SBF initiative VolunteerInc helps companies kick-start their corporate volunteering journey

[SINGAPORE] Through its new national corporate volunteering programme, the Singapore Business Federation (SBF) is hoping to “strengthen business engagement in community service”, said SBF Foundation chief executive officer and SBF chief sustainability officer Jean Tan. Launched in August, VolunteerInc aims to help companies “integrate volunteering into their operations while maximising societal impact”, she added. The programme was designed with SMEs in mind, with ready-to-use resources, training and frameworks that are easily accessible. These are aimed at lowering barriers to entry for those looking to participate in corporate volunteering.

SMEs’ challenges

SMEs are constrained in their ability to engage in social sustainability – which includes corporate volunteering – because they face challenges such as limited resources and inadequate manpower.

More broadly, social sustainability refers to the way a business makes an impact on its employees, customers, communities and society at large through daily operations.

While large corporates have dedicated CSR teams, SMEs’ social sustainability efforts tend to be on an ad-hoc basis.

Tan said many companies also “struggle to move beyond one-off initiatives because they lack the frameworks to integrate social impact into long-term business strategy”.

‘Untapped opportunity’

A report by SBF released in August showed that more companies – regardless of size – recognised social sustainability as a “driver of business value” because it strengthens business reputation and boosts employee engagement.

Said Tan: “It goes beyond philanthropy or one-off corporate social responsibility (CSR) projects by embedding people-centric practices, such as fair wages, workplace safety, inclusive hiring practices and community engagement into business strategy.”

She highlighted the importance of aligning social initiatives with corporate strategy, as it creates a win-win situation for companies.

“Integrating corporate volunteering into employee engagement strategies not only benefits communities but also builds stronger, more motivated teams, strengthens brand trust and enhances stakeholder confidence,” she added.

SEE ALSO

NVPC partners SUSS to boost social impact of PVPA 2025 winners, finalists

While the figures are “encouraging” – 95 per cent of companies have launched at least one social sustainability initiative, mostly in training and health – just 40 per cent are engaged in corporate volunteering. 

There is a gap between large businesses and SMEs. The report showed that 65 per cent of large companies have corporate volunteering initiatives, while just 13 per cent of micro-businesses have them.

“Companies recognise the importance of social sustainability, but corporate volunteering remains an untapped opportunity, especially for SMEs,” said Tan.

Bridging the gap

VolunteerInc seeks to bridge this gap by offering a framework for companies to integrate volunteering into their operations. It is being piloted with ecosystem partners such as community organisations, government agencies and training providers.

Companies that tap VolunteerInc will first complete an assessment tool to see where they are in their corporate volunteering journey, before working with advisers to identify which social causes they want to support.

After this, VolunteerInc will connect them to a specific community organisation, where employees will be matched to roles that fit their skills.

It will then provide training on how to design a volunteering programme and how to use impact measurement tools, while community partners will teach the company how to interact with beneficiaries and dive deeper into their chosen social cause.

VolunteerInc will also help companies track and measure their impact.

“We help ensure that volunteering programmes are structured, impactful and aligned with community needs – ultimately nurturing a more compassionate business community and a resilient Singapore society,” Tan said, adding that SBF will work with partners to grant companies access to volunteering opportunities and capacity-building support.

One such company that has tapped VolunteerInc is Coface Singapore, which offers credit insurance and risk-management solutions. 

Grishma Kewada, CEO and country manager of Coface Singapore, said: “Recognition schemes and shared platforms like VolunteerInc are helping to close gaps (in consistency, visibility and scalability) because they bring structure, accountability and collaboration.”

She highlighted the importance of engaging in social sustainability for companies to be both profit and value-driven.

While Coface previously volunteered with The Food Bank Singapore and Minds on a more ad-hoc basis, VolunteerInc has helped it embark on an inaugural partnership with Allkin Singapore. It will support senior beneficiaries on a long-term basis, especially as Singapore expects to become a super-aged society by next year.

SBF hopes to eventually scale VolunteerInc to offer tailored support, such as maturity assessments, advisory services and impact measurement tools.

Said Tan: “Businesses can step up by aligning their efforts with both community needs and their own strengths, whether that’s sharing employee skills, fostering inclusive workplaces or building long-term partnerships.”