NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESS Newswire / August 6, 2026 / Originally published on Aflac Newsroom

When a group of United Way employees gathered recently for a leadership workshop, they didn't just sit through a presentation filled with management theories and slide decks. Instead, they spent the day reconnecting with their individual strengths, learning how their most powerful skills show up at work and exploring practical ways to become more effective leaders for their teams and the communities they serve.

The workshop brought together 27 employees from the United Way of the Chattahoochee Valley and six members of Aflac's Learning, Leadership and Development team, who volunteered their professional expertise to deliver a customized leadership development experience for the local nonprofit organization.

For Aflac's facilitators, the session reflected a simple idea: The leadership skills used to develop employees inside the company can also help strengthen organizations throughout the community.

"Leadership development isn't just about building better teams within our own walls," said Nigel Graham, senior Learning, Leadership and Development consultant at Aflac. "It's about extending that investment well beyond our own workforce and strengthening the communities where we live and work."

How leadership development helps nonprofit employees build practical skills

Throughout the interactive workshop, participants explored their personal strengths and discussed how they influence communication, collaboration and decision-making. This approach, which mirrors Aflac's internal leadership development philosophy, prioritizes actionable skills and experiential learning over theory alone. Rather than traditional lecture-style learning, the program emphasized real-world application.

"Our mission depends on people working together effectively to create positive change in the communities we serve," said Ben Moser, president and CEO, United Way of Chattahoochee Valley. "This workshop gave our team practical tools to better understand their strengths, communicate more effectively and grow as leaders. We're grateful to Aflac for voluntarily sharing its expertise and investing in the development of nonprofit professionals who are working every day to make a difference."

For nonprofit organizations, access to professional development opportunities can be especially valuable. Research suggests that effective leadership helps mission-driven organizations strengthen strategic partnerships, improve team effectiveness and increase their ability to create meaningful community impact.¹

How corporate skills-based volunteering strengthens nonprofit organizations

As companies increasingly look for ways to contribute beyond traditional philanthropy and volunteer labor, many are incorporating skills-based volunteering programs that allow employees to share professional expertise with nonprofit organizations, which often have fewer resources. These types of volunteer projects can create significantly more value for nonprofits than traditional volunteer activities because they provide specialized expertise organizations often cannot afford. In fact, research has found that nonprofits that strategically engage volunteers can generate an estimated $3 to $6 in value for every $1 invested in volunteer engagement.²

Aflac's employees give thousands of hours of their time, giving back to their communities each year, and for the Learning, Leadership and Development team, this workshop represented more than a volunteer activity - it was an extension of the company's broader commitment to community engagement. By sharing their knowledge and experience, they provided resources that can continue benefiting the organization long after the workshop ended.

Looking beyond the organization - why companies are investing in leadership development as a tool for community impact

While nonprofit organizations often face resource constraints that limit access to professional development, many for-profit companies make significant investments in their workforce. U.S. organizations spent an estimated $102.8 billion on training and development in 2025, underscoring the importance many employers place on building employee skills and leadership capabilities.³

At Aflac, leadership development is not confined to internal growth - it's a tool for broader social impact and purpose-driven engagement. Aflac's commitment to investing in people both inside and outside the workplace was on full display during this session. It's through partnerships like this one that the company is extending the reach of its leadership development efforts beyond its own walls, helping to create ripple effects that can benefit entire communities.

While the workshop lasted only a few hours, its impact may continue long after. By helping nonprofit professionals better understand their strengths and develop leadership skills, Aflac employees contributed knowledge that can strengthen teams, improve organizational effectiveness and support the community-serving missions of local nonprofits.

^{1 The Center for Creative Leadership. (Jan. 27, 2026). How Leadership & Evaluation Drive Nonprofit Impact and Leadership for Social Change.
https://www.ccl.org/articles/leading-effectively-articles/improving-leadership-in-nonprofit-organizations/}

^{2 Prism News. (May 21, 2026). Points of Light helps nonprofits build capacity through volunteer strategy. https://www.prismnews.com/workplace/a-simple-gesture/points-of-light-helps-nonprofits-build-capacity-through}

^{3 Training Magazine. (Nov. 10, 2025). 2025 Training Industry Report. https://trainingmag.com/2025-training-industry-report/}

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SOURCE: Aflac Incorporated