Skills-Based Volunteerism: A Powerful Talent and Leadership Development Tool

Evan Hochberg

Questions Peter asked Evan

• Evan, tell us about your background?
• Your title is National Director Community Involvement for Deloitte - what do you spend most of your time doing?
• For several years, Deloitte has issued a Volunteer Impact Survey. Give us some context. How did this come about, and how do you go about producing this report?
• Who participates in the survey?
• Your survey uses the term, skills-based volunteerism - can you define this term for us?
• In the past, CSR, or Corporate Social Responsibility has just been another way of saying "risk and compliance" do you think this is changing?
• I'd like to talk about some of the key findings in the Deloitte 2008 report. First, how do HR professionals view volunteer programs?
• How many of the F500 companies you surveyed use their volunteer efforts to help attract and retain their employees?
• How do companies manage these programs?
• How many of the companies you surveyed are leveraging their volunteer programs to build leadership skills?
• What are the biggest road-blocks? Seems to me, given the data in your report, companies would be jumping on this bandwagon. Are they?
• Given the shaky economy we're all experiencing, I would imagine non-profits are in even more need of the kind of skills companies can provide them through these initiatives.
• What was the biggest take-away for you, regarding this survey?
• How does Deloitte promote skills-based volunteerism?
• What are some resources available for companies that want to get more involved in this?
• How do you "sell" this to the C-Suite?

Evan Hochberg Biography
Evan Hochberg is the National Director of Community Involvement for Deloitte Services LP where he oversees Deloitte's national community involvement initiative, providing strategic direction for philanthropy, volunteerism, pro-bono and workplace giving. In this role, Evan has spearheaded a complete refocusing of Deloitte's community involvement approach which is centered on the contribution of the organization's intellectual capital to help strengthen the capacity of the nonprofit sector. As the latest step in this long term process, Deloitte recently announced a three-year, $50 million commitment to the delivery of pro bono service to nonprofit organizations. Additionally, Evan developed Deloitte's Problem Solvers Fund, a national grant-making program that aligns the organization's philanthropic giving with skills-based volunteering. He also oversees IMPACT Day, Deloitte's national day of volunteerism.

Previously, Evan was the Managing Director of Community Wealth Ventures (CWV), a leading national consulting firm that works with major corporations and nonprofits on a range of strategic issues aimed at generating business value and social impact from community activities. His clients included cutting-edge socially responsible corporations such as Timberland, Ben & Jerry's, and Alcoa as well as leading nonprofits such as AARP, City Year, and the Case Foundation.

Before joining CWV, Evan was an Associate at Booz-Allen and Hamilton, where he provided strategic advice and technical assistance to large public and private organizations. His other experiences include working as Division Director for the March of Dimes and serving as Director of Melwood's Recreation and Travel program for developmentally disabled adults.

A frequent public speaker on philanthropic trends, Evan is a member of the board of the Taproot Foundation. Additionally, he serves on the Points of Light Institute's Corporate Volunteer Council, where he chairs the Council's Skills-Based Volunteering Committee. He co-chairs the Leadership Group of Pro Bono Action Tank, which was recently formed by the President's Council on Service and Civic Participation, and he is a member of the Conference Board's Corporate Contributions Council. Evan received a B.A. in Philosophy from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and an M.A. in Management of Human Services from the Heller School at Brandeis University.

Complete transcript of the press release:

NEW YORK, April 28, 2008 — According to the fifth annual Volunteer IMPACT Survey by Deloitte, the overwhelming majority of human resource professionals view skills-based volunteerism as a powerful and cost-effective professional development tool, yet very few companies are leveraging volunteer programs for this purpose.

The national survey of Fortune 500 human resource managers found that, while training and development is perceived as vital to corporate success, many managers are laboring under shrinking or flat budgets, underscoring the need for cost-effective innovation. One solution could be found in an unlikely place — the company's volunteer program. Fully 91 percent of respondents agree that skills-based volunteering (which involves the contribution of business knowledge and experience to help nonprofits increase their capacity) would add value to training and development programs, particularly as it relates to fostering business and leadership skills. However, only 16 percent make it a regular practice to intentionally offer these opportunities for employee development, suggesting a missed opportunity to boost learning in a way that offers substantial benefits.

"Talent development is one of the most critical priorities facing corporate America today," said Barry Salzberg, chief executive officer, Deloitte LLP. "By intentionally linking two often unconnected areas like community involvement and training, innovative companies can meet strategic business goals, save money and, at the same time, release new resources for the community. It's powerful."

