Create a Volunteering Policy That Drives Real Impact at Work

Want to build a company where people actually want to show up on Monday? A place where doing good is part of the job, not just something that happens on the side?

That’s where a solid employee volunteer policy comes in. An employee volunteer program policy is a structured initiative that encourages employees to engage in volunteer work and community service. Companies can implement these programs to support social causes, build a positive brand reputation, and improve employee engagement and retention.

When employees are encouraged (and supported) to give back, everyone wins. In fact, 79% of employees who volunteer through work-sponsored programs say they’re satisfied with their jobs, compared to just 55% who don’t. That’s a pretty big jump and a clear signal that doing good can also feel good.

Whether you're just getting started or refining an existing initiative, having a clear policy makes it easier for your team to take action. In this guide, we’ll walk through:

• Why an employee volunteer program policy matters
• How does it benefit your people and your business
• The different types of policies you can offer
• What to include in your policy
• Real-world examples you can borrow from

Let’s dive in and build a program your employees will be excited about and your community will thank you for.

What is an Employee Volunteer Program Policy?

Employee or corporate volunteer program policy is a set of guidelines that outline how a company's employees can participate in volunteer activities. 

These policies typically include:

• What kinds of volunteer activities are supported
• How much time off employees can take for volunteering
• Whether the time is paid or unpaid
• Liability coverage and safety considerations
• How to request and report volunteer time
• Behavioral expectations during volunteer service

In short, the policy sets clear expectations and gives your team a roadmap to contribute to the community and make a positive impact.

Why do we need Employee Volunteer Program Policies?

Employee volunteer program policies are crucial for creating a structured and safe environment where employees can engage in volunteer activities confidently. These policies outline important guidelines such as who is eligible to participate, the types of volunteer activities supported, safety protocols, and how to report incidents. By having these clear rules in place, organizations can minimize risks related to accidents, injuries, or misunderstandings during volunteer events. This not only protects employees but also safeguards the company from potential legal liabilities that could arise from volunteer activities.

For example, Salesforce’s formal volunteer policy is a great illustration of this approach in action. Their policy specifies safety procedures, eligibility criteria, and requires certain volunteers to complete training before participating in specific roles. 

This detailed framework helps reduce the chance of accidents and ensures the company complies with relevant laws and regulations, effectively shielding Salesforce from liabilities related to volunteer incidents. This level of care demonstrates how a well-crafted employee volunteer program policy can protect both employees and the business while encouraging meaningful community engagement.

Benefits of Having an Employee Volunteer Program (EVP) Policy

Implementing a formal EVP policy brings both tangible and intangible benefits. Here’s what you can expect:

1. Stronger Employer Brand

Volunteering initiatives shape how people see your company. According to a recent study, 64% of millennials wouldn’t take a job if the company doesn’t have a strong corporate social responsibility policy in place.
A clear EVP policy shows candidates and customers alike that your company doesn’t just talk about values, it lives them. Take Timberland, for example.

Timberland’s Path of Service™ program offers employees up to 40 paid hours per year to volunteer. Their volunteering is often tied to environmental causes, aligning with their sustainability brand.

Impact on Employer Brand:

• Boosts the authenticity of Timberland’s brand promise around environmental responsibility.
• Enhances employee pride and strengthens loyalty.
• Recognized as a leader in CSR, often cited in “best places to work” and sustainability awards.
  

2. Attract and Retain Talent

A well-defined employee volunteer program policy sends a clear message: your company values purpose as much as performance. This resonates especially with Gen Z and millennials, who prioritize working for organizations that align with their values.

According to Deloitte’s 2024 Purpose Survey:

• 91% of employees believe volunteer opportunities positively impact their work experience and employer connection
  
• 87% say these opportunities influence whether they stay with or join a company

A formal EVP policy ensures these opportunities are not just optional or occasional, but intentional, structured, and available to all. It institutionalizes purpose as part of the employee experience. Companies that do this well not only stand out to purpose-driven job seekers but also enjoy better retention and reduced hiring costs.

Why it works: Purpose is a long-term retention lever. EVP policies make that purpose visible and accessible.

3. Boost Employee Morale and Engagement

When employees are given the time and support to volunteer, it shows that the company sees them as whole people—not just workers. It builds trust, reduces burnout, and creates a sense of fulfillment that spills over into daily work.

