing volunteer work in this way can help organizations to promote greater equity and remember that they are providing mutually-beneficial resources rather than just rescue.
of affiliates from around the world is that the nonprofit sector is teeming with innovative thinkers and creative problem solvers. Nonprofit leaders, what are some insights you’d add to this list?
We’re already gearing up for the 2023 Points of Light Conference in Chicago on June 14-16, 2023, with a special pre-conference day for nonprofit professionals. Sign up to receive updates, and join us next year for another powerful conference.
