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Organizations have been utilizing teambuilding events and charitable giving for a long time, but savvy companies are starting to incorporate them in a different way. Instead of keeping the two endeavors separate, leadership recognizes the value of combining them in teambuilding events that have a charitable component.

Why is this approach a smart one? Internally, teambuilding activities that support a good cause help improve employee engagement and retention. Statistics back up this theory:

  • 71% of surveyed employees say it is imperative or very important to work where culture is supportive of giving and volunteering. (1)
  • 88% of company leaders believe effective employee engagement programs help attract and retain employees. (2)
  • Results of a Project ROI study showed that organizations that invest in a well-designed corporate responsibility program see employee engagement increase by up to 7.5%, employee productivity increase by 13% and employee turnover decrease by 50%. (3)

The case for supporting a good cause while building team morale and connections is certainly compelling. And any organization can pull it off successfully. Below are five creative and effective ways that companies can combine teambuilding with charitable giving.

1. COMPETE FOR DONATIONS

Inspiring competitive spirit in employees for the benefit of a charity is powerful motivation for them to participate. This is accomplished by playing games, with the prize money going to the charity of their choice in the form of a donation.

Keep in mind that the members of each team will need to agree on the charity. Alternatively, all teams could play for the same charity, with the winning team given the honor of presenting the donation or a similar form of recognition.

Picking a game that many people are acquainted with already will help ensure the process goes smoothly. Ease of playing is also important. Examples of games that fall into these categories include:

  • Rock-paper-scissors – Multiple rounds of the classic game, with the final round being the championship one.
  • Keep the balloons in the air – The team that can prevent their inflated balloons from touching the floor or other surfaces the longest wins.
  • PRO TIP: When planning an activity such as an egg drop, be sure to check with building management and local zoning codes.

2. CREATE KITS FOR CHARITY

A full roster of employees, or even a single department of them, lends itself well to an assembly style formation. This is one reason why creating kits for children, homeless, or others in need is an excellent teambuilding activity for social good.

From children undergoing medical treatment in the hospital, to students who cannot afford their own school supplies, a kit can make a world of difference. It does not have to contain many items. Three to five items will make a big impact.

Depending on the number of employees participating, you can divide them into teams and assign each team an item. If there are not enough employees for teams, you can assign one item to each employee. In the latter scenario, the employees are still working together, despite not being grouped together as a team.

You can boost the fun factor by holding a contest to give the kits a creative and family-friendly name. The prize can be a small trinket or an employee incentive like an extra paid-time-off day.

3. PLANT A COMMUNITY FLOWER GARDEN

Flowers make both an immediate and long-term positive effect on mood, according to behavioral research conducted by Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey. (4) This makes planting a community flower garden a great teambuilding option. Think about how much pleasure the residents of an assisted living community or the students at an underserved school would receive from seeing flowers every day.

Plus, planting flowers is an easy activity to approach as a team. It gives you a couple of different options. You can have each employee handle the entire planting process for the flowers themselves. This scenario still has everyone working side-by-side, despite not working on the same flowers.

The second option incorporates an assembly line approach. Dividing the group into teams, assign a specific task to each team. For example, one team will prepare the soil, while another team will tuck the seeds or plants into it.

Choosing hardy, low maintenance flowers is ideal. This way, the recipients of the garden should not have to worry about any upkeep aside from watering it.

4. SPRUCE UP A HOME

Whether it is a single-family home or a group home, minor improvements can make a big impact for the people who live in it. Anyone can do tasks like applying a fresh coat of paint to the walls and cleaning debris out of the gutters. No special skill set is necessary, which makes it perfect as a teambuilding activity with a charitable focus.

Other easy home improvement tasks include:

  • Repainting cabinets
  • Changing out cabinet door handles
  • Reorganizing storage spaces
  • Cleaning the fireplace
  • Adding window boxes
  • Hanging curtains or blinds

Once the employees have gathered, find out if anyone has preferences for the tasks they want to do. Giving people a choice will make them more amenable to the job and set a positive tone.

PRO TIP: Go through safety precautions and procedures before starting any work. Having each person sign a liability waiver upfront is a good idea when assigning physical labor to employees. Chances are slim that you will need it, but it is always better to be prepared.

5. HOST A BUILD-A-THON

From more advanced items like wheelchairs and bicycles, to simpler ones like care packages and kits, a build-a-thon is a great way to inspire camaraderie among employees. In the former scenario, you should group employees that have some experience with those who have little to no experience. This way, the experienced people can mentor and guide the amateurs.

Give each team one part of the process to complete. This could mean everything from installing the wheels on a wheelchair or bicycle to placing candy in a care package for active military members or elderly shut-ins. Each person will be able to feel a sense of satisfaction from their contribution to the overall effort.

PRO TIP:  When assembling care packages identify items that are desired and most appreciated.  For example, warm socks, puzzles and unscented body lotion are ideal for seniors.  On the other hand, individual drink mixes that can be added to bottled water, hard candy, and word find games are ideal for deployed military members.

DOING GOOD TO BENEFIT ALL

Helping people and making the world a better place in doing so is always fulfilling. Establishing and strengthening the professional relationships between employees is beneficial for companies. By combining the two, organizations can boost employee engagement and retention.

Hosting teambuilding events that do social good does not have to be challenging or costly. The ideas presented above are a great starting point.

Are you looking to outsource your teambuilding meeting or event planning?  Contact Gavel International to learn more about how working with us can set your effort up for success.

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SOURCES:

1 https://www.charities.org/Snapshot-Employee-Research-What-Employees-Think-Workplace-Giving-Volunteering-CSR

2 https://www.charities.org/Snapshot-Employer-Research-Corporate-DNA-Employee-Engagement-Social-Impact

3 https://www.charities.org/sites/default/files/Project%20ROI%20Report.pdf

4 https://safnow.org/aboutflowers/quick-links/health-benefits-research/emotional-impact-of-flowers-study/

Jeff Richards
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