The Heart of Illinois United Way Corporate Volunteer Council collaborates with regional companies to provide a framework for encouraging community engagement through employee volunteering.   

Our Corporate Volunteer Council serves as a valuable resource to launch, improve, and/or enhance employee volunteer programs. Employee volunteerism is a vital component of many corporate social responsibility plans. With each company defining their own parameters around employee volunteer programs, our Corporate Volunteer Council plays a vital role in nurturing the development of employee volunteerism while enabling company-based volunteer managers to build strong, successful programs.  

The Heart of Illinois United Way can help identify areas of interest within your company and work with nonprofit organizations to better align volunteer needs to meet corporate goals and culture. This unique opportunity brings companies, volunteers, and nonprofits together by addressing identified community needs in a collective effort.  As a result, increased engagement can lead to more long-term, skills-based, or pro bono volunteering while also improving employee volunteer recruitment and retention.   


Our Corporate Volunteer Council offers multiple benefits, including:  

  • Networking and knowledge sharing
  • Encouraging best practices for employee volunteerism
  • Identifying and collaborating to address critical needs
  • Establishing and reporting volunteer outcome data
  • Increasing professional development through educational opportunities
  • Fostering and supporting employee volunteer programs
  • Building stronger relationships between companies and nonprofits
  • Enhancing quality of life through volunteerism  

As a participating company in the Heart of Illinois United Way Corporate Volunteer Council, members can benefit from educational and networking opportunities including human resource needs related to employee volunteer programs, engaging young professionals, promoting volunteerism to retirees, insights on establishing employee affinity groups, sharing data related to volunteerism and community needs, and increasing skills-based and pro bono volunteerism.  

Membership in the Heart of Illinois United Way Corporate Volunteer Council represents a network of regional businesses dedicated to improving the community while benefitting from volunteer engagement.  Membership is determined by:  

  • Participation in the Heart of Illinois United Way’s annual campaign (employee giving and/or corporate giving)
  • Participation in volunteer needs posted on volunteer.hoiunitedway.org or coordinated by the Heart of Illinois United Way
  • Participation in Heart of Illinois United Way Marketing and Community Engagement Committee  


Volunteer Link is a new Get Connected platform offered locally and nationally by Galaxy Digital and the Heart of Illinois United Way. The platform helps companies with employees across multiple locations or states connect with local volunteer opportunities.

Why Would Companies Use Volunteer Link?
Volunteer Link makes volunteering easy and accessible for all employees. By linking to Get Connected volunteer centers nationwide, employers can offer a simple and effective way for their employees to quickly browse and respond to volunteer opportunities in their area, all on a single, easy-to-use platform.

Click here to read more. 


Interested in joining our Corporate Volunteer Council? Email Gina Edwards, VP of Marketing and Community Engagement, at gina.edwards@local.unitedway.org to get started. You can also click here to request our assistance in developing a group or team volunteer project that meets your organization's needs. 




Current Heart of Illinois United Way Corporate Volunteer Council Members include:

  • Advanced Medical Transport of Central Illinois
  • Advanced Technology Services, Inc.
  • Bradley University
  • Busey Bank
  • Carle Health
  • Caterpillar
  • CEFCU
  • First Mid Bank & Trust
  • Fortress Bank
  • Illinois Central College
  • Illinois Mutual
  • Morgan Stanley
  • Morton Buildings
  • OSF HealthCare
  • Peoria Public Schools
  • PNC
  • RLI
  • Target
  • University of Illinois College of Medicine at Peoria

Our Committee

The Heart of Illinois United Way Corporate Volunteer Council is overseen by our Marketing and Community Engagement Committee. Members include: Domini Ardis, Advanced Medical Transport of Central Illinois; Libby Derry, Bradley University; Amy Epkins, Illinois Mutual; Martha Kamp, CEFCU; Karen Stecher, SourceAmerica; Nicole Sutherland, RLI; and Jenna Wiesner, PNC (chair).