Corporate volunteering as a promising direction of social and cultural partnership: peculiarities, advantages and development prospects

Abstract

We discuss the development peculiarities of corporate volunteering in Russia in the aspect of consideration of such forms as social and cultural partnership, cooperation. Corporate volunteering is defined as the support and encouragement by an employer of employees engaged in community work on a pro bono basis. The system of encouragement of employees is characterized (paid leave, registration of creative business trips; use of the number of working hours in accordance with the approved regulations for participation in socially significant events; grant support). The main approaches to the development of corporate volunteering (integration, innovation) are characterized. We define the main directions of development of corporate volunteerism, in which a special role is given to the system of interaction of state structures and civil society (professional volunteering, micro-volunteering, social support programs, and participation in the development of projects for non-commercial organizations). Expert recommendations for companies on development and implementation of corporate volunteering programs are presented. The main stages of development of corporate volunteer programs (preparatory, pro bono promotion, development of the bank of social initiatives) are described. The programs of corporate volunteering of the largest companies that actively develop this direction in the territory of the Russian Federation and pursue the goals of popularization of socially significant volunteer activity are analyzed.