How do we match employee interests with the right causes?

July CSR Planning for Indian Companies

As companies plan their next cycle of employee volunteering activities, one-size-fits-all CSR events don’t work anymore. Employees today want to volunteer for causes they care about. If the cause doesn’t connect, the engagement drops.

This is where matching interests with the right social causes becomes key.

Why Most CSR Activities Fail to Engage Employees

Many CSR events are good in intention but poor in participation. That’s usually because the activity doesn’t align with what employees value or are skilled in.

Imagine asking a content writer to dig trenches for rainwater harvesting. They may show up once, but never again.

How to Match Employees With the Right Volunteering Activities

Step 1: Understand What Employees Care About

Ask your team simple questions:

• What causes do you personally care about?

• Do you prefer indoor or outdoor volunteering?

• Are you comfortable speaking in public or mentoring students?

This helps map interest + availability + comfort zone — which is a winning formula for any volunteering program.

Step 2: Offer a Variety of CSR Activities

Don’t just offer one activity. Offer choices:

• Tech teams? Run digital literacy sessions in government schools.

• HR or L&D teams? Let them mentor college students.

• Sales teams? Organize donation drives and school visits.

• Creatives? Host storytelling, drawing, or eco-art workshops with children.

• Outdoor lovers? Plan plantation drives or lake cleanups.

When employees choose the cause they like, they show up with energy and pride.

Step 3: Work With an NGO That Gets It

All this is only possible if your NGO partner understands corporate culture and employee dynamics.

Choose an NGO that:

• Works across India

• Offers custom-built volunteering programs

• Has experience with corporate engagement

• Shares post-activity photos, reports, and measurable data

This makes execution easier for CSR heads and HRs.

July Is the Right Time to Start

Mid-year volunteering gives teams a meaningful break and re-energizes them. Plus, July has powerful international days like World Youth Skills Day, which are ideal for employee-driven CSR campaigns.

The Outcome You Can Expect

When volunteering activities match employee interests:

• Participation rates go up

• Social impact is deeper

• Employees feel more connected to the company’s purpose

We’ve seen firsthand how one weekend of aligned volunteering can leave employees feeling proud, purposeful, and connected to the real world.

Final Note

If you want your CSR programs to work, don’t just plan them - personalize them. To make this happen, companies can collaborate with an experienced NGO like Marpu Foundation, which offers fully customized, high-impact volunteering opportunities that align with both employee interests and business values.

👉 To learn more, visit www.marpu.org