How Volunteer Hours Are Turned into Funding - A Helpful Guide

How Volunteer Hours Are Turned into Funding

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In the nonprofit sector, every hour of volunteer work can translate into significant financial support through corporate volunteer grant programs. These initiatives reward employees’ community service by providing monetary donations to the nonprofits they serve.

For nonprofits, volunteer grants represent a dual benefit: they harness the power of committed individuals while unlocking additional corporate funding streams. For companies, they represent a way to promote civic engagement, build stronger communities, and demonstrate a genuine commitment to corporate social responsibility (or CSR).

In this guide, we’ll explore how volunteer grants work, the benefits they provide to both nonprofits and corporations, strategies for maximizing participation, and examples of well-known programs that illustrate just how impactful this form of corporate giving can be.

Ready to learn how volunteer hours are turned into funding for organizations like yours? Let’s get started with the basics.

Understanding Volunteer Grants

Volunteer grants are a form of corporate philanthropy that allows companies to support nonprofits through the volunteer efforts of their employees. When employees volunteer their time, companies often provide a monetary contribution to the nonprofit based on the number of hours volunteered. This not only encourages employee engagement but also amplifies the impact of volunteer work.

What Are Volunteer Grants?

Volunteer grants, sometimes called Dollars for Doers, are a form of corporate philanthropy where companies provide financial contributions to nonprofits based on the volunteer hours donated by their employees. Instead of—or in addition to—donating money directly, companies essentially “match” employees’ time with cash donations.

The structure of these programs varies widely. Some companies offer a flat dollar amount once an employee hits a certain threshold (for example, 20 hours of service). Others provide an hourly rate, such as $10 or $25 per hour volunteered. Certain corporations even allow employees to request multiple grants per year if they volunteer with more than one nonprofit, multiplying the impact across different organizations.

Eligibility for Volunteer Grants

Most volunteer grant programs are open to registered 501(c)(3) nonprofits and educational institutions in the U.S. While eligibility is broad, there are some restrictions. Religious, political, or advocacy-based organizations may not qualify, depending on the employer’s policies.

For employees, eligibility often depends on meeting specific hour thresholds. Many programs set minimums (e.g., 10, 20, or 50 hours annually) before a grant can be requested, ensuring that contributions reflect meaningful service. Others allow immediate grant requests for even a single hour of volunteering.

Importantly, both full-time and part-time employees are typically eligible, and in some cases, even retirees can participate. This inclusive design helps maximize community impact while ensuring nonprofits benefit from a broader pool of potential supporters.

Benefits of Volunteer Grants

Volunteer grants provide numerous advantages for both nonprofits and corporations. Understanding these benefits can help organizations effectively communicate the value of these programs to potential corporate partners.

Financial Support for Nonprofits

Perhaps the most obvious benefit is the additional funding nonprofits receive. When a volunteer’s time is converted into monetary contributions, it allows organizations to stretch their resources further. For example, if 10 volunteers each contribute 20 hours and their employer pays $15 per hour, the nonprofit could earn an additional $3,000—funds that can be used to expand programming, invest in infrastructure, or support day-to-day operations.

Beyond the direct cash support, volunteer grants also help nonprofits diversify their revenue streams. Relying solely on donations or grants can leave organizations vulnerable to funding fluctuations. Volunteer grants add another steady, scalable source of income that grows naturally with community engagement.

Enhanced Employee Engagement

For companies, offering volunteer grants fosters a sense of pride and purpose among employees. Knowing that their employer values community service enough to put money behind it motivates employees to get involved and deepens their personal connection to the causes they support.

This engagement has ripple effects. Employees who participate in company-sponsored volunteerism often report higher job satisfaction, stronger relationships with coworkers, and greater loyalty to their employer. In today’s competitive job market, this can be a powerful differentiator for recruitment and retention.

Strengthened Community Relationships

Volunteer grants also help corporations build goodwill in local communities. By directing funding to nonprofits where employees volunteer, companies demonstrate that their philanthropy is aligned with the interests and passions of their workforce. This approach creates authentic, grassroots connections and strengthens trust between businesses and community stakeholders.

For nonprofits, corporate recognition can translate into additional opportunities, such as sponsorships, in-kind donations, or partnerships that expand the scope of their work. The relationship often extends beyond volunteer grants, creating long-term benefits on both sides.

