Actionable strategies for organizations aiming to expand their social impact initiatives effectively including methods to enhance program reach, engage stakeholders, and measure outcomes to ensure sustainable growth.
Strategies to Scale Your Impact
Whether you're looking to kickstart a new social impact program or enhance an existing one, this guide offers practical strategies to engage leadership, foster a culture of giving, and build authentic community partnerships. By implementing these approaches, you can create a workplace where purpose drives performance, and every team member feels connected to your mission. Let's dive in and discover how to make a meaningful difference together!
Leverage Executive Leadership
- Get C-Suite executives excited about your social impact program so their involvement is genuine
- Ask executive leaders to publicly promote your initiatives whether through company messaging on Slack, during an all-hands meeting, or through a company-wide email
- Encourage executives to participate in volunteer events to lead by example and build a culture of giving
When leaders roll up their sleeves and join volunteer events, or simply promote it, employees take notice—and they’re more likely to jump in, too. It shows that giving back isn’t just a corporate buzzword; it’s a real priority. Plus, volunteering is a great way to connect, and what better way for employees to engage with leadership than in a setting where everyone is working side by side for a good cause? It’s a win-win!
Make Giving Back a Team Priority
- Remind employees of social impact initiatives and perks like donation matching and volunteer time off (VTO) during team and departmental meetings
- Treat the social impact program the same way you would time-off requests, project due dates, or performance evaluations. It’s part of the job!
- Encourage managers and department heads to actively participate and lead by example to engage the broader team
Employees are busy—juggling deadlines, meetings, and to-do lists that never seem to end. So, it’s no surprise they feel like they don’t have time to use their volunteer time off or join social impact initiatives. And honestly, that feeling is completely valid! But if leaders and managers don’t set the tone by participating themselves and making it clear that taking time to give back is encouraged, employees won’t feel comfortable stepping away. Volunteering isn’t just good for the community—it boosts pride, sparks learning, and strengthens team bonds, all of which help fight burnout!
Consistent Communication
- Promote events and initiatives two weeks ahead of time and send out frequent reminders
- Communicate through various channels - email, Slack, word of mouth, team meetings, company-wide all hands, posters in office, etc.
- Roadshow slides are a great tool for teams across the org to include in their departmental meetings!
- Get high visibility individuals to promote the event and ideally vocalize that they will be in attendance
When was the last time your inbox hit zero? Probably never! That’s why it’s crucial to make your social impact messages stand out. Get company leaders involved in spreading the word, and mix up the way you share—emails, meetings, Slack, you name it. Research shows people need to hear a message seven times before it sticks, so keep it consistent, conspire with high visibility leaders, and get creative!
Build Community with Employee Resource Groups (ERGs)
- Partner with ERG leaders to ensure their needs are met. It’s important that your social impact goals align with the goals of your internal community members
- Help to establish relationships between ERG leaders and C-Suite leaders. This provides visibility and mentor opportunities for ERG leaders, while helping executives understand the needs of historically marginalized employees
- Work in tandem with ERG leaders and internal champions to promote your initiatives and leverage their feedback to make programs more impactful
Your social impact initiatives should reflect the voices of your people—especially those in your Employee Resource Groups (ERGs). Partnering with ERG leaders ensures their needs are heard and aligned with your company’s giving and volunteer efforts. Go a step further by connecting ERG leaders with executives—this not only creates valuable mentorship opportunities but also helps leadership better understand the challenges and priorities of historically marginalized employees. And don’t stop there—work hand-in-hand with ERG leaders and internal champions to spread the word and gather feedback. When employees feel seen and included, your programs will have a greater impact!
Give Credit Where Credit is Due
- Shout out participants with photos and updates in company town halls, team meetings, newsletters, and Slack channels
- Provide external exposure by sharing event summaries on LinkedIn, creating blog posts, and building out a social impact or ESG section on the company’s website
- Reward internal champions with Cause Credits, company swag, or an expensed meal
- Incorporate social impact and inclusion participation into performance reviews
- Employees should self reflect on the ways they are expanding their awareness and community involvement to ensure the work they are doing is inclusive and accessible, and managers should recognize and reward these efforts
Recognition fuels engagement. When employees see their social impact efforts celebrated, they feel valued and inspired to do more. A simple shoutout or public acknowledgment can turn a one-time volunteer into a long-term champion. It also reinforces that giving back isn’t just encouraged—it’s a core part of your company culture. By weaving recognition into everyday moments and performance reviews, you show employees that their contributions matter, creating a workplace where purpose and appreciation go hand in hand.
Be Strategic in Your Partnerships and Approach
- Determine the resources that are unique to your organization and leverage them in your social impact strategy and initiatives. Your people and your product are what set you apart!
- Use your company’s mission to uplift historically marginalized communities and ensure your product is accessible and affordable for them
- Community comes in different forms, so think beyond your physical community and environment and explore identity-based communities and organizations with an aligned mission
A company’s mission should be the foundation of its social impact efforts. When businesses align their giving, volunteering, and community partnerships with their core values, their impact becomes more authentic and sustainable. Supporting historically marginalized communities isn’t just about donations—it’s about ensuring your products and services are accessible and truly beneficial. And community goes beyond geography; partnering with identity-based organizations that share your mission deepens your reach and strengthens your impact. By leveraging the unique strengths of your company—whether it’s expertise, resources, or innovation—you create a social impact strategy that is both meaningful and lasting.
Understand the Business Imperative
- Giving and volunteer programs boost employee engagement and retention while helping employees develop new skills and insights that generate a sense of pride and accomplishment
- A successful social impact program helps your organization stand out from competitors and attract top talent
- Social impact initiatives enhance brand image and customer loyalty, increasing your bottom line
Social impact programs are a win-win for everyone! They boost employee engagement and retention by helping employees learn new skills, gain fresh insights, and feel proud of the work they do. Plus, 91% of employees say these opportunities make their work experience even better. On top of that, these programs help your company shine brighter than the competition and attract top talent who want to work for a company with purpose. With 95% of employees valuing a positive community impact, social impact also gives your brand a boost, creating loyal customers who are willing to support a company that stands for something. In fact, 62% of consumers globally want companies to take a stand on social, cultural, environmental, and political issues that matter to them and 65% of consumers say their purchasing decisions are influenced by the words, values, and actions of a company's leaders.
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