In recent years, there has been a noticeable surge in the prevalence of volunteer days in the workplace, reflecting a broader shift in corporate culture, aligning their goals with those of social responsibility and employee well-being.

Employers increasingly recognize the importance of fostering a positive work environment beyond traditional job responsibilities. As a result, more companies are not only allowing but actively encouraging their employees to take designated time off for volunteering. This trend is rooted in the understanding that engaging in volunteer activities benefits the community and contributes significantly to employees' mental health. 

By providing opportunities for their workforce to give back, employers acknowledge the holistic well-being of their staff, recognizing that a sense of purpose and fulfillment outside the workplace positively impacts overall job satisfaction and productivity.

Here are 23 ideas to get your whole team out there doing good for others:

1. Holiday gift wrapping 

Gift wrapping is a great volunteer opportunity for the holidays. While it might be too late to organize the whole team this year, plan to contact some organizations looking for volunteers to help wrap gifts for various organizations. 

Some of the most common places that look for help with gift wrapping are: 

• Children’s hospitals
• Toy drive
• Refugee charities 
• Houseless shelters

Keep an eye out for this opportunity to volunteer to wrap holiday gifts at a local mall or community center, which can be done with the whole team. 

2. Volunteer to spend the day cleaning your local park

Reach out to a relevant official, like an environmental activist group or a local entity like a parks department, and see if any upcoming events are looking for volunteers. If you have remote team members, support them by giving them the day off to volunteer at a local park in their area. 

Leadership should set aside a budget for necessary materials that may or may not be provided,  such as gloves, trash bags, rakes, and recycling bins. Pick teams ahead of time, especially if the park is big, so that each group can focus on a specific area or task. 

3. Workplace fundraiser

A workplace fundraiser is an excellent way for your company to raise funds for a specific cause, charity, or project of your choosing. Leadership, employees, and outside sponsors can come together to contribute money, time, or resources to support a charitable initiative. Get together with your team and decide which type of fundraiser you want to support, like a charity walk, silent auctions, bake sales, or even something with a party atmosphere like a masquerade ball where all ticket proceeds go to a charity. 

4. Mentorship program

A mentorship program, whether for students or individuals looking for work or making a career change, is a meaningful way to give back to the community and can be done online and in person. Employees share valuable skills and knowledge as experienced mentors, contributing to their students' professional growth.

Types of mentorship programs companies can offer are:

• Career workshops. These help mentees navigate challenges and make informed decisions to advance their careers.
• Networking opportunities. Mentees can expand their professional networks through mentors, opening doors to new opportunities and collaborations.
• Skill enhancement. Mentees can receive hands-on guidance to develop specific skills, whether technical or interpersonal, that are relevant to their roles.

By incorporating mentorship as a volunteer initiative, workplaces can contribute to their employees' professional and personal development while building a positive and collaborative organizational culture.

5. Donate blood

Donating blood is often considered a valuable volunteer activity as it's accessible, is excellent for fostering a sense of teamwork and camaraderie among employees, and provides an opportunity for them to come together for a common cause, reinforcing a positive and supportive workplace culture and directly contributes to the well-being of the community. Companies often collaborate with health organizations or blood banks to organize blood donation events. 

6. Encourage employees to clean out their closets

Employees volunteer their time by organizing and decluttering their closets, and donating clothes to those in need. Reflecting and feeling gratitude while giving back is a great way to feel more connected to your community. Companies can also encourage employees to participate in clothing drives, providing collection points within the workplace for easy drop-offs. Additionally, organizations can organize events or initiatives that promote a culture of giving, recognizing, and celebrating the collective impact of such donations and partner with local charities or shelters; the company ensures that the donated clothes reach individuals or families facing economic challenges. 

7. Spend the day at an animal shelter

Volunteering at an animal shelter is a rewarding and impactful way for your company to give back to the community while fostering a sense of unity and compassion among your team members. Spending the day at the animal shelter contributes to the well-being of animals in need, offering them care, attention, and socialization. 

