We know that giving back and volunteering together unites people around a common purpose, giving them the opportunity to connect at the deepest levels of human meaning. This is true for us as individuals, and it’s true for us when we come together in community, whether that’s in our lives as private and public citizens, or in our workplace.

How do you give a giant shot of adrenaline to charitable fundraising? Throw a virtual party that covers half your state and mix in a slew of cash incentives, challenges and a stadium throwdown to get nonprofits, individuals and corporations engaged.

According to Bersin by Deloitte, “employee engagement has become the top issue on the minds of business leaders, directing us to an entirely new model of management”. But what does employee engagement even mean?

A recent report by America’s Charities (an exclusive partner of my company, Causecast) puts to rest any doubts about the link between employee volunteering and employee engagement. Companies prioritize employee engagement as a way to attract and retain employees, and 84 percent of the companies surveyed view volunteer opportunities as an important way to engage employees.

It’s that time of year when CSR budgets are being drawn for the year, and the unfortunate reality is that many companies will come up short. 

In the past three years, America’s Charities has been releasing the country’s most incisive and comprehensive series of reports on trends in employee volunteering and giving. This year’s much-anticipated report was just released, and it’s packed with encouraging - even inspiring - data for anyone who cares about employee-centered corporate philanthropy.