Measuring and Communicating the ROI of a Volunteer Program to Executives

When companies run volunteer programs, they often ask, “What’s the return on investment?” In other words, how do we know this program is truly helping the business and the community? Measuring and communicating the ROI (Return on Investment) of a volunteer program is important because it helps executives see the real value of giving back.

A good volunteer program does more than just help others. It builds stronger teams, improves a company’s reputation, and increases employee happiness. But to get leaders’ full support, you need to show those results with clear data and stories that make sense.

Define What Success Looks Like

Before measuring anything, decide what success means for your company.
For some businesses, success might be the number of hours employees volunteer. For others, it might be about employee engagement, skill development, or community impact.

Ask these simple questions:

• What are our goals for the volunteer program?
• How do we want this program to affect our people, community, and brand?
• What kind of data can we easily track?

When you start with clear goals, it’s easier to collect the right information later.

Measure the Right Metrics

To show ROI, you need both numbers and stories. Here are some key things to measure:

1. Participation Rates – How many employees joined? Did more people volunteer this year than last year?
2. Volunteer Hours – How many total hours were spent helping the community?
3. Employee Retention – Are employees who volunteer staying longer with the company?
4. Skill Growth – Did volunteers gain leadership, teamwork, or project skills during service?
5. Community Impact – How many people or organizations were helped? What changed because of the program?

When possible, put dollar values on these results. For example, if 500 volunteer hours were donated and each hour is worth $30, that’s $15,000 of community value.

Gather Feedback and Stories

Numbers are powerful, but stories bring them to life. Ask employees, community partners, and nonprofit organizations to share what the volunteer work meant to them.
A short quote or a photo can show executives the human side of the program.

Example:

“Before the volunteer project, our classroom didn’t have enough supplies. Now our students have everything they need to learn.”

Stories like that show how the company’s effort makes a real difference.

Communicate Results Clearly to Executives

When presenting results to executives, keep it simple and visual. Use charts, photos, and short summaries instead of long reports.
Executives want to see:

• Key outcomes (“We supported 12 nonprofits and logged 2,400 volunteer hours.”)
• Business impact (“Volunteer teams reported 20% higher engagement scores.”)
• Community value (“$75,000 of service donated to local causes.”)

Be sure to connect the volunteer work to the company’s goals. For example:

“Our volunteer program not only helps our city—it also strengthens employee loyalty and brand trust.”

Use the Data to Grow the Program

Once executives see real numbers and stories, they’re more likely to invest in future volunteer projects.
Show them how you plan to make the program even better—like expanding to more locations, creating leadership roles for volunteers, or partnering with new nonprofits.

When leaders understand the ROI, they see volunteering not as an expense but as a smart investment in people, culture, and community.

Final Thoughts

Measuring and sharing the ROI of a volunteer program isn’t just about math. It’s about showing how kindness, teamwork, and purpose make a company stronger. When you tell that story clearly—with both data and heart—executives will see that volunteering is one of the best investments a business can make.

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