How to Maximize Volunteer Grant Success

To fully leverage volunteer grants, nonprofits need to go beyond passively accepting them. Instead, organizations should adopt proactive strategies to educate, track, and engage.

Educate Volunteers

The single biggest barrier to volunteer grant participation is awareness. Many employees have no idea their company offers such a program. Nonprofits can bridge this gap by incorporating volunteer grant marketing and education into onboarding materials, thank-you emails, and volunteer orientations.

For example, when sending a thank-you note after a volunteer shift, include a reminder: “Did you know many employers will donate to [Nonprofit Name] for the hours you just volunteered? Check with your HR department or visit our volunteer grants page to learn more.”

Track Volunteer Hours

Accurate tracking of volunteer hours is critical to helping employees submit grant requests. Nonprofits should invest in volunteer management systems or simple hour-tracking tools that allow volunteers to log their time easily. Clear documentation makes it easier for employees to complete their company’s grant application and ensures the nonprofit can verify the information when asked.

By maintaining organized records, nonprofits also gain valuable insights into how much potential funding they could unlock. For example, if you know 500 volunteer hours were logged in a quarter, you can estimate the grant potential if even a fraction of those hours were matched.

Engage with Employers

Proactive communication with employers can multiply the benefits of volunteer grant programs. Encourage volunteers to check with HR about their company’s policies, and don’t hesitate to reach out to local corporations to ask about partnership opportunities.

Some nonprofits even create corporate volunteer days, where groups of employees volunteer together, ensuring the organization not only benefits from the labor but also from the resulting grants. These events strengthen relationships with companies and showcase the nonprofit as an ideal partner for workplace giving initiatives.

Examples of Corporate Volunteer Grant Programs

Many leading companies operate robust volunteer grant programs, providing valuable models for nonprofits to reference. Here are a few notable examples:

Verizon

Verizon’s program allows employees to request a $750 grant after volunteering 50 hours with a nonprofit. With tens of thousands of employees nationwide, this program can generate significant revenue for organizations able to engage Verizon volunteers.

Learn more about the program here.

Microsoft

Microsoft is widely recognized for its employee giving programs, and its volunteer grant initiative is no exception. Employees can earn $25 per volunteer hour with no minimum requirement. This flexibility encourages even casual volunteers to participate while still delivering substantial funding.

Learn more about the program here.

ExxonMobil

ExxonMobil offers $500 grants for every 20 hours of service, with a maximum of $5,000 per employee per year. This high ceiling makes ExxonMobil’s program one of the most generous, enabling dedicated volunteers to channel significant resources to their chosen nonprofits.

Learn more about the program here.

Google

Google employees can request volunteer grants through the company’s Google.org initiatives, which combine funding with technology support. Their program provides $10 per volunteer hour, and Google frequently supplements this with event sponsorships and in-kind donations, extending the impact beyond grants alone.

Learn more about the program here.

IBM

IBM’s Community Grants program rewards both volunteer hours and team-based service projects. When groups of employees volunteer together, IBM contributes larger lump sums, encouraging collaborative community involvement and amplifying the collective impact of service.

Learn more about the program here.

Starbucks

Starbucks supports local communities through its Partner Volunteerism Grants. When employees (known as partners) volunteer 25 hours or more with a nonprofit, they can request grants of up to $1,000. The program highlights Starbucks’ commitment to grassroots, employee-driven giving.

Learn more about the program here.

Conclusion

Volunteer hours are more than a gift of time; they’re a pathway to vital funding for nonprofits through corporate volunteer grant programs. By educating volunteers, accurately tracking hours, and engaging directly with employers, organizations can unlock thousands of dollars in additional revenue each year.

As companies continue to prioritize social responsibility, volunteer grants are becoming an increasingly important tool for bridging employee engagement with community impact. For nonprofits, the message is clear: every hour matters, and every volunteer could be the key to unlocking new streams of corporate support.

Grow Volunteer Grant Funding with Double the Donation

Ready to elevate your nonprofit’s funding strategy with volunteer grants and more? Double the Donation is here to guide you through the process of finding corporate volunteerism opportunities and turning volunteer support into real dollars for your mission.

Raise more with corporate volunteer grants today by scheduling a demo with Double the Donation!