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Seek out corporations whom are willing to have their employees perform charitable work for your organization.  Companies do not usually advertise their commitment towards backing an employees’ volunteer effort.  This asking of an employer for their support should be structured to ensure that they will see a measurable result.

These companies usually pay the employees during this volunteer time.  Imagine showing this match when seeking other funding for your programs.  Imagine the success of one employee as a volunteer helping to identity for their fellow employee other potential volunteer opportunities.

During these tough economic times most companies are likely to keep up the efforts of their volunteer program.  Studies have shown that paid time off for volunteering can help a company in its recruiting and retention of employees.  Further, at an employees suggestion, companies often are willing to help out in bigger efforts for the nonprofit.

For more ideas on how to get corporations to invest in your organization check out the three documents noted below.

Giving in Numbers: 2007 Edition Link

Giving in Numbers:  2008 Edition Link

Business’s Social Contact: Capturing The Corporate Philanthropy Opportunity Link

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A means to lower health care costs is to create a focus on preventative services.  There is sufficient strength in the nonprofit sector to work together to promote health care services which are more affordable.

Mobile health care, on site clinics, and scheduling practitioners to go to the work place has shown to save money for health plans in the long run.  Expectation is to reduce overall health care spending by focusing on preventing illness.  Thus, an additional outcome of less illnesses is the increase in productivity.

1. Preventative services should be free
2. Treatment services should carry a co-pay
3. Savings due to services should result in lower premiums.
4. Services should augment primary care provider.

I would suggest nonprofits join and invest in an effort to create a cooperative that is supported by a per employee fee for its members to deliver a base health service to an organization’s employees.  Health care costs are a budget item that organizations need to be in more control of instead of depending on the health care industry to contain costs.