How to Apply for Volunteer Grants: A Comprehensive Guide

Volunteer grants are a powerful yet often underutilized source of funding for nonprofits. These corporate programs channel financial contributions to organizations where employees volunteer their time, effectively turning hours of service into direct monetary support. For nonprofits seeking to diversify funding and deepen community engagement, volunteer grants represent an exciting opportunity.

This guide will walk you through everything you need to know about requesting volunteer grants, from understanding how they work to finding eligible companies to equipping your volunteers with the knowledge they need to complete the submission. We’ll also cover how to streamline the application process, leverage specialized databases, and build long-term corporate relationships that keep funding flowing year after year.

• Understanding Volunteer Grants
• Identifying Companies with Volunteer Grant Programs
• Educating Your Volunteers
• Streamlining the Application Process
• Leveraging Volunteer Grant Databases
• Engaging with Corporate Partners
• Staying Informed About Volunteer Grant Opportunities

By the end, your nonprofit will have the tools to not only empower your supporters to apply for volunteer grants but to embed them into your broader fundraising and volunteer engagement strategies.

Understanding Volunteer Grants

Volunteer grants are financial contributions made by corporations to nonprofits based on the volunteer hours their employees log. In practice, this means that when an employee volunteers for a qualifying nonprofit, their employer makes a corresponding monetary donation. For instance, a company might donate $25 for every hour volunteered or award a lump sum grant once an employee reaches a threshold number of hours. To unlock the funds, a volunteer typically just has to fill out a simple online form for their employer!

These grants are part of many companies’ corporate social responsibility initiatives. They serve a dual purpose: encouraging employees to give back to their communities while amplifying the impact of nonprofits. For charitable organizations, this represents an opportunity to maximize existing volunteer engagement by unlocking funds that might otherwise go untapped.

Why Volunteer Grants Matter for Nonprofits

Volunteer grants provide a unique blend of financial and human support. Unlike traditional donations, they are directly tied to volunteer engagement, making them a bridge between two of the most critical nonprofit resources: time and money.

The benefits of these programs include:

• Reliable supplemental funding: Every volunteer hour logged has the potential to generate a financial contribution.

• Deeper community involvement: Donors who also volunteer often have a stronger emotional connection to the cause.

• Increased corporate visibility: Partnerships with companies through volunteer grants can raise awareness and credibility for your nonprofit.

When understood and managed effectively, volunteer grants can transform a nonprofit’s approach to both volunteer management and fundraising.

Identifying Companies with Volunteer Grant Programs

Finding companies that offer volunteer grants is the first step in securing this valuable funding. Many corporations have established programs to support their employees’ volunteer efforts.

Researching Corporate Programs

The first step is knowing which companies offer volunteer grants.

After all, thousands of employers across industries have programs in place, ranging from tech giants to healthcare providers to local businesses. A few examples of these companies include:

• Microsoft – Provides $25 for every hour an employee volunteers.

• Verizon – Offers grants of up to $1,500 annually for employees who log 50 volunteer hours.

• CVS Health – Provides grants based on volunteer hours, often ranging from $500 to $1,500.

These examples illustrate the variety of approaches. Some companies provide a set hourly rate, while others reward annual milestones. To build a robust strategy, nonprofits need to understand the various types of grants available to them.

Utilizing Employee Networks

Your existing volunteers are your best starting point. Many may already work for companies that offer volunteer grants, but simply don’t know about the programs. Encourage them to ask their HR departments or CSR teams. You can also distribute short surveys to your volunteers asking about their employers.

By collecting this information, your nonprofit builds a database of potential corporate partners connected to your existing supporters. This creates a highly targeted list of opportunities where success rates are likely to be higher.

Educating Your Volunteers

Many volunteers may be uninformed of their eligibility for volunteer grants. Educating them about these opportunities is essential for maximizing your nonprofit’s funding potential.

Promoting Awareness

Awareness is often the biggest barrier to accessing volunteer grants. In fact, many employees are unaware that their employers even offer these programs. That’s why strategic education and volunteer grant marketing must be a core part of your strategy.

To get started, we recommend using multiple channels to spread the word. This can include:

• Workshops and orientations for new volunteers.

• Regular email newsletters highlighting specific volunteer grant opportunities.

• Social media campaigns featuring “Did you know?” posts about popular companies with programs.

You can even incorporate personalized outreach, such as a follow-up email to a volunteer grant-eligible individual who just completed an event with your cause!

