This National Volunteer Week, let’s take a moment to recognize the 12.7 million Canadians who make our country a better place through their volunteer efforts. As we reflected on our volunteer work, we started thinking… while volunteering is something we do because we love to give back, it also provides us with excellent value. When you volunteer as a team, not only do you get a warm and fuzzy feeling from helping others, you also build new skills, put your knowledge to the test, and make great connections while improving the community where you do business.

Need some ideas to strengthen your team’s community impact?

Here’s how you can get started:

Put your corporate social responsibility (CSR) practices to the test:

As a B Corporation, volunteering is part of our DNA. When it comes to giving back, we don’t just ‘talk the talk,’ thanks to the B Impact Assessment, we ‘walk the walk’ as well. The impact assessment is a free tool offered by non-profit B Lab to help your company objectively measure its overall social, community and environmental impact. It helps you benchmark and work to improve your performance in over 20 impact areas, including how you positively affect your community through best practices such as volunteering.  Want to see how your company stacks up? Take the free impact assessment here. Because being a force for good is truly the best way to do business.

Work with companies that are values-aligned:

Volunteering is ingrained in our company culture because our purpose is clear – to create a vibrant social profit sector capable of solving our generation’s most urgent challenges. Our clients are incredible charities and non-profits that work hard to make the world a better place and our goal is to help them make the biggest impact possible. We’ve defined our purpose and our values clearly, and we choose who we work with strategically because we want to change things for good and work with brands that care. If strengthening your community impact is a priority, rethink your purpose, your values and how your customers, employees, and suppliers can align.

Give your team an opportunity to ‘be the change’:

Giving your employees a chance to volunteer strengthens your team and your company’s community impact. Engaged employees work harder, stay at your company longer and find innovative and creative solutions to organizational challenges. We’ve implemented an agency-wide community service program that gives every member of our team two days on the clock to volunteer for the causes they care about. While giving your team time off to volunteer may seem unproductive, there is a wealth of evidence that suggests it’s actually better for your company. On National Volunteer Week, we’re encouraging our colleagues to give their employees opportunities to get involved and positively impact the environment, the community, and the world. Not sure where to focus your efforts? Here are a few ways you can volunteer as a team:

Team up to fight hunger

Volunteering at a local food bank or community kitchen is a rewarding way to give back in your own backyard while fighting hunger.

Build a better future

Looking for a skill-building volunteer activity? Roll up your sleeves at a Habitat Team Build! You’ll get a sense of accomplishment while working together to provide affordable housing for those in need.

Get brainy

Not ready to get your hands dirty? Put your mind to work instead. We’re big advocates of pro bono consulting, which is why we partner with organizations like Futurpreneur. Not sure where to start? The Give Agency provides a platform that unites “idea rockstars” from advertising, communications, marketing, and strategic roles to help nonprofits solve challenges in just a single, fun-filled day.

Plan a team fundraiser

Want to do more for a cause your team cares passionately about? Planning a team fundraiser is a great way to give back together! Choose an area to focus your efforts as a team (we’ve participated in CAMH’s One Brave Night, Walk a Mile in Her Shoes, and Prostate Cancer Canada’s Plaid For Dad). Then, find a creative way to raise funds together. Whether it’s a walk, run, potluck, or even an escape room, fundraising is a fun way to engage your team while making a difference.

Does your company have a volunteer policy in place? We’d love to compare best practices. Contact us.