The Volunteer Times

Nicor Gas released its 2025 Community Impact Report detailing charitable giving and employee volunteerism across Northern Illinois. The company supported 381,000 families through basic needs initiatives—surpassing its 250,000-family goal—while partnering with organizations like River Bend Food Bank and Hesed House to deliver 22.5 million meals and provide 646,000 nights of shelter since 2021. Environmental efforts included protecting 11,100 acres of open space and planting 12,000 trees, while economic opportunity initiatives infused $7.76 million into communities, exceeding the $5 million goal.

Rosterfy, a volunteer management platform for high-volume and compliance-driven programs, has partnered with Telescopic, a digital transformation consultancy, to help organizations implement integrated volunteer engagement systems more effectively. The partnership addresses critical nonprofit challenges including disconnected volunteer, fundraising, and CRM systems, manual administrative processes, and limited operational visibility. The companies aim to reduce manual work, improve reporting capabilities, integrate systems across operations, and enable nonprofits to scale volunteer programs more efficiently.

The Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy offers volunteer service projects including beach cleanups, historic site and habitat restoration, plant nurseries, landscaping, and trail work. The organization requires no prior experience or commitment, providing all tools, training, and leadership for volunteers of all skill levels. The Conservancy accommodates diverse volunteer preferences through dedicated corporate group programs, larger group projects of more than five people, and longer-term internship and service positions, allowing interested volunteers to select opportunities that fit their availability and interests.

Tata Consultancy Services logged 9.4 million global hours of employee volunteerism in fiscal year 2026, with U.S. and Canadian staff supporting nonprofits across STEM education, youth mentoring, and underrepresented communities including women, veterans, and Indigenous peoples. Through its myPurpose platform, TCS curated hundreds of volunteer opportunities, advanced its Leaders with Purpose cohort to a seventh and eighth iteration, and delivered pro bono technology consulting via Tech4Hope to organizations including Girl Up, Marici, NAF, and Sports Integrity Global Alliance. The company's two flagship STEM initiatives—Ignite My Future and goIT—have reached nearly 2 million K-12 students lifetime, with goIT alone engaging 88,000 students across 211 U.S. and Canadian cities since 2009. TCS also launched the Digital Opportunity Council and published a Digital Opportunity Playbook to build skills and resources for digital economy participation.

CaixaBank's volunteer program conducted over 2,200 activities for young people between January and April 2026, reaching more than 51,000 minors through mentoring, tutoring, and inclusive leisure activities. During the fourth edition of its 'Social Month' in May-early June 2026, the organization will deploy more than 100 additional activities reaching approximately 6,000 vulnerable children at locations across Spain. Volunteers emphasize that impact extends beyond skill-building to providing attention and emotional support to minors from migrant families and those facing complex home situations. Young volunteers report that participation offers mutual learning and exposure to different realities while contributing meaningful time and presence to vulnerable youth.

The source material does not contain sufficient substantive information to support a detailed summary of a partnership between Fundación Telefónica and Fundación Cádiz CF focused on elderly populations or technology-driven volunteering. The available content references only headline titles for various foundation initiatives without providing program details, scope, or partnership specifics necessary for accurate reporting.

Duke Energy Foundation supports communities through charitable grants and employee volunteerism across three focus areas: Vibrant Economies, Local Resiliency, and Community Opportunity. The Foundation awarded $500,000 to strengthen storm preparedness across North Carolina and $130,000 to 10 organizations advancing storm preparedness and community resiliency ahead of hurricane season. Employees and retirees contribute through both financial gifts and volunteer time. Duke Energy Florida also completed a solar energy site in Sumter County, with estimates of $250 million in customer savings over the site's service lifetime.

