At Novartis, we empower our people to contribute on their own terms to have an impact on society’s biggest challenges and unmet needs – via employee giving, community initiatives and skills-based volunteering. Our aim, through our Giving & Volunteering Program, is to transform the relationship between Novartis and local communities and to be a partner of choice for society.

We have a wide range of skills, knowledge, expertise and resources to share with our partners. Our focus is on building long-term relationships – not short-term transactions. Our bold program delivers sustainable impact for society, our partners and our people.

The Novartis Giving & Volunteering program was featured as best practice for impact measurement and valuation and for non-profit partnering at the 26th World Volunteer Conference in 2022. Additionally, the Novartis Giving & Volunteering Team were awarded the Association of Corporate Citizenship Professionals (ACCP) Corporate Social Impact Team of the Year Award 2023 as part of the ACCP’s annual Purpose Awards for exceptional leaders in corporate social impact.

Novartis Giving & Volunteering: Overview

65 000

Novartis people engaged across 48 countries

CHF 4.5

of equivalent societal value created for every CHF invested in volunteering

USD 3m

employee donations and matching to vetted non-profit organizations in 2022

>500

Giving & Volunteering Ambassadors across the globe

100%

of Novartis volunteers surveyed consider their skills-based volunteering as meaningful and personally fulfilling

Why partner with Novartis Giving & Volunteering?

Here’s what you can expect from us:

  1. We start with your needs: We listen and respond to partners' needs, prioritizing collaboration and co-creation.
  2. We focus on employee giving and skills-based volunteering: We can generate sustainable impact by leveraging skills, know-how and expertise from thousands of volunteers and empowering our people to give back in a multitude of ways.
  3. We have no restrictions on volunteer time: Our employees have no restrictions on the number of days they can give and volunteer, in line with flexible guidelines.
  4. We help you find the right match: Our innovative digital platform matches your needs with the interests and skills of our people, offers new opportunities to fundraise and the possibility to routinely avail of matching donations as part of giving campaigns.

What example skills and expertise can we offer?

Our volunteers range from physicians and technicians to project managers and business professionals.


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Research & Development

Medical, Science & Technology, Regulatory, Medical Affairs, Data Analytics & Innovation

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Technical Operation

Engineering, Quality Control, Supply Chain, Manufacturing Operations

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Finance

Business Planning & Analysis, Reporting & Accounting, Financial Modeling


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Communications

Advocacy & Engagement, Marketing Communications, Content Creation, Social Media

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Human Resources

Workforce Planning, Organization Performance & Effectiveness, Talent Acquisition

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General skills

Strategy & Execution, Operational Excellence, Leadership & Management


Example project types

Our volunteer engagements range from on-the-ground to remote, from short- to long term, and from capacity-building to knowledge transfer.


Remote

  • No restrictions on time range
  • Participation from anywhere as virtual support
  • Tasks are integrated into regular work schedule

Unlimited but typically 1-6 months 
Workload between 5%-100% of working time


Remote & on-the-ground

  • No restrictions on time range
  • Flexible models (e.g. short-term, on-the-ground for strategic assessment, followed by remote support)

Unlimited but typically 1-6 months 
Workload between 5%-100% of working time


On-the-ground

  • Opportunities require more advanced notice
  • Duration above 3 months is decided on case-by-case basis

Recommended for up to 3 months 
Workload 100% of working time


Strategic partnerships that work

We are truly partner-led and are committed to listening to our partners' needs and collaborating fully with them on an end-to-end journey.

Our people have given to, and volunteered for, many of our strategic partners such as Switzerland for UNHCR and various UN agencies and organizations, the Drugs for Neglected Diseases Initiative, International Rescue Committee, The Max Foundation, Medicines for Malaria Venture, Mercy Ships, Save the Children, the Swiss Red Cross, the Tent Partnership for Refugees and the World Ovarian Cancer Coalition to name but a few. Example projects include mentoring health tech entrepreneurs and LGBTQI refugees, supporting environmental sustainability in the supply chain, developing a long-term communications strategy and driving innovation in the UN system.

Interested in partnering?

Join our Giving & Volunteering platform

Contact us if you have further questions about partnerships with Novartis