Top 4 Tips for Global Volunteering

With companies expanding their social impact projects to engage all of their employees with global volunteering, including those working remotely from different countries, the same question is brought up time and time again. How do I involve my entire team in a volunteer event that is engaging and impactful regardless of their location?While this question is impossible to solve in a one-size-fits-all manner, we have composed a list of our top four tips for planning and executing global volunteering seamlessly.

1. Determine the Format

As we navigate global volunteering during a global pandemic it can be challenging to determine what format is best. Does a hybrid experience in which each office of employees engages in an experience together while also joining a live event with remote employees interest you? Would you rather ship volunteer boxes to employees domestically and internationally (yes, we ship internationally)? Or even a mixture of these event formats? Or maybe you’re looking for a skills-based event where employees can utilize their skills to make an impact directly with a nonprofit. No matter what type of experience you create for your team it’s important to keep in mind the goals for your experience and the overall desired impact.

2. Support Local

Find a non-profit that has offices all over the world and supports a cause that your team is passionate about or find local nonprofits in each of the locations you're engaging. This allows each group to make an impact in their local community! This step can seem overwhelming and time-consuming, but don’t be afraid to utilize your network. We’re here to help. We’ve built out an incredible network of nonprofits that we continue to support across the globe. Curious about how we think about and go about vetting nonprofits? Check out our WeHero Learn series on this topic here.

3. Ensure the Impact

While volunteer experiences are great team-building experiences (see our points below), for us, it’s all about the impact. Making sure you’re tracking your impact is key when executing any volunteer event so you can make progress towards your volunteer and engagement goals. Even better - find a partner who can create an impact report post-event to measure the success of your experience.

4. Engage Employees

When planning an event, ask your employees about the causes that matter to them! Allowing employees to have a voice in the decision-making process leads to more participation during the experience. While the format of the event plays a role in employee engagement, so does the actual activity. Does the group know each other well? If not, will there be ice breakers? Volunteer experiences not only bring the team together to bond but also unite them to work towards a common goal. Engaging a global team for a volunteer event is team-building with an impact. Check out our WeHero learn series video for more of our thoughts on volunteering as team building.

Here's to making an impact globally!

Ready to begin planning your next global volunteer initiative? Contact our team today.