DO NOT RUN.

- Put together a company-sponsored charitable foundation that spearheads volunteer efforts for you, and is given an added push from the support of your CEO and top executives.

- Encourage individual departments to choose charities that are meaningful to them, and their core competencies. If their job responsibilities include selling meals to consumers, for instance, it makes sense for them to contribute nutrition expertise to young people in need of guidance.

- Let company leaders know volunteering to serve on the board of a favorite charity is counted as a plus toward their progression in the organization, or at the very least, that it's a way for them to reinforce your corporate values.

- Find out if any of your employees have charities they are heavily involved in on their own, or maybe even started themselves, and let them know they can use the company as a resource for rounding up volunteers.

- In addition to charities in your company's backyard, take a global perspective, looking for ways to contribute to nonprofits in developing nations.

- If you've recruited your own training department to volunteer expertise in creating educating material, don't forget to solicit the learning vendors you work with. After all, those you partner with for business can just as effectively partner with you for the greater good.

For more information about the charities spotlighted in this article, visit:

www.generalmills.com/corporate/commitment/foundation.aspx

www.e-learningforkids.org

www.repssi.org