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Home Blog How Corporate Volunteering Strengthens Brand Trust
For 81% of consumers, brand trust is the deciding factor in whether they buy.
September 18, 2025
The problem is that we’re living in an era of declining trust; especially in what we hear or see online.
Consumers are more skeptical of corporate promises than ever before, and traditional advertising or polished CSR reports rarely move the needle.
Corporate volunteering is emerging as one of the most effective ways to earn that trust.
Unlike corporate donations or one-off PR campaigns, volunteering demonstrates action, not just intention.
Research shows that 84% of consumers are more likely to trust a company that supports a local cause, and 90% actively want to know how companies contribute to charitable initiatives.
Why does volunteering succeed where traditional CSR often falls flat?
Because it’s human, visible, and rooted in authentic community connection. Instead of abstract promises, volunteering offers proof of values in action. And in today’s purpose-driven marketplace, that proof is a powerful competitive advantage.
The question is…
How can companies harness volunteering to build the kind of brand trust that fuels long-term growth?
To understand why volunteering strengthens brand trust, we need to look at the psychology of trust itself. Trust is built on three key components:
1) Competence – Can the company deliver on its promises?
2) Benevolence – Does the company have good intentions toward its stakeholders?
3) Integrity – Does the company act in alignment with its stated values?
Corporate volunteering directly reinforces all three. When employees give their time and skills to support a local cause or a disabled community for example, it signals competence (they are capable and effective), benevolence (they care beyond profits), and integrity (they act consistently with stated values).
88% of HR executives say volunteering boosts organizational reputation.
Volunteering speaks to the psychology of “actions speak louder than words.”
The difference between performative CSR and genuine volunteering is clear. Performative CSR often relies on big, flashy campaigns disconnected from daily operations, whereas authentic volunteering is messy, local, and personal. That humanity is precisely what makes it trustworthy.
Trust doesn’t stop with customers.
To fully realize its value, companies must see corporate volunteering as a multi-stakeholder trust strategy.
The numbers show the payoff: organizations with highly engaged employees (often fueled by meaningful volunteering programs) outperform competitors by 147%. Volunteering, therefore, strengthens trust not just externally but across the entire stakeholder ecosystem.
While corporate volunteering can be a trust powerhouse, poorly designed programs can backfire, leading to accusations of “purpose-washing.” To avoid this, authenticity must be the foundation.
Here’s what works:
And here’s what to avoid:
Long-term, community-led initiatives send a clear message: “We’re here to build something meaningful with you, not just check a box.”
That’s how trust grows.
One of the biggest gaps in existing content on corporate volunteering is measurement.
Too often, trust is treated as intangible. But trust can, and must, be measured to demonstrate ROI.
Consider these metrics:
Trust can also be monitored through social listening, reputation tracking, and stakeholder surveys.
When 95% of business executives agree organizations have a responsibility to build trust, the case for measurement is undeniable.
By connecting volunteering programs to measurable KPIs, companies can prove that trust is a driver of hard business outcomes.
Trust is more than a day-to-day advantage; it’s a long-term resilience strategy.
Companies that invest in trust through volunteering create “social capital” that pays dividends in both good times and bad.
For example, during a crisis or scandal, organizations with deep community ties and volunteer programs often receive the benefit of the doubt. That goodwill buys precious time to respond and recover. Trust reserves can make the difference between reputational survival and collapse.
Consumer and employee expectations are also rising.
55% of employees say they’d take a pay cut to work for a socially responsible company, and 91% of consumers would switch brands to support one backing a good cause.
Post-pandemic, corporate volunteerism rose 57% year-over-year, showing that trust-building through action is becoming a mainstream expectation, not a nice-to-have.
Volunteering builds durable community relationships, strengthens internal culture, and positions companies as long-term category leaders. When competitors chase short-term gains, brands rooted in authentic trust stand out and stay ahead.
Corporate volunteering with Be My Eyes is a strategic, human-centered way to build authentic trust with your customers, employees, and communities. By empowering your workforce to directly support the blind and low-vision community, your brand steps beyond intention into action, reinforcing values through meaningful connection.
For example, Zain has partnered with Be My Eyes to launch a groundbreaking corporate volunteering initiative across the Middle East, empowering employees to provide real-time visual support for people who are blind or have low vision. Through dedicated volunteering events, Zain offers assistance in Arabic and English, strengthening accessibility across all eight of Zain’s markets. With training sessions, social media outreach, and strong leadership support, this program has already achieved a 96% satisfaction rate from both users and volunteers.
Reach out to Be My Eyes today to explore how your team can get involved in corporate volunteering.
