They are generally good-hearted people who help others, but it turns out they’re getting a huge benefit that non-volunteers don’t. From sorting books at a library to lending a hand at a shelter, even the smallest acts of kindness ripple outward. Your time doesn’t just change lives— it changes you.

When volunteering becomes a habit, it improves your health. 

Studies back this up. A 2020 Journal of Happiness Studies report, which surveyed nearly 70,000 people in the UK, found that those who volunteer regularly reported higher life satisfaction and better health than people who don’t. Volunteering boosts more than communities— it boosts your well-being. 

And the world is catching on. The global average volunteering participation rate recently climbed to 9.2%- a 57% increase from the previous year. That’s a powerful shift toward people showing up, stepping in, and making a difference.

Volunteering is good for your health. 

Yes, yes, and yes! Research shows that volunteering is linked to lower levels of depression and anxiety. It can help reduce stress, calm your nervous system, and give you a stronger sense of purpose. A 2015 study published in the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine found that people who both worked and volunteered experienced better mental health and felt less overwhelmed in the daily work-life juggle. 

When you give your time and energy to something that matters, you don’t just help, you heal. Volunteering naturally brings a sense of purpose, and you don’t need a title, a trophy, or a trust fund to spark real change. All it takes is the willingness to show up. So whether your impact is big or small, consistent or occasional, remember this: it matters, and so do you.

In fact, volunteering can make your days feel longer… in the best way! A 2012 study in Psychological Science discovered that people who help others report feeling like they have more time, not less. That’s the paradox of giving: giving time gives you time; the more you offer, the more abundant your life feels. 

Volunteering creates a connection. 

In today’s digital age, we’re more connected than ever, but often lonelier than before. Volunteering offers something screens can’t: a real human connection. It’s a chance to meet new people, build a support network, and strengthen your communication skills.

People volunteer for all kinds of reasons: to stay active, explore new interests, to meet others, or simply give back to society. No matter the motivation, the outcome is the same: more resilient communities and deeper human bonds. 

Social Friday: Turning Lost Hours into a Global Force for Good

Fridays tend to be the least productive day of the week. So what if we reimagined those slow hours-not as time lost, but as time invested? 

Social Friday serves this mission: to turn Friday afternoons (that hold the power to spark change) into moments of purpose. This is a global movement that invites people and organizations to use their downtime for good, through meaningful, social, impactful, and accessible action. 

At its core, Social Friday is about rethinking how we spend our time, especially those quieter hours on Friday afternoons when productivity naturally dips. Instead of winding down the week with idleness, Social Friday encourages individuals and organizations to redirect that time toward meaningful community engagement. And what better way to do that than through volunteering?

Volunteering helps you grow, learn, and become part of something bigger than yourself. We can transform the end of the workweek into a time of purpose and connection. Rather than getting isolated, let’s come together to collaborate, create, and give back, turning otherwise unproductive hours into something purposeful and positive. 

Social Friday beats to the same rhythm as volunteering: connection, contribution, and community. By stepping outside our usual routines and into shared experiences, we build bridges—not just between people, but between ideas, skills, and causes. 

Let impact become a habit. 

Making an impact matters— even when it’s a small one. It’s those small actions that, multiplied by many, create lasting change. Volunteering is one of the most valuable gifts we can give, and Social Friday is here to help build stronger communities, boost employee morale, and foster a culture of social responsibility. It’s a win-win for individuals, teams, and society as a whole.

Volunteering doesn’t just make the world better, it makes you better. In fact, when volunteering becomes a habit, it improves our health. Looking for a natural boost for your mood and mindset? Join the movement. 

Helping others might just be the best thing you can do for yourself. 

Now that you know volunteering is good for your mental health, let’s commit to dedicating more time to ourselves, our communities,  the planet, and our well-being. 

Let’s reinvent Fridays TOGETHER!

Throughout this retrospective, we will explore the significant contributions made by participants who dedicated their time, resources, and expertise to address pressing societal issues. In particular, we will delve into the impactful initiatives led by BREON, Ljubeznost, Nula otpad, Walter Vaz – THEPTHK, as well as Marketagent, shedding light on their exceptional efforts and the positive outcomes they achieved.

