Whether it’s a volunteer event at a company picnic, Make a Difference Day, Company Cares Event or part of a larger meeting, corporate volunteer events can provide experiential learning opportunities.

By establishing a planning committee or having opportunities for Project Leaders at the event, employees can practice their:

• Project / Time / People management
• Finance / budgeting
• Goal setting
• Interpersonal Communication
• Marketing
• Creative thinking
• Organizational skills
• Effective listening
• Problem solving
• Teamwork skills
• Customer service skills
• Responsibility
• Coaching skills
• And more!

Volunteer programs are often viewed as a “nice-to-do” employee perk rather than a strategic business initiative. However, Deloitte’s 2011 Volunteer IMPACT Survey reveals that they are much more than that; companies that connect the dots between talent and volunteerism have an opportunity to strengthen relationships with employees and likely be rewarded with happier workers.

Read more from Deloitte’s 2011 Volunteer IMPACT Survey here.