As we discovered in the time stewardship course, secular scholarship often verifies the truths of God’s Word. In recent business and non-profit literature, there has been an emphasis on “skills-based volunteering”—encouraging professionals to donate their particular skills to nonprofits in need. Read the following excerpt from a case study, in which employees of Capital One explained the benefits they received while volunteering for an education foundation (Source).
From “Engaging Skilled-Volunteers to Achieve Impact”
[Capital One Senior Vice President] Mentry said the engagement has given Capital One associates the opportunity to do logo work, naming work and all levels of design in a system that goes across the web and all written materials. “Literally, brand architecture came out” of the project, said Mentry.
Marc Mentry, Capital One Senior Vice President
He added, “At Capital One, we have these same challenges in our jobs every day, but most people don’t have a chance to touch all of them. The chance to look at a brand holistically doesn’t come around a lot for marketers. The HEF project gave volunteers a palette to paint on that they wouldn’t have in their everyday jobs. That’s growth for them.”
Pro bono project lead Stephen Spiers agrees.
“It’s fun,” he said. “I get to work on all facets of marketing for a foundation, working directly with the decision maker. I’ve also been exposed to people outside of the Capital One family which is a great way to expand my business networks. And I’m working with new people at Capital One; it sharpens my own marketing skills. I think that’s why I’ve stuck with it.”
[The foundation’s executive director] sees both an immediate return and long-term benefits from working with the Capital One team. “A strong educational system in the community is key to the success of the vibrant organizations in our community. So every chance we have to work with someone from Capital One or another organization is a chance to win another donor,” she said.
Mentry eloborated on tangible benefits to his organization, as well. “I do get the sense that the people who have given their time as volunteers do better here,” he said. To support that statement, analysis by an outside agency revealed that the skill-building effect of work on pro bono projects is profound. Nearly 90 percent of Capital One employee managers surveyed observed improved leadership by their direct reports as a result of the pro bono experience.
“People who stretch and give of their time seem to achieve more and have higher job satisfaction long-term. The ability to give back to the community makes for a happier workforce, which is better for the company and better for the community. That is really the thing that we have watched over time. I have a goal for more than 50 percent of our department to engage in these deep engagements. And we have low turnover in our department,” said Mentry.
