Copalana supports companies in building strong, scalable CSR and ESG programs by addressing three key pillars:

• Create a portfolio aligned with their strategy
  Companies can design a portfolio of volunteering opportunities aligned with SDGs and company values.
   
• Promote volunteering opportunities
  Employees discover opportunities through an easy-to-use portal where they can sign up for skill-based projects, hands-on team events, or community activities.
  • Copalana includes built-in email promotion capabilities:
  • Create dynamic mailing lists (e.g., employees who haven’t volunteered recently, those on waiting lists, or those with specific skills).
  • Send tailored invitations and reminders directly from the platform.
    Track engagement and sign-ups in real time.
     
• Measure impact and continuously improve
  Copalana’s Pulse feature collects structured feedback from employees, nonprofits, and organizing teams. Real-time dashboards show participation, satisfaction, and engagement trends — helping companies refine their programs year after year.

Smaller companies often don’t have a dedicated CSR team — but they still want to give employees meaningful opportunities to contribute.

With Copalana, SMEs and medium-sized companies can:

• Book single, hands-on team volunteering events directly with nonprofit partners
• Rely on Copalana to find opportunities that match employee interests and company values
• Let the platform handle logistics: sign-ups, waiting lists, reminders, and payments
• Access support in organizing opportunities when they don’t have internal CSR resources
• Use branded emails and communications (with their company logo and colors) to strengthen employee identity and make volunteering feel part of their culture

👉 This means companies of all sizes can easily engage employees without needing specialized staff — Copalana becomes their CSR backbone.

Large organizations often run complex volunteering programs across multiple regions. Copalana makes these programs scalable by:

• Managing multi-country Volunteer Weeks with thousands of employees
• Enabling benchmarking across departments, regions, and sectors
• Providing consolidated dashboards for CSR and ESG reporting
• Delivering fully branded portals, emails, and campaigns so volunteering feels like an extension of the company’s culture and employer brand worldwide
• Showcasing contributions and engagement with a leaderboard feature that highlights teams, departments, or regions — sparking friendly competition and celebrating engagement
• Using Pulse sentiment analysis to measure employee motivation and satisfaction — both at the level of individual events and across entire Volunteer Weeks

👉 This ensures larget companies can run sophisticated, measurable programs while reinforcing their corporate identity and engaging employees at scale.

Companies often want one-day, hands-on experiences for their employees — like park cleanups or mentoring days. But organizing them is complex. Traditionally, someone in HR or CSR must:

• Find and compare nonprofits
• Compare opportunities in a structured way
• Manage sign-ups and waiting lists
• Send reminders
• Handle payments and logistics
• Collect post-event feedback
• Share success internally

And all of this typically has to be done on top of their regular full-time responsibilities. This makes volunteering programs time-intensive, stressful, and difficult to scale.

Copalana automates the entire process by:

• Finding and comparing nonprofit opportunities
• Enabling direct booking on the platform
• Managing sign-ups, waiting lists, and reminders
• Handling payments where needed
• Collecting post-event feedback automatically

👉 Employees simply show up and volunteer — Copalana does the rest.

In most companies, impact measurement is still done manually: HR or CSR teams send out forms or emails, then spend hours consolidating responses into spreadsheets. It’s time-consuming to structure the right questions, chase participants, and make sense of inconsistent feedback.

With Copalana, feedback is collected automatically after each event from:

• Employees who participated
• The nonprofit host
• Internal organizing teams
• The results flow into dashboards showing:
• Employee engagement levels
• Causes that generated the most enthusiasm
• Benchmarks across regions, departments, and sectors

Example:
A company books a one-day tree-planting event with a local nonprofit. Copalana manages the logistics. After the event, feedback reveals that 95% of participants felt more motivated at work — and the nonprofit gained valuable visibility.

👉 This process is powered by Copalana’s Pulse tool, explained in more detail below.

Pulse is Copalana’s AI-powered feedback and insights tool for corporate volunteering programs. Instead of relying on manual surveys or anecdotal feedback, Pulse automatically collects structured input from employees, nonprofits, and internal organizing teams after each volunteering activity.

Puse leverages AI to analyze the responses and generate sentiment analysis — showing not only what participants said, but also how they felt about the experience.

