As the global community marks Giving Tuesday, a day dedicated to charitable giving involving individuals, corporations, and nonprofits, new findings indicate an upward trend in workplace volunteerism. The Association of Corporate Citizenship Professionals (ACCP) has revealed through its 2024 CSR Insights Survey that 77% of corporate respondents have observed an increase in employee participation in volunteer activities this year. This marks a significant rise from the 61% reported in 2023.
This development is noteworthy given a recent Generosity Commission report highlighting a decline in nonprofit donors and volunteers among American households. The report noted that while 65.4% of U.S. households donated to nonprofits in 2008, only 49.6% did so by 2018.
Despite these broader trends, the rise in corporate sector volunteerism offers a positive outlook for the field. ACCP President and CEO Carolyn Berkowitz stated, "Employee volunteerism continues to be an important way that companies align corporate and employee values." She emphasized that robust volunteering programs enhance employee engagement and satisfaction.
Berkowitz also referenced an IBM study showing that job seekers favor socially responsible companies, with 70% more likely to pursue opportunities at such organizations.
Further insights from the ACCP survey indicate that 88% of respondents reported stable or increased budgets for employee engagement in 2024 compared to last year's figure of 71%. Additionally, there has been a slight increase from 18% to 22% in employees wanting a say in corporate social responsibility decisions.
The data from ACCP's survey comes from its fifth annual CSR Insights Survey, which gathered responses from 125 companies representing over $1 billion in community investments.
