September 5 is International Day of Charity, established in 2012 by the United Nations General Assembly “to help others through volunteer and philanthropic activities.” This power-packed day of recognition is celebrated globally, including and especially through corporate social responsibility (CSR) and corporate volunteer programs.  

Company-sponsored initiatives that provide employee volunteering opportunities go a long way in generating employee engagement and team building, not to mention their very purpose – the fundraising metrics and positive social impacts they produce for local communities and nonprofits.  

As a senior talent recruiting partner at Goodwin Recruiting, I’m continually inspired by many wonderful clients whose organizations and employees do amazing things in their communities through volunteer activities. Today, I want to highlight one in particular – KBP Foods. KBP Foods has been around since 1999, just like us here at Goodwin Recruiting! They own and operate KFC locations nationwide, and as their website states, “Helping our communities thrive is more than our passion. It’s our responsibility.”     

Food for thought if you’re looking for program ideas    

KBP Foods has indeed gone above and beyond in corporate volunteerism and social responsibility. Impactful programs demonstrate their humanity inside and out, including through corporate-sponsored volunteering days for employees. Here are two meaningful and successful programs they created. Maybe they’ll spark ideas for your own organization!  

KBP Cares is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and employee assistance program supported by KBP Brands and employees. With a strong belief that no employee should have to face a critical hardship on their own, KBP says this program exists to be there for employees when the unimaginable happens – a fire destroys their home, they lose a loved one, or an unexpected medical emergency makes it impossible for them to afford basic living expenses.    

KBP Giving is a program involving the sale of charity coupon books, and through it, KBP restaurants have raised more than $6.6 million dollars benefiting select local charity partnerships. Beyond donating proceeds from coupon books, this program allows KBP employees up to two paid days each year to volunteer for local community organizations. KBP is always looking for more ways to contribute. Here’s an example.   

Recently, while attending an event at my local American Legion post, I had a call with Keith Robinson, director of operations at KBP. Keith heard the background noise and asked where I was. When he learned of my connection with the American Legion, he expressed interest in giving his team the opportunity to volunteer at their locations across the United States. This company and its employees truly live up to their commitment as stakeholders in their local communities: “At the core of our values is the pursuit of a socially responsible, integrity-driven company that strives to be better every day. We approach our philanthropic activity with the same energy and expectation as we do our business and view our contributions as investments in the future.”   

Volunteer opportunities are everywhere  

If you’re looking for ways for your company and team members to get more involved in volunteerism, below are just a few of many worthy organizations with excellent volunteer opportunities for people of all ages and backgrounds. 

The way to build a successful corporate volunteer program – one that boosts employee buy-in, employee engagement, and the volunteer experience – is to try and identify organizations that your employees are excited to rally around and support – be it local river cleanups, animal shelters, adopt-a-highway, or one of the organizations below. When we all put in a little effort, BIG things can happen!  

The American Legion offers an abundance of volunteer opportunities. More than 100 years old, this influential nonprofit group is a nonpartisan organization supporting America’s veterans, their families, and the community. Their membership has reached nearly 2 million people involved in volunteer events and initiatives at more than 13,000 posts worldwide. My daughter Gracie, who is on a mission to help our veterans, created this GoFundMe page to help replenish the food pantry at our local Helping Veterans and Families (HVAF) of Indiana. It’s wonderful to see the impact each of us can make in our local communities and the positive model each of us can be for our children. If you’d like to help Gracie reach her goal, we and the HVAF of Indiana would be so grateful! 

The Wounded Warrior Project provides care for our wounded service members, including programs for physical and mental health support, career counseling, and more. Also known as the WWP, their focus is on helping wounded warriors become a strong and integral part of their local communities. They have locations across the United States and have helped over 200,000 wounded service members since their start in 2003.

American Red Cross volunteers and staff work to deliver vital services through their mission of preventing and alleviating human suffering in the face of emergencies, from providing relief and support to those in crisis to helping citizens and companies be prepared to respond in emergencies. The American Red Cross has been around for nearly 145 years and although its identity is ingrained in the American psyche, many don’t realize the full scope of their services and contributions to society here and worldwide. As many as 275,000 volunteers are involved in supporting and providing disaster relief, lifesaving blood, aid and support to international programs, support for military families, and training and certification for individuals and companies.  

Habitat for Humanity engages more than 2 million compassionate volunteers each year who enthusiastically build, advocate, and raise awareness of homelessness and the global need for shelter. Founded in 1976, this ever-growing nonprofit has evolved from a concept into a global phenomenon, thanks in no small part to former President Jimmy Carter and his late wife Rosalynn. Habitat for Humanity now works in all 50 U.S. states and more than 70 countries and has helped more than 59 million people find strength, stability, and independence through safe, decent, and affordable shelter.  

Get more inspiration for company-sponsored volunteerism  

If you are an employer who would like to talk through volunteer ideas or programs like these for your company and team members, I welcome that conversation with you. Just like identifying the right talent for your key roles among thousands of potential candidates, volunteer opportunities are also endless, and the key is finding the right ones for your organization.  

If you’re a job candidate interested in working with one of our amazing clients like KBP, I’d love to help you find success on your career journey.  

Reach out to me today!  

In the meantime, please join me in celebrating International Day of Charity on September 5! Together, we can make a dramatic difference in the lives of others.