American Corporate Partners (ACP) is a national nonprofit connecting Veterans and Active-Duty Spouses with experienced corporate mentors through free, customized programs designed to combat underemployment and advance careers. Participants work with hand-picked mentors through tailored action plans to build networks, secure jobs, or earn promotions, while volunteer mentors commit just one hour per month for one year to guide participants toward success. ACP's mission focuses on helping Veterans and Active-Duty Spouses find not just employment, but the right careers through one-on-one mentoring, career guidance, and networking opportunities.

During its inaugural Impact Week from April 27 to May 1, Manulife's 37,000 global employees logged 21,724 volunteer hours across 234 activities in 22 communities, supporting health and well-being, financial resilience, food security, and education. The insurance company offers an annual paid volunteer day benefit and team grant opportunities for groups of 10 or more employees to fund nonprofit partners. Research cited by the company links volunteering to longer, healthier lives, improved mental health, and stronger cognitive health through increased purpose and social connection.

Corporate volunteering in Munich strengthens employee bonds and teamwork through community service projects outside the usual workplace, while benefiting local communities via nonprofit partnerships. Companies have implemented successful programs—from environmental clean-ups and mentorship to charity events—that generate employee pride and job satisfaction. By integrating volunteering into corporate values, offering paid time off, and organizing team-based volunteer days, businesses build positive workplace culture that attracts and retains talent while demonstrating social responsibility commitment.

Together Marathon County, a free digital platform launched by the B.A. & Esther Greenheck Foundation, connects volunteers, nonprofits, employers, and community partners across Wisconsin. Since its April 1 soft launch, the platform has recorded over 400 nonprofit profile views, more than 4,000 volunteer opportunity views, and nearly 100 new volunteers registered, bringing total registrations to over 400, with volunteers contributing over 135 hours. Thirty-six nonprofits across Marathon County are fully onboarded, spanning youth development, hunger relief, environmental stewardship, senior services, mental health, and community enrichment. Supported by two dedicated staff members, the platform is preparing a public launch with county-wide visibility campaigns and community partnerships to expand nonprofit volunteer engagement.

The SBB Research Group Foundation partnered with The Center for Enriched Living through its Champion A Charity Program to support volunteer activities in Lincolnshire, Illinois, focused on social engagement, creative expression, and community participation for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The Center for Enriched Living operates programs designed to help participants build social connection, independence, and community involvement in areas facing persistent funding and staffing gaps. This partnership reflects a broader trend among professional services and finance firms shifting from traditional grantmaking to direct, hands-on volunteer engagement with local nonprofits serving vulnerable populations.

On May 19, 2026, 68 volunteers from 44 companies created nearly 100 historical fact sheets on Asian American and Pacific Islander figures in a one-hour virtual event, delivering the materials to Mirror Image Arts, a youth development organization. The fact sheets—featuring names, key milestones, accomplishments, and inspiring quotes—will serve as a living resource for students in the organization's programs. Volunteers participated from locations worldwide including New York, Stuttgart, Manila, and Medellin. The event addressed gaps in AAPI representation in school curricula by providing students with mirrors and windows into diverse cultural histories.

New York Common Pantry, one of the city's largest hunger relief organizations, is hiring a Corporate Partnerships Manager to develop corporate fundraising initiatives including volunteer projects, event sponsorships, and corporate funder relationships. The organization assisted over 764,000 visitors and served over 11.7 million meals last year while accessing $10.7 million in public benefits resources. The full-time, hybrid-flexible position based in New York requires a minimum of three years of corporate fundraising experience and offers $80,000–$90,000 annually plus comprehensive benefits including health insurance, retirement accounts, and paid time off.

ExxonMobil's volunteer network delivered measurable impact across multiple continents in 2025–2026, from STEM mentoring in Asia Pacific to a Houston Giving Campaign that raised $16 million for local nonprofits. A Spring Family Fest in Texas saw 3,000 volunteers pack 10,000 meals for food-insecure children, while 24,000 volunteer hours flowed through the Houston campaign alone. Parallel efforts in the Permian Basin tackled food security partnerships, and Scottish volunteers restored outdoor spaces at a dementia care home. The scale and geographic diversity underscore how corporate volunteer programs translate employee commitment into sustained community outcomes across cause areas.

