Classroom volunteer programs give banks a powerful way to strengthen community relationships while advancing financial education and meeting regulatory requirements. By sending employees into classrooms to teach essential money management skills, banks can demonstrate their commitment to financial empowerment and community impact. Additionally, a 2024 Deloitte survey found that 87% of employees say volunteer opportunities are crucial in deciding whether to stay with their current employer or find a new job.

Benefits of Classroom Volunteer Programs

Before you launch a program, it’s helpful to understand the wide range of benefits that classroom volunteerism brings to banks, employees, and communities. Beyond giving back, these initiatives can directly support business objectives, improve employee morale, and position your institution as a trusted financial leader.

• Strengthen Community Trust: Classroom programs help banks build relationships with local schools and families, showing commitment beyond transactions.
• Support CRA and CSR Goals: Volunteering aligns with Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) requirements and corporate social responsibility initiatives. See more CRA volunteer opportunities here.
• Boost Employee Engagement: Employees who volunteer feel more connected to their company’s mission and more motivated at work.
• Educate Future Customers: Classroom programs help prepare students with real-world financial knowledge, building financial confidence for the future.
• Differentiate Your Institution: Demonstrating leadership in financial education sets your bank apart from competitors.

Five Steps to Start a Classroom Volunteer Program at Your Bank

Building a successful classroom volunteer program takes intentional planning. From setting clear goals to measuring results, each step ensures your program is impactful and sustainable. Here’s how banks can move from idea to implementation.

1. 1. Define Your Program Goals: Decide what you want to achieve—whether it’s meeting CRA requirements, increasing community engagement, or supporting local schools. Clear goals provide a roadmap for your program.
   2. Partner With Schools and Organizations: Reach out to schools, nonprofits, or educational partners with deep ties to school districts to identify opportunities and curriculum needs.
   3. Recruit and Train Volunteers: Create an internal campaign to encourage employees to participate. Provide training and resources to help them feel confident in the classroom.
   4. Align With Financial Education Curriculum: Use proven programs and lesson plans to ensure consistency and impact. Everfi’s digital financial education resources make it easy for volunteers to engage students effectively.
   5. Track and Share Impact: Measure student learning outcomes, volunteer hours, and community feedback. Share results with employees, customers, and stakeholders to demonstrate impact.

Best Practices for Managing a Successful Program

Even the most thoughtful plan requires strong management to succeed long-term. Banks that create structure, celebrate participation, and stay flexible are best positioned to see real community and employee impact. The following best practices can help ensure your classroom volunteer program thrives.

• Start Small and Scale: Pilot in one community before expanding.
• Provide Ongoing Training: Give volunteers refreshers and resources.
• Align with Business Goals: Tie the program to CRA, CSR, or employee engagement objectives.
• Communicate Regularly: Keep schools, volunteers, and leadership informed.
• Collect Feedback: Ask teachers and volunteers what’s working—and adjust.

How To Get Employees Engaged

One of the biggest challenges banks face is ensuring that employees feel motivated to participate. Engagement doesn’t happen by accident—it requires thoughtful strategies to make volunteering accessible, rewarding, and fun. Here are a few ways to encourage greater employee involvement.

• Offer Paid Volunteer Time: Show that you value employees’ efforts by giving them time to participate.
• Highlight Impact Stories: Share success stories to inspire others.
• Create Team Opportunities: Encourage groups of employees to volunteer together.
• Leverage Leadership: When executives volunteer, employees are more likely to follow.
• Gamify Participation: Use friendly competition and recognition programs to boost engagement.

Tools to Support Your Program

Launching a classroom volunteer program doesn’t have to be overwhelming. Everfi provides turnkey financial education courses, volunteer training resources, and reporting tools that make it easy for banks to succeed. By launching a classroom volunteer program, your bank can empower employees, inspire students, and strengthen your role as a trusted community leader. Click here to learn how Everfi can help you connect with your community.