Employee volunteering days are an increasingly common part of workplace benefits packages. And for good reason. They boost morale, align with CSR and ESG goals and show that your organisation is committed to doing good and giving back. But despite their availability, many volunteering days go unused. Why?
Because:
- most employees don’t know where to start looking for volunteering opportunities
- most HR or CSR leads don’t have the time to organise meaningful, scalable volunteering opportunities
That’s where charity-focused team building days can come in. They combine everything good about team building – the fun, collaboration and morale – with tangible impact, making it easy to align your internal goals with external purpose.
Start With the Problem: Unused Volunteering Days
Many businesses offer paid volunteering days for their employees each year. But from talking to our clients, we’ve found that a significant number of these days go unused.
Common blockers include:
- No clear direction or plan from management
- Lack of awareness or buy-in from staff
- Activities that don’t scale well across teams
- Complicated logistics
Unused volunteering days don’t just mean missed impact. They represent missed opportunities for:
- Culture building
- ESG and CSR reporting
- Employee engagement
Highlight the Strategic Benefits
Whether you need buy-in from HR, leadership, or finance, keep the focus on how charity team building aligns with core business objectives.
Employee Engagement: Charity team building provides purpose and connection – two key drivers of engagement. When employees see the direct results of their actions (like the charity feedback received after building bikes or decorating skateboards), they feel proud, energised, and emotionally invested in the company’s values.
Culture & Retention: Millennials and Gen Z (currently 60% of the workforce) value employers who practice what they preach when it comes to social responsibility. Team activities that give back are more than perks. They’re proof of commitment to purpose. This boosts employer brand and can aid both retention and recruitment.
CSR & ESG Reporting: Many businesses are looking for meaningful, measurable ways to meet their ESG goals. With charity team building, you’re not just checking a box – you’re creating direct, reportable impact: number of items donated, number of people impacted, monetary value of the donations and more.
Ease & Scalability: One of the strongest selling points? Activities are delivered on-site or at your chosen venue and fully-facilitated, meaning we organise and coordinate everything for you, from start to finish. You can just sit back and enjoy a seamless experience for 10 or 1000+ participants.
Build the Financial Case
While charity team building is often funded from HR budgets, it’s still important to demonstrate ROI and cost-effectiveness.
- Compare to traditional team building: Show that the budget required for a charity-focused experience is comparable to (or less than) standard team building. But it offers more value in terms of impact and optics.
- Highlight bundled value: One activity can tick multiple boxes. Volunteering, ESG, L&D (collaboration, leadership), corporate giving and employee engagement can all be achieved.
- Include real-world quotes: Use client and charity testimonials to strengthen your case.
Position It As a “Win” for Everyone
- Employees win because they get a day of meaningful, hands-on team bonding with no hassle.
- The company wins by improving culture, strengthening ESG performance, and building goodwill.
- The community wins because real, needed items (like skateboards for youth groups or beds for family centres) are donated where they’re needed most.
- Demonstrate exactly what using volunteering days this way is – a smart, strategic use of time and budget.
Anticipate & Answer Objections
Objections are inevitable. But you can handle them!
“Isn’t this just another team-building day?”
No. Charity team building adds a layer of purpose, making it more meaningful and better aligned with company values.
“Is this going to be a logistical nightmare?”
Not at all. o3e bring all materials, run the activity, and handle charity coordination, delivery and feedback. You just choose a date and a space and we’ll handle the rest.
“Is there proof this works?”
Yes. Many businesses have already used these events to re-energise staff and make a real impact. Read more on our client page or get in touch if you’d like some more examples.
End With a Clear Ask
Once your case is made, finish with a clear next step:
- Request a trial event for a specific team or department.
- Propose including charity team building in the next employee volunteering plan or ESG strategy.
- Ask for budget approval, offering multiple pricing tiers or scalable options.
Making It Happen
Volunteering days are a powerful tool. But only if they’re used. Charity team building activities solve the most common pain points and deliver unmatched value for teams, companies, and communities.
Whether you’re an HR manager, CSR lead, or People Director, this is your chance to turn unused benefits into unforgettable experiences that make a difference.
Ready to make the case to your leadership team? Get in touch today!