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Bobby Approved (v 3.2) 		Guardian ad Litem
Corporate Sponsorship

Many corporations encourage employees (particularly those at high levels of management) to donate time to community groups. Some corporations have active employee volunteer programs at the factory or office worker level. They recognize that many of their employees desire to volunteer their services outside of their place of employment and need some flexibility within their work schedule that permits them to do so.

Charities @ Work, a coalition of federations that raise money for nonprofit groups, has undertaken a study of donations and volunteering at 91 large businesses. Among the findings:

72 % of companies surveyed have programs to help employees find volunteering opportunities

74% offer cash grants to organizations where employees volunteer and 52% give in-kind donations

70% allow employees to take off a day with pay to volunteer in a group project

More than 50% of the companies allow release time for volunteering

Businesses who support volunteerism within their corporate organization demonstrate a desire to improve the standard of living within their community and recognize the important role which they can play in this regard. In addition to giving back to their community, they are aware that they can likewise benefit from a "return on their investment" in a multitude of ways.

For example, corporations that sponsor, encourage, and support employees to volunteer as Guardians ad Litem might reap benefits from the increased skills acquired by their employees. Some of those skills might include:

    1. Building of leadership skills
    2. Enhancement of negotiation skills
    3. Opportunities for improving personal self-esteem
    4. Building of personal self-confidence and competency
    5. Improvement of management skills
    6. Balancing of "professional" needs and commitments
    7. Expansion and improvement of communication skills
    8. Enhancement of assessment and discernment abilities within the individual
    9. Improved awareness of community problems, issues, and concerns
    10. Personal self-fulfillment which impacts performance and attitude on a day-to-day basis

These are all important reasons for corporate support and sponsorship of volunteer opportunities within the Guardian ad Litem Program. In addition, corporations can choose to provide financial support for the Program's efforts by donating funds directly to a number of non-profit corporations that support the Program on a local level. For more information on which communities have non-profit Boards assisting Program efforts, click here.

The Program will assist individuals and corporations in establishing a Corporate Sponsorship Program. Informational and recruitment brochures will be provided to the corporate sponsor, as well as articles concerning the Program which can be disseminated through corporate newsletters. In addition, the Program will schedule a group training which is convenient for both corporate employees and the organization, as well as take steps to ensure that the business's efforts to assist the community are well-publicized.

To establish a Corporate Sponsorship Program in your area, please contact the State Office at 1-800-277-0113 or (803) 734-1695: