Emergence of social impact in company–NGO relationships in corporate volunteering

Abstract

Companies increasingly engage in corporate volunteering (CV), in which employees are encouraged to partake in societally beneficial activities that are organized by their employer in collaboration with non-governmental organizations (NGOs). In addition to direct effects for CV beneficiaries, company–NGO relationships in CV also generate a variety of effects through the individuals and organizations involved, resulting in the emergence of social impact. This study examines the emergence of social impact within relationships between companies and NGOs in CV. Existing research on CV, social impact, and value creation in business relationships is employed to examine the social impact emerging from such relationships. Four cases of CV projects undertaken by companies with NGOs are analyzed. The present study concludes that social impact emerges in company–NGO relationships in CV throughout the duration of the relationship and the volunteering project episodes and through the interplay of value created at individual, organizational and societal levels.