Skills sponsorship is an increasingly popular initiative, particularly among senior employees, for whom it offers a smooth transition between the professional world and associative involvement in retirement. By devoting their working time to a nonprofit, these experienced employees can find meaning in their work by contributing to missions of general interest, while remaining attached to their company. Since its creation in 2003, skills sponsorship has attracted a growing number of companies and employees keen to get involved in projects with a positive social impact on society.
What is end-of-career skills sponsorship?
Senior skills sponsorship enables employees at the end of their careers to put their expertise at the service of associations or general interest projects during their working hours. During the assignment, the employees concerned are still employed by their company, but it isnonprofit to which they commit themselves that gives them projects to carry out. This scheme is increasingly popular with employers and employees alike, as it enables them to prepare for the transition to retirement with peace of mind.
This can be done on a full-time or part-time basis, on a one-off or recurring basis, according to the terms agreed between the employer, the employee andnonprofit. The company legally remains the employer of the employee concerned, but it is the beneficiary organization that manages the work during this period. This type of commitment can be for a maximum of three years.
End-of-career philanthropy has a dual advantage: associations can benefit from the free expertise of experienced employees, and the latter benefit from an enriching experience that enhances their professional career.
What impact does senior skills sponsorship have on salary and retirement?
Senior skills sponsorship generally does not affect employees' salaries. Employees continue to receive their usual remuneration from the company, which considers the time spent on community service as working time. As far as retirement is concerned, employees continue to pay their normal contributions, which has no negative impact on their pension rights. In this way, skills sponsorship is a winning solution for employees close to retirement who wish to become socially involved without compromising their financial security.
What are the advantages of end-of-career skills sponsorship?
For employees nearing the end of their career
Skills sponsorship offers senior employees an opportunity to escape their daily routine while feeling useful thanks to missions with a social impact within nonprofit. They can pass on their know-how and develop new social skills. What's more, they continue to be paid by their employer and retain all their usual benefits, such as paid vacations and the thirteenth month's pay. This human experience also reinforces their sense of personal and professional accomplishment.
For the company
For the company, senior skills sponsorship offers several specific advantages. It reinforces the company's corporate social responsibility (CSR) and enhances its brand image by demonstrating a concrete commitment to social causes. By enabling experienced employees to take part in projects of general interest, the company eases their transition to retirement while enhancing their internal commitment. What's more, senior skills sponsorship benefits from advantageous tax deductions, as the French government covers part of the associated costs, providing the company with an additional financial advantage.
For thenonprofit
At nonprofit, skills sponsorship makes it possible to put the expertise and experience of senior employees at the service of the needs of a particular organization. Senior employees bring valuable skills and resources that would not otherwise be available to the organization, enhancing its efficiency and social impact. According to a 2022 study conducted by the Collectif des acteurs de l'engagement, 69% of associations feel that engagement missions, such as sponsorship or skills volunteering, have enabled them to better support their beneficiaries, while 62% have gained access to human resources they lacked internally. Experienced employees thus contribute to the realization of complex projects and strengthen the associations' operational capacities. What's more, these employees often choose to continue their commitment on a long-term basis by volunteering withnonprofit after retirement, thus ensuring continuity and strengthening human resources in the long term.
How can you make senior skills sponsorship work for your company?
The first step in setting up a senior skills sponsorship program is to identify the needs of partner associations and align them with the skills of senior employees. The company can then draw up a formal framework for skills sponsorship, including agreements on the duration of missions, objectives and follow-up arrangements.
It is also important to communicate and inform employees about skills sponsorship opportunities, and to support them throughout the process. Last but not least, the company must provide for evaluation mechanisms to measure the impact of missions on the associations and the benefits for employees and the company.
Creating a dedicated senior skills sponsorship program can be a complex challenge. From the identification of associative partnerships to the implementation of the sponsorship mission, Wenabi supports companies at every stage of the creation of a solidarity project. Thanks to its in-depth knowledge of the associative sector, Wenabi offers companies dedicated solidarity programs and helps them measure the real impact of their approach thanks to its analytical expertise.
How does the tax exemption for end-of-career skills sponsorship work?
Senior skills sponsorship enables companies to benefit from a corporate tax reduction by making their senior employees available free of charge for missions within public-interest organizations. This reduction corresponds to 60% of the salary costs and employer's social security charges for the employees concerned, up to a limit of 20,000 euros or 0.5% of annual sales excluding tax, with a possible carry-over period of five years. To qualify, companies must provide supporting documents detailing the assignments carried out and their cost.
👉 To find out more about tax exemption, see the article " Mécénat de compétences : défiscalisation et cadre légal" (in French).
What types of solidarity missions can be carried out with which associations?
Senior skills sponsorship offers a host of rewarding opportunities to put your expertise to good use while supporting important causes.
- For example, with La Cravate Solidairefor example, with La Cravate Solidaire, employees can sign up as volunteer community coordinators, a perfect role for those who like to energize and coordinate teams.
- The mission ofnonprofit C'Possible mission is to become a referent in a vocational high school, sharing his or her knowledge to help young people orient themselves towards their future careers.
- For analysis enthusiasts, Action Contre la Faim offers an organizational audit, ideal for those wishing to help nonprofit optimize its processes.
- L'ANRH offers the opportunity to become a sustainable development project manager, an excellent way to apply your skills to green and inclusive projects.
- Finally, it is possible to support a young person's schooling with Entraide scolaire amicale and give them all thetools they need to succeed in their education.
These missions, available on Wenabi's community involvement platform, not only enable you to enhance your professional experience, but also to make a significant difference in projects that deserve to be supported.
An example of a senior corporate skills sponsorship program
Servier has been piloting a skills sponsorship program since 2016 via its Mécénat Servier endowment fund, which has already enabled more than 3,500 solidarity actions to be carried out.
To further leverage their social impact, they have launched a senior skills sponsorship program in 2023. This program enables employees approaching retirement to get involved in associative projects for a minimum period of six months within non-profit organizations.
During this period, they continue to receive their usual remuneration and retain their salary rights. Open to all employees between six months and two years before their full retirement age, and with at least ten years' seniority, this initiative aims to enhance the skills of senior staff while providing valuable support to associations.
In short, senior skills sponsorship represents a valuable opportunity for employees nearing the end of their careers, companies and associations alike. By promoting this form of commitment, companies can not only respond to issues of social responsibility, but also enrich the experience of their employees while supporting causes of general interest.
Would you like to set up a skills sponsorship program for your retiring employees? Contact the Wenabi teams and discover our solutions to support you in this project!
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