Corporates (Employee Engagement) 
More than 1,000 corporates across India engage their employees in a range of #DaanUtsav activities through simple initiatives like collection & donation drives, cleanup and plantation activities, visits to NGOs, etc. Some use ideas like Sponge the CEO or MasterChef contests to raise money innovatively. All of them help induct new employees into the “giving experience” and improve employees’ sense of belonging.
Here’s how different corporates have engaged employees in giving back to society.
For any queries or more ideas on how to organise an event for employees of an organisation, get in touch!
Reach out here:
8093140002
9899852556
aashu.calapa at gmail.com
neha at ivolunteer.in
Why should corporates engage their employees in celebrating #DaanUtsav?
One of the important challenges for many corporates is improving teamwork across cross-functional teams and between departments. The beauty of #DaanUtsav is that it creates opportunities for different teams to come together rather organically. For example, if you are an investment banker organising a tree plantation drive, you will get your debts team, along with the equities and the treasuries teams working together in planting trees. The teams build camaraderie and trust, and relate with each other and work together even after they get back to their daily routine work.
#DaanUtsav also helps build trust, keeping aside differences and competition. The festival creates a positive environment as it is about giving to others in unison. This ultimately makes people start looking at their colleagues as humans and not just competitors, enabling an environment of trust
What kind of ideas work for employee engagement?
Here is a compilation of ideas that you can refer to for creating your event.
Is there “fatigue” with the same ideas, or do people love having a predictable list of events to look forward to?
It’s a combination of both. There is a lot of warmth and comfort in the predictable. So there are some events like Wish Trees that people love to do again and again. People know exactly what the idea is and they know what exactly to contribute. However, as a corporate entity, new quirky events keep the interest in the festival alive. Throw in a Masterchef contest for men or “Weird Clothes Day” on a particular day of the festival, and see the interest levels spike!
How does one pitch the concept of #DaanUtsav to their employees?
Most employees look for opportunities to give back to society and if there is a hectic corporate life, they are unable to do so. When their employer finds opportunities for them, it becomes easy for them to participate. So, the best way to reach out and convince employees to participate is to plan simple structured giving activities that are easy for them to partake in.
How can corporates get maximum employee participation in an event?
Maximum participation is encouraged by:
- Keeping the events simple and easy
- Conducting several fun events during the week. Corporates may have one for each day of the festival, so employees can participate in the activities that they like best
- Bringing NGO partners to the office. For example, getting children supported by the corporate to the office increases interest in the event
How much time does it take to plan a #DaanUtsav for employees?
It depends on the kind of activity you have in mind.
- If it’s a simple Housie or Raffle, it might be organized in a week’s time.
- If it’s an event like a Mini Seva Mela with several NGOs and senior management participating, it might require minute scheduling and about 2-3 months’ prep time.
How can corporates tell all their employees about the #DaanUtsav activity?
There are several ways to reach out to employees. Some ideas are:
- Flashing notifications or ads in the login screen of the employee.
- Mails from head of company or HR team
- Posters at high traffic areas: cafeteria, lobbies, etc.
How can #Daantsav volunteers support corporates in planning and/or executing their events?
#DaanUtsav volunteers can help connect corporates with relevant NGOs. For instance, if a corporate wants to conduct a blood donation drive or organize a handicraft mela in their office, a #DaanUtsav volunteer can try to make the connections.
Here is a YouTube playlist which you can use to get more ideas and examples for organising your #DaanUtsav activity.
Click on
icon to browse the playlist.
Skillathon
Employees of corporates get together to solve a tech/design/logistics problem that NGOs face, in a hackathon/code-a-thon/design-a-thon format.
Say Thanks
Employees send gratitude cards or recorded messages to frontline workers.
Tambola boli
A virtual online tambola week where employees pay to participate and buy tickets. The winner gets to choose a charity to donate to and the organisation matches the funds from tickets.
Call and connect
Sign up with non-profits to mentor a child.
Hello Senior!
Employees talk to senior citizens at elderly care homes.
Volunteer from home
Volunteer virtually at a non-profit: design their website, create social media content, learn more about their work and share it in your circles
You e-wish!
Help NGOs set up creative e-wish trees for raising funds and resources.
