How HR Can Build Volunteering Programmes That Create Lasting Impact
- 4 Min Read
Volunteering has long been recognised as a way for organisations to give back to their communities. Increasingly, however, it is also becoming a strategic tool for developing employees, strengthening organisational culture and advancing corporate social responsibility.
- Author: HRD Connect
- Date published: Aug 7, 2026
- Categories
Marking the International Day of Awareness of the Special Development Needs and Challenges of Landlocked Developing Countries (6 August), HR leaders have an opportunity to consider how volunteering programmes can create meaningful impact both inside and outside the organisation.
While the day highlights the unique economic and development challenges faced by the world’s 32 landlocked developing countries, it also serves as a reminder that businesses have an important role to play in supporting global communities through skills, expertise and long-term partnerships.
Employees increasingly expect purpose at work
Purpose has become an increasingly important factor in attracting and retaining talent.
According to Deloitte’s 2025 Gen Z and Millennial Survey, nearly nine in ten Gen Zs and millennials say having a sense of purpose is important to their overall job satisfaction, while many expect employers to contribute positively to society through meaningful action rather than one-off initiatives.
Volunteering programmes provide one way for organisations to demonstrate this commitment while giving employees opportunities to contribute to causes aligned with their values.
For HR leaders, this means viewing volunteering not simply as an employee benefit, but as part of a broader employee experience and engagement strategy.
Skills-based volunteering is creating greater impact
Corporate volunteering is evolving beyond traditional fundraising activities or annual volunteering days.
Many organisations now encourage employees to share their professional expertise with charities, educational institutions and international development organisations through mentoring, coaching, digital skills training, financial literacy programmes and strategic consulting.
For communities in landlocked developing countries, where access to specialist expertise and professional networks can be limited, skills-based volunteering can help strengthen local organisations, support entrepreneurship and improve access to education and employment opportunities.
At the same time, employees develop leadership, communication and cross-cultural collaboration skills that can be transferred back into their day-to-day roles.
Why HR should embed volunteering into talent strategies
Volunteering programmes can deliver value beyond corporate social responsibility.
Research from Benevity’s 2025 State of Corporate Purpose Report found that organisations with high employee participation in purpose-led initiatives report stronger employee engagement and greater confidence in organisational culture. Employees who feel their organisation supports meaningful social impact are also more likely to feel connected to their employer’s mission.
Embedding volunteering into learning and development strategies can therefore help organisations build leadership capability while strengthening employee engagement and retention.
Rather than treating volunteering as a standalone initiative, HR leaders should consider how it supports broader objectives around leadership development, wellbeing, inclusion and employer brand.
How HR can build more impactful volunteering programmes
To maximise impact, volunteering initiatives should be designed with both employees and communities in mind.
HR leaders should consider:
- Offering paid volunteering days to encourage participation.
- Expanding opportunities for skills-based volunteering, where employees contribute professional expertise rather than only their time.
- Partnering with charities and international development organisations that create sustainable, long-term impact.
- Recognising volunteering as part of leadership and career development.
- Measuring participation, employee feedback and community outcomes to understand programme effectiveness.
Importantly, organisations should ensure volunteering is accessible to employees across different roles, locations and career stages, allowing everyone to contribute in ways that reflect their skills and experience.
Volunteering is an investment in people
International awareness days provide an opportunity to reflect on global challenges, but they can also encourage organisations to consider how they create meaningful opportunities for employees to contribute beyond the workplace.
By embedding volunteering into talent and people strategies, HR can help develop future leaders, strengthen organisational culture and support communities facing complex development challenges.
Ultimately, the most successful volunteering programmes are those that create lasting value for everyone involved. Employees gain new skills and perspectives, organisations strengthen engagement and purpose, and communities benefit from knowledge, expertise and long-term partnerships.