All this feedback flows into real-time dashboards that show:

• How engaged employees were in specific activities
• Which causes and types of volunteering resonate most
• Levels of satisfaction across employees, nonprofits, and coordinators
• Overall sentiment across events, Volunteer Weeks, and regions

👉 By combining structured surveys with AI-driven sentiment analysis, Pulse turns raw feedback into clear, actionable insights. Companies can measure not just participation, but also motivation, engagement, and long-term cultural impact — like having a built-in analytics engine for social impact.

Pulse turns anecdotal feedback into data-driven insights — enabling companies to continuously improve volunteering programs without extra manual work.

The dashboard visualizes data across multiple dimensions, such as:

• Overall employee engagement — how motivated and connected participants felt
• Purpose clarity — whether employees understood the event’s social purpose
• Team building impact — whether the event strengthened coworker relationships
• Connection with colleagues — did volunteering help them connect across teams?
• Event duration feedback — was the event too long, too short, or just right?
• Average satisfaction — sentiment score based on participant feedback
• Top-performing events — highlights the most impactful activities
• Importance of volunteering — whether employees believe volunteering is valuable to the company
• Willingness to inspire others — identifies “Champions,” “Supporters,” and “Observers”
• Future participation drivers — reasons employees would (or wouldn’t) volunteer again
• Preferred frequency — how often employees want to engage
• Causes employees care about — environment, education, health, elderly care, youth, community development

Example:
A global company organizes dozens of volunteer events each year. With Pulse, they discover that employees in Europe are most engaged in environmental projects, while employees in Asia prefer education causes. This allows them to design programs tailored to regional interests — moving beyond attendance tracking to a true understanding of why employees volunteer, what they value, and how to improve future programs.

Nonprofits often struggle to recruit enough volunteers for fixed-date events. Managing sign-ups, reminders, and communication manually can be time-intensive and inefficient.

Community events on Copalana solve this by giving nonprofits an easy way to post one-time opportunities — such as a charity run, tree planting, or fundraising gala. Volunteers can browse upcoming events, sign up directly, and receive automatic confirmations, reminders, and updates.

For participants, the time commitment is usually short and well-defined — typically just the day or duration of the event itself.

Example:
A local food bank needs 30 helpers for a Saturday food distribution. By posting on Copalana, they quickly fill all slots. The platform automatically manages confirmations, waiting lists, and reminders, saving the nonprofit hours of coordination.

Skills volunteering means contributing your professional expertise to help nonprofits strengthen their operations and achieve lasting impact.

Examples of skills include:

• IT and data (dashboards, CRM setup, analysis)
   
• Marketing and communications (social media, campaign planning, design)
   
• Finance and legal (budgeting, compliance, advisory)
   
• Strategy and research (market analysis, program planning)
   
• Creative skills (translation, content writing, photography)

👉 Unlike hands-on volunteering, which often requires presence at a specific time and place, skills volunteering can be remote, flexible, and project-based.

Skill-based projects can range from quick micro tasks to longer-term collaborations. Nonprofits clearly state the expected time commitment and deadlines in their project posting, so volunteers can decide based on availability.

Examples include:

• Micro projects (1–5 hours): e.g., designing a fundraising brochure or proofreading materials
   
• Short-term projects (5–20 hours over a few days or weeks): e.g., advising on legal incorporation, setting up analytics, or creating a campaign page
   
• Medium projects (20–50 hours): e.g., building a website, configuring a data dashboard, or preparing financial models
   
• Longer collaborations (several weeks or months, part-time): e.g., coaching nonprofit leadership, developing a communication strategy, or mentoring staff

👉 This flexibility makes it possible for anyone to contribute — whether they have just a few hours or want to support over several months.

Yes. Most projects are fully remote — making it easy for volunteers to contribute across borders without leaving their home or office.

This creates opportunities to:

• Collaborate with nonprofits worldwide on causes that inspire you
   
• Learn from diverse experiences and gain new perspectives on social and cultural challenges
   
• Share best practices across regions, helping smaller nonprofits benefit from global knowledge
   
• Build a network of international contacts while making a meaningful difference

Some opportunities may also offer or require in-person collaboration, especially for local nonprofits that benefit from face-to-face support.

As part of the registration process, volunteers create a skills-profile on Copalana that highlights their professional skills, experience, and volunteer history.