An EVP policy makes it easy for employees to participate by removing barriers like unclear expectations or lack of coordination. It defines volunteering as part of company culture, not just a side project.

For example, many employees who participated in Goodera-powered volunteer experiences shared heartfelt posts on LinkedIn, celebrating the joy of giving back and the pride they felt representing their company. Those moments create emotional engagement far beyond what a paycheck can offer.

Why it works: People feel more connected to their workplace when their values are supported, which leads to greater loyalty and enthusiasm.

Employees who volunteered through Goodera-powered events shared their inspiring experiences on LinkedIn, highlighting the joy of giving back and making a real impact in their communities.

4. Build Leadership and Soft Skills

An EVP policy isn’t just good for the community, they are like a leadership development tool.
How?

Structured volunteer programs often involve:

• Planning logistics
• Coordinating with external partners
• Leading groups or mentoring others
• Problem-solving in real-world scenarios

These experiences build critical soft skills like communication, adaptability, and empathy. For example, employees volunteering to teach digital skills to nonprofits or lead an environmental clean-up initiative often come back with sharper leadership instincts and broader perspectives.

With a policy in place, these developmental opportunities become repeatable, measurable, and scalable across the company.

Why it works: Volunteerism nurtures leadership in action, not just theory, and an EVP policy makes it a consistent part of talent development.

5. Strengthen Team Culture

Shared purpose builds stronger teams. When employees volunteer together, they experience each other’s values and strengths in a new light outside of work hierarchies and project deadlines.

Whether it's a virtual volunteering session or an in-person team clean-up, these moments create a sense of unity and belonging. With a clear EVP policy, volunteering becomes a regular and inclusive option for team-building, not an afterthought.

Companies that integrate service into team rituals, like quarterly volunteering days or cause-based ERG events often see improved collaboration and communication across departments.

Why it works: Volunteering as a team fosters camaraderie, breaks silos, and builds shared identity. A policy ensures every team has access and incentive to participate.

Types of Corporate Volunteer Policies

Building a volunteer policy that fits your company culture is key to encouraging meaningful participation. Your employee volunteer program policy should clearly outline what’s possible, making it easy for employees to get involved. Here are some common types of employee volunteer policies you can customize and include in your corporate volunteer policy:

1. Community Volunteer Programs

These programs encourage employees to volunteer individually or in groups at local nonprofits, schools, or community centers. A clear employee volunteer policy helps set expectations around supported activities, scheduling, and recognition. This kind of program can build stronger ties between your company and the community.

Many companies enhance their community volunteering programs by including Volunteer Time Off (VTO) within their broader employee volunteer policy. VTO allows employees to take paid time off specifically to participate in volunteer work, without dipping into vacation or personal days.

Your employee volunteer program policy should clarify:

• How much VTO is available (e.g., hours or days per year)
• What types of community-based volunteer work are eligible
• How employees should request and report their volunteer hours

When integrated into a structured corporate volunteer policy, VTO empowers employees to make a local impact while reinforcing your company’s commitment to social responsibility.

2. Global Volunteer Opportunities

If your company has a global footprint or remote teams, including international opportunities in your employee volunteer program policy, is a powerful way to promote cross-cultural collaboration and broaden impact. These initiatives allow employees to volunteer abroad, either virtually or in person, for causes like disaster relief, public health, education, or climate action.

For Example, PayPal celebrated its first Global Impact Day through Gooder-powered volunteering events across 8 countries, engaging 5,500 volunteers, supporting 80+ local and hyper-local SMBs, and helping over 48,000 people.

Read this impact story to learn how PayPal, facilitated by Goodera, was able to create a lasting and global impact across 8 countries.

With Goodera’s global nonprofit network spanning over 100 countries, companies can seamlessly activate volunteering experiences for distributed teams. Whether it's hosting virtual volunteering events for a global team, or volunteering with local nonprofits, Goodera makes it possible to contribute across borders, without the hassle of planning or logistics.

3. Team Volunteer Events

Organizing team-based volunteer events is one of the easiest and most effective ways to foster teamwork and rejuvenate morale. Whether it's a beach clean-up, packing meals for food-insecure families, or supporting a local shelter, these events build a shared sense of purpose.