According to the American Society of Training and Development, corporate America invests heavily in training and development, spending more than $100 billion a year. The 2008 Volunteer IMPACT Survey revealed that the slowing economy and threat of a talent shortage are placing increased pressure on talent development programs, often without added financial resources. Eighty-seven percent of human resource managers surveyed agreed that their company's training and development program is under pressure to develop the next generation of leaders, yet 70 percent indicated that their budget either remained flat or decreased over last year. Skills-based volunteer activities are perceived as a cost-effective development option; only 2 percent of total respondents believe that incorporating skills-based volunteering into talent development programs would cost more than traditional training and development options.

"Skills-based volunteer programs provide valuable experiential learning opportunities for employees that build business and leadership skills without the expense often associated with traditional corporate training programs," said Evan Hochberg, national director of community involvement, Deloitte Services LP. "As leading companies become adept at leveraging their community investments to drive key business goals, corporate community involvement programs will be positioned to deliver more business value and social impact."

However, the benefits of incorporating skills-based volunteerism into corporate training and development programs remain largely unrealized. The survey found that even in those companies that do offer skills-based volunteer opportunities, they are generally not viewed as a strategic business tool. In fact, among HR professionals who agree that skills-based volunteering is an effective way to further develop leadership skills, only 13 percent offer it to all employees.

"Corporate America has yet to fully tap the benefits of integrating skills-based volunteerism into talent development strategies and programs," said Susan Burnett, national director of talent development, Deloitte Services LP. "With a focus on learning and development, a volunteer role can become a stretch assignment that develops leadership and client service skills that benefit the volunteer organization, the employee and their company. This will be a priority for Deloitte as we 'refresh' our talent development agenda."

Leading By Example Already as part of its own training and development program, career and leadership coaches at Deloitte recommend skilled volunteerism to their internal clients for developmental purposes. The organization is also putting in place a process to assign senior managers to support partners, principals and directors in their work on nonprofit boards, which will serve as an opportunity for participants to gain tangible leadership experience in a way that produces measurable results. Deloitte also offers a robust pro bono program, which presents valuable development opportunities for personnel at all levels.

As another example of Deloitte's ongoing commitment to community involvement, on June 6, 2008, Deloitte is hosting IMPACT Day, the organization's ninth annual celebration of volunteer service. Many of the events that take place on IMPACT Day allow Deloitte's 40,000+ employees to volunteer their business skills to nonprofits in their communities.

The 2008 Volunteer IMPACT Survey is the latest installment in Deloitte's research series, a key component of the organization's commitment to building the business case for, and advancing the dialogue about, corporate community involvement. Through compelling research on issues of strategic community involvement, as well as its own world-class program, Deloitte advocates the contribution of intellectual capital to strengthen the nonprofit sector, and the strategic use of community involvement to achieve business goals. For a complete archive of the Deloitte Volunteer IMPACT research series, visit Deloitte.com/us/community

Evan Hochberg is the national director of community involvement for Deloitte Services LP, where he oversees our national community involvement initiative, providing strategic direction for philanthropy, volunteerism, pro-bono and workplace giving. In this role, Evan has spearheaded a complete refocusing of our community involvement approach, which is centered on the contribution of the organization's intellectual capital to help strengthen the capacity of the nonprofit sector. As the latest step in this long-term process, Deloitte recently announced a three-year, $50 million commitment to the delivery of pro bono service to nonprofit organizations. Additionally, Evan developed Deloitte's Problem Solvers Fund, a national grant-making program that aligns the organization's philanthropic giving with skills-based volunteering. He also oversees IMPACT Day, Deloitte's national day of volunteerism.

Previously, Evan was the managing director of a leading national consulting firm that works with major corporations and nonprofits on a range of strategic issues aimed at generating business value and social impact from community activities. His clients included cutting-edge socially responsible corporations.

Prior to that, Evan was an associate at a large consulting firm, where he provided strategic advice and technical assistance to large public and private organizations. His other experiences included working as the division director for a national charitable group and as director of a recreation and travel program for developmentally disabled adults.

A frequent public speaker on philanthropic trends, Evan is a member of the board of the Taproot Foundation and the Hands On Network/Points of Light Foundation Corporate Volunteer Council, where he chairs the Council's Skills-Based Volunteering Committee. He also is cochair of the Pro Bono Leadership Council, recently formed by the President's Council on Service and Civic Participation. He is a member of the Conference Board's Corporate Contributions Council.

Evan received a bachelor of arts degree in philosophy from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a master of arts degree in management of human services from the Heller School at Brandeis University.

Disclosure: Deloitte LLP is a sponsor of Total Picture Radio.

Resources:
Deloitte Volunteer Impact Survey

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