Nonprofits post projects with required skills, deliverables, and timelines. Copalana then matches volunteers with suitable projects and recommends opportunities where their knowledge can have the greatest impact.

When new projects are posted that match your skills, you are automatically notified — so you don’t miss opportunities to contribute where you can make the most difference.

When a volunteer applies for a project, the nonprofit is immediately notified and reaches out to the individual. From there, the nonprofit and volunteer can negotiate the terms, availability, and scope of the project to make sure it’s a good fit for both sides.

Yes. At the end of projects:

Nonprofits provide feedback to volunteers on the outcome and professionalism.

Volunteers can request references or add the project to their professional portfolio.

Outcomes can also be shared as part of a volunteer’s Copalana profile, building a track record of impact.

Copalana’s Pulse surveys also help collect structured feedback from both volunteers and nonprofits — ensuring experiences are captured consistently and insights can be used to improve future projects.

👉 This recognition strengthens both volunteer motivation and nonprofit credibility.

What is a campaign?

A campaign is a time-bound fundraising drive that can be personalized by the organizer. Instead of a generic donate button, campaigns allow you to add a personal touch — share your story, include images, and even post blog-style updates to engage your community. This makes supporters feel more connected and increases donations.

How do campaigns connect to initiatives?

Multiple campaigns can be attached to a single initiative. This means that:

Each Champion can create their own campaign under the initiative.

Champions engage their personal networks (friends, family, colleagues) with their unique story.

All donations from campaigns automatically roll up to the parent initiative, ensuring transparency and collective impact.

What is champion fundraising?

Champion fundraising empowers individuals or groups to act as advocates for a nonprofit. Champions create their own campaign pages, personalize them with their story, and mobilize their networks to donate.

 

What types of events can Champions organize?

Campaigns are flexible and can be built around almost any activity that inspires donations. Examples include:

• Sports challenges: running marathons, cycling treks, swimming events, or hiking goals
   
• Creative events: bake sales, art shows, concerts, or crafting challenges
   
• Personal milestones: birthdays, weddings, or anniversaries
   
• Corporate activities: team volunteering days, charity tournaments, or office challenges

These events give campaigns an engaging hook, making it easier for Champions to rally their communities.

Can I update supporters during my campaign?

Yes. Champions can post blog-style updates on their campaign page to keep supporters engaged. Updates can include milestones reached, photos from events, or personal reflections. This ongoing interaction motivates donors to share your campaign and continue supporting you.

How do Champions share their campaign?

Each Champion campaign comes with a unique link that can be shared instantly via:

• Social media (LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter)
• Email invitations
• QR codes (for events, posters, or printed flyers)
• Company intranet or newsletters (for corporate Champions)

Will I receive updates about the project I supported?

Yes. Nonprofits can post updates, photos, and milestones directly on their initiative or campaign pages. Donors automatically see these updates, keeping them connected to the impact of their contribution.

Can nonprofits customize their fundraising pages?

Yes. Nonprofits can brand their initiatives and campaigns with their logo, images, and storytelling. This makes each page unique to their cause and helps build trust with potential donors.

What about leaderboards?

Copalana includes a leaderboard for each initiative that shows all the campaigns beneath it. This drives visibility, sparks friendly competition, and encourages communities to raise more together.

Examples:

Sophie’s Birthday Fundraiser: Sophie personalizes her Champion campaign with photos and updates, raising CHF 2,000 for a clean water initiative by rallying her friends and family.

UBS Cycling for Good: Over 20 UBS employees each created their own Champion campaign under the Cycling for Good initiative. By sharing personal updates and stories with their networks, they collectively raised more than CHF 30,000 across Luxembourg, Italy, and Switzerland.

Why does Copalana offer different fundraising models?

Not all donors give in the same way. Some want to react quickly to urgent needs, while others prefer to commit only if a larger goal is met. Nonprofits need this flexibility to engage their full donor base. Copalana provides three models that run automatically and seamlessly integrate into initiatives and campaigns.

What is direct-to-initiative giving?

Donors don’t always want to back just one campaign. With direct-to-initiative giving, they can fund the overarching program itself. This ensures long-term sustainability while still showing how campaign-level donations contribute to the bigger picture.

What is a pledge campaign?