From providing packages filled with essential hygiene products and nourishing food for families in need to organizing free fitness classes that promoted physical and mental well-being, each participant in Social Friday 2Q23 played a vital role in creating a more inclusive and supportive community.

BREON, Ljubeznost, and Nula otpad – Spreading Hope and Nourishment

In the spirit of compassion and solidarity, BREON, together with Ljubeznost and Nula otpad, played a crucial role in Social Friday 2Q23 by creating packages filled with essential hygiene products and nutritious food for families in need. Their collective effort aimed to alleviate the challenges faced by vulnerable communities, ensuring that they had access to basic necessities.

BREON, a socially conscious company committed to making a positive impact, joined forces with Ljubeznost, a non-profit organization dedicated to spreading love and kindness, and Nula otpad, an initiative focused on reducing waste. Together, they created packages that not only addressed immediate needs, but also contributed to a sustainable and eco-friendly approach.

Their collective effort not only addressed the immediate needs of families in need, but also brought hope and reassurance to those facing challenging circumstances. BREON, Ljubeznost, and Nula otpad demonstrated the power of collaboration and the positive change that can be achieved when companies and non-profit organizations come together with a common purpose.

Walter Vaz and the Fitness Community – Empowering Bodies and Minds

Another remarkable participant in Social Friday 2Q23 was Walter Vaz, a dedicated coach – THEPTHK. Walter organized a free fitness class as a way to encourage physical and mental well-being among participants. His event attracted numerous enthusiastic individuals who were eager to engage in a healthy and active lifestyle.

To support Walter Vaz’s initiative, two brands stepped up to provide additional motivation and rewards. brutal.buddha, a fitness-oriented company, and evebliss.co, a wellness brand, generously offered free goodies to participants. These incentives not only made the fitness class more exciting, but also served as a token of appreciation for individuals prioritizing their health and well-being.

Walter Vaz’s free fitness class showcased the power of community and the transformative effects of exercise. By creating a welcoming and inclusive environment, participants not only benefited physically, but also formed connections and built a support system. Social Friday 2Q23 served as a reminder that investing in one’s health is an investment in the collective well-being of society.

Marketagent and Red Cross – Donating blood

Marketagent, demonstrated their commitment to social responsibility by organizing their Social Friday event in support of the Red Cross in Baden. With a focus on helping other people, Marketagent gave blood donations that would have a direct and positive impact on the lives of those in need.
The collaboration between Marketagent and the Red Cross in Baden brought attention to the struggles faced by people in need and aimed to alleviate their burdens.

Through their participation in Social Friday, Marketagent exemplified the power of corporate social responsibility and the impact that businesses can have in making a difference in their local communities. Their initiative supported the Red Cross and inspired other companies and individuals to engage in acts of kindness and generosity.

We celebrate the triumphs of Social Friday 2Q23, an event that demonstrated the immense potential for positive change and also inspired individuals and organizations to continue their efforts in fostering a more compassionate and united world, challenge the status quo and reinvent Fridays in a more meaningful way.

An open letter to nonprofits

Dear Nonprofits,

Your work is invaluable to our society and our communities. But, you don’t have to be alone in your mission. When we work together, we can achieve more, we can do it better, and we can change the lives of more people for the better. 

How nonprofits can build partnerships with businesses?

Building a relationship with a business can benefit you and the company in ways you may not have anticipated. However, the first step, asking a business if they’re interested in a partnership, can be the roadblock that prevents both companies and nonprofits from reaping the rewards. 

For many nonprofits, especially smaller ones with few volunteers or support staff, business partnerships are an overlooked or underestimated avenue for growth. However, simply asking for donations often leads to closed doors. We’re all experiencing the drawback of the recession and no one is eager to give out money. Yet, nonprofits have a lot to offer a business, even if they’re small. 

What can you offer?

Companies partnering with nonprofits can be closer to reaching their corporate goals if they can realize the opportunities that this type of partnership can offer. Yes, for any business, the end goal is a positive financial performance, yet achieving that goal depends on different factors that are not necessarily based on revenue.

