Skills-Based Volunteering
Tailored approaches that create business value and lasting community impact
Our world’s most pressing challenges are growing—and so are the expectations on companies to be part of the solution. Skills-Based Volunteering (SBV) gives your employees a chance to use their skills in new ways, while building the adaptability and leadership your business needs to thrive.
Why Companies Turn to Skills-Based Volunteering
To develop adaptable talent
Traditional training doesn’t build the adaptive, collaborative skills today’s workforce needs. Turnover is costly, and employees—especially younger ones—demand meaningful purpose at work. SBV develops leadership, collaboration, and problem-solving in real-world contexts. Employees return more engaged, loyal, and equipped to thrive.
To earn trust through authentic impact
Stakeholders are skeptical of surface-level CSR. Empty gestures erode trust, and companies are under pressure to demonstrate authenticity. SBV puts employee expertise to work on real challenges, showing communities, investors, and consumers that the company’s commitment is serious.
To build resilient systems
Businesses depend on strong supply chains, consumer markets, and local talent. Fragile systems create risk and disruption. SBV strengthens nonprofit capacity to address urgent needs, building resilience that benefits both communities and companies.
To demonstrate measurable ROI
Investors, regulators, and consumers want results—not vague claims. Traditional volunteering rarely generates hard data. SBV provides measurable outcomes: nonprofits expand capacity, while companies track leadership growth, retention, and community impact.
To open pathways to emerging markets
Future growth depends on strong, inclusive markets. Companies that engage deeply with communities build credibility and relationships that position them for long-term success. SBV allows companies to contribute expertise in ways that strengthen local ecosystems, expand access, and create the trust that underpins sustainable market entry and growth.
Skills-Based Volunteering Program Models
At Pyxera Global, we work with companies to design and adapt SBV models so impact lasts long after the project ends. Whether you’re building your leadership pipeline, engaging employees in meaningful ways, or demonstrating your commitment to systemic change, there’s a model to match your goals.
Explore the examples below to see how organizations across industries create value through SBV. These programs can be tailored for general employees, high-potential talent, new employees, or executive leaders, ensuring the experience aligns with participant profiles and organizational goals.
In-Person Pro Bono Consulting
Multi-week, immersive team-based engagements pairing corporate professionals with social sector leaders to tackle core strategic priorities.
Programs include SAP Social Sabbatical and Executive Social Sabbatical, 3M Impact Global, and Edwards Lifesciences’ Every Heartbeat Matters.
→ Example: Through the SAP Social Sabbatical and Executive Social Sabbatical, employees spend several weeks embedded with a nonprofit or social enterprise, working on locally defined priorities such as circular economy solutions, STEM education, or social entrepreneurship. These collaborations strengthen partner organizations by building capacity that lasts long after the project ends.
Virtual Engagements
Short-term, virtual, high-impact engagements focused on solving a specific strategic, operational, or technical priority.
Programs include SAP Pro Bono for Economic Equity, Mastercard Launch for Social Impact, and Mastercard Impact Pro Bono Corps.
→ Example: Mastercard partners with community organizations to address locally defined needs. Over two months, employees dedicate a few hours each week working virtually with their partners on a challenge, opportunity, or improvement.
We’re recruiting now for a 6-week, cross-company virtual program launching in January 2026. Employees will partner with nonprofits to co-design practical, human-centered AI solutions that address real community challenges. Commit by 12/1/25. →
Hybrid Pro Bono Consulting
A mix of immersive in-person and virtual engagements focused on solving a specific strategic, operational, or technical priority.
Programs include Boston Scientific Social Change Champions and NBCU Talent Lab.
→ Example: Boston Scientific employees work with a nonprofit partner over 10 weeks—one in-person, nine virtual—to address core organizational priorities. The partnership builds both organizational capacity and stronger cross-cultural connections.
Employee-Driven Engagements
Guided by employee motivation and community need, teams identify local partners and design their own pro bono projects.
One program is Anglo American Ambassadors for Good.
Anglo American’s employees collaborate in teams with a local organization to design and implement projects that advance locally relevant priorities. Selected teams and organizations also receive grants to expand the impact of their initiatives. initiatives.
Pro Bono Consulting Workshops
One- or two-day workshops, virtual or in-person, pairing nonprofit leaders with employees to address specific opportunities for organizational improvement.
Programs include Dell Pro Bono Workshops and MetLife Skills for Impact.
→ Example: Dell pairs teams of employees with nonprofits to strengthen approaches, processes, or tools that are central to the organization’s mission. One recent workshop supported nonprofits in developing solutions to complex AI challenges.
Accelerate
Half-day engagement for Senior Leadership to ideate on self-identified leadership challenges or strategic growth opportunities by senior nonprofit leaders.
One program is JPMC Accelerate.
JPMC brings senior executives together with nonprofit leaders in a speed consulting format. The session allows nonprofit leaders to discuss leadership and management challenges and receive practical recommendations.
Implementation Advising
Short-term, high-impact follow-on support helps partner organizations implement recommendations from a prior skills-based volunteering initiative.
One program is JPMC Implementation Advisor.
JPMC provides follow-on support to its nonprofit partner after an initial project through ongoing pro bono advising. Employees volunteer in-kind hours to help the organization advance the recommendations and outcomes of the original pro bono project.
