Top Volunteer Time Off Companies: A Nonprofit’s Guide

In the nonprofit sector, time is often just as valuable as money. With the estimated value of a volunteer hour hitting $34.79 in 2024, securing dedicated, skilled volunteers is a financial win for your organization. But what if you could access a pool of professionals who are not only eager to help but are effectively paid by their employers to show up? Enter volunteer time off companies.

Volunteer time off, or VTO, is a rapidly growing corporate benefit where employers grant their staff paid days off specifically to volunteer. Unlike traditional volunteering that happens on weekends or evenings, VTO allows employees to support your mission during regular business hours—often bringing their specialized professional skills with them.

In this guide, we’ll explore the top companies offering generous VTO programs and share actionable strategies to help your nonprofit tap into this powerful resource.

In this guide, we’ll cover:

• What Volunteer Time Off (VTO) is and how it differs from other programs
• Why VTO companies are ideal partners for nonprofits
• A list of top companies with standout VTO policies
• How to market your volunteer opportunities to these employees
• Best practices for retaining corporate volunteers

Let’s dive in and unlock the potential of corporate volunteering.

What Is Volunteer Time Off (VTO)?

Volunteer Time Off (VTO) is a corporate policy that provides employees with paid leave to volunteer with nonprofit organizations. It is distinct from standard Paid Time Off (PTO) because it is designated strictly for charitable activities.

While VTO is often confused with volunteer grants (where companies donate money based on hours volunteered), they are two separate but complementary programs. VTO gives employees the time to show up; volunteer grants give the nonprofit money for that time.

Did You Know?

28% of companies now offer paid time off for volunteering, a figure that is steadily rising as businesses prioritize Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and employee engagement.

Why VTO Matters for Nonprofits

For nonprofits, VTO solves one of the biggest hurdles to volunteer recruitment: schedule conflicts.

• Weekday Availability: Since VTO is used during work hours, you get volunteers when you actually need them—Monday through Friday, 9-to-5.
• Skilled Support: VTO participants are often working professionals who can offer pro bono services in areas like marketing, IT, finance, or strategy.
• Reliability: Because they are “on the clock” with their employer, VTO volunteers are often highly reliable and committed to their scheduled shifts.

Top Volunteer Time Off Companies to Know

Knowing which companies offer these benefits is the first step to securing their support. Below are some of the most generous VTO programs available today.

Salesforce

Salesforce is a pioneer in the “1-1-1 model” of philanthropy, dedicating 1% of its equity, product, and employee time to the community.

• The Policy: Employees receive 56 hours (7 days) of paid VTO per year.
• Why It Matters: Salesforce encourages employees to use their technical skills for good, making them excellent candidates for pro bono tech consulting or data management projects.

Cisco

Cisco uses technology to solve global problems, and their employee engagement strategy reflects that commitment.

• The Policy: Cisco offers employees 40 hours (5 days) of VTO annually to support causes of their choice.
• Additional Impact: Cisco is known for integrating VTO with matching gift programs, meaning a volunteer’s time could eventually lead to monetary donations as well.

Deloitte

As a global leader in professional services, Deloitte emphasizes skills-based volunteering.

• The Policy: Deloitte does not cap VTO hours strictly but encourages significant community involvement, often organizing annual “Impact Days” where tens of thousands of employees volunteer simultaneously.
• Why It Matters: If you need help with strategic planning, auditing, or operational efficiency, Deloitte’s workforce is a goldmine of expertise.

Novo Nordisk

This pharmaceutical giant takes employee well-being and community health seriously.

• The Policy: Novo Nordisk offers a staggering 80 hours (10 full days) of VTO per year to its employees.
• Why It Matters: With two full weeks of volunteer time available, these employees can commit to longer-term projects or intensive volunteer camps that other professionals can’t manage.

Patagonia

Patagonia is famous for its environmental activism, and its VTO policy is one of the most unique in the corporate world.

• The Policy: Through their environmental internship program, employees can leave their jobs for up to two months to work full-time for an environmental group while continuing to earn their paycheck and benefits.
• Why It Matters: This is a game-changer for environmental nonprofits looking for dedicated, full-time staff support for critical campaigns.

Hasbro

Hasbro is committed to making the world a better place for children and their families, and they empower their employees to lead that charge.

• The Policy: Employees receive 4 hours of paid time off per month to volunteer, totaling 48 hours per year. This program, known as “Team Hasbro,” is designed to be flexible so employees can volunteer regularly throughout the year rather than just once.
• Why It Matters: The monthly structure is perfect for nonprofits looking for consistent, recurring volunteers—such as mentors or tutors—rather than just one-time event support.

Warner Bros. Discovery

Following its merger, Warner Bros. Discovery has maintained a strong commitment to community impact through its “Impact” program.