Corporate Social Responsibility

Corporate Social Responsibility, or CSR, is a form of self-regulation that reflects a business’s accountability and commitment to contributing to the well-being of communities and society through various environmental and social measures. Consumers are demanding more transparent and responsible products and services. This means you could actually help a business become more profitable and attractive to consumers through your partnership.

Employee satisfaction

There’s another unexpected benefit to partnerships between nonprofits and for-profits: employee productivity. In a world where employees feel disengaged and disconnected from their work, volunteering and giving back in the workplace can actually improve feelings of engagement and loyalty. This, in turn, decreases turnover, increases productivity, and builds company culture. 

Word-of-mouth marketing

With marketing, a business and a nonprofit will likely see a boost in brand recognition and overall visibility – and they might not even have to pay for it! Because consumers want to see businesses supporting social causes, it’s possible that a partnership could lead to media attention, social media engagement, and a better “word of mouth” reputation. This level of recognition can help attract new customers to the business.

Brand values

Finally, an increase in sales, better shareholder returns, and an improvement in return customers are all possible with nonprofit partners. That’s because studies show consumers want socially responsible businesses and will actually choose socially engaged companies over their competitors. They may even seek out responsible products and services as alternatives. 

How to find a business partner

To find a business partner for your small or medium-sized nonprofit, look for a business with values that align with your mission. Small and medium-sized businesses in your local area may be open to partnerships, as they likely haven’t formed other partnerships themselves. 

To get started, take the first leap forward by joining the Social Friday family. No worries, there are no application fees and no membership fees. We firmly believe that your budget should be invested directly in your projects, for the benefit of those in need, and not for paying any fees.

Next, familiarize yourself with our calendar. We organize four Social Friday events annually, one in each quarter, when companies, nonprofits, and student volunteers team up to work together for a local social cause. Yours is as important as any other, so take that opportunity to reach out and get in touch with the businesses that you want to connect with.

Social Friday is the most convenient way to get your foot in the door and establish a partnership and a long-term collaboration. It doesn’t cost anything to any involved parties, it creates a global buzz because all participants host events worldwide at the same time, and most importantly, it requires an on-field collaboration. 

Why is an on-field collaboration important?

In today’s world, the Internet has become the main tool of communication. Online meetings, emails, and chat apps have reduced face-to-face interaction. People often go for days, even months, without seeing a familiar face. Team gatherings are and will become even more important due to this situation.

When your nonprofit reaches out to a company to ask if they are willing to contribute to your mission and projects, it’s almost certain that you won’t get a positive response immediately. Developing a partnership is very similar to developing a friendship. It needs time, personal involvement, and mutual respect – all of which can be established with an on-field collaboration during Social Friday events.

Social Friday is more about building friendly relationships between companies and organizations than it is about donations. Donations and long-term support come after you get to know the people from your partner company by their name. It’s much easier to ask for help from someone you know personally than from someone you don’t know.

How to create partnerships through Social Friday?

Friday is the least productive time of the week. The mission of Social Friday is to reinvent Fridays and to question the status quo of unproductive time. We use the Friday afternoon, to generate togetherness, collaboration, and social engagement through partnerships between businesses and nonprofits. 

Once this type of partnership is established, there are more opportunities for your nonprofit to gain long-term support, donations, and future collaborations. Because that’s what friends do – they help and support each other.

Act. Connect. Impact.

Every Social Friday event has its own motto. It’s the main message that all participants send through their social engagement. The next event’s motto is “Act. Connect. Impact.” It’s the formula explaining the success behind the concept of Social Friday. 

Act.

To act means to challenge the status quo of the least productive time. To get out of the office and to get personally involved in the community through volunteering and collaboration. To use your energy for good deeds, to set an example, and inspire others to do good as well.

Connect.

To connect means to establish and build a partnership between a business and a nonprofit for the greater good. Giving back to the community is easier and more efficient when you do it with a partner and a friend.

Impact.

Finally, it’s all about the impact that we can create together. When we work together, we can achieve higher goals, faster and better. 

So, let’s join teams at the next Social Friday event on September 30th. Reach out to a company that you believe shares your values and invite them to be your partner. It’s the smart thing to do.

Sincerely,

Social Friday Team