Beyond the immediate positive impact on the animals, volunteering with animals can be calming and fun, strengthening bonds and creating space to emphasize empathy and responsibility. 

8. Work together at a school outreach program

Engaging in a school outreach program is an excellent way for businesses to impact education and community development. Volunteering in schools allows local organizations to directly impact students' lives by sharing knowledge, skills, and experiences that extend beyond traditional classroom learning. Come up with a list of career resources you can share with students to provide them with insights into various career paths, foster a sense of curiosity, and instill the importance of lifelong learning. 

9. Do a project with Habitat for Humanity

Volunteering with Habitat for Humanity presents a unique opportunity for companies to contribute to community development while fostering a strong sense of teamwork. Habitat for Humanity provides affordable housing for needy families, directly addressing the critical issue of housing insecurity. Volunteering with Habitat is a hands-on experience that makes a tangible difference in the lives of others but also promotes collaboration, communication, equity, and problem-solving skills within teams.

10. Spend the day at the local senior center

Volunteering at a senior center is one of the best ways to foster social responsibility and community engagement. By dedicating time and resources to interact with elderly community members, companies can bring awareness to the well-being of seniors and encourage their workers to be more involved with volunteer opportunities outside of work. Reach out to a local center and find out how you can help, like organizing a meal or a fundraiser event with refreshments and games involving senior center residents. 

11. Engage in random acts of kindness

Random acts of kindness are spontaneous and voluntary actions performed to bring joy, happiness, or assistance to others without expecting anything in return. 

Here are some examples of random acts of kindness you can start doing today: 

• Host a donation drive. Set up a box or payment system where your customers and sponsors can donate at their leisure. For example, around the holidays, set up a donation drive for non-perishable food items, clothing, or hygiene products that can be given to local charities or shelters to distribute the collected items.
• Offer your skills for free. Reach out to a local nonprofit and see if they could benefit from your skilled team members. teams could 
• Send out some cards. Gather the whole team for a day of crafting cards with gift cards to coffee shops and grocery stores that will be distributed to communities in need.

Using Random Acts of Kindness as inspiration for a volunteer day is a great way to give back quickly but meaningfully, as these acts only require a little planning as they are often simple gestures or more significant efforts to impact someone's day positively. 

12. Get fit for charity

Running a marathon for charity during a company's volunteer day is a great way to raise funds for a local charity and promote health and fitness in the workplace. The physical challenge of running a marathon fosters teamwork, camaraderie, and a sense of accomplishment among employees, creating a stronger bond within the workplace. 

Many fundraising marathons support various charitable organizations and causes, so sit down with your team, choose which charity you want to support, and reach out to any events looking for sponsors. 

The most common charities that raise funds through marathons are:

• Medical research
• Environmental research
• Children's resources
• Poverty reduction
• Social justice
• Disabilities services
• Veterans services

The specific charities involved in marathons can vary based on the organizers, the marathon's location, and the participants' interests. Some marathons allow participants to choose their preferred charity, giving them the flexibility to support causes that are personally meaningful to them.

13. Volunteer at the local community garden

Volunteering at a local community garden provides a hands-on experience promoting environmental sustainability and a connection to nature. Companies can organize volunteering events by collaborating with local community garden organizers allocating a day for employees to participate in planting, weeding, and harvesting tasks. Some community gardens allow volunteers to donate their harvests to a local food bank, doubling the impact.

14. Offer free expertise

A company can contribute to charitable causes by offering its expertise free of charge, giving community members access to resources they might not otherwise have. A philanthropic approach involves leveraging the organization's skills, knowledge, and resources to address societal challenges. For example, tech companies could offer free coding workshops to underprivileged youth, empowering them with valuable job skills for the future or even inspiring them to pursue a career they never considered. 

15. Give back to veterans

Many organizations serve veterans through a dedicated volunteer effort that would love to have a willing team join for a day of giving back. Keep an eye out for volunteer programs that benefit veterans and their families directly, which could involve partnering with local veterans' organizations to offer practical support, such as career mentoring, resume workshops, or job placement assistance. 