• The Policy: Eligible employees receive 40 hours of paid volunteer time off annually to support causes they are passionate about. They also offer a matching gift program and volunteer grants, allowing employees to triple their impact.
• Why It Matters: With a full week of paid volunteer time, Warner Bros. Discovery employees are ideal candidates for week-long camps, intense project sprints, or serving on nonprofit boards.

GM Financial

GM Financial’s “Community Investment” strategy focuses on strengthening communities through financial literacy and mobility.

• The Policy: Full-time employees are eligible for 8 hours of VTO per quarter (32 hours per year), while part-time employees receive 4 hours per quarter. This quarterly structure encourages steady engagement year-round.
• Why It Matters: By refreshing hours quarterly, GM Financial prompts employees to stay engaged with their communities in every season, preventing the “use it or lose it” rush at the end of the year.

Timberland

Timberland calls its VTO program the “Path of Service,” and it is one of the most generous in the retail industry.

• The Policy: Full-time employees are given up to 40 hours of paid volunteer time annually. To date, Timberland employees have served over 1 million hours in their communities.
• Why It Matters: Timberland actively organizes service events for its employees, making them a great partner for environmental clean-ups, community garden builds, and other outdoor service projects.

Dow

Dow combines its VTO policy with a focus on disaster relief and sustainability.

• The Policy: Dow employees can take up to two weeks of paid time off to volunteer with specific partners like Team Rubicon to assist in disaster recovery efforts without using their vacation days.
• Why It Matters: This unique policy is a lifeline for disaster relief organizations that need boots on the ground immediately following a crisis, providing a surge of skilled, paid volunteers when they are needed most.

Other Notable VTO Programs

• Silicon Valley Bank: Offers unlimited volunteer time off, empowering employees to give back whenever they see a need.
• Thomson Reuters: Provides 16 hours (2 days) of VTO annually.
• Vanguard: Offers one paid day of volunteer service (VTO) per year to all crew members.

Quick Tip: Don’t just look for national brands. Many local branches of banks, accounting firms, and tech startups offer VTO to stay competitive in hiring. Check the “Careers” or “CSR” pages of major employers in your city to find local partners.

How to Market VTO Opportunities to Your Base

Just because a company offers VTO doesn’t mean employees know how to use it—or that they should use it with you. You need to actively market your volunteer opportunities to these professionals.

1. Create “VTO-Friendly” Volunteer Shifts

Traditional volunteer shifts (e.g., Saturday mornings) don’t leverage VTO benefits. Create specific weekday opportunities that fit a 9-to-5 schedule.

• Lunch & Learn: 1-hour remote sessions where professionals can offer advice.
• Team Days: 3-4 hour blocks in the afternoon specifically designed for corporate groups to come in, do a project, and bond.

2. Update Your Website and Forms

Make it easy for corporate volunteers to find you.

• Volunteer Page: Add a section explicitly welcoming corporate groups and mentioning “VTO-friendly” hours.
• Registration Forms: Add a field asking, “Does your employer offer Volunteer Time Off?” This helps you identify individuals who might have more hours to give than they realize.

3. Leverage LinkedIn

Since VTO is a workplace benefit, market it where professionals hang out.

• Post about your weekday volunteer needs on LinkedIn.
• Tag specific local companies known for VTO (e.g., “Calling all [Company Name] employees! We have a great opportunity for you to use your VTO hours this Friday!”).
• Share photos of corporate teams volunteering to provide social proof.

4. Provide Proof of Impact

Corporate employees often need to verify their hours to get paid for their VTO. Make this seamless for them.

• Offer automated hour logs or certificates of service.
• Be prepared to sign off on corporate portals (like Benevity or YourCause) quickly.

Turning VTO into Long-Term Partnerships

A volunteer using VTO is often your gateway to deeper corporate philanthropy. Once you have a relationship with a VTO participant, you can expand that partnership into:

• Volunteer Grants: Many companies offering VTO also offer “Dollars for Doers” grants. For example, after an employee volunteers 10 hours, the company might cut you a check for $250. Always remind VTO volunteers to check for this.
• Matching Gifts: If an employee donates their time, they are statistically more likely to donate money. 84% of donors say they’re more likely to donate if a match is offered. Ensure these volunteers know their monetary gifts can be doubled.
• Sponsorships: A happy team of corporate volunteers is your best advocate when asking a company to sponsor your next gala or 5K run.

Wrapping Up & Next Steps

Volunteer Time Off programs represent a massive, underutilized resource for nonprofits. By targeting companies with generous VTO policies, you can secure reliable, skilled, and energetic support during business hours—something that is often hard to come by.

Ready to boost your volunteer power?

1. Audit your data: Look at your top 50 volunteers and try to identify their employers.
2. Update your forms: Add an “Employer” field to your volunteer sign-up sheets.
3. Spread the word: Add a blurb about volunteer grants to your next newsletter.

With a little effort and the right strategy, you can turn volunteer hours into significant funding for your cause.