For more than two decades, Business Volunteers Maryland (BVM) has served a unique and influential role in building connections between business and community. We recognize the transformational potential of private sector social impact and provide a suite of programs and services to guide, facilitate, and grow this impact for communities and within companies, particularly in Central Maryland.
Global and national research observe strong correlations between company-sponsored community engagement programs, employee satisfaction, and clear business benefits. However, little to no research has been conducted in Central Maryland specifically, let alone Baltimore City—a crucial gap in knowledge, given Baltimore’s unique nonprofit landscape.
To better understand how Baltimore’s private sector and nonprofit sector can most effectively engage and maximize impact, Business Volunteers led a multi-pronged, multi-year study between 2023 and 2024. The data gathered from this study was aggregated, summarized, and discussed among corporate audiences at the Doing Good Better Summit in September 2024.
Business Volunteers will present the data for nonprofit audiences in 2025. Please contact [email protected] for more information.
About the Study
From 2023 to 2024, Business Volunteers facilitated the Doing Good Better study through the following avenues:
Nonprofit Focus Groups
The Business Volunteers Advisory Board convened 36 Baltimore based nonprofit leaders in one of five focus groups in order to understand their opportunities, challenges, and insights on engaging with the corporate community. Completed January 2023.
Corporate Focus Groups
The Business Volunteers Advisory Board gathered 37 Baltimore based leaders and practitioners in corporate social impact in one of five focus groups to understand their opportunities, challenges, and insights on engaging with the nonprofit community. Completed January 2024.
Business of Community Engagement Survey
This survey was designed to better understand and tell the story about how Greater Baltimore businesses and their employees engage in the community and the impact of this work on employers, professionals, and the region. Baltimore Neighborhood Indicators Alliance (BNIA) provided their expertise and an exploratory analysis of the survey data. Completed November 2023.
Business Volunteer’s Advisory Board members, staff, and other key stakeholders assisted in collecting, analyzing, and summarizing the information.
About the Summit
On September 25th, 2024, Business Volunteers debuted our Doing Good Better study results to assist Baltimore businesses in fostering more impactful and meaningful engagements with the city’s nonprofit sector. Unlike traditional events that follow a “listen and learn” format, this gathering was designed to be interactive. Participants collaborated in groups to delve into in-depth discussions, generate ideas, and formulate meaningful actions.
Attendees consisted of Baltimore’s corporate and private sector leadership and those occupying positions directly responsible for overseeing and implementing philanthropy, corporate social responsibility, and/or employee volunteerism initiatives. This was an invitation only event.
Please reach out to [email protected] if you or someone in your network meets this description and would like to get involved with Business Volunteers or learn more about the data.
For nonprofits interested in reviewing the study data, please contact [email protected].