Guest Blog: Chad Jester, president of the Nationwide Insurance Foundation
August 30, 2010
Feeding America recently recognized Nationwide Insurance as our 2010 Group Volunteer Service of the Year Award. We asked Chad Jester, president of the Nationwide Insurance Foundation to share his thoughts on the importance of building a strong corporate volunteer program.
We are honored to receive the 2010 Group Volunteer Service of the Year Award from Feeding America. Nationwide is proud of the volunteer commitment our employees make to organizations such as the Mid-Ohio Foodbank and others throughout the year.
Nationwide employees are responsible for this award and the success of our volunteer program. Remember that as you think about what your company, or you as an individual, can do to help in the community. Nationwide’s volunteer program was built by our employees and they make it work.
I encourage you to be an advocate within your company and your community. Start a dialogue with your company’s leaders or your friends and family about volunteerism.
There are many good reasons volunteerism is worthwhile. Nonprofits are struggling to serve growing ranks of people in need, and volunteers like you can make a huge difference in helping these organizations stretch scarce resources.
Whether you’re trying to encourage your company’s leadership to create or enhance a volunteer program, or persuading friends and family to try volunteering, consider sharing some of the reasons why leaders at Nationwide have made volunteerism a priority:
- It’s the right thing to do – Just look at the alarming hunger stats from Feeding America. Those of us who are fortunate enough to be in a position to help, should.
- Pride and morale – Volunteerism makes you feel great – about yourself and about your company.
- Recruiting – Increasingly, potential employees are looking at corporate citizenship when they choose an employer. A volunteer program will set your company apart from the pack.
- Team building – A great way to bring a team together is to get away from the office and do something to help others. Volunteerism can also bring together friends and family in a special way.
- Your company’s reputation – Everything you do in the community contributes to your reputation, which over time has a huge impact on the company’s bottom line.
- Requires little or no budget – Unlike a cash grant or donation, volunteerism can help the community in a meaningful way with little or no direct impact your company’s or family’s budget.
When you’re successful in making this case (I’m an optimist) with your company’s leaders, don’t walk away from the discussion. Take a leadership role in creating or enhancing your company’s volunteer program. Or, start your own volunteer program by organizing volunteer activities for your friends and family.
Here are some tips that have worked for Nationwide as we created the On Your Side Volunteer Network®
- Be selective and strategic about what you ask people to do – Don’t try to do 100 different things. Pick a focus and do it well.
- Make employees/friends and family part of the discussion – Bring a diverse group of potential volunteers to the table as you plan your volunteer program and listen to what they have to say.
- Make the program as easy and accessible as possible – Remember, people are busy with work and their families at home. Look for ways to make volunteerism as convenient as possible.
- Secure leadership support – To build a successful volunteer program within your company, you must have senior-level advocates.
- Create rewards for participation – Companies should consider incentives for employee participation like internal recognition, the ability to earn time-off from work or grant money for the nonprofit they support.
Maybe you or your company has a different approach or rationale for your volunteer program. There are many ways to do it right. I’d love to hear about it. Tell us what has worked for you!
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