For Jacqui Winter, President of HR Project Partners of St. John’s, NL, helping community groups and non-profits is both a personal passion and professional calling. “These organizations provide a vital role and they need many supports to operate,” she says. “Giving back to the places where we live and work is important.”

That’s a message she and her team of HR recruiters and consultants broadcast loud and clear every day to the private sector. “Being in business is not just about making money,” she says. “Business has to get involved in the form of donations of time and money and professional expertise. Community groups and non-profit organizations usually have a limited number of staff wearing many hats.”

With more than 20 years of experience in human resources management, project coordination, communications, public relations, training, and labour relations – to name just a few fields – she knows her business. HR Project Partners, which has worked with a range of small and large organizations in both private and public sectors, has a reputation for getting results by helping clients understand that proper human resource practices can and do enhance their success.

Sometimes, she says, that requires a well-intentioned nudge. “It’s important that businesses support community and non-profit organizations by making financial contributions,” she says, “but it’s also important to allow staff to volunteer, mentor, and be involved in these organizations.”

When this happens, both the business and the non-profit can benefit enormously. Research shows that a majority of employer-supported volunteers believe that their community efforts actually strengthen their relationships with their colleagues and even helps them learn skills they can apply in their workplaces.

“It’s simple,” Winter says. “Involving your staff to be part of coming up with ideas and ways to support community groups encourages motivation and engagement. It’s how personal passion and professional commitment meet. And that’s a win-win for everyone.” •