How to Improve Employee Participation in Corporate Volunteer Programs: 5 Strategies for Success

You might have arrived at this blog because you’re at least partially responsible for the execution of your employer’s CSR programs. More specifically, you’re probably hoping this blog will give you some answers on how to improve employee participation in corporate volunteer programs. 

It can be quite disappointing to do all the heavy lifting to get CSR programs off the ground, only to encounter a lukewarm response from your teams. But here’s the good news: it is possible—even probable—that you can turn things around with the right action plan.

Keep reading for a general overview of Groundswell’s action plan to help make employee CSR volunteering the beating heart of your employer’s social consciousness.

Table of Contents:

• “Why Is Our Employee Participation in Corporate Volunteer Programs So Low?”
• How to Improve Employee Engagement in CSR: 5 Strategies
  
  • 1. Allow Employees to Create and Customize Volunteer Outings
  • 2. Offer Virtual Volunteering
  • 3. Instill a Company Culture that Embraces CSR
  • 4. Offer Impact Reports that Highlight High-Performing Employees
  • 5. Don’t Let Your CSR Software Make Programs Too Complicated
• Choosing the Right Platform for Your Program
• Engaging Employee Volunteers and Donors Starts with the Right CSR Software

“Why Is Our Employee Participation in Corporate Volunteer Programs So Low?”

If you’ve been asking yourself that question, you might have already tried asking your staff or team members a version of it—with few, if any, actionable answers. And, at this point, you might be afraid that any further appeals or inquiries would border on badgering.

The truth is that a sagging corporate volunteer program participation rate is likely not the fault of anyone on your CSR team, or your organization as a whole. Many times, any one (or more) of the four factors below could be to blame:

1. Your Company has a Large Number of Employees.

Many studies have shown that larger corporations routinely have lower CSR program participation rates. In 2025, the CECP (Chief Executives for Corporate Purpose) released findings consistent with that rule of thumb; the report noted that companies with fewer than 10,000 employees had a volunteer participation rate of 31 percent. The rate for companies with more than 100,000 employees? Just 16 percent.

The reasons for that discrepancy are not totally clear, but they might have something to do with non-scalable CSR technology, the relative lack of personal connection between employees and nonprofits, and unclear communication surrounding volunteer programs.

2. Many of Your Coworkers are Remote or Deskless.

Despite the many benefits of remote work for both employers and employees, it can cause some employees to feel less connected to extracurricular activities than office workers do. Without literally passing by coworkers’ desks or making small talk with them in the break room, remote and deskless employees might not feel naturally inclined to participate in CSR programs. 

The same problems exist for deskless employees or those who work odd hours. Combating this isolation is important for boosting CSR participation rates.

3. Employees Don’t Feel Appreciated for Their Contributions.

Neither your employer nor your coworkers should participate in CSR programs solely for extrinsic purposes, but just about any human being likes being recognized for a job well done. CSR volunteer programs are no different.

The importance of singling out high achievers is even greater when you consider the workplace habits and preferences of younger workers. A Gallup survey indicated that a solid three-quarters of millennial and Gen Z workers would enjoy having weekly feedback from their supervisors. Another survey from Gallup shows that Gen Z prefers recognition at work multiple times per week.

4. Your Coworkers Simply Don’t See CSR Participation as a Good Use of Their Time.

Lastly, for a variety of reasons, your coworkers probably aren’t signing up for corporate volunteering initiatives because too much friction exists between the sign-up process and the eventual payoff. They could view the CSR software as too complicated, the volunteering options as too limited, or the programs themselves as PR exercises for the company.

How to Improve Employee Engagement in CSR: 5 Strategies

Diagnosing the problem with the low CSR participation rate is just the first step in course correction. Taking meaningful steps to correct the issue (or issues) is the second, and most important, step to boosting participation and program ROI.

1. Allow Employees to Create and Customize Volunteer Outings

The top-down approach to CSR, which many executives are accustomed to, will almost certainly stunt the volunteer participation rate. A grassroots approach that empowers employees to create and manage volunteering initiatives is much more likely to create natural enthusiasm. As much as you try to break down the barriers between hierarchies at work, coworkers can always relate better to their peers.

2. Offer Virtual Volunteering

Another way to increase the participation rate is to offer volunteer outings that match your coworkers’ availability. The CECP study referenced earlier notes that virtual volunteering was the most commonly offered type of CSR opportunity (82% of U.S. companies offered it). Remote volunteering may be the most convenient option for your deskless employees.

3. Instill a Company Culture that Embraces CSR

Do your company’s CSR programs feel like natural extensions of its brand? If not, it might be time to think about adjusting your employer’s broader approach to CSR. 

For starters, the executive suite needs to fully buy in. While you do want employees to play a significant role in organizing and managing corporate volunteer outings, the higher-ups need to set the tone. Make sure new hires get all the details about CSR programs during onboarding. Bring up the topic during company-wide meetings. 

Repetition is crucial if you want CSR to permeate your company’s culture.

4. Offer Impact Reports that Highlight High-Performing Employees

More companies are formalizing their CSR efforts by releasing end-of-year reports. These reports detail the inputs and impacts of corporate volunteering programs. Not only do these reports help high achievers feel appreciated, but they also provide proof that the companies are committed to making CSR a cornerstone of their brands. Potential investors might take note.

5. Don’t Let Your CSR Software Make Programs Too Complicated

There’s no reason your HR team should still rely on manual processes to organize corporate volunteerism. 

Purpose-made CSR platforms automate rote tasks, generate reporting, and generally make event management more efficient for companies. Yet many legacy CSR software providers offer clunky, outdated dashboards that only make volunteering initiatives more complex.

Choosing the Right CSR Platform for Your Program

With all the CSR software options out there, how do you know which one is best for your company or organization?

Without knowing the specifics of your employer’s CSR challenges, most businesses seek out platforms with:

• Automated reporting and reduced administrative tasks
• Comprehensive program offerings under a unified login
• Reporting capabilities for visualizing program impacts and identifying necessary adjustments
• A dedicated mobile app for deskless employees
• Day-of volunteer event management and updates
• Integrations with corporate grants and matching gift donations, including Dollars for Doers

Not enough software companies provide all of these features within an affordable package, but Groundswell sets out to be different.

Engaging Employee Volunteers and Donors Starts with the Right CSR Software

Increasing employee participation in corporate volunteer programs will be a perpetually uphill battle without the right tools. Groundswell recognizes the needs of modern companies and has developed purpose-built CSR software that saves them time and resources.

Want more information? Your personalized demo awaits.