16. Volunteer at a literacy program

Contributing to community development by volunteering at a literacy program is a wonderful way to participate in improving your community. Through a combination of commitment to education and social responsibility, employees can engage in various activities, such as tutoring sessions, reading aloud to children, or assisting with literacy workshops. 

Another way to make this a regular volunteer opportunity is to establish partnerships with local schools, libraries, or literacy-focused nonprofits to identify areas where their support is most needed. 

17. Create care packages

A company can make a meaningful impact by creating care packages for various needy recipients through volunteer efforts. To initiate this project, employees can collaborate to assemble care packages filled with essential items, comfort goods, and uplifting notes. These packages will be handed out to diverse groups, such as homeless individuals, low-income families, or healthcare workers. 

18. Offer resources for students

A professional workforce can provide valuable resources or classes to students, contributing to their educational development and skill-building. This volunteer effort can take various forms, such as organizing workshops on essential skills like financial literacy, career planning, or technology proficiency. 

Employees from diverse professional backgrounds within the company can serve as mentors, providing guidance and insights to students. Additionally, the company can donate educational materials, books, or technology tools to after-school programs. 

19. Run a free virtual workshop

To get remote teams involved in community engagement, try virtual volunteering by offering informative and skill-building workshops. Organize virtual seminars on professional development, technology skills, or personal growth to leverage its employees' expertise. Let workshops be open to the public or targeted toward specific groups, such as students, job seekers, or aspiring entrepreneurs. Your team can reach a broad audience using online platforms and provide valuable insights, training, and mentorship. 

20. Offer to help a local non-profit

Make a positive impact in its community by volunteering to support a local non-profit organization, such as providing skilled personnel to assist with specific projects, such as marketing, IT, or accounting, or whatever expertise your team has. 

Employees can also contribute their time by participating in on-site activities organized by the non-profit, such as community outreach events, fundraisers, or educational programs. In addition to knowledge sharing, explore opportunities to donate resources, equipment, or funds to bolster the non-profit's initiatives. 

21. Volunteers at a local environmental organization

Getting the team together to contribute to environmental conservation by volunteering at a local ecological organization perfectly combines fresh air and doing good. Employees can engage in hands-on activities such as tree planting, park clean-ups, or habitat restoration efforts. Additionally, the company can utilize its professional skills to assist with eco-friendly initiatives, such as developing sustainable business practices or conducting environmental awareness campaigns. 

22. Spend the day at the soup kitchen

Volunteering at a local soup kitchen is a community effort that can be done anytime. Employees can dedicate their time to assist with meal preparation, serving, and cleaning at the soup kitchen. Additionally, leadership could organize food drives within the workplace to collect essential items for donation that could be used to cook meals or donate directly to those in need. For businesses that offer their workers regular volunteer days, helping those facing food insecurity is a great way to make a real impact in addressing basic human needs.

23. Help organize student workshops

Make good use of your employees' expertise by organizing workshops for students based on various subjects, including career development, industry insights, or skill-building sessions. Workshops can be conducted online or in collaboration with local schools, colleges, or community organizations. Partner with a local school program and see if any classes could use an outside resource, like graphic design or coding. By partnering with educators, you can help them enrich their student's lives and help students be prepared to enter the working world. 

Make volunteering a part of your company culture

Volunteer activities at work play a crucial role in fostering team cohesion and promoting a positive work environment. Shared experience often translates into improved communication, collaboration, and a stronger sense of alignment within the team.

In addition to incorporating volunteer activities during the workday, companies can further enhance team building by organizing retreats that include volunteer opportunities. Engaging in activities like beach cleanups or volunteering at local charities during retreats benefits the community and strengthens the bonds among team members.

‍Surf Office can help care for everything from coordinating activities and volunteer opportunities to ensuring that logistics and details are seamlessly executed to meet the team's needs. Scheduling such retreats at least twice a year provides regular opportunities for team members to connect outside the office, fostering lasting relationships and a strong sense of purpose within the organization.