Donors pledge support, and funds are only collected if the campaign goal is reached. This gamified approach builds excitement and momentum, as supporters rally together to unlock funding.

Example:
A nonprofit launches a pledge campaign to raise CHF 20,000 for building a community library. Supporters pledge CHF 50, CHF 100, or more, but the funds are only collected once the full target is reached — creating urgency and motivating the community to spread the word until the goal is unlocked.

What is a fund-now campaign?
Donations are collected immediately, supporting urgent or time-sensitive needs.

Example:
A disaster relief NGO runs a fund-now campaign for emergency food kits. Donors contribute immediately, and the funds are instantly tracked under the NGO’s parent Relief Initiative for accountability.

How are campaign donations tracked?

All campaign-level donations are automatically attributed back to the parent initiative. This gives nonprofits and donors full transparency — showing both short-term campaign results and long-term initiative impact.

Copalana automates donations with secure, simple options:

• Credit cards (processed internationally via Stripe)
• TWINT (popular in Switzerland for quick mobile payments)

What are the fees?

When you donate through Copalana, the following fees apply:

• Stripe (credit cards):
  • 1.4% + CHF 0.25 per transaction (European cards)
  • 2.9% + CHF 0.25 per transaction (non-European cards)
     
• TWINT: 1.3% + CHF 0.30 per transaction
   
• Copalana platform fee: 4% (supports platform maintenance, security, and continuous improvements)

Why does Copalana charge a platform fee?

The 4% platform fee ensures Copalana can continue to provide a secure, reliable, and innovative platform for social impact. It covers costs for:

• Technology and platform improvements
• Security and payment processing integration
• Automation tools for campaigns, reporting, and dashboards

This fee allows Copalana to remain sustainable while keeping access affordable for nonprofits.

The remaining funds go directly to the nonprofit. All fees are fully transparent at checkout, so donors know exactly how much reaches the cause.

Example:

If you donate CHF 100 via TWINT, the fees are:

• TWINT: CHF 1.60 (1.3% + 0.30)
   
• Copalana: CHF 4.00 (4%)
   
• Net to nonprofit: CHF 94.40

How do nonprofits receive the funds?

All donations collected through Copalana are transferred directly to the nonprofit’s designated account via Stripe. Transfers occur on a rolling basis, typically every few days, so nonprofits receive funds regularly without long delays.

Nonprofits also have access to a real-time dashboard where they can:

• Track every donation as it comes in
• See which initiative or campaign the funds are linked to
• Monitor total raised amounts, fees, and payout timelines
• Download reports for accounting or compliance

This ensures full transparency — nonprofits always know how much was raised, what fees applied, and when the funds will arrive.

How do nonprofits report back to donors?

Nonprofits can share progress directly on their initiative and campaign pages. Updates, stories, and photos keep donors informed about how funds are being used. In addition, nonprofits can use StoryTeller to craft professional, engaging updates that resonate with supporters across channels. This ensures donors not only see the impact but feel emotionally connected to the cause.

Are donations tax-deductible?

If the nonprofit is registered as tax-exempt in its country, your donation may qualify for tax deduction.

Tax receipts are issued directly by the nonprofit and can be requested at the time of donation. Copalana makes this option available during checkout so you can easily indicate whether you need a receipt.

If you donate from outside the nonprofit’s country, tax-deductibility depends on your local regulations. The nonprofit’s receipt may or may not be accepted by your local tax authority.

3 simple steps:

• Purchase a gift card on Copalana.
• Personalize it with your own picture and message.
• The recipient redeems it online and decides which project(s) to support.

Example:
Joe gives his friend Jenny a CHF 100 Copalana gift card for Christmas. Instead of Joe deciding where the money goes, Jenny chooses to split it: CHF 60 for an education initiative and CHF 40 for an environmental project. Jenny feels empowered, Joe gave a meaningful gift, and two nonprofits benefit.

Recipients can use their Copalana gift card to support any active project or initiative on the platform — from education and health to environmental protection or community development.

You’re not limited to just one cause:

• You can donate the full value to a single project, or
• Split your contribution across multiple projects that inspire you.

If you’d like to give more than the card value, you can also top up your contribution at checkout with your own payment.

This flexibility ensures that every recipient directs support where it matters most to them.