## Overview
Volunteer Time Off (VTO) is an emerging trend that has gained significant importance in today's society. This is a type of employee benefit that allows workers to take paid time off from work to engage in community service or volunteer work. With the growing importance of social responsibility, companies are beginning to implement VTO programs as part of their corporate social responsibility initiatives. [Salesforce](https://www.salesforce.com/), for instance, has been a pioneer in this area through its [Pledge 1% initiative](https://pledge1percent.org/), which includes the 1-1-1 model, where 1% of the company's equity, product, and employee time is pledged to giving back to the community. This post will explore the concept of VTO in detail, including its benefits for both employees and the community. It will also examine how companies such as Salesforce are implementing VTO programs, and why this is an essential part of corporate social responsibility.


Pledge 1% was started by Salesforce and Atlassian. Organisations pledge 1% of Time, Equity, Product and/or Profit. WhereNext Experiences has been a member since 2020.

### What is Volunteer Time Off (VTO)?
Volunteer Time Off (VTO) is a type of employee benefit that provides paid time off to workers so that they can engage in volunteer work or community service. It's an innovative way for companies to encourage employees to give back to the community and support social causes.

VTO works by allowing employees to take a specific number of days off each year to participate in volunteering activities. This can involve various types of activities such as working with non-profit organizations, supporting local community events, and engaging in charitable initiatives. The specific activities that employees can participate in will depend on the policies and programs offered by their employer.

One of the key differences between VTO and traditional volunteering is that VTO is a company-sponsored program that provides employees with paid time off. Traditional volunteering, on the other hand, usually involves employees taking time off work on their own initiative to engage in volunteering activities. VTO is becoming increasingly popular because it allows companies to demonstrate their commitment to social responsibility while also providing a tangible benefit to employees.

VTO provides several key benefits for employees, including increased engagement and a sense of purpose. By participating in volunteer work, employees feel like they are contributing to something meaningful and making a positive impact on the community. In addition, VTO can help employees develop new skills and gain experience in areas outside of their job description. This can lead to personal and professional growth, as well as increased job satisfaction.

VTO also has a significant impact on the community. By providing support to non-profit organizations and community initiatives, VTO programs can help to address social and environmental issues, create positive change, and improve the well-being of the community. This type of engagement can also improve the reputation of companies in the eyes of customers and other stakeholders, enhancing their overall brand image.

One Percent for the Planet was founded by Yvon Chouinard, the founder of Patagonia, and Craig Mathews, the owner of Blue Ribbon Flies, in 2002. 

Members provide 1% of gross revenue to approved environmental charities. 

### Salesforce and Volunteer Time Off (VTO)
Salesforce, a leader in corporate social responsibility, has been at the forefront of the movement to implement Volunteer Time Off (VTO) programs. Their commitment to social responsibility is reflected in their Pledge 1% initiative, which includes the 1-1-1 model. This model commits Salesforce to donate 1% of their equity, product, and employee time to support non-profit organizations and community initiatives.

Salesforce's VTO program is a key component of the 1-1-1 model, allowing employees to take up to 7 days of paid time off each year to engage in volunteering activities. This program has been hugely successful, with over 50,000 employees participating in volunteer activities and over 4.5 million hours of volunteer time contributed to communities around the world.

Salesforce's VTO program has had a significant impact on both their employees and the community. Employees report feeling more engaged, fulfilled, and connected to the company as a result of the program. The program has also helped employees develop new skills and experiences, enhancing their personal and professional growth. In addition, the program has had a significant positive impact on the community, providing valuable support to non-profit organizations and community initiatives.

Companies looking to implement their own VTO programs can learn several best practices from Salesforce's successful program. These include:

1. Creating a clear policy: It's important to create a policy that clearly outlines the program's goals, eligibility, and process for participation.
2. Providing incentives: Offering incentives such as recognition, awards, or team-building activities can help to encourage participation and build employee engagement.
3. Partnering with non-profit organizations: Partnering with non-profit organizations can help to ensure that volunteer activities are aligned with the company's values and goals.
4. Providing training and support: Providing training and support to employees can help to ensure that they are prepared and equipped to engage in volunteer activities.

Salesforce's VTO program is a great example of how companies can incorporate social responsibility into their operations while also providing tangible benefits to employees. By following best practices and creating a program that aligns with their values and goals, companies can implement their own successful VTO initiatives and make a positive impact on their employees and the community. For more information on best practices from Salesforce about implementing a VTO program see this [Salesforce blog post](https://www.salesforce.com/blog/volunteer-time-off/).

