Table of Contents
What are Dollars for Doers Programs?
Dollars for Doers, commonly known as volunteer grants, are incentive programs that encourage employees to volunteer. Employees may volunteer with an eligible organization and record their hours in exchange for a grant from their employer.
Download our Dollars for Doers one-pager and view Dollars for Doers FAQs
When should I use a Dollars for Doers Program?
Dollars for Doers programs help you incorporate or extend reward programs for your employees and increase and share your impact in the community. For example, you can use Dollars for Doers programs to offer financial contributions to nonprofits based on employee volunteer efforts.
Dollars for Doers programs are right for you if you want to:
- Extend your impact
- Support local communities
- Double the dollars impacting the charities with more employee volunteer time
- Increase employee engagement
- Improve employee satisfaction
How Do I Create Successful and Impactful Dollars for Doers Programs?
No two Dollars for Doers program looks exactly like another. However, implementing a well-built and impactful program is a shared goal across all our clients.
When implementing a program, make sure you are:
- Analyzing current employee engagement
- Providing employees with details of their progress as they work towards a grant
- Offering flexible requirements for grant awards
- Reminding employees of the rewards available to gift
- Setting goals for the program, using previous years as a starting point
- Developing a marketing plan to keep employees informed and engaged
Program Themes
Expanded Granting
Encourage employees to make an impact on their community through volunteering. Volunteer hours are combined to allow them to extend a grant to any organizations they have been volunteering with. Employees can reach minimums more efficiently and distribute funds to eligible organizations. Many of these programs still include a minimum threshold and other limitations, like an annual cap.
Client Example
Client B found a way to support employees and help maximize their impact on communities that matter to them! Read Dollars for Doers Best Practices and Client Success Stories to learn more about Client B’s program!
Encouraging Social Good
Elevate your program and increase program participation by allowing employees to log time for non-traditional volunteer activities like donating blood, leading an employee resource group, collecting coats for a coat drive, promoting awareness through a cause challenge, packing hygiene kits, or participating in a can drive. Recognizing these small actions allows increased participation in programs, community interaction, and the ability to get corporate dollars to the community.
Client Example
Client C used their programs to create a safe environment for families to share their mission with others and donate millions to their communities. Read Dollars for Doers Best Practices and Client Success Stories to learn more about Client C’s program!
Choice and Flexibility
Allow employees to use their banked volunteer hours to request a grant for an organization they care about but may not have volunteered with. You can set grace periods for employees to extend the eligibility of their volunteer hours.
Client Example
Client A implemented a flexible Dollars for Doers program that increased their and their employees’ impact on the community by doubling disbursed funds! Read Dollars for Doers Best Practices and Client Success Stories to learn more about Client A’s program!
Figure 1 Dollars for Doers Program Types
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Additional Resources
Not what you're looking for? Navigate to Volunteerism Programs Overview
