Corporate volunteering has become essential for modern businesses looking to strengthen community ties and employee engagement.
Whether you're considering launching an employee volunteer program or evaluating corporate volunteer software, these statistics demonstrate why employee volunteerism should be part of your business strategy.
Top Corporate Volunteering Statistics
Consumer & Market Expectations
- 71% of U.S. consumers want socially responsible companies
- Up to 71% of employees feel it's important that their employer supports workplace giving and volunteer efforts
- 81% of millennials believe corporations should practice corporate social responsibility (CSR) and support social impact
- 88% of consumers surveyed want brands to help them address social and environmental issues, yet only a third believe that companies are doing enough
With nearly three-quarters of both consumers and employees prioritizing corporate social responsibility, companies that invest in volunteering programs aren't just doing good; they're meeting fundamental expectations that drive purchasing decisions and talent retention.
Employee Engagement & Participation
- The average corporate volunteer participation rate is 33%
- 82% of businesses say their employees want to participate in corporate-sponsored volunteer events with their peers
- Companies reporting data for two consecutive years saw a 25% increase in participation
- Volunteering hours per volunteer rose from 6.87 to 7.21 hours in 2025
While the majority of companies report strong employee desire to volunteer, only one-third follow through. However, organizations that actively monitor and manage their volunteer programs demonstrate significant year-over-year improvements in both participation rates and individual engagement levels, indicating that structured programs can effectively convert interest into action.
Impact on Job Satisfaction, Performance, & Retention
- 79% of employees who participate in work-sponsored volunteer programs report being satisfied with their jobs, compared to only 55% of employees who do not volunteer through such programs
- Among employees who regularly volunteer, 57% said they were likely to recommend their company to a friend
- 55% of employees favor community-focused companies over profit-focused brands,
- 73% of managers of pro bono participants found it improved employee leadership skills
- 49% of employees said participation in employee volunteer programs made them proud to work for their employer.
The data suggests that employees who volunteer through work develop stronger emotional connections to their employers, which translates into higher satisfaction, increased loyalty, and greater advocacy.
For managers, these programs offer an unexpected benefit: a practical leadership development pipeline that builds skills through real-world community engagement rather than traditional training methods.
Workplace Culture & Morale
- 70% of corporate volunteers feel that volunteering for nonprofit organizations boosted employee morale
- 70% of respondents in a survey said that companies sponsoring volunteer activities have a more pleasant atmosphere at work
- 64% say volunteering strengthens camaraderie with work colleagues
- 52% of HR executives reported that volunteering is an important part of the culture
- 79% of employees reported lower stress levels due to volunteerism.
Volunteering creates a positive feedback loop in workplace dynamics. When employees work together outside the office for community causes, they return with strengthened relationships and reduced stress levels that permeate daily interactions.
This suggests that volunteer programs function as both team-building exercises and wellness initiatives. They address multiple organizational challenges, all while fostering the collaborative culture that HR leaders increasingly prioritize.
Barriers & Solutions
- 49% of individuals state that their biggest obstacles to participating in volunteer activities are work commitments
- Nearly 60% of companies offer paid time off for employees to volunteer, and an additional 21% plan to offer release time in the next two years.
- The Chief Executives for Corporate Purpose (a coalition of multibillion-dollar companies) reported that 66% of its members offer paid volunteer time off.
- 80% of companies with volunteer grant programs provide $8 to $15 for each hour an employee devotes their time
Companies are recognizing that time constraints, not lack of interest, represent the primary barrier to employee volunteering. The growing adoption of paid volunteer time off, volunteer days, and volunteer grants demonstrates that organizations are willing to invest directly in removing these obstacles.
This shift from asking employees to volunteer on their own time to providing company-supported opportunities suggests that successful programs require structural support rather than just encouragement.
Program Effectiveness & Best Practices
- Interviews with employees revealed that volunteer programs were most fulfilling when companies considered employees' input into which causes they support
- A study found that 31% of people who volunteered in the last 12 months did at least some of it online or over the phone
Effective volunteer programs require employee ownership rather than top-down mandate. When companies involve their workforce in choosing causes and offer flexible participation options including virtual volunteering, they create more meaningful engagement and a greater sense of purpose.
How Nonprofits Can Leverage Corporate Volunteer Programs
The numbers are clear: more companies than ever are investing in volunteer programs to engage employees and give back to their communities. But for nonprofits, the real question is—how do you turn that interest into meaningful, long-term support?
When approached thoughtfully, corporate volunteer programs can offer far more than just extra hands for a day. They can become a steady source of skilled support, community visibility, and even future donors or sponsors. The key is making the experience easy, engaging, and impactful—for both the company and its employees.
Here’s how nonprofits can make the most of corporate volunteerism—and position themselves as trusted, go-to partners for socially responsible businesses.
1. Start with Mission Alignment
The best corporate partnerships begin with shared values. Whether a company prioritizes sustainability, education, or health equity, they’re looking for causes that reflect their brand and employee interests.
Nonprofits can tap into this by offering opportunities that:
- Clearly connect to a broader mission
- Help employees feel their time has purpose
- Offer tangible outcomes that the company can proudly share
Having the ability to highlight cause areas and tailor opportunities for different companies can go a long way in starting the right conversations.
2. Make Group Volunteering Seamless
Corporate groups often sign up together for team-building service days—but coordinating 10, 20, or even 50 volunteers at once can get complicated fast.
To stand out, nonprofits should focus on:
- Clear scheduling and easy sign-ups
- Flexible shift structures for teams
- Streamlined waivers, instructions, and follow-up
Some volunteer platforms make this easier by allowing you to create dedicated group events or even branded pages for corporate partners, keeping everything in one place.
3. Share the Impact, Not Just the Headcount
It’s not just about hours logged. Companies want to see and share the outcomes of their efforts. That means nonprofits should be ready to deliver more than a thank-you.
Consider providing:
- Summary reports of time volunteered and outcomes achieved
- Photos, stories, or testimonials from the day
- Quotes or stats that employees can share on LinkedIn or company channels
Pro Tip: Tracking and reporting features built into your volunteer management tools can save you time here—and help ensure no impact goes unrecognized.
Learn more about Get Connected's Volunteer Reports
4. Go Beyond One-Off Events with Skills-Based Projects
Today’s employees are eager to use their professional skills to give back. Skills-based volunteering not only adds real value to your organization—it also keeps corporate teams more deeply engaged.
Ideas include:
- Marketing audits, website help, or branding advice
- IT support or systems consulting
- Strategy workshops or finance mentoring
Being able to tag and sort volunteer opportunities by skill set or format (remote, in-person, hybrid) can help corporate partners quickly find the right fit for their teams.
5. Follow Up and Keep the Door Open
Corporate volunteers may start with a single event—but that doesn’t have to be the end of the relationship. With a little intention, they can become long-term champions of your work.
Strengthen those ties by:
- Sending timely thank-you emails and impact updates
- Inviting them to future events or programs
- Recognizing top company partners in your newsletter or on social media
Wrapping Up: Corporate Volunteerism Statistics
These employee volunteering statistics reveal clear connections between volunteer programs and improved job satisfaction, stronger workplace culture, and enhanced employee retention. With the majority of workers expressing interest in community involvement and companies increasingly offering paid volunteer time, the foundation for successful programs is already in place.
The key to unlocking this potential lies in thoughtful program design—one that prioritizes employee input, offers flexible participation options, and provides the structural support needed to turn good intentions into meaningful action.
Ready to take action?
Request a free demo of Volunteer Link to discover how easy it is to connect corporate volunteers with local opportunities to serve.