1. Infuse purpose into onboarding
Make sure you’re doing more than mentioning your program to new employees. To intentionally engage them. We can do a communications strategy with you and help you elevate your comms to make sure staff want to get involved.
2. Communicate your company’s contributions and commitment
When people see that leaders value purpose, they do too. In fact, leadership involvement and communication about programs are two of the biggest predictors of participation and program success. This means it’s important to communicate the purpose investments your company is making — like the grants or social impact projects you’re funding — at company-wide or large events to demonstrate commitment from all levels within the business. It’s also important, from a culture perspective, to use company-wide communication channels to highlight your company’s investment in impact.
3. Activate middle managers
These key employees can champion social impact activities while driving awareness on their teams, or be a major gatekeeper where the flow of information and enthusiasm ends. Engaging this important demographic could be key to your success. Some clients, like Mitie, have their managers walk all new employees through their purpose program and systems so they understand the program right away. We also run webinars and training specific for your organisations
4. Tap into — and support Social Value & CSR managers
By showcasing and amplifying the work of your social value managers and helping employees feel they belong at work, you can build a sense of community and impact early. Make it even easier by providing an online hub for all of your groups.
5. Use a mobile app to reach employees on-the-go
Make your program as inclusive as possible by ensuring equal access for your desk- or device-less employees. You’ll see participation grow while showing your people that an inclusive and equitable culture is important to your company. We can create a branded mobile for you, just get in touch.
6. Don’t wait for your annual campaign
Engage your people all year round, and use awareness dates such as International Women’s Day and Christmas Eve, as well as real-time events or crises, to let them know they have a way to act on the issues that matter to them. Then, empower your people by enabling them to post their own giving and volunteering opportunities to garner support from their peers.
7. Engage your people in corporate granting
Our research on stakeholder philanthropy shows that when it comes to how your company directs corporate funds and grants, your employees want to have a say. Get them involved by forming employee selection committees where they can help choose grantees, or even have them nominate grantees themselves. They could also help organisations complete their applications. Engaging your people this way helps them build skills and cross-functional relationships, which is good for them and your business. And, because many employees love learning and development opportunities, especially as it relates to the social impact space, this is a great way to get them involved without changing their day jobs. We can help to run surveys and granting, please get in touch for more information.