True, the idea of team building has been around for decades, but a new trend is emerging that goes beyond the “feel good” atmosphere of many events that resemble a pep rally more than a tool to create rapport.

Corporations realize that they can accomplish two goals with one effort when they arrange team building exercises that contribute their time and labor to charitable activities. It is a perfect chance to benefit the community at large and boost their corporate image better than anything as superficial as a  celebrity golf tournament.

According to a New York Times article, the Cone Corporate Citizenship Study showed that 86 percent of the consumers surveyed said their brand choice is influenced by good deeds done by their employees. But positive consumer reaction is just part of the equation, and researcher Charles Moore has said studies find the volunteering as a team creates a “camaraderie quotient.”

Habitat for Humanity
This popular charity constructs new homes for low income families and has programs in most U.S. Cities, so you can even sponsor a Habitat for Humanity trip to a fun location like Las Vegas or Miami Beach.

Participants in these projects have a chance to use their ‘out-of-office’ skills such as carpentry, painting, roofing or landscaping and learn things they never knew about each other.

Since the schedules are arranged so that a team can spend the day working together, they can achieve significant results that creates a true sense of group accomplishment at the end of the day.

Kaboom

Help refurbish or build new playgrounds for children in disadvantaged neighborhoods by signing up for the SAVE PLAY program offred for corporate team building by the non-profit group Kaboom.

This weekend activity coordinates your staff for a high-spirited day building outdoor playgrounds that are laid out in advance. The result is a safe, fun environment for neighborhood kids and some rather obvious rewards for future public relations campaigns and product branding.

IMEC

Corporations in the medical field can arrange for team building programs with this non-profit agency that assembles equipment and supplies for hospitals and clinics in 70 third world countries.

Clinical workers and recent graduates can get hands-on skills repairing and sterilizing refurbished equipment that will be packaged up and sent as complete medical emergency kits around the world.

Not only is this project good for building morale, but it can be great for applying skills that had only been academic to some employees.

Disaster Relief Stations

A flexible in-house team building project can be established that will respond to natural disasters where federal agencies can be overwhelmed so additional, coordinated help from corporate teams is welcomed.

Having the equipment and training necessary to respond to disaster situations shows your corporation is responsive to the community and has taken steps to be prepared to offer their services when the need arises. It also empowers employees to feel like they have made a plan to contribute to their community when help is needed most.