09. Programming & Evaluation - Civic Engagement

Establish a civic engagement program

Rationale: Programs that sponsor and provide support for civic engagement activities promote volunteering and voting, which significantly increases community engagement, satisfaction, and fulfillment.

For the most accurate strategy and documentation requirements, please refer to the digital scorecard made available on the Fitwel Platform.

Requirements

Below guidance will appear for projects with a single building:

Demonstrate compliance one of the options below:

Below guidance will appear for projects with multiple buildings:

Demonstrate compliance with one of the options below for each building pursuing this strategy:

Option 1 - Civic Engagement Program (Full Credit)

Demonstrate compliance with all of the following requirements:

Multi-Tenant Retail

1. Implement a minimum of one qualifying civic engagement program(s).

Qualifying civic engagement programs may include but are not limited to:

• 16 paid hours per year to be spent volunteering for all full-and part-time employees and staff
• Two assigned company-wide volunteer days per year for all full-and part-time employees and staff
• “Dollars for Doers” program to provide donations to the employee's organization of choice for every 16 hours volunteered for all full-and part-time employees and staff
• Paid time off for voting for all full-and part-time employees and staff
• Including a polling place within the project
• Providing information for voter registration
• Providing shuttles or transportation to voting stations on voting days
• Organizing volunteering events
• Events surrounding food or clothing drives (dropboxes alone do not qualify)
• Advocacy groups
• Hosting community groups
• Hosting community engagement programs (such as workshops or talks)

2. Ensure that the civic engagement programs are offered to all building(s) occupants.

Retail 

1. Implement a minimum of one qualifying civic engagement program(s).

Qualifying civic engagement programs may include but are not limited to:

• • 16 paid hours per year to be spent volunteering for all full-and part-time employees and staff
  • Two assigned company-wide volunteer days per year for all full-and part-time employees and staff
  • “Dollars for Doers” program to provide donations to the employee's organization of choice for every 16 hours volunteered for all full-and part-time employees and staff
  • Paid time off for voting for all full-and part-time employees and staff
  • Including a polling place within the project
  • Providing information for voter registration
  • Providing shuttles or transportation to voting stations on voting days
  • Organizing volunteering events
  • Events surrounding food or clothing drives (dropboxes alone do not qualify)
  • Advocacy groups
  • Hosting community groups
  • Hosting community engagement programs (such as workshops or talks)

2. Ensure that the civic engagement programs are offered to all full- and part-time employees and staff within tenant spaces.

Option 2 - Building Management Occupants Only (Alternative Compliance)

Demonstrate compliance with all of the following requirements to achieve partial credit:

Multi-Tenant Retail

1. Provide a list of volunteer opportunities within the area that is maintained and updated monthly.
2. Ensure that the civic engagement programs are offered to all full- and part-time employees and staff within building owner/management spaces only.
3. Provide the following information about volunteer opportunities with all building(s) occupants each month:
   – a list of volunteer opportunities available in the area.
   – information about the monthly opportunities available.
4. Share the volunteer opportunities information with all building(s) occupants through a minimum of one of the following methods:
   – a digital platform, such as a website, digital application, or display screen in common areas
   – monthly communication material, such as notification emails or newsletters

Retail 

1. Provide a list of volunteer opportunities within the area that is maintained and updated monthly.
2. Ensure the volunteer opportunities are available a minimum of once per month to all full- and part-time employees and staff of tenant.
3. Provide the following information about volunteer opportunities with all full- and part-time employees and staff of tenant each month:
   – a list of volunteer opportunities available in the area.
   – information about the monthly opportunities available.
4. Share the volunteer opportunities information with all full- and part-time employees and staff of tenant each month a minimum of one of the following methods:
   – a digital platform, such as a website, digital application, or display screen in common areas
   – monthly communication material, such as notification emails or newsletters

Option 3 - Building Management Occupants Only (Alternative Compliance)

Multi-Tenant Retail Only

1. Implement a minimum of one qualifying civic engagement program(s) within the building(s).

Qualifying civic engagement programs may include but are not limited to:

• 16 paid hours per year to be spent volunteering for all full-and part-time employees and staff
• Two assigned company-wide volunteer days per year for all full-and part-time employees and staff
• “Dollars for Doers” program to provide donations to the employee's organization of choice for every 16 hours volunteered for all full-and part-time employees and staff
• Paid time off for voting for all full-and part-time employees and staff
• Including a polling place within the project
• Providing information for voter registration
• Providing shuttles or transportation to voting stations on voting days
• Organizing volunteering events
• Events surrounding food or clothing drives (dropboxes alone do not qualify)
• Advocacy groups
• Hosting community groups
• Hosting community engagement programs (such as workshops or talks)

2. Ensure that the civic engagement programs are offered to all full- and part-time employees and staff within building owner/management spaces only.

