Time Well Spent: Jocelyn Nelson’s Case for Volunteer Time Off

Jocelyn Nelson, director of Corporate Social Impact Consulting at Points of Light, has always had a heart for community service. From being a founding member of Liberation Library to leading the external affairs team at Chicago Cares and now her current role, Jocelyn’s path has been fueled by a deep-seated belief in the power of volunteering. Recently that belief was reaffirmed through her own transformative experiences with Volunteer Time Off (VTO), which shaped her understanding of its potential to benefit both employees and the communities they serve. 

Points of Light is proud to offer VTO to all employees, which can be used in increments of either eight hours one day a month, or two hours per week. When Jocelyn joined the organization, she was eager to take advantage of this generous VTO policy. “At Points of Light, volunteerism is the center of our work,” she explains. “To know that we had a significant VTO policy showed me that the company was walking the talk. That policy – coupled with my being a somewhat newer resident of Rhode Island – gave me the opportunity to not only volunteer but also physically connect to the area where I lived. The work I do at Points of Light is very national and global, so getting hyper-local in my personal volunteer work was important to me.” 

Jocelyn’s VTO led her to the Social Enterprise Greenhouse, a coworking space and network supporting social impact ecosystems in Rhode Island. Initially hesitant about her ability to contribute, she soon discovered her skills were much needed. “When I met with the volunteer manager there, I kept thinking to myself, ‘Honestly, what do I have to offer small businesses? My background is in nonprofit,’ But I soon learned that my assumptions were false,” she admits. “They were also supporting nonprofits. I learned that helping to organize this incredible network of volunteers was a need I could support by offering a new set of eyes to see opportunities, brainstorm volunteer categorization, define the volunteer pipeline and help build a volunteer engagement strategy.” 

This is the work that Jocelyn and her team do at Points of Light every day, as they help enable companies to strengthen their corporate social responsibility and employee volunteer engagement strategy. With Social Enterprise Greenhouse, she realized her career skills were just what was needed for this pro bono volunteer opportunity.  

“We mapped the types of experiences volunteers have and Jocelyn was an incredible soundboard in the process,” says Serena Manna, senior manager of Network Engagement at Social Enterprise Greenhouse. “She asks the right questions that help focus the objective – and she’s practical and patient through it all. With her support, there was less rumination on crucial decisions, and we finished drafting an intake form that feels personal and engaging!” 

With her own experiences as living proof, Jocelyn firmly believes that companies can reap significant benefits from investing in robust VTO programs. Beyond boosting employee engagement, VTO shows potential and current employees that the company values community involvement. “A VTO policy serves as a signal for folks who are looking to apply for a position that community is a priority and a value for that company,” Jocelyn explains. “Plus,” she emphasizes, “as we know very well at Points of Light, there are incredible mental health benefits that can be experienced in powerful ways through volunteering. Providing a VTO policy encourages and promotes a critical component of employee well-being. So, it’s both a recruitment and retention tool.” 

Nonprofits also stand to gain from VTO programs. Jocelyn, drawing from her experience in the nonprofit sector, highlights the year-round need for volunteers. “As someone who has worked at and with nonprofits for 15 years, I can say that nonprofits need volunteers throughout the year – not just during the holidays,” she states. “VTO policies that give employees the flexibility to volunteer when they want really helps meet community needs by supporting organizations that can, in turn, support their communities.” 

“Skills-based volunteering brings a different dimension to a nonprofit,” Serena Manna adds. “Caseloads are high and most of the team is dedicated to the day-to-day support and coordinating various opportunities for participants. While we’re able to identify challenges, there isn’t a lot of time for implementing changes.”   

In essence, VTO is a win-win proposition. It empowers employees to make a difference in their communities while fostering a sense of purpose and belonging. It also strengthens the company’s bond with the community and enhances its reputation as a responsible corporate citizen. Jocelyn adds, “VTO is also a way to celebrate and maximize the efforts of those who are already volunteering. A lot of what a VTO policy does is support existing behaviors, as well as make those behaviors permissible which, naturally, encourages more volunteering.” 

Jocelyn’s passion for volunteerism and her insights into its benefits offer a compelling case for companies to embrace this valuable perk. As she eloquently puts it, VTO is not just about companies increasing their volunteer engagement; it’s about creating a ripple effect of positive change that benefits everyone involved – the employees, the community and the company itself.

If you’re ready to explore how Points of Light can help your organization implement a VTO policy or increase engagement in other ways, watch our latest virtual session “Policies that Enable Employee-Powered Change,” designed for corporate social responsibility practitioners. We’ll explore innovative and proven policies – like Volunteer Time Off – that enable employees to support their communities both during and outside of working hours. 

And save the date for the launch of our Volunteer Time Off Learning Brief of Sept. 24!