10 Volunteer Time Off Companies That Set an Example

Volunteer time off (VTO) programs are on the rise, and many companies are now offering VTO as part of their benefits packages. The average VTO policy provides employees with 20 hours to devote to charitable causes, giving employees two or three extra days off.

However, some generous companies go above and beyond the 20-hour mark. In this guide, we’ll explore 10 volunteer time off companies that provide employees with 40 hours or more. With this knowledge, your nonprofit can connect with supporters who work for these employers to boost your volunteer numbers.

First, let’s clarify what VTO is.

What is Volunteer Time Off?

Volunteer time off is a form of paid time off employees receive specifically to volunteer.

Companies with VTO programs usually have policies that outline specific scenarios in which it is and is not appropriate to request VTO time. A few common policy requirements include:

• Employee eligibility. Some companies provide VTO for all of their employees, whereas others might have eligibility requirements based on part- or full-time status, seniority, and position. For example, full-time executives might have VTO while part-time employees do not.
• Nonprofit and activity eligibility. To avoid employees using VTO for activities that should be PTO, companies will usually list the types of nonprofits that are ineligible for VTO and give examples of activities that do not qualify for VTO. For example, a company might specify that political and religious organizations do not qualify for VTO, so employees cannot take VTO to volunteer for a church fundraiser.
• Request deadlines. Like with most types of paid time off, many VTO policies require employees to submit their requests far in advance. However, there are exceptions to this. For instance, some companies have disaster clauses in their VTO policies so their teams can take days off immediately to pitch in during emergencies, such as natural disasters.

You can help your supporters discover if they’re eligible for VTO by using a corporate giving database like 360MatchPro! These databases can help connect your supporters with all of their employers’ volunteer information, including whether they offer volunteer grants and VTO.

10 Volunteer Time Off Companies

Cisco

Cisco is a multinational technology company headquartered in San Jose, California. Cisco develops hardware and software, and it’s currently focusing on how AI can enhance security, power software, and improve data analysis.

VTO Policy

Cisco employees receive 10 days off to volunteer, meaning they offer four times the average company’s VTO hours.

Plus, Cisco also offers generous matching gifts and volunteer grant programs. With a low minimum of $1 and a high maximum of $25,000 per year, full-time and part-time employees are encouraged to donate, knowing their gifts will be matched. Cisco’s volunteer grant program is also easy to participate in with employees earning $10 per hour for the nonprofits they volunteer with.

Novo Nordisk

Novo Nordisk is a Danish medical research and technology company with branches all over the world, including a U.S. location in Plainsboro, New Jersey. Novo Nordisk focuses on researching chronic illnesses and provides medical products, like insulin pens.

VTO Policy

Just like Cisco, Novo Nordisk provides employees with 80 hours of VTO, allowing staff to take two weeks off every year to volunteer. While Novo Nordisk does not offer a volunteer grant program, their generous matching gifts program allows part- and full-time employees to get donations as low as $10 matched.

Salesforce

Salesforce is a technology company providing one of the world’s most popular CRMs. Salesforce CRM is a highly flexible platform that organizations in a variety of industries use, including nonprofits and businesses.

VTO Policy

Salesforce provides employees with 56 hours of VTO a year, adding up to seven days of time to volunteer. For matching gifts, Salesforce has no minimum donation amount, and part- and full-time employees can have their gifts of up to $5,000 matched per year.

Salesforce’s volunteer grant program, however, is nonstandard when compared to most companies. Individuals who volunteer are entered into a lottery system where 1,000 randomly chosen winners are selected every quarter to win $500 for their chosen nonprofit.

Hasbro

Hasbro is a U.S.-based games, toys, and entertainment company that produces a variety of children’s toys, such as Nerf air guns, Play-Doh, and My Little Ponies. They also own game and entertainment brands aimed at adults, such as Magic: The Gathering and Dungeons and Dragons.

VTO Policy

Every month, Hasbro corporate employees accumulate four hours of VTO time, totaling 48 hours every year. When it comes to matching gifts, Hasbro matches full-time employees’ donations to educational institutions for up to $2,500 per year.

PwC

PwC has a long history of providing auditing, consulting, and tax services for organizations of all sizes, from multinational corporations to small community businesses. PwC’s services have evolved alongside the changing demands of both technology and finances, adapting to trends in cryptocurrency and AI to help clients determine what’s a passing fad and what’s the key to growth.

VTO Policy

PwC’s team of accountants and bookkeepers have the skills necessary to provide valuable pro-bono work to nonprofits. PwC, fortunately, realizes this and provides their teams with 40 hours of VTO every year. Plus, PwC also matches donations to educational institutions of up to $10,000 per employee per year.

Johnson & Johnson

Johnson & Johnson is a global leader in pharmaceuticals and medical technology. They research and develop cures and treatments for a wide range of diseases with the goal of creating easily replicable healthcare solutions.

VTO Policy

Johnson & Johnson encourages employees to care for their local communities by providing 40 hours of VTO per year, giving their staff a full work week to devote to nonprofit causes. Plus, full-time, part-time, and retired employees all qualify for matching gifts, and current employees receive a generous 2:1 ratio for their donations. This means that for every dollar full- and part-time employees donate, Johnson & Johnson donates $2!

KPMG

KPMG is considered one of the “Big Four” multinational accounting firms (one of the others being PwC which also appears on this list). Like its competitors, KPMG provides clients with auditing, tax, and advisory services to help them make strong financial decisions and secure their organizations’ futures.

VTO Policy

Like PwC, KPMG also offers employees 40 hours of VTO every year, allowing them to donate their skills to nonprofits in need of financial assistance. Plus, full- and part-time employees can have their donations of up to $10,000 to educational institutions matched at a 1:1 ratio. However, employees who donate to one of these five schools can earn a 2:1 match ratio:

• Fiorello LaGuardia Community College (NY)
• Central Washington University (WA)
• Wagner College (NY)
• Seton Hill University (PA)
• Springfield Community College (MA)

PNC Financial

PNC Financial Services Group is a Pittsburgh-based banking and financial services organization. PNC serves individuals, small businesses, and corporations by providing banking and advisory services.

VTO Policy

PNC employees have 40 VTO hours every year, which also happens to be the minimum number of hours PNC requires for employees to qualify for volunteer grants. This encourages employees to take their full 40 hours to work with eligible nonprofit organizations and earn them $1,000. Additionally, some PNC employees may be eligible for a 4:1 matching gift ratio.

Be aware that PNC is selective about the types of nonprofit organizations its programs support. Only nonprofits that specialize in early childhood education qualify for volunteer grants. Meanwhile, only educational institutions, arts and cultural organizations, and human services organizations are eligible for matching gifts.

Timberland

Timberland is a clothing and footwear brand that specializes in high-quality hiking boots and outdoor gear. When it comes to corporate social responsibility, Timberland makes it a point to use recycled materials and encourages customers to return their used Timberland products to stores as part of their recycling program.

VTO Policy

Timberland continues to show its commitment to corporate social responsibility with its 40 hours per year worth of VTO. While Timberland does not offer a matching gifts program, it highly encourages volunteering by awarding the top 100 employees with the most volunteer hours with $1,000 for the nonprofits they support. This motivates employees to use their VTO hours and keep going to make volunteering a regular part of their lives.

Warner Bros. Discovery

Warner Media has undergone several name changes over the years based on acquisitions and business change-ups. Today, Warner Media is Warner Bros. Discovery, representing its merger with Discovery to create one popular, centralized streaming service: Max.

VTO Policy

Warner Bros. Discovery rounds out our list by offering employees 40 VTO hours. Plus, employees are also eligible for a generous volunteer grant program that provides $10 for every hour volunteered with a cap of $1,000 per year.

In a unique twist on matching gifts and volunteer grants, Warner Bros. Discovery allows employees to combine their matching gift contributions and volunteer hours to hit their annual cap of $1,000. This means an employee could use their allotted 40 VTO hours to earn $400 in volunteer grants and donate an additional $600 to hit their $1,000 limit.

More Corporate Giving Resources

Companies give to nonprofits in a variety of ways, from helping their employees volunteer with VTO to supplementing their donations through matching gifts. Help your supporters discover these opportunities by investing in a corporate giving database and promoting these programs.

For more corporate giving resources, try exploring these guides:

• Volunteer Grants: Get More Out of Your Volunteer Program. Many companies that offer VTO also offer volunteer grants. Discover how to earn free revenue from your volunteer program.
• Why Companies Should Implement Payroll Giving Programs. Payroll giving is an easy way for businesses to help their employees give back. Discover how these programs work and what your nonprofit can do to receive funding.
• Why Did My Nonprofit Receive a Check From a CSR Vendor? When you receive payment for a matching gift or volunteer grant, you might receive a check from a CSR vendor. Learn how your nonprofit should handle these payments.