On May 12, 2026, KPMG deployed 77 offices across 700 volunteer activities with 400+ nonprofit partners, tackling literacy, AI education, environmental cleanup, and food insecurity in a single coordinated push. The firm launched seven AI learning sessions with 40+ nonprofits and an AI bootcamp for Boys & Girls Clubs of Chicago, while employees drove 93 literacy events across 63 offices through a nearly 20-year First Book partnership that has distributed 8 million books. Timing the initiative during Mental Health Awareness Month, KPMG leaned on research showing employees with close workplace friendships are four times more likely to volunteer weekly—positioning community service as both social impact and employee connection strategy.

Charles Schwab's Volunteer Week activated more than 8,500 employees in over 10,000 opportunities with 350 nonprofits nationwide, spanning financial literacy teaching, meal preparation, and care package assembly. The initiative anchors a year-round volunteer culture: in 2025 alone, nearly 13,000 employees contributed 156,000+ hours to 555 nonprofits, supported by paid volunteer time off and donation matching. The Charles Schwab Foundation granted over $500,000 to participating nonprofits, capping a decade-long commitment of $100 million invested in communities and financial literacy—demonstrating how sustained corporate volunteer infrastructure scales impact beyond a single week.

Riley's Way Foundation selected **76 young changemakers ages 13–23 as 2026

FiberCop wrapped a pilot corporate volunteering project in April with 100 employees across Rome, Naples, Milan, Turin, and Padua, who reported high personal satisfaction volunteering without requiring specialized skills or prior experience. Buoyed by authentic enthusiasm and participant requests to repeat, the company committed to scaling to 500 volunteer days totaling 3,800+ hours across up to ten Italian cities in 2026. Partnerships with Save the Children, L'Accoglienza ONLUS, and the Luca Grisolia Humanitarian Association channel volunteer effort into educational and social initiatives in disadvantaged communities—demonstrating how grassroots employee enthusiasm can drive corporate volunteer strategy.

Kennedys' Thrive Together global volunteering programme demonstrates how structured employee engagement creates measurable benefits for individuals and communities alike, with Birmingham's Thrive Action Group as a flagship model. The office operates Chapter One, a reading programme pairing 10 volunteers with children for 30-minute weekly sessions to boost reading attainment, and Envision, which builds young people's confidence and public speaking skills. Even micro-commitments—such as 30-minute lunchtime sessions packing wellbeing boxes for The Children's Society—improve employee wellbeing, office morale, team cohesion, and attendance, according to partner Sandip Sidhu. By removing barriers through flexible time options and multiple contribution pathways—from recurring activities to one-time donations or idea-sharing—the programme makes volunteering accessible to diverse employee schedules and preferences.

New research from GoFundMe and GivingTuesday reveals that Gen Z participates in philanthropy at significantly higher rates than other adults, with upwards of 70% reporting some form of giving in the past week compared to 65% of other adults. This generation's giving is distinctly personal and relational—nearly 60% say family or others shape their decisions—and they are more likely to give directly to individuals, volunteer, and advocate for causes. Community-powered fundraising platforms like GoFundMe function as entry points to nonprofit engagement rather than competitors, with Gen Z users of such platforms more likely to give to registered nonprofits than peers who don't use them. The analysis draws on GivingTuesday's weekly GivingPulse surveys conducted between January 1, 2025 and January 11, 2026, surveying 10,411 U.S. respondents ages 18 to 85.

Entourage, an association dedicated to fostering inclusion by creating connections between isolated or precarious populations and community members, is recruiting a civic service volunteer for its Paris-based Inclusion team. The 8-month position (October 2026 to June 2027) requires 30 hours per week and involves identifying and integrating vulnerable individuals into programs, mobilizing community members for events, managing digital platforms, and supporting team activities across Paris and surrounding Île-de-France departments (92, 93, and beyond). The role demands community animation skills, digital proficiency, and collaborative teamwork, with benefits including minimum legal compensation, 50% transport subsidy coverage, restaurant vouchers, and up to two days of remote work weekly.

