By Making a Social Investment in Volunteerism

Increase Your Businesses’ Profitability, Improve Competitiveness and, Have a Greater Impact on Your Community

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Benefits of Investing in Charity

✓ Increased Profitability

✓ Product Differentiation

✓ Customer Loyalty

✓ Increased Competitiveness

✓ Attracts Talent

✓ Strong Public Image

✓ Employee Satisfaction 2

Research shows:

• businesses who demonstrate social responsibility are more competitive and profitable

• consumers and investors prefer dealing with businesses that are responsive to social problems

• social investments help distinguish products, giving them a higher perceived value than those of a competitor

• the positive strong public image gained through social investments can offset attempts to damage the firm’s reputation

Research also shows:

• social investments contribute to building customer loyalty based solely on ethical values

• customers are likely to switch to brands associated with a good cause, given comparable price and quality

• socially responsible companies find it easier to recruit and retain talented employees

• employees of companies who have a strong social presence are more satisfied with the company, more loyal, and are more productive

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Sources: http://www.causemarketingforum.com, http://www.sterling-ferrero.com/update-live/socio-co-responsibilities.html

Social Responsibility

Social responsibility is built by contributing to Charity programs that assist people in need, the environment, and animals in distress

By assisting people in need, and that which cannot speak for itself, the overall quality of a community is improved

While contributing to Charities helps build a healthy community, these investments also help the businesses who contribute

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Social Responsibility as an Investment

In order to be profitable and competitive, resources are used to advertise the business, to develop new and improved products and to implement a customer loyalty approach

Channelling a portion of business resources to Charity projects is a cost effective way to advertise and build customer loyalty for existing products

The Charity will then promote the business by adding the business name, mission and logo (etc.) to their non-profit’s program and event awareness strategy

The business may also advertise using the projects and events of the Charity they invested in as the focus of advertisement

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Investing in the your local

Volunteer Centre Charity is an

Investment in Volunteerism, local Charities

and the Community

overall

Most Charities are underfunded

and under resourced and

need volunteers to fulfill their

mandate

The SOS Volunteer Centre

finds valuable voluntary labor to help deliver

Charity programs

You are investing in Volunteerism when you invest in your local Volunteer Centre

Your local Volunteer Centre:

• Encourages the public to Volunteer to help deliver important community programs

• Provides resources to Volunteers: Searchable volunteer opportunity database; self-assessment tools, volunteer guide books and passports to volunteering

• Works with local Charities to help them find volunteers

• Provides practical tools for Charities to help them retain volunteers

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Research shows:

Volunteering not only helps

those being helped, it helps the

volunteer AND the

community

Volunteers live happier

healthier and longer

lives…it’s a fact!

Strong healthy communities demonstrate an openness to everyone who can and

wants to contribute

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Volunteering creates healthy people and strong communities

Investing in Volunteerism is also an investment in democracy

Strong volunteer sectors are a hallmark of successful democratic

societies

The SOS Volunteer Centre promotes awareness of volunteerism and its importance to the public; keeping

volunteerism alive and strong

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Its easy to Invest in Volunteerism, here’s how…

Donate Cash

• most needed to support continued delivery of Volunteer Centre programs to volunteers and charities

• your business may qualify for a Charitable Tax receipt; ask us how.

Donate Cash and/or Prize donations

• contribute to annual Volunteer Centre fundraising campaigns and events, examples: • Online Auction (our first

annual fundraising auction was held in June 2015)

• Themed Events with Live Music (held two or three times a year)

• Raffles (large items are best for raffles such as vacation packages or vehicles)

• Draws (ongoing draws are offered as incentives for volunteers to register with us)

Host a Third Party Fundraiser at work, and donate the

proceeds to the Volunteer Centre. Examples:

• Raffle & 50/50 draws - Hold occasional draws in the workplace • Host a company golf

tournament • Matching gift program - Match donations made by staff • Office BBQ - Host a barbeque at lunch. This could be monthly or quarterly, for example. • Casual Day

Register your business to receive Volunteer Updates

• provide your staff with information on volunteer opportunities open in the community

Investing in Volunteerism provides your business with an immediate return. The Volunteer Centre’s advertising makes your cash and/or in-kind donations quickly begin working to benefit your business

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Compared to advertising on your own:

The same advertising for a top sponsor would cost more than $10,000 and

would not receive all the benefits of a business investment associated

with a social cause

Cost effective

advertising

* Increase your reach by 51%

while demonstrating

social responsibility.

