Corporate Volunteering Boom Meets Nonprofit Crisis: The Paradox

Transformational > transactional. Every time. I say it in every training. Every meeting. It applies to volunteers, candidates, employees, customers, anyone you’re asking to show up for you. Don’t give people busywork. Build intentional ways to make a real impact. Benevity’s 2026 State of Corporate Volunteering report puts the data behind it. But this isn’t new. Read below: 📊 Benevity’s 2026 State of Corporate Volunteering report

Leaders gathered yesterday at The Carter Center to help shape the future of volunteering through the National Volunteer Strategy. What truly stood out was the level of alignment across the room. Different sectors, different perspectives and a shared understanding of what it will take to move this work forward in a meaningful way. A few themes carried through the conversations: ▪️ Start local. Meet people where they are and connect their skills to real community needs. ▪️Remove friction. Rethink systems that have not kept pace and design experiences that reflect how people want to engage today. ▪️Focus on quality. Build opportunities that are meaningful, well-supported, and tied to real outcomes. ▪️Work together. Progress depends on coordination across nonprofits, companies, philanthropy, and community partners. ▪️Tell the full story. Move beyond outputs to capture the deeper, long-term impact of volunteering on both communities and the people who serve. Underlying it all was a clear throughline that real progress will require change at the system level. This work goes beyond individual opportunities—it’s about creating a culture where volunteering is valued and supported across sectors and where both volunteers and those who lead them are recognized. Through #ReimaginingService2035, we are working toward doubling volunteerism by 2035. This is how progress happens, grounded in real experience, shaped by honest conversation and driven by shared ownership of what comes next. Thank you to the Advisory Council that joined us, FSG for guiding the conversation, and The Carter Center for hosting us. More takeaways and progress updates to come soon as this work continues.

FSG was honored to partner with Points of Light to co‑facilitate the Reimagining Service 2035 Council meeting at The Carter Center. Our team (Bobbi Silten, Lolita Castrique-Meier, and Nikhil Bumb) guided a room full of inspiring leaders through conversations that will inform the development of a National Volunteer Strategy. We helped the group examine the mental models and headwinds holding the volunteering field back, sparking energy, nuanced thinking, and meaningful "a‑ha" moments. We also introduced and tested a new strategic framework, to be shared publicly this summer, designed to help the field distinguish between the outcomes it seeks, and the conditions required to achieve them. We’re grateful for the partnership and #vision behind this effort. FSG is proud to support the momentum building across the #volunteering field and optimistic about the positive #impact this work can have on society. Congratulations, Points of Light!

ICYMI: We recently shared a new article in Alberta Senior Living magazine featuring insights from our (Re)Engaged: Volunteerism From the Ground Up initiative with InWithForward. Written by VA’s Andrés Alvarez, the article offers an alternative view on how we might define volunteering. From helping a neighbour to pitching in on a short-term project to trying micro-volunteering, people are already showing up for their communities, often without even calling it volunteering. Volunteering doesn’t need to be formal to matter. Small, flexible acts of support can have a meaningful impact for others and for ourselves. By broadening how we see volunteering, we open the door for more people to take part and experience its benefits. 💜 🔗Read the article: https://lnkd.in/gnbDYbBJ 🔗Learn about our (Re)Engaged Initiative: https://lnkd.in/gejyUAVG

A poor volunteer experience results in nonprofits losing the people they need most. New survey data reveals what they need to engage, retain, and invest in volunteers long-term. Great article from Points of Light on the topic here: https://hubs.li/Q04bF-l40

A poor volunteer experience results in nonprofits losing the people they need most. New survey data reveals what they need to engage, retain, and invest in volunteers long-term. Great article from Points of Light on the topic here: https://hubs.li/Q04bCF2l0

Volunteering can be one of the most powerful ways for organisations to make a real, local impact. Across Somerset, there are brilliant opportunities already in place that make it easier for businesses to get involved in meaningful ways. Two great examples are: SkillShare- A way for organisations to offer professional skills directly to charities and community groups that need them. This kind of skills-based volunteering can unlock real capacity and long-term value- https://lnkd.in/edmapAjJ Spark a Change- A platform designed to help organisations take part in corporate volunteering, including team volunteering days and partnerships with local charities, making it easier to find, organise, and deliver impactful experiences- https://lnkd.in/es5222pv Whether through one-off team days or ongoing commitments, volunteering goes far beyond a CSR exercise. It becomes a practical way for businesses to support their communities, contribute to local resilience, and strengthen their teams through shared purpose. If you’re interested in organising a team volunteering day, exploring how SkillShare could benefit your organisation, or if you’re a charity able to host corporate volunteers, we’d love to hear from you!

From helping a neighbour to pitching in on a short-term project or trying “micro-volunteering,” people are already showing up for their communities, often without even calling it volunteering. 💜 A new article by VA’s Andrés Alvarez in Alberta Senior Living magazine shares insights from our (Re)Engaged: Volunteerism From the Ground Up initiative with InWithForward and offers an alternative view on how we might define volunteering. Volunteering does not have to be formal or perfectly defined to make a difference. Small, flexible acts of support create meaningful impact for both others and ourselves. By broadening the definition of volunteering, more people can see themselves in it and experience its personal and community benefits. 🔗Read the article: https://lnkd.in/gnbDYbBJ 🔗Learn about our (Re)Engaged Initiative: https://lnkd.in/gejyUAVG

A new look at the future of volunteering from Points of Light. Inside the National Volunteer Strategy Progress Report 👇     Volunteering strengthens communities and connects people to purpose. How it is structured and supported today is not keeping pace with how people want to engage or what organizations need to sustain it.     This Progress Report brings together perspectives from across sectors to help guide a stronger, more accessible future for volunteering.    Take a closer look and be part of what comes next: https://lnkd.in/eCWnsYRX  #ReimaginingService2035 

🌍 April is Global Volunteer Month—and the numbers don't lie. According to CECP's Value Volunteering report, ~40% of U.S. nonprofits depend on volunteers, and roughly 1 in 4 Americans gives their time to serve. That's not a footnote. That's a foundation. Across the CECP network, companies aren't just encouraging volunteerism, they're embedding it into their strategy. From skills-based programs to hands-on service, employee volunteering is proving to be a powerful driver of trust, community resilience, and creating long-term business value. This month, we celebrate the leaders who understand that purpose in action is good for people and business. 📊 The data, insights, and case for volunteering are all in one place. Don't just take our word for it! Read the full Value Volunteering report and see what's possible when companies lead with service: https://zurl.co/QOUCX #GlobalVolunteerMonth #CorporateVolunteerism #CorporatePurpose