A well-drafted volunteer policy will outline how these events are planned, participation guidelines, and any company support offered, ensuring everyone knows how to join in and contribute:

• How team events are selected and scheduled
• The roles of employee leads or volunteer champions
• Whether participation is optional or encouraged
• Any logistical support or matching donations the company provides
  

4. Skills-Based Volunteering

This approach allows employees to use their professional skills like graphic design, HR consulting, software development, or legal advice to support nonprofits in meaningful ways. When built into your employee volunteer program policy, this type of volunteering amplifies impact and helps nonprofits build long-term capacity.

For example, IBM’s Corporate Service Corps sends employees around the world to help mission-driven organizations solve real business challenges. Similarly, at a more local level, your company’s finance team could volunteer their expertise by helping a nearby nonprofit create a sustainable budget or navigate the grant application process.

A clear employee volunteer policy sample should cover how employees can match with skills-based opportunities, how time spent is logged, and whether it counts as part of working hours.

Research by Taproot Foundation shows that skills-based volunteering is 2 to 3 times more valuable to nonprofits than traditional volunteering. It’s a smart, strategic way to contribute while boosting employee pride and job satisfaction.

Also Read: How to Empower Communities through Skill-Based Volunteering?

Examples of Corporate Volunteer Policies

To help you get started with your employee volunteer program, here are a few corporate volunteer policy samples from other companies:

Salesforce’s Volunteer Policy

Salesforce is known for its strong culture of philanthropy and employee engagement through volunteering. The company’s volunteer policy encourages employees to actively participate in community service by offering Volunteer Time Off (VTO), which provides up to 56 hours of paid time annually to volunteer with nonprofits.

Salesforce supports its employees with a centralized volunteer portal that helps them find and sign up for meaningful opportunities, track their volunteer hours, and share their experiences. Additionally, Salesforce offers volunteer grants to nonprofits where employees regularly contribute their time, amplifying the impact of their service. This structured approach reflects Salesforce’s commitment to integrating corporate responsibility into everyday work life and fostering a sense of purpose among its workforce.

Starbucks Volunteer Policy

The Starbucks volunteer policy provides employees with opportunities to volunteer during regular work hours or outside of work and includes several programs to support and recognize employee volunteerism.

Key components of the Starbucks volunteer policy include:

• The "Volunteer PTO" program allows employees to take up to 40 hours of paid time off each year to volunteer with non-profit organizations.
• Starbucks also offers a "Service Pay" program, which provides employees with up to 20 hours of paid time for participating in disaster relief efforts or other emergencies.
  

Starbucks' mission statement is "to inspire and nurture the human spirit - one person, one cup, and one neighborhood at a time." The company's volunteer policy is aligned with this mission and serves as a way to promote social responsibility and community engagement among its employees.

Microsoft Volunteer Policy

Microsoft’s robust volunteer policy allows employees to engage in various volunteer opportunities throughout the year. The company's mission is to empower every person and every organization on the planet to achieve more, and its volunteer policy aligns with this mission.

Under the Microsoft Volunteer Policy, Microsoft employees are encouraged to volunteer in their local communities individually and through group activities. The company provides resources such as a volunteer portal that employees can use to find opportunities and track their volunteer hours. It also offers a matching gift program, where the company will match employee donations to eligible organizations.

For more such examples, visit: 10 Inspiring Examples of Corporate Volunteer Programs

Components of an Employee Volunteering Policy

Corporate volunteer program policies can vary depending on the organization's size, industry, and specific objectives. Here are 6 key components that most policies should include: 

1. What’s the Purpose of Your Volunteering Program?

Every strong volunteer policy begins with a clear purpose. This section explains why your company supports volunteering and what you hope to achieve through your program. Common objectives might include giving back to the community, boosting employee engagement, or aligning with your company's CSR goals.

For example, an employee volunteer program policy might aim to support 1,000 volunteer hours annually across all departments or focus efforts on specific causes like education or sustainability. By clearly outlining your intentions, you ensure everyone from leadership to new hires understands the value behind your volunteer efforts.

