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June 2007
 Wells Fargo team members give over a million hours of volunteer time each year to improve the well-being and economic self-sufficiency of the communities where they live and work. Volunteering is one of the most effective ways Wells Fargo team members can make a contribution to their community and provide a living example of the company’s vision and values.
Wells Fargo tracks the company’s volunteer efforts through VolunteerWellsFargo!, an Internet-based tool to organize and promote volunteer opportunities for team members. Team members use the tool to find volunteer projects that match their interests and available time, build project teams, find board membership opportunities, and record their volunteer hours.
Team members are encouraged to record their hours through various incentive programs. For example, team members could randomly receive up to $1,000 in grant funding for a non-profit of their choice by recording their hours. A total of $25,000 will be awarded in 2007 to team members and their organizations through this program.
Wells Fargo also recognizes and supports its employee volunteers through the following programs:
Volunteer Leave Program
For over 30 years Wells Fargo has supported its team members and their passion for building strong, safe and healthy communities through the Volunteer Leave Program. The Volunteer Leave Program provides an opportunity for talented team members to go out into the community and share their commitment, knowledge, and skills with a nonprofit organization of their choice. Team members are fully paid and keep their benefits during their sabbatical, which can last up to four months. Team members bring back to Wells Fargo a variety of diverse experiences that encourage compassion and enthusiasm and enhance the core competencies that make Wells Fargo a great company and a great place to work and build a career.
In addition to a sincere interest in a project and a personal commitment, applicants are encouraged to have specific goals in mind to accomplish during their leaves that will help build the future capacity of the nonprofit organization.
Volunteer Leave recipients are selected based on their demonstrated commitment to their nonprofit and the long term impact that the applicant’s leave will have on the community that the nonprofit serves.
Wells Fargo team members have taken volunteer leaves that have made a significant impact on their nonprofit. A few examples include:
- creating marketing materials and raising funds for a therapeutic group home that provides residential treatment for emotionally distressed girls
- renovating a facility for a center that provides support to those with severe mental health and behavioral issues
- training teachers in Afghanistan and building homes in Mexico for needy Oaxacan families
- building homes for families who lost their homes as a result of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita
In 2006, the company awarded 23 volunteer leaves for a total of over 51 months of fully paid volunteer time.
One Volunteer Leave recipient had the following to say about the experience: "This was one of the most rewarding experiences of my life. To be able to dedicate full-time to an organization that promotes positive experiences for individuals with intellectual disabilities and to experience first hand how much your hard work is appreciated by the athletes, families, volunteers and the community is a feeling of satisfaction beyond words. This provided life experience that I will be able to use in my professional career and life."
Volunteer Service Award
In addition to the Volunteer Leave program, the Wells Fargo Volunteer Service Award recognizes team members who make outstanding volunteer contributions to their communities and gives them the chance to win up to $50,000 for a nonprofit organization where they volunteer.
Wells Fargo team members can nominate a co-worker or themselves for a Volunteer Service Award. A Volunteer Service Award selection committee – made up of a diverse group of team members who truly represent the company – chooses the winners based on the nominees’ personal dedication, effectiveness of their work, amount of personal time volunteered and the value of the work to their community.
In 2006, Wells Fargo donated $319,000 to charities in honor of 161 nominated team members who received the Volunteer Service Award.
Through both the Volunteer Leave program and the Wells Fargo Volunteer Service Award, Center member Wells Fargo demonstrates the value it places on employee volunteer opportunities.
For more information about volunteerism:
• Go to The Center's Corporate Citizenship Tools and click on "Volunteerism" (members only; must be logged in)
• Register for The Center's Executive Education program, Building an Effective Employee Volunteer Program (October 3-5 in Denver)
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