How Volunteering Strengthens Local Businesses

 Volunteering isn’t just a feel-good activity; it’s a strategic investment that pays off in engagement, retention, and reputation.

Research consistently shows that employees who volunteer through work report stronger connection to their company, higher morale, and increased loyalty. In one national survey, 91% of respondents said volunteer opportunities can positively influence their work experience and sense of connection. Read more about the findings here: Deloitte Volunteerism Survey Highlight and the full 2017 report here: 2017 Deloitte Volunteerism Survey PDF.

The Measurable ROI of Employee Volunteering

For small businesses, the returns are tangible. Volunteer events build cross-team relationships that improve day-to-day collaboration. Skills-based projects—like helping a nonprofit with bookkeeping, website updates, or process improvements—double as real-world professional development without classroom costs. Publicly supporting local causes builds goodwill with customers who increasingly choose values-aligned businesses. Done well, a modest program can reduce turnover, lower hiring costs, and generate positive local press and social engagement.

Volunteering also offers leadership opportunities for rising stars. Allowing an employee to plan a service day or manage a small budget develops project management and communication skills. This practical experience translates back to the business—stronger planning, better customer interactions, and a bias for action. Track participation, skills used, and outcomes so you can communicate impact internally and externally.

If you accept donations or run cause-related promotions, coordinate with your financial partners. Your bank can help you set up dedicated accounts or merchant tools to track donations, reconcile payments, and reduce fraud. Learn more about scalable merchant and payment options that support events and fundraising: Osgood Bank Merchant Services.

Build Brand Trust and Recruit Great Talent

Volunteer programs are brand builders when they’re authentic, consistent, and local. Start by aligning with causes that reflect your mission and the needs of your community—schools, food security, parks, veterans, or financial literacy. Consistency matters more than scale: a quarterly service day or recurring mentorship can create more trust than a one-off splashy event.

Employees increasingly ask about community impact during interviews, and strong programs can sway decisions. Surveys show many candidates prefer employers that provide paid time for service or organize team volunteer days. Share your efforts on job postings and during interviews: highlight hours served, local partners, and any outcomes you’ve measured (e.g., meals packed, trees planted, students mentored). Invite customers to join public-facing events; co-branded volunteer days with partners or customers deepen relationships and expand your reach.

Transparency counts. Publish simple recaps—who participated, what you did, and how it helped—using photos (with permission) and short quotes from staff and nonprofit partners. When you sponsor events or match donations, outline clear guidelines to avoid confusion. Consider how employee volunteering ties into your broader corporate social responsibility (CSR) goals, and keep your commitments realistic for a small team.

To make recruiting easier, partner with established local organizations that can host safe, well-organized projects. In Ohio, the state service commission maintains a searchable portal of opportunities across communities: ServeOhio Volunteer Opportunities. Use it to find recurring projects that fit your team’s interests and schedule.

Start a Program That Fits Small Businesses

A right-sized program can start with three building blocks: time, partners, and tracking.

Time is your policy—offer a modest bank of paid volunteer hours (for example, 8–16 hours per year) or designate one half‑day each quarter for team service.

Partners are your nonprofit relationships; curate two or three aligned organizations and rotate projects to keep things fresh.

Tracking is your measurement—log hours, skills used, and outcomes in a simple spreadsheet so you can report impact and refine the program.

Consider a skills-based angle to multiply impact. A marketing team can help a nonprofit improve event promotion; operations staff can streamline inventory or logistics; finance teams can train nonprofit leaders in budgeting. Skills-based projects often deliver more value per hour and are easier to schedule in busy seasons.

Build lightweight processes. Create a one-page playbook with project selection criteria, sign-up instructions, safety guidelines, and photo-release practices. Assign a volunteer coordinator who manages the calendar and liaises with nonprofit partners. For fundraising, set up transparent accounts and payment processes so donations are secure and easy to report. If you plan a large event, your bank can advise on deposit accounts, merchant terminals, and fraud controls to keep funds safe.

Finally, celebrate and sustain. Recognize contributors in staff meetings, share stories in your newsletter, and invite customers to participate in public events. Close the loop with partners by asking for short impact statements you can share. Over time, you’ll see higher engagement, stronger hiring, and deeper community ties—benefits that compound far beyond a single day of service.

To get started today, browse opportunities statewide: ServeOhio Home. If you’re planning an event with donations or ticket sales, explore flexible POS and payment options here: Osgood Bank Merchant and POS Options.