Realized Worth

The number question we get from clients is, “How do we make our employee volunteer programs scalable, measurable, and meaningful?” Our answer: Employee Volunteer Leader Networks! 🤩 These networks are one of our favorite things to discuss and was the focus of our last RealTalk Webinar (full recording available in this blog 👇 ). At the end of the day, leading a Volunteer Leader Network boils down to being an intentional people manager, skilled at creating an ecosystem where individuals are intrinsically motivated to participate at their highest level of contribution. It’s simple, yes, but far from easy! So, we're here to help! In this blog from Director of Strategic Consulting, Megan Strand, you'll find 4 common governance structures to consider as you build or optimize your network along with the 5 most common challenges we’ve observed as companies work to build or scale their Volunteer Leader Networks. (Oh, and don't forget to download your free copy of RW's Transactional vs. Transformative Volunteering Framework 📑 to equip your Volunteer Leaders with the right knowledge and tools to create transformative volunteering experiences!) Dive in here: https://bit.ly/3MDZKoB

🤝 Need support applying an equity lens to your Volunteer Leader Toolkit? Check out our free Equity in Community Engagement Guide for samples and customizable templates you can use today: https://bit.ly/3Gm2FP0 🛠️ Need more tools? Be sure to check out Social REV.

🤔 If you could improve ONE aspect of your corporate volunteering program in 2025, which would you choose? ✅ Scalability ✅ Meaningfulness ✅ Measurability ✅ Inclusivity ✅ Hybrid-friendliness Here's the thing: These elements are deeply interconnected. Scalable programs naturally become more measurable. Meaningful programs, when thoughtfully designed, become more scalable. Inclusive programs drive deeper engagement. And in today’s hybrid work environment, programs that adapt to various work models reach more people and create broader impact. Your starting point matters, but it depends on your organization's unique strengths: 💪 Got strong Volunteer Champions? Start with scalability 🤝 Engaged volunteers? Focus on meaningfulness 📊 Strong digital adoption? Lead with measurement 🌎 Building globally? Prioritize inclusivity 💻 Adapting to new work models? Go hybrid-first 💡 Most importantly, before focusing on any specific aspect, start with your own purpose. In 2025’s rapidly evolving workplace, authentic leadership is more important than ever. Your role as a CSR manager extends beyond program administration – you’re a catalyst for social impact and cultural change. 👉 Eager to dive deeper? Check out our latest blog from Angela Parker here: https://bit.ly/4h8MXHo #CorporateVolunteering #SocialImpact #CSR #VolunteerEngagement #WorkplaceCulture

Even if you got into Social Impact for a different reason, we can safely assume you’re staying in this role because you want to make a difference. 🤝 So why – in a world where impact is really all we want – do numbers seem to be the only thing that matters? 📈 Well, numbers get noticed. They're a data source. They answer essential questions for the business that drive strategies, influence campaigns and determine budgets. With the stakes this high, no wonder numbers – namely, employee volunteer participation numbers – are king. So, why is it so hard to achieve high participation numbers? 🤔 Oftentimes, it feels difficult to ask our employees to do anything beyond the basics of their jobs. They’re busy, they’re exhausted, they have other priorities. The solution? Just make it easier. 🤷 Curate the volunteer opportunities, plan the events, send out the awards – and then all employees will have to do is show up, make a difference, feel good, and get back to work. It’s the only way to meet them where they are without canceling volunteering altogether. Right? Wrong. ❌ You’re making it too easy. Human beings make decisions based on a complicated combination of unconscious influences. Making something easy – or removing barriers to entry – is certainly a factor, but sometimes it’s a factor that makes an offer less attractive – not more – and ultimately causes people to lose interest. So, what does that mean for volunteering and Social Impact? We unpack it all in this blog including ways to better engage and activate your employees. Check it out: https://bit.ly/45kLbN6

We've wrapped up Giving Season. 🎁 How did it go? What went well? What didn't go so well? What do you want to build on this year? 🤔 We know... a lot of questions for the start of the year😪, but if you're in reflection mode, read on to discover what we believe can take you beyond year end giving for lasting impact 🚀: https://bit.ly/3RtEW4L

Already dreading that 2025 to-do list? Allow us to take care of some (or most) of it with Social REV! Social REV provides access to 150+ ready-to-use how-to guides, templates, tools, courses and more to level up your Social Impact program. Plus, Social REV gives you access to RW experts through a kickstart workshop and advisory sessions. Don't let 2025 get you down before it's even really started - join Social REV:

Happy New Year friends! 🎉 🥂 We are looking forward to another year of collaborating and innovating with you (but to be honest, we're hanging onto these last few days of rest before diving back into work.) 😴 Remember to be kind to yourself as you come "back to office" and work through that post-holiday slump. We're right there with you! 😉

Happy Holidays to all and to all a good night! May your holiday season be full of rest, play, and reflection. ☃️ 🎄 🎁 We'll see you in 2025. Until then 👋

Looking for books to cozy up with for the holiday season? ☃️ ☕ Check out our RW Staff Picks, where we list some of the books that are guiding and shaping our perspectives, our lives and our work at RW! 📚 Check it out here: https://bit.ly/3B1rv50 #socialimpact #csr

🤔 Why do we put so much faith in our gut instincts? Our Co-Founder & CEO, Angela Parker's latest reflection challenges this common wisdom, exploring a counterintuitive truth: sometimes what feels right isn't what serves us. Angela shares how a simple practice of "noticing" - writing letters to herself before challenging meetings - helped reveal how survival patterns have shaped her - and all of us. While our instincts kept our ancestors alive, are they keeping us from evolving in today's world? Whether it's road rage, being cut off in meetings, or even our reactions to global events - what feels like protection might actually be holding us back.❗ At Realized Worth, we believe this practice of "noticing" is crucial because our work breaks down barriers between people. But empathy is hard work, especially when life moves so fast that we barely notice anything beyond what's necessary for survival. Maybe the most revolutionary thing we can do is slow down enough to notice what's really happening - both within us and around us. 🌟 👉 Read Angela's full reflection on why your gut instinct isn't always right and how to move into 2025 thoughtfully: https://bit.ly/3DoHCNO #ProfessionalDevelopment #socialimpact #csr #MentalHealth