E-garage sale
Get together with your friends and family, and set up a digital garage sale on Instagram, Facebook or any other online platform. The money raised can go to a charity of your choice.
Soulful Stories
Record a story in your native language and share it with children and the elderly.
Karaoke Idol Kaun?
Organise a karaoke fundraiser night with colleagues. People pay for the event and vote for the best performance of the night. The raised sum goes to the winner’s charity. The organisation can match the sum raised.
One sign saves multiple lives
Sign up for organ donation and encourage your friends to do the same.
CEO at the end of the tunnel
Employees bid for a virtual coffee date with the CEO or HOD. It can also be a contest (share an act of kindness using the product, story sharing contest, art, music, etc).
One day at a time…
Employees donate one day’s salary, or volunteer at an NGO for a day.
FUN-draising contest
Teams of employees compete to raise the most funds for their cause. The funds are matched by the corporate, and the winning team receives an extra donation.
Card Carrying Membership
Virtual poker, rummy, bridge or other card games where everyone “buys in” and nominates a charity, money goes to the winners’ nominated charities.
Game, Set, Go!
Organise online/offline game-o-thons among friends, family or employees. Participants pay a minimal fee for each round and the final sum goes to the winner’s charity.
7 Days 7 Givings
Pick 7 different acts of giving, one for each day of the #DaanUtsav week and get students/ residents/employees/members to contribute. The 7 acts could simply be 7 different items to be given (books on 1 day, clothes on another, etc.) or 7 types of activities (money, material, time, blood, skills, etc.).
Change Festival
In colleges, clubs, theatres, large corporates, large apartments, a TEDx/ Litfest type format featuring social enterprises, ticket donations to charity.
Sponge the CEO
Employees pay to get a chance to throw a wet sponge at their bosses. The money collected is donated to a charity of the CEO’s choice.
CEO@home auction
Employees bid for a chance to have their CEO cook their meal or babysit their children, with the proceeds benefiting a cause of the CEO’s choice.
May The Best Man Win!
Male employees pay to compete in domestic chores–folding sheets, washing utensils, etc. The winner gets to choose the NGO/cause that the donation from all employees goes to.
DayDe
Employees donate one day’s salary, or volunteer at an NGO for a day.
Corporate Challenge
Teams of employees compete to raise the most funds for their cause. The funds are matched by the corporate, and the winning team receives an extra donation.
Fancy Giving Tuesday!
Employees can donate a set amount (say, Rs. 100) for the privilege of wearing fancy clothes/accessories that are usually not allowed.
Fistful of joy
Encourage members to donate a fistful of grain/ sugar which is collected and given to an NGO.
Clean up drive
Organise an event to clean up public spaces like beaches, lakes, bus stands, stations, parks, govt hospitals, etc.
Gandhi For Gram
Identify a village nearby and get students/employees/members to visit and volunteer there for a day, to promote greater understanding of the challenges of rural life in modern times.
Gandhi 150 festival
Organise a festival in your school, college, office, club, group, association or apartment to celebrate Gandhi’s 150th birth anniversary. The festival can include debates, essay contests, Khadi shows, films and other activities that represent Gandhi’s values. Audience/ participants donate to take part and the proceeds go to Gandhian charities.
DaanDe March
Organise a march/walk involving your students/employees/members and also other organisations near your institution, raising awareness about causes and inviting the public to contribute in cash and kind.
Tree plantation
Carry out tree plantation campaigns in nearby school/college campuses and grounds, parks, office campuses or in nearby plantation areas identified by environmental NGOs. Plantation can also be done in nearby rural areas.
Beautification Drive
Organise an event to beautify public spaces like compound walls, bus stands, stations, parks and gardens, govt schools & hospitals, shelter homes, etc.
Plog Run
Get participants to go on a run and collect all the plastic they encounter on the run, from the streets. The collected plastic is given to a recycler.
Collection Drive
A drive to collect and donate new or old books, toys, bags, stationery, uniform, newspapers, shoes, clothes and other stuff and donate them to NGOs.
Run/Walk for a cause
A walk/ run for a cause, where participants donate and fundraise to support the chosen cause.