Public Service Announcements

reach 30,000, with the

Volunteer Centre Website drawing thousands of hits

per year

*When people visit the

Volunteer Centre

Website they will see your business logo

Volunteer programs are

advertised using multiple forms of media, including:

•Radio Stations •Newspapers •Online Media Outlets •Multiple Newsletters •Posters •Brochures

*Based on comparing the audience reached by investing in the SOS Volunteer Centre vs. buying a single 1/8 page ad in local print media (single issue). Cost per person reached =

$160.84/[23,000 issues/week * 0.5 weeks] = $.0035/person. Same investment in the SOS Volunteer Centre: Cost per person reached = $160.84/30,000 = .0053. 0053/.0035 = 1.51 = 51% increased reach per unit cost. * Business Logos may also be advertised on posters and other media depending on the program.

Advertising benefits associated with investing in your local Volunteer Centre

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To invest in the SOS Volunteer Centre

Please Contact :

Community Engagement Coordinator, Ryan Oickle, B. Eng ryan@volunteercentre.info

Executive Director, Wendy Weisner, MBA, Ph.D info@volunteercentre.info

Telephone: 1-888-576-5661

Web: www.volunteercentre.info

Address: 102-696 Main Street, Penticton, BC, V2A 5C8

Please make cheques payable to the South Okanagan Similkameen Volunteer Centre Society

Registered Federal Charity # 819826652RR0001

__________________________________________________________________________________________________ Sources of Information: Institute for Business Ethics, Kenexa Research Institute, http://www.sterling-ferrero.com/update-live/socio-co-responsibilities.html

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Examples of Charities your local Volunteer Centre helps find volunteers for:

Interior Health Lifeline

BC Schizophrenia Society

SO Immigrant & Community Services

SOS Canadian Mental Health Association

SO Women in Need Society

SOS Crime Stoppers

Canadian National Institute for the Blind

Heart and Stroke Foundation

Okanagan Parks Society

Critteraid

SS Sicamous

Kettle Valley Steam Railway

SO Victim Assistance Society

SO Rehabilitation Centre for Owls

Peach City Beach Cruise

MS Society

Penticton United Church

Oliver Parks Recreation Society

Okanagan College

Penticton Hospice and Bereavement Resource Society

Penticton Access Centre

Canadian Cancer Society

Better at Home and Friendly Visitor Programs

SOS Café/ Medical Foundation

SO Brain Injury Society

Alzheimer BC

SOS United Way

Canadian Red Cross

SOS Literacy Now

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Meet examples of the Volunteers that have come to the Volunteer Centre for assistance…

ANDY

Having experienced a severe brain trauma in an accident years earlier, Andy (age 35) approached the Volunteer Centre to begin his introduction back into the work force. A nervous but confident individual, he had taught himself to read and write following the accident and had gained his memory back. Receiving only a disability income and remaining at home was not satisfying. He saw his next step was to begin connecting back into the community and regain his skill-set and workplace know-how. The Volunteer Centre staff and volunteers worked with Andy to uncover his volunteer interests and to review the list of volunteer opportunities with him.

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Meet examples of the Volunteers that have come to the Volunteer Centre for assistance…

NADINE

Young and enthusiastic, Nadine (age 23) offered her Volunteer services for administration work in a Non-Profit society through the Volunteer Centre. She had some basic office training, but was also managing a disability that she felt was a barrier to employment. The Volunteer Centre staff and volunteers helped Nadine by going over the Volunteer Guide, Self-Assessment tool and Health Benefits of Volunteering. Using the Volunteer Listings for the Community Nadine found Volunteer work which helped her to gain confidence and applied skills. Then she successfully found full time paid work, but is continuing to help out as a Volunteer. “I find volunteering such a rewarding experience, I feel my skills are valued, and I want to continue to give back.”

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Meet examples of the Volunteers that have come to the Volunteer Centre for assistance…

DONALD

Donald, a highly skilled and experienced Senior Executive with a local Government contacted the Volunteer Centre. Donald (age 58) and a number of his colleagues were recently laid off. Donald was looking for opportunities to apply his leadership skills. Staff and volunteers provided Donald with Guide to Volunteering, including a Self-Assessment to determine his volunteer interests and a list of Volunteer opportunities. Donald is currently volunteering with three community organizations. In addition Donald is leading a project for the Volunteer Centre, bringing his experience and networks to further solutions for a complicated social issue.

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The South Okanagan Similkameen Volunteer Centre Society

• Provides easy access to opportunities that allows people to connect to their community through volunteering.

• Works with other community groups to improve their ability to recruit, manage, retain and appreciate volunteers.

• Helps the public find volunteer opportunities that fit their interests and needs. Youth, for example, often seek to develop skills and employability, and improve their job prospects.

• Encourages the public to volunteer, and raises awareness about volunteering.

• Collaborates with governments, community leaders and organizations to speak on behalf of volunteers and volunteering.

Registered BC Society # S-56413

Registered Federal Charity # 819826652RR0001

102-696 Main Street, Penticton, V2A 5C8

Web: www.volunteercentre.info E: info@volunteercentre.info, T: 1-888-576-5661 16