Employees who serve on nonprofit boards play a vital role in helping to achieve the U.N. Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Yet, many companies do not include nonprofit board service in reports of volunteering for the SDGs. Companies need to recognize the valuable participation by their employees in advancing nonprofits and the SDGs through board service.

IMPACT2030’s mission is to activate human capital investments through employee volunteer programs to advance the achievement of the SDGs. In order to affirm and promote the value of nonprofit board service, IMPACT2030 has become the Strategic Partner for Better World Leadership (BWL), the initiative to advance nonprofit board services at companies worldwide. In a new video, Sue Stephenson, vice chair and interim CEO of IMPACT2030, and I discuss the importance of governance in addressing social, economic, and environmental challenges facing communities and the world.

 Often when people talk about employee volunteer programs, they think about pro-bono, skills-based, or even direct volunteering, but Sue notes that at IMPACT2030, the organization acknowledges the value and the contributions made by young people within the private sector who are sitting on the boards of nonprofits.

In addition to contributing to the achievement of the SDGs, companies that support their employees in serving on nonprofit boards benefit in a number of ways. The Better World Leadership study provides clear evidence that board participation helps companies to advance diversity and inclusion and develop human capital for innovation. Furthermore, 59 percent of employees whose companies have matched them to boards and made financial contributions indicate that their company’s support is a factor in their desire to stay with their employer.

Sue adds that the time and investment made by young people serving on boards is often not counted by companies. “We see the benefit of this initiative as putting the spotlight on these human capital investments,” she says.

With the encouragement of IMPACT2030, the BWL initiative will continue to help participating and sponsoring companies expand their board service appointments through webinars and training and the sharing of experiences and best practices, in addition to continuing to disseminating the findings of the research at the United Nations this fall.

Participating and sponsoring companies include American Express, Comcast, Dow Chemical, Johnson Controls, PIMCO, and Target.