Corporate Volunteering Gaining Momentum as a New Standard Among Russian Employers

In 2023, corporate volunteering contributed approximately 290 billion rubles to Russia's GDP, a figure anticipated to surpass 400 billion rubles in 2024, highlighted by Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Chernyshenko. The Russian government, led by the president, has set a goal for at least 45% of young people to participate in volunteer activities by 2030. This target involves coordinated efforts from federal and regional authorities.

The Ministry of Economic Development of Russia and Rosmolodezh are collaborating with the association "Dobro.rf" to foster corporate volunteering. A law supporting corporate volunteering was passed last year, enabling companies to include volunteer activities as part of collective labor agreements. Companies receive methodological support, access to educational programs, and a database of vetted non-profit organizations for partnership.

Authorities are building an infrastructure to enhance effective cooperation among state bodies, businesses, and non-governmental organizations (NGOs). Volunteer groups have been mobilized to assist during emergencies, such as in the Black Sea coast, Dagestan, and Krasnodar Krai, as well as supporting participants in special military operations and residents of border areas.

According to Elena Ivanitskaya, Deputy Director of the Department for Social Sphere Development and Non-Profit Sector at the Ministry of Economic Development, 18 federal bodies engage with volunteers in various capacities. The ministry acts as both regulator and practitioner, having amended legislation in 2023 to formally recognize corporate volunteering. Since 2018, it has conducted donor campaigns, collecting 916 liters of blood through four annual events.

The National Council for Corporate Volunteering (NCCV) unites over 450 companies from more than 30 economic sectors. Together with "Dobro.rf", the council develops methodologies, promotes best practices, and facilitates interaction between the state, businesses, and NGOs. On average, about 18% of employees in council member companies are consistently involved in volunteer activities, with the number steadily growing.

Irina Zhukova, Chairperson of the NCCV, emphasized the importance of aligning volunteer engagement with NGO expertise and the specific needs of cities and regions, to implement impactful programs.

Rosatom, Russia’s state nuclear corporation with over 270,000 employees, reports that 66% of its staff have participated at least once in volunteer events such as social projects, humanitarian efforts, or educational activities. The company holds at least 12 sector-wide volunteer campaigns annually, including blood and bone marrow donation drives, environmental actions, and aid for animals, benefiting over one million people domestically and abroad. During its summer campaign "Rosatom Together with Energodar", over 80 tons of humanitarian aid were collected.

Anna Zhigulskaya, Director of Internal Communications and CSR Project Office at Rosatom, highlighted the corporation’s focus on promoting social activity not only among employees but also within local communities, where 46% of residents engage in volunteering.

Russian Railways (OAO RZD) also systematically fosters corporate volunteering, organizing more than 17,000 volunteer events last year alone across social, cultural, patriotic, railway-related, and environmental fields. Corporate volunteers gathered over 2,000 tons of humanitarian aid for participants in special military operations. In July, over 300 company volunteers held an inclusive festival "Parovoz Dobro" for railway workers’ families across 16 railway hubs in 26 cities, attracting over 2,000 children, including those with disabilities.

Mikhail Bykalo, Head of Personnel Assessment, Monitoring and Youth Policy Center of Moscow Railway (part of OAO RZD), noted that the number of corporate volunteers has reached over 100,000, recognized in the Russian Book of Records in late 2023.

The United Metallurgical Company has developed the corporate volunteering program "Tempered by Kindness" to engage residents and support youth in monotowns—single-industry towns. Volunteers carry out social projects, improve urban environments, and gain opportunities for professional growth. In 2025, the program involved 3,200 volunteers, with 47.5% from Vyksa and over a third (35.5%) under 35 years old.

Ekaterina Koshchenko, Head of Sustainable Development at the United Metallurgical Company, stated that involving residents, especially youth, is essential for the development of monotowns. The program helps young people develop leadership and management skills while staying in their hometowns, fostering active communities invested in their own region’s future.

Businesses also contribute to disaster relief efforts. For instance, employees of the "Magnit" retail chain collected approximately 30 tons of oil-contaminated sand from the coast in Anapa. Volunteer initiatives are active in major corporations such as Norilsk Nickel, Metalloinvest, Sberbank, X5 Retail Group, Rostik's, and HeadHunter.

The growth of corporate volunteering reflects a wider trend of increasing social responsibility among Russian businesses, enhancing corporate culture and community involvement across sectors.

The article is based on information from Rossiyskaya Gazeta.