Recruiting and retention look a lot different in 2021 than they did twenty years ago. In addition to an increased focus on company purpose and  mission and the ability to work a flexible schedule from home (or anywhere), many employers are also offering an increasing amount of Volunteer Time Off (VTO). 

Since our founding in 2014, Ad Victoriam Solutions, a Salesforce Consulting Partner and certified B Corporation, has always strived to be different, including offering an entire 40 hours of annual VTO. However, we found, like most companies, that not everyone took advantage of this perk. In fact, in both 2019 and 2020, only around 25% of employees utilized any portion of their one week of paid volunteer time. Sure, we still achieved our Pledge 1% commitment to donate 1% of employee time back to the community, but we knew we could do better. 

As we spoke with employees, we found three contributing factors: the overwhelming lack of weekday volunteer opportunities, the business demands of the workweek, and the difficulty of finding an opportunity that included their biggest passion: technology. 

The Plan

We set a 2021 goal to double our employee volunteerism rate and we made some changes. For starters, employees could volunteer on the weekend and count it towards their work-week expectations–volunteering no longer had to be done during work hours to count. We also opened it up to non-traditional volunteering, like chaperoning field trips and helping out with little league practices, encouraging parents to spend more time outside of the office and with their children. 

In addition, we launched a training program with Goodwill of North Georgia that allowed our employees to volunteer their technical skills and expertise to teach Salesforce® to adults transitioning into tech careers. We also added an experiential component to the program, pairing employees with students to implement Salesforce’s nonprofit success pack for four deserving organizations. 

The Results

As of mid-November, we were on pace to see almost 60% of our staff use their paid VTO to give back to their communities. And that 1% target? Between the volunteer time (on pace for 1,600 hours) and our pro bono Salesforce work, we’re going to double our goal and donate 2% of revenue in the form of employee time. 

So, as we begin to lay out our plans to eclipse our 2021 results in 2022, we’re confident – in hindsight- that increasing our flexibility as a company really did drive overall team volunteerism. And all it took was small changes to attain those significant results… an impactful reminder of the importance of listening to our employees. 

Questions about our company-wide volunteer efforts? Reach AdVic here.

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For those that live in Raleigh, NC, or have ever visited, there’s a good chance you’ve enjoyed a meal at A Place at the Table.  From their delicious biscuits and gravy to their beloved chicken noodle soup, this cafe serves delicious food and does things a little differently. Unlike most restaurants, A Place at the Table is a nonprofit organization, serving community and good food for all, regardless of means. 

With a unique pricing structure that asks customers to pay what they can, they allow those in need to pay as little as $3 for their meal or work it off by volunteering. And because of this approach, they also rely on the generosity of their other customers, as well as donors, to bridge the gap. When the pandemic placed an even heavier reliance on this need, they realized they needed help filling this gap.

That’s when A Place at the Table turned to Salesforce’s nonprofit success pack, a free version of the popular Salesforce® customer relationship management software. This solution would allow them to more effectively, and efficiently, recruit new donors, set up recurring donations, and thank those that donate. It would also serve as a hub for the different technologies they use to collect donations, including Paypal, Give Lively, and Square. 

AdVic Lends a Helping Hand

After completing the application for their free Salesforce licenses, A Place at the Table also realized they needed help implementing the software and integrating all of their legacy systems. That’s when they reached out to Ad Victoriam Solutions (AdVic) for help. With our extensive experience implementing the nonprofit success pack, we were able to offer the right kind of helping hand. 

Best yet, as a Certified B Corp, AdVic was able to offer 25% of the project as pro bono work through our commitment to Pledge 1%, a pledge to donate at least 1% of annual revenue in the form of nonprofit work. A Place at the Table’s executive director, Maggie Kane, knew about AdVic through a mutual connection and made the call. “AdVic has been active in the B Corp community for a while now and I have a lot of friends in the Raleigh B Corp community, so I knew I could trust them to be transparent and honest with us,” Kane states. “They went above and beyond my expectations, making sure to stay within our approved budget and even accomplishing what I thought would need to be done in a Phase 2.”

AdVic was just as thrilled to work with an organization like A Place at the Table. These types of projects give AdVic’s team a sense of purpose in what they do every day, a sense of knowing that they’re making an impact for a wonderful organization that is serving a major need in the community.

An all-around win-win, this project was a fulfilling success for everyone involved. If you’re in the Raleigh area, stop in to A Place at the Table, enjoy a wonderful meal and add a little extra on the donation line when you complete your purchase. 