Volunteer time off (VTO) boosts morale, retention, and employee engagement. In this post Salesforce shares best practices for establishing your own program.

At WhereNext we work with One Tree Planted and plant 25 trees for each experience purchased. 

These trees can be planted in the region or country that the experience is completed. 

### Different Types of Volunteer Time Off (VTO) 

#### Traditional volunteering 
This involves participating in activities such as helping out at a soup kitchen, volunteering at a local animal shelter, or cleaning up a local park.

#### Volunteering Abroad
This involves experiences outside your home country to help developing communities and ecosystems. This can involve [animal conservation](https://www.wherenext.to/experiences/animals), [environmental protection](https://www.wherenext.to/experiences/volunteering), [construction](https://www.wherenext.to/experiences/volunteering), [teaching](https://www.wherenext.to/experiences/teaching) and [learning](https://www.wherenext.to/experiences/learning) about different cultures, 

#### Skills-based volunteering
This type of volunteering involves using professional skills and expertise to support nonprofit organizations. For example, a marketing professional may help a nonprofit with their branding and social media strategy.

#### Disaster relief volunteering
In the event of a natural disaster or other emergency, companies may offer volunteer time off for employees to help with relief efforts such as distributing food and water, clearing debris, or providing medical assistance.

#### Political volunteering
Some companies may offer VTO for employees to engage in political activities, such as canvassing for a political candidate or volunteering for a political campaign.

#### Employee-led initiatives
Some companies may allow employees to propose and lead their own volunteer projects that align with the company's values and goals. An example of this is employee-led experience to Nepal where we raised funds and helped with renovation and construction in Nepal for the [Badi Project](https://www.wherenext.to/stories/the-badi-project-in-nepal).












Kiva provides micro loans to people in developing countries. WhereNext will create a fund to support people in the communities we offer experiences. 

### WhereNext and Volunteer Time Off (VTO)
The idea for WhereNext Experiences was conceived while I was working for Salesforce. I had joined the company from an acquisition and wanted to use my 7 days of VTO time to learn about China's panda conservation efforts. So I booked a volunteer experience and a flight to Chengdu, China and worked with pandas for the week. I have written about my experience in this [story](https://www.wherenext.to/stories/volunteering-with-pandas-in-rural-china). 

Over my 5 years in Salesforce we did many different  volunteer experiences including beach cleaning, working in schools, working for food banks, and an amazing trip to Nepal to work with the [Badi Project](https://www.wherenext.to/stories/the-badi-project-in-nepal). Participating in these volunteer experiences was essential to our corporate culture and played a significant role in fostering team building across different departments. By engaging in these experiences, we gained a greater appreciation for developing communities, ecosystems, and the many advantages that we often take for granted.

When WhereNext was founded we started with core values with inspiration from Salesforce. Then we partnered with key organisations that align with those values. 

#### [Pledge 1% ](https://pledge1percent.org/) 
To incorporate the 1-1-1 model into our company philosophy 

#### [1% for the Planet ](https://onepercentfortheplanet.org/)
After listening to the audio book called [Let My People Go Surfing](https://a.co/d/4eaOBC0), by Yvon Chouinard, the founder of [Patagonia](https://www.patagonia.com/), I was inspired to join the organisation and commit to donating 1% of gross revenue to approved charitable causes. 

#### [One Tree Planted](https://onetreeplanted.org/)
With a simple construct of $1 for 1 tree planted, this organisation aligned to our values of supporting local ecosystems so we have made a commitment to plant 25 trees for each experience purchased. 

#### [KIVA](https://www.kiva.org/)
This is a micro loan platform that you can select to support loans for individuals if different regions. I came across this initially at Salesforce and have used it personally for years. WhereNext will be setting up a company fund as we develop the business. 

If you are looking for individual or group volunteer experiences, WhereNext Experiences now has 136 experiences in 24 countries. You can browse these [experiences](https://www.wherenext.to/experiences) or use the [map search](https://www.wherenext.to/explore-travel-destinations) or search by category in the top navigation. There are some linked experiences below and you can always [contact us](https://www.wherenext.to/contact) if you have any questions at all. 










Guide to Volunteer Time Off (VTO)

Rob Holliday
Founder, WhereNext Experiences

Recommended Reading

Guide to Volunteer Time Off (VTO)

Rob HollidayFounder, WhereNext Experiences

Recommended Reading

Rob Holliday
Founder, WhereNext Experiences