Have you heard of the gamification of volunteering? If not, it might soon be something you not only have seen, but use, perhaps daily! We all know that philanthropy at work is on the rise, as millennials (and workers of all ages – millennials are just studied more) express a desire to feel part of a team and enjoy shared experiences that do good. But for many business, getting involved can seem like hard work. The payroll, the time off, the ROI proof. On the same hand, these days, every business application imaginable is being gamified – from frequent flyer miles to online diet plans, from employee engagement initiatives to check-ins with friends on Facebook and Foursquare. Indeed, Gartner analysts predict that by 2015, more than 50% of organizations will gamify their innovation processes. Good gamification turns users into players, immersing them in rewarding experiences that not only simplify how they interact with programs but keeps them hooked. Marketing experts have caught on to the addictive powers of gamification and are turning to this tool as a powerful business driver. The New York Times recently reported on this trend, citing one particularly active Samsung enthusiast who racked up more than 4.5 million points in the company’s online loyalty program. Success stories such as personal finance site Mint.com, Nike’s fitness program and The White House’s Race to the Top competition stand out as smart, strategic uses of gamification. That’s why businesses like Causecast could be the future. Pitched as the world’s leading volunteering system, the system is designed to connect employees and uses gamification to make this happen. Working on mobile and desktop, with event check in, individual and team volunteering and story capture, Causecast seems to create a modern day way to volunteer that helps keep track of volunteer time, helps with the payments behind donation matching and integrates smoothly. When it comes to results, charity can’t be put under the same scrutiny. However, Pearson, The World’s Learning Company have been using Causecast to engaged over 35,000 employees spanning 70 countries. (Pearsons are already commuted to social good- their site states ‘we support charities that are just as dedicated to helping people make their lives better through learning – including Project Literacy and Magic Breakfast.’ They also hoist their own social awards for teaching and work with established charities across the world.) Pearson selected Causecast to grow their employee-driven social impact program, and they wanted to really engage their employees in what makes Pearson a special place to work, and help the business reach more customers and learners as a trusted partner. Employees use the Causecast platform to make volunteering and giving a social and interactive experience with full transparency around reporting. One of the most compelling aspects of Pearson’s social impact work is their active promotion of storytelling around their volunteering and giving program. How are you telling your story? Last September, the company launched a campaign providing incentives for employees to share their impact stories – making use of gamification and rewarding people with ‘badges’ and ‘points’ on its employee collaboration site. Dasle Kim, Employee Participation Manager, notes, “This campaign helps employees understand that as an education company, helping people is core to what we do. It’s about working as a team and giving back to the communities where we live and work.” This could be the start of a real trend in the workplace. How are you future proofing volunteering? For the full case study about how Pearson utilized storytelling to create impact and engagement, see here: https://www.causecast.com/case-study-telling-your-story-through-cause Post navigation The art of ‘work life balance’ Guest Blog: The ROI of Wellbeing | Incentive&Motivation