5 Steps to Start a Company Community Service Program

Posted by Charlie Bedell

Imagine a company culture where your team not only promotes working together but also making a lasting impact on the community.

It’s not difficult to make that dream a reality by building a community service program! It’s a great opportunity to bond with your team and make a difference in meaningful ways.

Get started giving back with these five easy steps.

1. Ask for input from your team

The foundation of a successful community service program begins with involving your team in the decision-making process.

Start by asking for their input on the causes and nonprofits they’d like to support. This way, you can identify the areas that matter most to your team but also ensures that they feel invested in the initiative. Focus on identifying shared values and common interests that align with both your team’s passion and your company’s mission.

Consider creating a short survey to gather feedback on their favorite causes, charitable organizations, or community service projects.

By actively engaging your employees from the beginning, you create a sense of ownership that will motivate them to participate. This involvement makes the program more meaningful by reflecting the collective values of your team and supporting causes they truly care about.

2. Set goals and plan service projects

Once you’ve gathered ideas and input from your team, the next step is to set clear goals and develop a plan for your community service projects. Establishing specific objectives helps ensure that your efforts are organized, targeted, and impactful.

Begin by defining what you hope to achieve through these volunteer activities. Do you want to focus on skill-based volunteering, contribute a certain number of hours, or raise funds for specific causes? Understanding your goals will guide you in selecting the right projects and measuring their success.

Planning the details of each service project is essential. Outline the logistics, such as the timeline, required resources, and any special arrangements needed for the day.

Taking the time to map out your goals and the structure of each project helps your company’s program run smoothly and achieve its intended impact.

3. Invite your team to volunteer

With your plan in place, it’s time to rally your team and encourage them to join the volunteer efforts. Effective communication is key to making sure that everyone knows about the service projects and feels motivated to get involved.

With SignUpGenius, it’s easy to streamline sign ups for volunteer opportunities. You can specify details in the sign up description and slots, and even create custom questions to gather important details, like meal preferences, t-shirt sizes, or transportation needs.

You can send invites directly from your account to make it easy for participants to register. You can include any additional information or attachments in custom messages.

Share your opportunities in team meetings and communication channels to create buzz around the upcoming events. Sharing stories and visuals from previous volunteer projects can also help inspire participation by showcasing the impact your team can make.

4. Follow up with your team and nonprofit partners

As the service project day approaches, maintaining clear communication with both your team and your nonprofit partners is crucial. This ensures that all the details are confirmed, and everyone knows what to expect.

The week before your event, check in with your nonprofit partners to confirm the number of volunteers expected, the meeting location, and ask about any special instructions to share with your group.

Avoid no-shows and scheduling mix ups by sending your team reminders about the event. When creating your sign up, you can set up event reminders to automatically send to participants.

Gather all materials, such as t-shirts, name tags, or supplies that your team will need for the event a few days in advance. SignUpGenius makes it easy to access your participant info in one place by creating a custom report. Ensuring that everything is ready to go will make the volunteer day more enjoyable and stress-free.

5. Ask for feedback

After the event, take the time to gather feedback from your volunteers and the nonprofits you worked with. This step is essential for assessing your community service program and identifying which areas were successful or need improvement.

Reach out to your team with a brief survey to capture their thoughts on the experience. Ask what aspects they enjoyed, what challenges they faced, and how the event could be improved in the future. Encourage open and honest feedback with anonymous responses. This information will help you adjust and enhance the program going forward.

Also, check in with your nonprofit partners to learn about their experience working with your company. Understanding their perspective will help you refine the collaboration process and build stronger relationships for future projects.

Sharing the results of the event with your team is also a great way to celebrate your collective achievements. Highlighting the impact of your efforts—such as the number of hours volunteered, funds raised, or items donated—reinforces the value of giving back and motivates your team to participate in future initiatives.

By actively seeking feedback, you create a community service program that’s always improving. Each project will be more organized, impactful, and rewarding than the last.

Start building your community service program with SignUpGenius!

By following these five steps and using sign ups, you can create a meaningful and successful program that benefits both your employees and your community.

Learn more about how SignUpGenius can help you build a great volunteer program at your organization.

Create a Sign Up