Starting a Successful Corporate Volunteer Council

Alan Witchey, Volunteer Center DirectorUnited Way of Central Indiana

January 11, 2013

Goals for Today

• Understand the value of Corporate Volunteer Councils to Employee Volunteer Programs, Volunteer Centers and the community.

• Learn about the various Corporate Volunteer Council models and structure.

• Gain insights on the practices of successful Corporate Volunteer Councils

• Explore programming options and activities to keep members engaged.

WHAT IS A CVC?

A coalition of local businesses and corporations that come together to share effective practices and address community needs through workplace volunteering.

Also called:

• Business Volunteer Council

• Workplace Volunteer Council

• Employee Volunteer Council

• Corporate Community Relations Council

WHY START A CVC?

• Strengthen the community

• Mobilize more volunteers

• Meet more needs

• Increase impact

• Coordinate local resources

• Promote workplace volunteering

• Position business community

BENEFITS TO THE COMMUNITY

• More resources are directed to people in need

• Business efforts achieve critical mass – there’s power in numbers

• Non-profit organizations and businesses learn to work together more effectively

BENEFITS TO EMPLOYEE VOLUNTEER PROGRAM MANAGERS

• Network with peers

• Learn about best practices

• Discover community needs

• Meet non-profit agency representatives

• Increase visibility of company efforts

• Achieve greater impact on social issues

UNITED WAY/VOLUNTEER CENTER BENEFITS

• Complements the core mission of volunteer centers

• Positions the volunteer center as a resource in volunteerism

• Builds stronger relationships with corporate partners

• Often leads to stronger engagement in other projects (such as skills-based or community-wide projects)

STARTING A CVC: FIRST STEPS

• Research successful CVCs

• Scan community for existing CVCs (Check CVC Map)

• Recruit passionate leaders

• Determine needs (community, members, affiliate)

• Host a planning meeting

• Establish CVC structure

• Develop goals and strategies

• Construct programs and services

• Incorporate evaluation and feedback mechanism

• Join the CVC Network – it’s FREE!!!

THINGS TO DETERMINE

• Governance/administration

• Membership benefits

• Membership dues

• Expectations of members

• Activities

• Definition of success

Examples of CVC Offerings

Regular meetings

• Peer networking

• Topic experts

• Best practices

• CVC business

Information/support for members

• EVGP program management

• Community needs

• Accurate information about disasters/immediate needs

Volunteer projects/strategic initiatives

Recognition programs

Principles of Excellence for CVCs

CVC Purpose: The CVC has a clearly articulated purpose and mission designed to support, encourage and provide venues for businesses to more effectively address community needs through their employee volunteer programs.

CVC Activities: The CVC’s structure and activities are clearly connected to its purpose and ultimately support businesses interested in developing or strengthening their employee volunteer programs.

Evaluation and Measurement: The CVC seeks to continuously improve its effectiveness and performance and that of its members.

TOP TEN HABITS OF HIGHLY SUCCESSFUL CVCs

1. Engage CVC members to grow your membership

2. Build a dedicated group of CVC leaders

3. Invest personnel resources into your CVC

4. Provide quality CVC programming

5. Be the EVP knowledge leader

6. Help CVC members link to their community

7. Provide peer-to-peer networking

8. Have the right mix of member benefits

9. Ask for member feedback

10. Contribute to the bottom line success of your HandsOn Action Center or Volunteer Center

CVC EXAMPLES

CVC MODEL – Program of or Partner with Volunteer Center

• May receive administrative support from Volunteer Center/HandsOn affiliate

• Volunteer committees guide work of the CVC

• Models:

–Central Indiana: www.cicvc.org

–Bay Area CVC: www.thevolunteercenter.net

–CVC of Memphis: http://www.volunteermidsouth.org

Central Indiana Corporate Volunteer Council

Mission: The Central Indiana Corporate Volunteer Council promotes corporate engagement best practices, enhances nonprofit capacity by leveraging corporate impact, and increases our community's long-range health by improving children's academic performance.

The CICVC works in collaboration with United Way of Central Indiana's Volunteer Center.

Collaborative Projects

Some smaller companies are looking for opportunities to collaborate with other companies with similar interests to have larger projects

CICVC Primary Activities

• 9 regular meetings – focus on one topic and one engagement opportunity

• Annual Leadership and Volunteer Summit – formal education conference

• Volunteer Awards – companies, nonprofits, individuals

• One specific networking/social event

• Collective Project – ReadUP tutoring and readers

• Collaborative Projects – connect members together

• Service Projects

National Days of Service

CICVC companies work together on National Days of Service

• Lemonade Day

• Day of Caring

• National Volunteer Week

Signature Projects

CICVC has three signature projects:

• ReadUP tutoring – providing more than 500 of 1,000 tutors annually

• BackPack Attack – 35,000 students receive school supplies

• Skills-based Volunteering

Awards and Recognition

CICVC gives awards annually:

• EVP and project of the Year

• Nonprofit of the Year

• Volunteer of the Year

Annual Leadership and Volunteer Summit

Past Topics

• Developing Leadership Skills Through Employee Volunteering

• Starting an Employee Volunteer Program

• Nonprofit and For-profit Collaborations Best Practices

• Return on Investment

CVC MODEL – Independent 501(c)(3)

• Governed by bylaws, with separate board of directors

• May be volunteer run organization or outsource administrative support

• May partner formally or informally with volunteer center/affiliate

• Models:

–CVC of Central New Mexico: www.cvccnm.org

–CVC Twin Cities: www.cvctc.org

Corporate Volunteer Council of Central New Mexico

Supporting workplace volunteers since 1995

MISSION:

To build a better community by promoting volunteerism among employees and create an environment where companies can work together in community service.

PURPOSE:

• To aid in the development of volunteer opportunities for employees

• To network, train and educate

• To involve companies in the central New Mexico community

• To collaborate through the creation of joint projects

For more information visit us at: www.cvccnm.org

Corporate Volunteer Council of Central New Mexico

Demographics of Central New Mexico:

• Population is over 600K

• the area is not home to large corporate headquarters, but we do have corporate divisions and field offices.

• Only CVC in the State

CVC-CNM Membership:• 30 member organizations

• smaller-mid sized companies, government entities, consultants

• United Way is the only non-profit member (was formerly a sponsoring partner)

• Membership Dues are based on the number of employees who work in CNM & range from $100 - $200 annually

Member Driven Council

No paid staff to support the work of CVC-CNM

Governance

• Executive Committee

– Meets quarterly or as needed

– Current officers and immediate past chair

• Standing Committees

– Marketing/Communication

– Membership

– Community Programs

By-laws are reviewed bi-annually

Member Provided Support• Monthly Meeting Hosts, Activity Sponsors, CSR Topic Experts

CVC-CNM Activities

Monthly meetings

• to provide opportunity to networking, professional development, and to learn about the community needs

Annual planning retreat

Community Projects:

• Back to Basics School Supply Drive

• Make a Difference Day

• Member Projects

Networking events

WEB RESOURCES

• Corporate Volunteer Council Network Website• http://www.handsonnetwork.org/companies/

corporatevolunteercouncils • Find CVCs in your area (CVC Interactive Map)• http://www.handsonnetwork.org/cvcs/map

• Other models:• CaliforniaVolunteers Business Partners Program

http://www.californiavolunteers.org/index.php/BPP/bpp/ • West Virginia Business Volunteer Council

http://www.volunteerwv.org/nd/index_business_facts.cfm

QUESTIONS?