Seva Mela- NGO stalls
In a school, college, corporate, club or large apartment complex, NGOs put up stalls showcasing their cause and selling their products.
Seva Mela- Fun for a Cause
In a school, college, corporate, club or large apartment complex, NGOs put up stalls with food and games, and all proceeds go to charity.
Jail & Bail
Leaders (CXOs, Principals, Directors, Trustees, Office bearers) are “jailed for doing good” and others have to “bail them out” by donating to a charity of their choice.
Charity Raffle / Housie
A raffle, housie or “tambola” where members donate items as prizes (spare new phones, crockery, travel accessories, bags, watches, etc.), and everyone buys tickets with the proceeds going to charity.
Card Carrying Membership
Poker, rummy, bridge or other card games where everyone “buys in” and nominates a charity, money goes to the winners’ nominated charities.
Visits to NGOs
Visits to nearby shelter, old age home, orphanage, special needs org, etc.
Who’s the MasterChef? (MasterChef Kaun?)
In schools, offices, clubs, apartments, a Masterchef contest, where each participant creates, others “buy” food coupons, proceeds go to charity. The winner’s charity gets a special prize. Can focus on men cooking to change stereotypes.
Date Auction
In colleges, offices, clubs, gyms, a lunch or safe dinner date with the popular members is auctioned and proceeds go to the charity of their choice.
Blood donation camps
In association with nearby blood banks and hospitals or groups like Lions that conduct such camps.
Kara-OK Action (Kuch Achha Karao-ke)
Sing for a cause on karaoke, the audience buys tickets to listen, proceeds go to charity.
Food drive
Preparing, collecting and distributing food to those in need on the streets or at shelter and care homes, or even to auto drivers at a stand, etc.
Seva Sandwich
Individuals in a group contribute various ingredients of a sandwich, get together and make sandwiches and distribute them to those in need
Kindness Fridge
Set up a “kindness fridge” in a public place like an apartment, school, college, hospital and create groups of people who will ensure the fridge is stocked.
Thank’Em
Thank class 4 staff of school, college, corp, club, apt, etc. – serve them, have fun WITH them, treat them as equals
Record Audio Books
Everyone records an audio book for the blind.
Change Festival
In colleges, clubs, theatres, large corporates, large apartments, a TEDx/ Litfest type format featuring social enterprises, ticket donations to charity.
Bake Sale/ Art Sale
People exhibit their talents in baking/ other arts and sell their products, proceeds go to charity
Adopt an Institution
Help a govt school, bus shelter, night shelter, newspaper stand, park get a complete makeover and take care of it through the year.
The Tiny Flea Garage Sale
Flea market within school, college, corp, apartment, club etc. where members bring items and others buy them, all proceeds go to charity.
Cycle/ Bike/Car Rally for a cause
A rally for a cause, where participants donate and fundraise to support the chosen cause.
7 Days 7 Givings
Pick 7 different acts of giving, 1 for each day of the #DaanUtsav week and get students/ residents/employees/members to contribute. The 7 acts could simply be 7 different items to be given (books on 1 day, clothes on another, etc.) or 7 types of activities (money, material, time, blood, skills, etc.)
Street Store
Organise a collection drive for items in good condition, clean, mend and pack the donated items nicely and set up a “store” on a street nearby. Offer “coupons” to potential beneficiaries which they can use to “buy” the items that THEY choose from the street store, instead of being handed over something that someone else chose for them.
Wish Tree
Set up a “Wish Tree” and allow members to fulfill wishes sourced from a local nonprofit that you wish to support.
#DaanUtsav Booths
Pop-up #DaanUtsav booths in public spaces provide opportunities to donate for a particular NGO/cause.
Fancy Giving Tuesday!
Employees can donate a set amount (say, Rs. 100) for the privilege of wearing fancy clothes/accessories that are usually not allowed.
Hello Senior!
Employees spend time at an old-age home and organise fun activities like games and dance with the members of the home.
Game, Set, Go!
Organise game-o-thons among employees. Participants pay a minimal fee for each round and the final sum goes to the winner’s charity.
Change Festival
In colleges, clubs, theatres, large corporates, large apartments, a TEDx/ Litfest type format featuring social enterprises, ticket donations to charity.