Morgan Brooke, a University of Kentucky College of Public Health graduate, is joining the Peace Corps as a public health promoter in rural Paraguay for two years following three months of training. Her commitment to community-level health work was shaped by childhood experiences in rural Kentucky and a post-high school trip to Ghana teaching English and other subjects, which redirected her from pursuing a physician assistant career. At UK, Brooke studied adverse childhood experiences, global public health, and health communication—expertise she will apply in Paraguay to address malnutrition, nutrition access, and mental health through collaboration with local health workers, schools, and families. Central to her approach is understanding community needs rather than imposing external solutions, with the goal of building sustainable programs and foundations that support long-term community health improvement.

ExxonMobil employs structured frameworks—including its Operations Integrity Management System and Environmental, Socioeconomic, and Health Impact Assessments—to identify and mitigate socioeconomic risks in communities where it operates. The company highlights targeted initiatives such as over $355,000 in contributions to local education providers in Beaumont, Texas in 2025 and a $100 million, 10-year Guyana STEM Initiative designed to develop science and technology capabilities across the country. ExxonMobil also reports community engagement efforts including grievance management processes, local hiring and supplier development programs, and resettlement and livelihood restoration plans for displaced persons, with examples drawn from operations in Papua New Guinea, Guyana, Mozambique, and Canada.

SHRM identifies learning culture as critical to retaining Gen Z employees, offering strategic approaches to address this generation's professional development priorities. However, the source material does not provide explicit details about the three specific strategies promised in the headline, consisting primarily of membership promotional content and navigation elements rather than substantive analysis. The article references broader workplace trends including artificial intelligence adoption and potential four-day workweeks, but does not directly articulate concrete retention strategies or data-driven recommendations for building robust learning cultures.

The Resolution Project is recruiting volunteer mentors—called Resolution Guides—to support college students (Resolution Fellows) launching social ventures worldwide. The organization provides seed funding, mentorship, and resources to support leadership development and foster lifetime commitment to social responsibility. Resolution Guides work with Fellow teams on venture launch, implementation, and sustainability while advising on future career trajectories, with mentors paired with a partner to guide each Fellow team. Volunteers mentor remotely from anywhere in the world through monthly calls and need not be experts in their Fellow's field, as mutual learning is central to the process. Interested mentors can apply through the organization's website.

Awamaki, a community-driven social enterprise in Peru, is seeking an Impact Evaluation Volunteer to conduct qualitative and quantitative research with Quechua artisans and women-led cooperatives. The role involves traveling to communities to conduct surveys and interviews, analyzing income data and staff records, planning capacity-building workshops, and working approximately 6-9 hours per week at Awamaki's fair trade store in Ollantaytambo. Volunteers must possess field research experience, strong data analysis skills, and bilingual proficiency in Spanish and English, with support including room and board assistance and complete fee waiver for commitments of six months or longer.

Hope Atlanta's Women's Community Kitchen operates three days a week, serving light breakfast and restaurant-style lunch to women and children experiencing homelessness through a model powered by donated ingredients and volunteer labor. Over the past year, the kitchen served 17,576 warm meals and distributed 34,344 pounds of food, along with 1,746 donated sandwiches and bagged lunches. Corporate teams, individual volunteers, families, and civic groups collaborate in cooking, plating, serving, and cleanup—creating a space where vulnerable populations experience community and dignity beyond the meal itself.

Ritedose Corporation announced that employees have contributed more than 1,000 hours of community service through its "1,000 Hours of Purpose" initiative, launched in early 2025, which provides company-supported volunteer time at nonprofit organizations across the Midlands. Employees have volunteered with organizations focused on health, food security, housing stability, and support for families and seniors, including United Way of the Midlands, Harvest Hope Food Bank, and Meals on Wheels, among others. The company plans to expand the initiative in 2026 by growing nonprofit partnerships and hosting a recognition luncheon for partner agencies.

