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We all share the desire to feel like we are a part of something larger – a community that offers support and stability. Strong communities foster social connections while improving education, safety, professional opportunities, health and happiness.

Corporate social responsibility (CSR) is the belief that a business should consider how it impacts the surrounding community. A core element of CSR is philanthropic responsibility, which prioritizes community engagement and volunteering. And workplace volunteer opportunities can lead to compelling business outcomes:

1. Attract and retain talent: Volunteer activities provide a space to build transferable skills, networks and leadership abilities. An April 2024 Deloitte survey revealed that 87% of professionals consider workplace volunteer opportunities a factor in their decision to stay with their current employer or pursue a new one. Through volunteer efforts, team members can expand or grow their skillsets in project management, fundraising, communications, public speaking and more – all relevant skills for new and senior level professionals.
2. Enhance team building: Volunteering promotes trust and camaraderie among workplace teams, guiding them to work together efficiently. Based on a Gallup survey, only 32% of employees felt positively engaged in their positions in the second quarter of 2024. A workplace volunteer program is one solution to increase employee engagement and fulfilment through shared commitment to service-based initiatives.
3. Improve company culture: Employers who provide flexibility to volunteer see enhanced motivation among their employees, according to Forbes. This results in greater performance, enthusiasm and emotional investment in the company. With a strong company culture, team retention rates remain high and recruiting top talent is more likely – contributing to organizational success.
4. Develop community partnerships: SHRM found that employer-sponsored volunteer programs build goodwill within a community and positively shape a company’s reputation.

Here at Moore, our team is anchored by a commitment to enriching our community and collaborating on a greater good. Moore CEO and founder Karen Moore’s vision more than 30 years ago was to put people first and under President & COO Terrie Ard’s leadership, community engagement has remained a core company value.

Through Moore’s CSR program, Moore Impact, each team member receives four hours a month of “company time” to engage in their preferred cause. And in 2023, Moore employees across 10 communities from East to West Coast donated thousands of hours to initiatives ranging from hunger and poverty to education, animal rescue, housing insecurity and environmental preservation.

As an example, several Moore team members have volunteered to serve as Community Catalysts with Knight Creative Communities Institute (KCCI) in Tallahassee, where Moore is headquartered. With KCCI, we’ve co-led projects that enhance quality of life and sense of place. KCCI projects have generated nearly $1 billion in economic impact, including the Fully Booked experience, Crosswalks to Classrooms initiative and Art of the Box program where locals and tourists alike snag photo ops. As a former KCCI intern during my Florida State University undergraduate years, I returned to volunteer as a Catalyst on this year’s team to envision a vibrant park in downtown Tallahassee.

One more example is Moore’s collective focus on supporting children and their welfare. Through Moore Impact, the agency has adopted a kindergarten classroom every school year since 2021 as part of the Greater Tallahassee Chamber of Commerce Classroom Connection initiative. Each month, we gather to celebrate and mentor kindergarteners at John G. Riley Elementary School, located in one of the poorest zip codes in Florida and just a few miles from our headquarters. The Moore team is energized by the collective impact this program has made since 2021, including donating hundreds of presents during the holidays, taking 200+ kindergarteners on their first school field trip, hosting end of the year parties and establishing a permanent food pantry at the school with the support of community partners.

Incorporating volunteerism into a CSR program is a strategic business choice. By making an impact in the community through volunteering, your organization can expect to recruit top talent, increase team retention rates, expand networks and grow team skillsets – all while doing good.

Making an Impact: The Moore Team in Action