Social Impact Experiences are More Impactful Corporate Volunteer Activities

The new generation of employees craves more than just their standard corporate job. Employees want experiences like team building activities with local non-profits or community organizations.

We often think of “team building” as activities to bring co-workers together in a non-work context, like a sales incentive trip or a scavenger hunt. And while these excursions can be fun and foster a sense of teamwork, they don’t necessarily have a direct impact on the communities in which we live and work.

Organizations who want to create a meaningful culture that will last must recognize the importance of volunteering and team building activities with local non-profits and community organizations. These experiences provide opportunities for employees to give back to their communities and cultivate lasting relationships with organizations making an impact. They also help employees tap into their passions, explore new interests, and gain valuable perspective on their lives and careers.

88% of company leaders believe effective employee engagement programs help attract and retain employees.

77% of employers believe that offering employee engagement opportunities is an important recruitment strategy to attract millennials.

(Source: America’s Charities Snapshot Employer Research)

By fostering a culture of social impact, an organization can develop workers who are more engaged in their work, more passionate about the mission of their organization, and ultimately more productive at work. Ultimately, this culture of engagement leads to greater profits for the business.

The traditional ways of corporate team building have been around for decades and have not changed much since then. Today, with more and more companies turning to social impact experiences as team building activities, employees are gaining new perspectives on the world around them. They are also learning to work together and build new relationships outside of the office setting, which is a major benefit for any company.

Individuals who participate in social impact experiences will develop a deeper understanding of the world outside their own personal bubble. This not only includes an increased awareness of the different cultures in your area, but also fosters an appreciation for all that is available in your community. People will realize that they do not need expensive vacations or lavish parties to have fun with friends and co-workers. Instead, they can now spend their time improving themselves through charity or helping out their neighbors.

Social impact experiences show employees that there are other people in the world who are just like them—they want a better life for themselves and those closest to them. The employees will see how similar everyone else is when it comes down to the real things that matter: dreams, goals, happiness, excitement, needs, and love. This realization gives them a sense of responsibility towards society because they know that they are not alone in this world.

71% of surveyed employees say it is imperative or very important to work where culture is supportive of giving and volunteering.

(Source: America’s Charities Snapshot Employee Donor Research)

92% of surveyed corporate human resources executives agree that contributing business skills and expertise to a nonprofit can be an effective way to improve employees’ leadership and broader professional skill sets.

(Source: Deloitte Volunteer IMPACT Survey)

A social impact experience can be thought of as a more intense, immersive version of the traditional volunteer program.

It can combine traditional sightseeing with volunteering opportunities, giving participants the chance to explore a city or neighborhood while giving back to those who live there.

What kinds of opportunities do you offer for companies?

Our local community social impact tours and volunteer opportunities help you:

• Volunteer at a local urban farm, community garden or compost site.
• Volunteer at a neighborhood cleanup.
• Volunteer at an oyster farm.
• Volunteer by taking a cooking class taught by immigrants.
• Volunteer by learning from a local apiary and supporting local bees and honey production.
• Volunteer by taking a walking tour led by local dancers teaching about environment and social justice.

How are the experiences curated?

• We curate our projects to ensure that they have a positive impact on the non profit or community partners and are engaging team building activities with a large education component, with a focus on being fun, unique, rewarding and memorable
• We work with local organizations to ensure that the projects are sustainable

How are your projects different from others?

• To use tourism as a force for good. Our aim is to educate and engage global citizens in exploring NYC through the lens of social impact, environmental and social justice, regeneration, sustainability and grassroots movements.
• We partner with non profits, community organizations and local leaders to create an experience network that contributes to the holistic education of travelers, localized grassroots economic development and equitable empowerment in our communities.
• We work with local communities to find the best fit for your company. We can connect you with organizations that are a good fit, or we can help you come up with your own project idea.
• The tour participants are able to support local, community-based organizations and learn about the movements and people behind them; while experiencing a city or neighborhood on an authentic level.

What can I expect from this experience?

You will be able to see the impact of your company’s participation. You’ll get to see how the organization is making a difference in people’s lives and have a first-hand experience of its work.

On top of that, you’ll also get to interact with other volunteers and may even make new friends!

Can it be customized to our company’s needs or wants?

We can customize the experience to your company’s unique needs, wants and desires.

We will work with you to design a program that fits the specific interests of your employees. We can offer a variety of experiences – from more education focused to more hands on team-building.

If you wish to give back through a pure volunteer activity, we would be happy to arrange this as well.

What makes for a good volunteer experience?

Your social impact experience should be aligned with the company’s values and mission, as well as its goals and objectives. It should also align with your culture. Finally, it needs to align with your employees’ passions and interests!

Here are a few questions you can ask yourself when determining if an activity is suitable:

• What is my company’s mission?
• What are the goals of my organization?
• Is this activity tied into our core values and beliefs?
• Does this activity benefit our community at large?
• Is this activity engaging and accessible for our employees?

Our Social Impact Experiences take company volunteering to the next level.

We provide a deeper look into the work that is being done and the communities and people benefiting from and behind the mission. From supporting women who are starting new food businesses to harvesting vegetables for needy New Yorkers, our programs are designed to give you an experience like no other by immersing you in your community. By doing so we hope to inspire others with your enthusiasm for giving back through corporate volunteering and social impact tourism.