The American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) maintains Statements on Auditing Standards (SASs) that establish requirements for audit reports on nonissuers—entities not subject to Sarbanes-Oxley Act requirements or PCAOB standards. These standards are organized into nine topic divisions (AU-C sections 200–999), covering general principles, risk assessment, audit evidence, use of others' work, audit conclusions and reporting, and special considerations. The standards include nonauthoritative analysis comparing SASs with International Standards on Auditing, with updates current through April 2026.

Academic research identifies four distinguishing features that differentiate public sector volunteering from nonprofit sector volunteerism: changeable administrative structures for volunteer programs, cultural resistance to unpaid labor particularly during budget cuts, strict government regulations governing volunteer behavior both during and outside work hours, and democratic and political accountability pressures for volunteers representing government. Drawing on both public and nonprofit sector research, the analysis examines how these unique characteristics shape volunteer management and concludes by identifying shared interests in volunteer administration across both sectors.

Village Volunteers posted an office-based volunteer opportunity in Lewes, Delaware, seeking individuals aged 16 and older for flexible, recurring weekday positions. The role includes serving as the first point of contact, answering phones, processing service requests, coordinating between members and volunteers, and performing administrative tasks such as filing, copying, and preparing mailings. Applicants must pass background verification, attend orientation, and demonstrate qualities including patience, compassion, and technical proficiency, with training provided.

Corporate volunteering is shifting from episodic events to structured, year-round programs embedded in organizational strategy, driven by employee demand for values alignment and tightening ESG reporting requirements. In India, participation rates at companies with organized programs exceed 31% of the employee base, well above the global median of 22.2%, reflecting deliberate infrastructure designed to make volunteering habitual and visible. Organizations now measure outcomes—employee retention, nonprofit capacity building, skills transfer—rather than hours alone, with skills-based volunteering proving particularly impactful by matching corporate expertise in AI and digital tools to nonprofit needs. For leaders still treating volunteering as communications theater, the shift toward data-driven, outcome-focused programs is no longer optional.

Progress Software's 2025 Corporate Social Responsibility report, released April 21, 2026, documents 90%+ employee adoption of AI-powered tools, support for over 290 charities, and 674 volunteer hours contributed globally. The company expanded its Exploring Leadership program to two cohorts annually, delivered 40+ wellbeing initiatives, and advanced STEM education and sustainability through employee-led Earth Team activities. These efforts earned Progress recognition including The Boston Globe's Top Places to Work, Great Place To Work certification in India, and Employer Branding Awards in Bulgaria.

French cultural associations are increasingly reliant on volunteering as public subsidies have contracted sharply, with subsidies to cultural associations dropping 42% between 2024 and 2025 according to the Observatory of Cultural Policies. Cultural associations depend far more heavily on volunteer work than other nonprofits—volunteer labor represents €4,900 per €10,000 budget in cultural associations versus €1,700 across the broader nonprofit sector. Major cultural events in Strasbourg, including the Japan festival and FémiGouin'Fest, operate entirely with unpaid volunteers, generating thousands of annual volunteer hours that would represent substantial salary costs if compensated. Yet many volunteers report burnout and blurred boundaries between volunteer work and full-time employment, raising sustainability concerns.

The Corporate Citizenship Summit convenes senior leaders responsible for corporate citizenship, sustainability, and responsible governance. The event attracts executives including the President and CEO of A Better Impact, the Executive Vice President of Corporate Affairs and Chief Sustainability Officer at Zoetis, and Jeff Hoffman, Institute Leader of Corporate Citizenship & Philanthropy at The Conference Board's Governance & Sustainability Center. The summit focuses on sustainability, social impact, and responsible governance strategies for corporate leaders navigating evolving stakeholder expectations.