Worker Useful resource Teams (also referred to as ERGs) are gaining an growing quantity of consideration within the nonprofit fundraising world. And for good purpose!
These employee-led teams, typically centered round shared identities, pursuits, or experiences, play a decisive position in shaping firm tradition and driving group engagement. For nonprofits, ERGs signify a promising entry level into an organization’s philanthropic ecosystem.
In a current session from the Digital Office Fundraising Summit, How to Find and Engage with Employee Resource Groups (ERGs), Pleasure Stephens—founder and CEO of the Company Giving Community—shared her insights and methods for nonprofits seeking to join meaningfully with ERGs. Drawing from greater than 18 years of expertise as a fundraising marketing consultant and her specialised give attention to company giving since 2014, Pleasure provided actionable ideas for figuring out the best contacts, making a compelling pitch, and cultivating lasting relationships.
Key takeaways:
Whether or not you’re new to ERG engagement or seeking to take your company outreach to the subsequent stage, this session was filled with invaluable insights. We’ll soar right into a recap of the important thing factors—however first, let’s begin with the fundamentals.
What Worker Useful resource Teams (ERGs) Are
Worker Useful resource Teams (ERGs)—also referred to as Enterprise Useful resource Teams, Affinity Teams, or Worker Networks—are voluntary, employee-led teams shaped round shared identities, pursuits, or experiences within the office.
Whereas terminology could differ from firm to firm, the core goal of ERGs stays constant: they supply a way of group, assist, {and professional} improvement alternatives to their members.
Most ERGs are aligned with Range, Fairness, and Inclusion (DEI) priorities and infrequently middle on identities corresponding to:
- Ladies
- LGBTQIA+ people
- Folks with disabilities
- Veterans
- Ethnic and cultural teams
- Working dad and mom
- Younger professionals
ERGs are greater than casual gatherings. They typically have a proper constitution, function below an outlined construction, and are led by a chairperson or president. Many even have devoted budgets via which funds assist actions corresponding to skilled improvement occasions, mentorship applications, group outreach, and nonprofit partnerships.