2. What Kind of Volunteer Activities Will You Organize?

This section outlines what types of activities are supported, encouraged, or even prioritized. Depending on your company’s mission, this could include:

• Local community clean-up drives
• Mentorship or tutoring for underserved youth
• Fundraising events or pro bono consulting for nonprofits
• Skills-based volunteering like marketing, finance, or tech support
• Large-scale impact days or global volunteering events

Referring to an employee volunteer policy sample can help you define the scope of supported activities, including any restrictions (e.g., religious or political causes). Goodera can help power your program with a versatile catalog of team volunteer opportunities spread across multiple causes, geographies, and skill levels making it easy to engage employees no matter their interests or location.

3. Who can Participate and How?

Your employee volunteer program policy should clearly define who can participate, whether it's full-time employees, part-time staff, interns, or remote workers. Will volunteering hours be during work hours, after hours, or both? Is there a probation period before someone becomes eligible?

This section should also guide employees on how to get involved:

• Where to find upcoming volunteer opportunities
• How to request approval or log hours
• Any manager sign-off or team coordination required

The more transparent and accessible this section is, the more likely employees are to engage. Reviewing an employee volunteer policy sample can provide helpful language and templates for onboarding employees into your program smoothly.

4. What’s the Policy on Time-Off and Rewards?

The policy will address time off and compensation related to employee volunteer activities. This can include paid time off, flexible schedules, or even extended leaves of absence for long-term volunteer commitments. In addition, companies can offer compensation or other incentives for employees who participate in volunteer activities, such as matching gift programs in which a company matches donations made by employees to eligible non-profit organizations or rewards for reaching certain volunteer milestones.

5. How Will You Manage Risk and Liability?

The policy will include liability and risk management provisions. To mitigate potential risks, the policy should outline the steps the company will take to manage potential hazards and reduce liability. This may include : 

• Requiring employees to sign a waiver or release before participating in certain volunteer activities 
• Ensuring that appropriate insurance policies cover the organization
• Implementing safety protocols‍‍

6. How Will You Track and Measure Impact?

The policy will track employee engagement and measure the impact of the corporate volunteer program. It should provide clear guidance on how to report volunteer hours and activities, including any forms or documentation required, and also specify the timeframe within which employees must report their volunteer work. Additionally, the policy should outline how the organization will evaluate the impact of its corporate volunteer program. 

This may include metrics such as:

• The number of volunteer hours contributed
• The amount of money raised for charitable causes
• The overall impact of the program on the community and the organization
  

Employee Volunteering Policy Template

Creating an extensive volunteer policy is essential to ensure your volunteer activities are safe, effective, and rewarding for everyone involved. Here are some guidelines to consider when creating a corporate volunteer program policy:

1. Introduction: Provide a brief overview of the policy and its purpose.
2. Add Volunteer Activities: Outline the types of volunteer activities that are supported by the organization, including specific causes, events, or organizations that the company supports.
3. Add Flexible Schedules and Generous Rewards: Address any time off or compensation policies related to employee volunteer activities, including paid time off for volunteering and matching gift programs.
4. Ensure Safe and Responsible Volunteer Activities: Address potential risks associated with employee volunteer activities and outline how the organization will manage these risks.
5. Maintain a Report: Establish a process for employees to report their volunteer hours and activities, and outline how the organization will evaluate the impact of its corporate volunteer program.
6. Mention Pro Bono Service Policy: If applicable, provide guidelines for employees to use their professional skills to provide services to non-profit organizations free of charge.
7. Build a Stronger Team Through Volunteerism: Emphasize the importance of employee engagement and morale, and how the corporate volunteer program can contribute to these areas.
8. Have a Mission Statement: Include a mission statement or other language that reflects the company's commitment to corporate social responsibility and community involvement.
9. Add Signature and Date: Include a signature block and date for the policy to be signed and implemented.

Build a Volunteer Policy That Drives Real Impact

A strong employee volunteer policy does more than organize a few feel-good activities—it helps your people connect with purpose, strengthens your brand’s values, and creates lasting community impact. With a clear and thoughtful volunteer policy, you make it easier for employees to show up, give back, and grow together.

Not sure where to begin? A customizable employee volunteer program template can give you the structure you need while leaving room for flexibility. Whether you're introducing your first corporate volunteer policy or looking to scale what's already working, the right framework can turn good intentions into real results.

Looking to scale up your volunteer impact globally and locally? Plan your corporate volunteering program with Goodera today!