When companies want to volunteer, your time and mission deserve to be resourced.
You’ve probably had this moment: a company reaches out and wants to bring a group of employees to volunteer.
They’re enthusiastic, they love your cause, and they’d like to do something meaningful together. Wonderful, right?
But as the excitement sets in, so does the reality: How are we going to organize this?
That’s because employee volunteering isn’t free. And if your charity is absorbing the cost, that’s something to take seriously.
Let’s Talk About the Real Costs
Even a simple “team day” of packing kits or sorting donations can require:
- Staff planning and supervision
- Coordination of timing, roles, and expectations
- Training and safety oversight
- Space, materials, and snacks
- A thoughtful follow-up (photos, stats, thank-yous)
That’s a lot of energy and expertise. And it’s often coming from a nonprofit team that’s already stretched.
If you don’t charge for that time? You’re likely covering it with donor dollars, or staff capacity that should be going elsewhere.
And that’s not sustainable.
Why Charging Is Not Only Okay, It’s Strategic
When done right, employee engagement can be a gateway to deeper partnerships.
But that only happens when:
✅ You’re clear on your capacity and needs
✅ The experience is meaningful for the company and your mission
✅ You’re not overextending your team just to say yes
Charging a fee for volunteer engagement helps ensure that your team is resourced, your programs stay mission-aligned, and your charity isn’t subsidizing someone else’s employee experience.
You’re not selling volunteer hours, you’re inviting investment in community impact.
Here’s What You Can Offer Instead of “Free”
When a company reaches out, be ready to say:
“We’d love to explore that! Here’s how we structure our group engagement experiences.”
And then confidently share:
- What the experience includes
- How it connects to your mission
- What the investment is (and what it supports)
- A few options that fit different budgets or group sizes
Even better? Tie it to a bigger goal: a campaign, a program launch, or an issue you’re spotlighting. That’s how one volunteer day can turn into long-term support.
You Don’t Need to Be Fancy. You Just Need to Be Clear
You don’t need a slick brochure or polished portal.
You do need to know your costs, feel confident in naming them, and have a simple, consistent way to talk about your offer.
At BridgeRaise, we help charities build employee engagement programs that are clear, strategic, and backed by a benefits-based fee structure.
Because when a company reaches out to volunteer, it can be more than a one-off.
It can be the start of something bigger.
Want help?
Let’s talk. We’ll help you price and position employee engagement opportunities that support your team, honour your mission, and build real partnerships. Contact us here (Hello email address)
And check out these free presentations:
How Corporate Volunteering Strengthens Partnerships with Farrah Rooney: https://youtu.be/s1Z7hhnaVyw
Employee Volunteering for Revenue Generation with Jessica Pang-Parks: https://youtu.be/Iz2mQRRgaKY
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