Watch the Angel Oak Creative Interview with A Place at the Table and AdVic

In need of a technology solution for your nonprofit? Check out Salesforce’s nonprofit success pack here and fill out The Power of Us application to get your nonprofit licenses. And if you’re in need of help implementing the software, or just want to see if it’s right for you, feel free to reach out to AdVic here. 

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By now, many consumers are aware of the B Corp Certification and can name a few of their favorite brands that use business as a force for good—such as Warby Parker, Cabot, Ben & Jerry’s, and Seventh Generation. However, many people may not be aware that there are more than 3,600 other companies that are part of this global movement whose goal is redefining capitalism to work for everyone and for the long-term. Companies like Legacy Vacation Resorts, Decisely, Torani, Taos Ski Valley, DialougeDirect, Mighty Bytes, and Selflessly. Even members within the B Corp community can benefit from increased exposure to the many other B Corps in this network. 

To that end, Ad Victoriam Solutions (AdVic) and Fors Marsh Group (FMG), two certified B Corps, recently teamed up on a project to help facilitate further community engagement via the B Hive platform.

AdVic’s Project Role

On the B Hive platform, which is powered by Salesforce’s Experience Cloud, employees of any B Corp can join the global community of thought leaders discussing everything from employee engagement to climate change. Silvia Laserna, B Lab’s Director of Client Success, shares her vision for the B Hive as “a place where B Corps can get informed, be inspired, and connect to each other, so they can leverage their collective voice and improve their impact.” The pro bono contributions that AdVic and FMG provided are helping to turn that vision into reality.

 AdVic has ensured that the B Hive is now more accessible and easier for B Corp employees to join. Shortening the sign-up process and giving new users a quick introduction on how to get the most out of the platform has helped B Lab increase their new member engagement rate. The company also added new features to the site, making it easier for B Lab to offer discounts and ask questions of the community, while also improving reporting and security features. 

 “This partnership was everything the B Corp movement is about, with a for-profit corporation donating their time and expertise to a nonprofit organization with the hope of adding value to their fellow B Corps,” AdVic’s CEO, Jeff Jones remarks. “This project gave our consultants a wonderful opportunity to engage with B Lab and the greater B Corp community.”

 Laserna expressed that “Ad Victoriam Solutions made the perfect partner because they understood Salesforce and what it means to be a B Corp. The fact that they did [the work] pro bono speaks to their commitment to the B Corp community and their desire to see the shared success of companies using business as a force for good.”

FMG’s Project Role

FMG conducted predevelopment research and strategic planning that was integral to creating and launching the Marketplace within the B Hive. This new Marketplace allows B Corps to easily source products and services from others in the community—simply put, the goal is to encourage the community to “Buy from Bs.” According to a B Corp community survey that FMG conducted in 2020, the key benefits that B Corps desire from the community include making business connections, sharing best practices, and promoting themselves within the B Corp community. With the recent upgrades to the B Hive and the Marketplace, B Corp employees can more easily connect with other B Corps. 

FMG conducted additional research with members of the B Corp community to inform feature recommendations for the Marketplace. FMG also provided B Lab with a road map to continuously improve the B Hive’s overall user experience. Matt Escoubas, Director of Special Initiatives at FMG, stated, “B Corps working together is not only good for business, it’s good for the world. FMG believes looking first within our B Corp community of partners and suppliers when making purchasing decisions is central to the growth of the movement. We are excited to put this resource into action, and what better place to do it than B Hive?”

Laserna added, “In light of the pandemic, the B Hive has become a central space where B Corps come together to connect, share, and be stronger together in ways that are not currently possible in person. Although this does not replace the magical experience of sharing space and physical proximity, we are grateful to have a platform where we can continue to gather, support, and nurture each other. It has been great to see all those dedicated B Corp users who continue to sign in, read, interact, and keep building relationships. Thanks to Ad Victoriam and Fors Marsh Group, those B Corps will have a better user experience on the B Hive, which will translate into more collaborations, stronger relationships, and a more impactful community.” 

“B” the Change

AdVic’s involvement with this project was a part of our Victory Project. As a B Corp and a member of Pledge 1%, we are committed to hitting this goal on two fronts, with 1% of our revenue donated in the form of pro bono consulting for nonprofits like B Lab and another 1% of our revenue donated through employee volunteer time. In addition to this project, our 2021 plans include a Salesforce-based workforce development program with Goodwill of North Georgia, as well as two all-volunteer consulting weekends helping local nonprofits implement Salesforce. 

 If you are already a part of the B Hive, we hope you like the improvements. If you work for a certified B Corp, we invite you to join the online community and consider how you can support or partner with other B Corps. And if you have been thinking about certifying and have questions, reach out to AdVic — we are happy to help!

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