Volunteer and Civic Engagement Leave: Finding Meaning and Purpose Beyond Work

Two weeks ago, I volunteered for several hours at a fundraiser for my local Rotary Club.

Together with my fellow Rotarians, we spent much of the day selling freshly steamed corn-on-the-cob to eager fair goers. The money we raise goes towards funding scholarships for local students, providing food and meals to at-risk elderly residents and buying cold-weather gear for Vermont children in need.

Pictured is Resonance CIO Steve Schmida, left, with fellow Rotarian Max Seaton. 

In addition to supporting fundraisers, I am also a Rotary volunteer at our local food shelf and elsewhere. I have been a Rotarian for three years now and have come to deeply value the club, its members and, most importantly, all it contributes to our local community.

Resonance makes this possible through our Volunteer and Civic Engagement Leave Policy, which provides matching time off for volunteer activities of an employee’s choosing. In my case, I make use of that benefit to be an active Rotarian.

It might seem odd that a certified B-Corps company, such as Resonance, provides such a benefit. After all, our company works on some of the most pressing social and environmental challenges of our age – from climate change to fair labor to transforming our food system. Shouldn’t our work provide enough purpose and mission?

Human beings are remarkably communal creatures- we instinctively crave connection and community. Unfortunately, the precipitous decline of civic and religious institutions in the US also makes finding meaning, purpose and community connection ever more challenging- a trend that has only accelerated with COVID and the rise of remote work.

Let’s also be honest with ourselves: it is called ‘work’ for a reason. Many critically important work tasks, such as doing a budget forecast or preparing a client PowerPoint can sometimes be a grind. Moreover, as consultants, project managers and advisors to changemakers, our work is often behind the scenes- critically important for driving impact, though not always visible to the outside world.

Thus, even in mission-driven organizations such as Resonance, it is important for professionals to be able to find meaning and purpose outside of working hours.

By creating the time and an incentive through the Volunteer and Civic Engagement Leave Policy, Resonance is supporting our employees to make connections in their communities and give back with their time, enthusiasm, and energy. What’s more, employees can combine our volunteering with Resonance’s Charitable Donation Matching Policy to provide funding to the causes we care about most- helping them find purpose at work and in their communities.

As the founder of a mission-driven company, I am incredibly fortunate to have the opportunity to work with incredibly smart, dedicated colleagues and clients every single day on tackling pressing global problems. By complementing my professional work with volunteering with my Rotary Club, I have been able to find better balance and a clearer sense of purpose.

Written by Steve Schmida.