Dollars for Doers

February 27, 2019February 27, 2019 Category: Volunteer Spotlights Posted by Lea Richardson

Company social responsibility has become big business for not only major companies but also for small businesses in the 21st century. While matching gifts are the most common form of employee giving programs, volunteer grant programs like Dollars for Doers are growing fast.

We have been building a solid base of dedicated volunteers who are serving the National Foundation for Ectodermal Dysplasias (NFED) as ambassadors, board members, liaisons, state leads, Family Conference volunteers and in other roles  It’s more than likely that there are volunteer grant opportunities out there not being used.

We don’t want to miss out on easy funding. Volunteer grants allow you, as a volunteer, to donate your time to the NFED while your company acknowledges your dedication by donating money to the NFED. This allows you, our valued volunteer, to “give twice.”  Every dollar counts and volunteer grants are FREE money. 

What Are Volunteer Grants or Dollars for Doers Grants?

Volunteer grants, also known as Dollars for Doers grants, are company giving programs created to encourage you as their employee to get involved in your community. The NFED is your community. Supporting You. Supporting Each Other. You are engaging with us by volunteering!

Through volunteer grant programs, a company gives money to nonprofit organizations, like the NFED, based on how many hours you volunteer. The NFED could benefit from your volunteer service and from the additional grant the company awards us. Did I mention: FREE money?! No cost to you. How easy is that?!

Please make sure that you know what your company’s guidelines are for their volunteer grants program. It differs from company to company.

Types of Volunteer Grants

Volunteer grants come in two varieties, individual and team. Here’s how they work.

Individual Volunteer Grants

Individuals volunteer for the NFED and earn money from their employer according to the time duration of their service. An individual employee must meet a minimum number of volunteer hours in a year before a grant is given. There is also a cap on the number of hours eligible for grants. The typical award comes to $8-$15 per hour spent volunteering with maximums ranging from $250 to $1,000.

Team Volunteer Grant

For a team volunteer grant, a group of employees volunteers together and earns money based on the amount of time they serve. How big the group must be to receive team grants varies by employer. Volunteering as a team builds employees’ teamwork skills and increases community engagement. Team volunteer grants resemble individual programs except multiple employees must volunteer for the NFED at the same time. This is perfect for family fundraisers!

Kohl’s is a great example of a Team Volunteer Grant. Through the Kohl’s Associates in Action Program, when five or more employees volunteer together for three hours, the charity becomes eligible for a $500 grant. How about asking your local Kohl’s to volunteer at a family fundraiser, like a Don’t Sweat It Walk? Make sure you have five Kohl’s employees, not four, not three, but five, then the NFED will receive $500. If only three come, the NFED will not receive anything.

Companies with Volunteer Grant Programs

More than 45 percent of Fortune 500 companies offer volunteer grant programs for their employees. Some of them are listed below. Check with your Human Resource Department if your company has a volunteer grant program or Dollars for Doers program.

Each year, corporations donate billions to nonprofits in the United States, with $2-$3 billion of that coming from matching gift programs for their employees. Yet, $6-$10 billion in matching gifts goes unclaimed yearly. Plus, 65 percent of Fortune 500 companies offer matching gift programs, but the median employee participation rate is only nine percent. All of those figures seem surprising, but they are true. While companies are pretty darn generous in matching their employees’ donations, still so much money remains on the table.

Did you know that many companies extend their Volunteer Grant Program or Dollars for Doers program to their retired employees?

Help the NFED go after this FREE money. You have the opportunity to double your donation!

How Volunteer Grant Programs Work

1. Start by signing up to be an NFED volunteer by filling out our volunteer form.
2. Track the number of hours you volunteer for the NFED each month and email it to me monthly at lea@nfed.org. Please include a summary of the tasks you performed.
3. Check your employee handbook or ask human resources if your company has a volunteer grant program.
4. If they do, read their guidelines on how to submit a grant request. Some are done electronically and others have a paper form.
5. Once you submit it, the NFED usually has to verify that you volunteered for us, how many hours you worked and sometimes your tasks.  We also provide documentation that the NFED is a  501( C )(3) charitable organization.
6. The company cuts a check or sends an electronic fund transfer into NFED’s bank account.

If you would like more information or if you are interested in volunteering for the NFED, contact me at lea@nfed.org or 618-566-6871.

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Companies with Volunteer Grant Program

Here is a partial list of companies which offer Volunteer Grant Programs. Is your company listed? Be sure to ask at work to see if yours offers one.