While packing boxes of food, assembling lunches for underserved children, or donating to a local animal shelter are all valuable uses of one’s philanthropic efforts, skill-based volunteering adds an extra punch to the success of an initiative.
According to a report by 2026 YourCause Global CSR Industry Report, skills-based employee resource groups are becoming powerful engagement channels wherein volunteers use their specific expertise to assist non-profit organizations.
The report concluded that the largest donation growth has been seen in finance and insurance, followed by wholesale trade and manufacturing industries, with the numbers of participants rising steadily over the years.
Dematic’s program
Roy Neill, the lead corporate and community affairs leader at Dematic, a company that works to combine experience and intelligent software to deliver supply chain automation, said skills-based volunteerism has been around for years, but its role is evolving.
“It allows our professionals to really pay it forward,” Neill said. “It’s a great opportunity to take their skills and apply them to helping a non-profit who may not be able to afford their expertise.”
Neill said the company offers employees eight hours of paid time off to volunteer, which allows professionals to use their expertise “to lift up a non-profit.”
One of the newest initiatives involves non-profit warehouse space, with Dematic employees conducting walk-throughs of existing space and creating a score card that provides steps to “a safe and secure environment.”
The process is more than just an hour or two of on-site consultation, Neill said.
Questionnaires are created prior to the visit to familiarize the volunteer team with the potential needs of the non-profit, so that the on-site team is aware of potential issues on the front end. In addition, Dematic often awards a grant to the non-profit to be used to ensure a safe environment. And it goes even further in many cases.
“We think of how we can leverage our existing suppliers to see if they can provide materials at cost, deeply discounted, or in-kind,” he said.
The company’s next project will be in Atlanta for the Westside Future Fund, consulting in a warehouse space that houses several non-profit organizations.
“It’s a great opportunity for us to support multiple non-profits that work in a shared space,” he said. “These efforts are so special to our employees because it gives them a chance to take a step further and share their knowledge and expertise.”
The effort dovetails nicely with Dematic’s focus on safety, which is the goal for all of its employees both personally and professionally.
Dematic also partners with For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology (FIRST), an organization that works to motivate the upcoming generation of science and technology leaders and innovators by cultivating skills in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM).
In addition to annual team grants and a youth scholarship, Dematic’s network of engineers collectively volunteer more than 1,000 hours of service with FIRST, serving as mentors, competition judges, and team coaches each year.
TK Elevator: investing in the future
Jenny Jang, the senior manager of engagement and inclusion at TK Elevator, said skills-based volunteerism is one of the focuses of its company, comprising 50,000 employees world-wide, 10,000 in the United States, and 900 in the Atlanta area.
“Our people are our greatest asset, and one of the most meaningful ways we make an impact in our communities is through skill-based volunteering,” Jang said. “A core focus of our Corporate Social Responsibility strategy is advancing the industry.
“We know that the future success of our business and our industry depends on developing a diverse pipeline of talented individuals who are aware of the opportunities available to them and have the skills to pursue those careers,” she said.
Another initiative is the company’s STEM Tour program at the Innovation and Qualification Center (IQC), located in the Battery in Cobb County.
The IQC, which is home to the tallest elevator test tower in North America, has hosted more than 3,500 students, educators, and community partners to create engagement opportunities that connect classroom learning to industry careers.
“These partnerships help students, educators, parents, and guardians understand that there are many pathways into our field, whether through engineering, skilled trades, technology, operations, or business functions,” Jang said.
Other programs like TOPS 2.0, the company’sTraining for Operations Supervisors program, provide a structured six-month development experience combining classroom learning, hands-on training, mentoring, and field experience to prepare future leaders.
In addition, its STEP program, Sales Training for Elevator Professionals, “builds the next generation of sales talent by strengthening product knowledge, improving customer engagement, and giving real-world business experience.”
“We’re intentionally building a talent pipeline that strengthens both TK Elevator and the entire vertical transportation industry,” Jang said. “Skill-based volunteering is the foundation of that effort because it allows our employees to share their expertise, upskill our current talent pool, inspire future professionals, and create opportunities for the next generation.”
Jang said it also gives existing employees an opportunity to see the next generation of elevator professionals, as well as to learn from them.
“We learn a lot from our students, and it has become a truly collaborative partnership between the two parties,” she said.
The effort to establish a culture of volunteerism in the company is ongoing.
“We are running a marathon, not a sprint,” she said. “At the end of the day, we are trying to build a culture that benefits everyone.”
