Four ways to boost employee volunteering and giving through ERGs

Companies are no longer just the place where work happens. In recent years, it has become increasingly important for workers around the world to feel like they are making a difference — at their company, in their local community, and across the globe. People spend an enormous amount of time and energy at work, and each year, work is a place where we talk more and more about the key issues we care about.

Every company has identified their own environmental or social issues they care about, along with their own goals around employee engagement. Unfortunately, the causes that are important to companies don’t always match the causes that are important to individual employees. This can hinder workplace giving, volunteering, and overall employee engagement in your organization. That’s where Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) come in!

Within companies, ERGs are created and led by employees who share common interests or backgrounds, provide a supportive community within your workplace, and are growing in number! As of December 2023, 90% of Fortune 500 companies have ERGs. Whether it’s a women’s network, multicultural group, or sustainability initiative, ERGs bring together employees with a shared purpose or passion. The most common ERGs include women’s networks, veterans’ groups, parents’ or caregivers’ groups, LGBTQ+ networks, and cultural groups.

Observance days and months like International Women’s Day, Pride Month, and Veteran’s Day present an excellent opportunity for ERGs to celebrate diversity, community, and engagement with their members. As a company leader, no matter where you sit, you can support ERGs as they enhance employee engagement within your company. So where do you start?

1. Encourage Participation: Did you know, over the past five years, ERGs have contributed to a 29% increase in employee engagement? They’re especially popular with Millennial and Gen Z workers, who are joining ERGs to promote inclusion and connection and access career support. Providing all individuals with opportunities to give back, help others, and support the causes they care about is essential in creating a positive work environment. Reach out to our team about how we can plan and host a nonprofit presentation for your ERG during an upcoming meeting.

2. Make Giving Easy: ERGs can help make volunteering and donating easier for your employees. For example, ERGs can remind their members about campaign details like how donations to a charity are matched by your company, and that employees who track volunteer time can earn a Dollars for Doers grant. ERGs can promote special matching gift programs that align with observance days like GivingTuesday or disaster response efforts. The communication of these initiatives through ERGs can significantly increase employee participation rates.

3. Align with Company Goals: When employees see that their personal values align with their employer’s initiatives, it enhances their job satisfaction and loyalty. Including charities in ERG events shows your company’s commitment to social responsibility, motivating employees to become engaged or engage more deeply with the broader organization. Did you know a 39% increase in job satisfaction has been linked to the presence of ERGs? By leveraging the power of ERGs and raising awareness of your social responsibility goals, companies can create a more engaged, satisfied, and socially responsible workforce.

4. Highlight Impact: Nonprofits can share stories and examples that illustrate the direct impact of your employees’ contributions. Consider sharing a pre-recorded Global Impact webinar with ERG members. Maybe reach out to our team to put together a custom ERG event with a charity that’s meaningful to you. Or share our Ideas & Support for ERGs resource on the Employee Giving Hub with your members. Think about having charities submit short videos on how the members of an ERG made an impact on their mission and add those to your ERG e-newsletter. As employees are asked to donate multiple times of year — often during disaster response, observance days, and key company campaigns — highlighting impact can be a powerful motivator for employees to continue donating, volunteering, and encouraging their colleagues to join in.

In a nutshell, ERGs are more than just a group of colleagues. They are providing individuals with opportunities to give back, develop meaningful connections, and support the causes they care about within a trusted community at your company. And Global Impact is here to help ERGs engage and inspire your staff. Take advantage of our turnkey events, donate to one of our Cause Funds, or reach out to learn more about how we can create a free employee engagement event for your ERG. Partnering with Global Impact can help increase the sense of community among your ERG members, encouraging employees to contribute financially or through volunteer time to important global causes.