Providing Step-by-Step Guidance

Even if volunteers know about volunteer grants, the application process can feel confusing or overwhelming. That’s why the next step is to provide simple, actionable instructions. Create a dedicated webpage or handout that walks them through:

1. How to check if their employer offers a program.

2. Where to find application forms or online portals.

3. What information they’ll need to submit (such as hours worked or nonprofit tax ID).

The easier you make the process, the more likely volunteers will follow through and secure funding on your behalf.

Streamlining the Application Process

Implementing efficient systems can simplify the tracking and reporting of volunteer hours, making it easier to apply for grants. Here’s what we recommend.

Utilizing Volunteer Management Software

Tracking and reporting volunteer hours manually can be time-consuming and error-prone. Volunteer management software simplifies this process by automatically recording shifts, logging hours, and generating reports. Tools like these can produce documentation that volunteers can submit directly to their employers. This automation not only saves staff time but also ensures accuracy, reducing the risk of denied applications due to incomplete or inconsistent reporting.

Establishing Clear Internal Procedures

In addition to technology, clear internal procedures are critical. Decide who within your organization will verify volunteer hours, how quickly confirmations will be provided, and what format documentation will take. Setting these standards helps volunteers feel supported and confident when applying for grants.

Consider creating a “Volunteer Grant Toolkit” for staff and volunteers that includes all the necessary forms, contact information, and FAQs. This central resource can dramatically improve efficiency.

Leveraging Volunteer Grant Databases

Accessing comprehensive information about various volunteer grant programs can significantly enhance your nonprofit’s ability to secure funding. Instead of relying on manual research, nonprofits can use volunteer grant databases to access up-to-date information on thousands of corporate programs. Tools like Double the Donation’s volunteer grant database provide searchable platforms with details about eligibility, application processes, and deadlines.

By integrating such a database into your website or volunteer management system, you make it easy for volunteers to check if their employer participates. From there, the database tool can even provide direct links to their volunteers’ companies’ grant request forms. This reduces friction and increases the likelihood of applications being submitted.

Volunteer grant databases also save nonprofits countless hours of staff time. Rather than starting from scratch with every inquiry, staff and volunteers can immediately identify and follow up with volunteer grant opportunities. This also ensures your organization doesn’t miss out on smaller, lesser-known companies that still offer meaningful funding.

Engaging with Corporate Partners

Building strong relationships with corporations can lead to increased volunteer engagement and grant opportunities. Here are a few ways that your team can get started:

Collaborating on Initiatives

Once you identify companies with volunteer grant programs, take the relationship beyond individual applications. Propose partnerships such as company-wide volunteer days, team service projects, or co-branded community initiatives. These events not only increase the number of volunteer hours logged but also strengthen your nonprofit’s visibility within the company.

Highlighting and Sharing Impact

Corporate partners want to see the results of their investment. Share stories, photos, and data that demonstrate the impact of both volunteer hours and financial contributions. For example, show how volunteer grants helped fund a new program, expand outreach, or support additional beneficiaries.

By providing this feedback, you reinforce the value of the partnership and encourage ongoing support. Many companies will even expand their giving once they see clear results.

Staying Informed About Volunteer Grant Opportunities

The corporate giving landscape is constantly shifting, with new trends emerging as companies and their employees adapt their giving strategies. Regularly monitoring corporate giving announcements and deadlines is crucial for ensuring timely applications.

Subscribing to Newsletters and Alerts

The landscape of volunteer grant programs is always evolving. Companies update their policies, expand eligibility, or launch new initiatives regularly. Subscribing to nonprofit newsletters, corporate giving bulletins, or regional volunteer organizations ensures your team never misses an opportunity.

Participating in Webinars and Workshops

Educational events are another way to stay current. Many foundations, corporate partners, and nonprofit associations host webinars about volunteer grant trends. These sessions can help you refine your strategy, learn best practices, and network with peers who are also maximizing volunteer grants.

Staying informed ensures your nonprofit doesn’t leave money on the table simply because you missed an announcement or deadline.

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Conclusion

Applying for volunteer grants can significantly enhance your nonprofit’s funding and community impact. By understanding the process, identifying potential corporate partners, and educating your volunteers, you can maximize these opportunities effectively. Remember to stay informed and engaged with your corporate partners to foster long-term relationships that benefit both your organization and the community.

Secure More Volunteer Grant Funding with Double the Donation Volunteering

Ready to take your nonprofit’s funding to the next level? With Double the Donation, you can effortlessly tap into a world of volunteer grants that can help power your mission and programming. Our comprehensive database and tools simplify the search for volunteer grant opportunities, allowing you to focus on creating a greater impact.

Don’t miss out on the opportunity to double your volunteers’ potential. Raise more with volunteer grants today and see how our platform can transform your volunteer efforts.