Compliance Documentation

One document type may be used to demonstrate compliance with more than one requirement and documentation may be uploaded separately or as one file. Provide the below to demonstrate compliance with each requirement:

Design Pathway

Option 1 - Civic Engagement Program (Full Credit)

Multi-Tenant Retail

1. Upload a description of the type of qualifying civic engagement program that will be offered.
2. Check box to certify that the civic engagement program will be offered to all building(s) occupants.

Retail

1. Upload a description of the type of qualifying civic engagement program that will be offered.
2. Check box to certify that the civic engagement program will be offered to all full- and part-time employees and staff within tenant spaces.

Option 2 - Building Management Occupants Only (Alternative Compliance)

Multi-Tenant Retail

1. Upload the list of volunteer opportunities in the area identifying:
   – the volunteer opportunities available
   – that the opportunities are available in the nearby area.
2. Check box to certify that the information about volunteer opportunities will be maintained and updated each month.
3. Upload information showing that the volunteer opportunities will be available a minimum of once per month and is open to all building(s) occupants.
4. Upload a copy of the information that will be shared with all building(s) occupants identifying all of the following required information that is included:
   – the list of volunteer opportunities
   – the schedule of volunteer opportunities
5. Check box to certify that the information about volunteer opportunities will be shared with all building(s) occupants each month.
6. Check box(es) to certify that the information about volunteer opportunities will be shared with all building(s) occupants through the following methods (select all that apply):
   • a digital platform, such as a website, digital application, or display screen in common areas
   • monthly communication material, such as notification emails or newsletters

Retail

1. Upload the list of volunteer opportunities in the area identifying:
   – the volunteer opportunities available
   – that the opportunities are available in the nearby area.
2. Check box to certify that the information about volunteer opportunities will be maintained and updated each month.
3. Upload information showing that the volunteer opportunities will be available a minimum of once per month and is open to all full- and part-time employees and staff of tenant.
4. Upload a copy of the information that will be shared with all full- and part-time employees and staff of tenant identifying all of the following requried information that is included:
   – the list of volunteer opportunities
   – the schedule of volunteer opportunities
5. Check box to certify that the information about volunteer opportunities will be shared with all full- and part-time employees and staff of tenant each month.
6. Check box to certify that the information about volunteer opportunities will be shared with all full- and part-time employees and staff through the following methods (select all that apply):
   • a digital platform, such as a website, digital application, or display screen in common areas
   • monthly communication material, such as notification emails or newsletters

Option 3 - Building Management Occupants Only (Alternative Compliance)

Multi-Tenant Retail Only

1. Upload a description of the type of qualifying civic engagement program that will be offered.
2. Check box to certify that the civic engagement program will be offered to all full- and part-time employees and staff within building owner/management spaces only.

Built Pathway

Option 1 - Civic Engagement Program (Full Credit)

Multi-Tenant Retail

1. Upload a description of the type of qualifying civic engagement program that is offered
2. Check box to certify that the civic engagement program is offered to all building(s) occupants.

Retail

1. Upload a description of the type of qualifying civic engagement program that is offered
2. Check box to certify that the civic engagement program is offered to all full- and part-time employees and staff within tenant spaces.

Option 2 - Building Management Occupants Only (Alternative Compliance)

Multi-Tenant Retail

1. Upload the list of volunteer opportunities in the area identifying:
   – the volunteer opportunities available
   – that the opportunities are available in the nearby area.
2. Check box to certify that the information about volunteer opportunities is maintained and updated each month.
3. Upload information showing that the volunteer opportunities are available a minimum of once per month and is open to all building(s) occupants.
4. Upload a copy of the information that is shared with all building(s) occupants identifying all of the following required information that is included:
   – the list of volunteer opportunities
   – the schedule of volunteer opportunities
5. Check box to certify that the information about volunteer opportunities is shared with all building(s) occupants each month.
6. Check box(es) to certify that the educational materials are shared with building(s) occupants through the following methods (select all that apply):
   • a digital platform, such as a website, digital application, or display screen in common areas
   • monthly communication material, such as notification emails or newsletters

Retail

1. Upload the list of volunteer opportunities in the area identifying:
   – the volunteer opportunities available
   – that the opportunities are available in the nearby area.
2. Check box to certify that the information about volunteer opportunities is maintained and updated each month.
3. Upload information showing that the volunteer opportunities are available a minimum of once per month and is open to all full- and part-time employees and staff of tenant.
4. Upload a copy of the information that is shared with all full- and part-time employees and staff of tenant identifying all of the following requried information that is included:
   – the list of volunteer opportunities
   – the schedule of volunteer opportunities
5. Check box to certify that the information about volunteer opportunities is shared with all full- and part-time employees and staff of tenant each month.
6. Check box(es) to certify that the information about volunteer opportunities are shared with all full- and part-time employees and staff through the following methods (select all that apply):
   • a digital platform, such as a website, digital application, or display screen in common areas
   • monthly communication material, such as notification emails or newsletters

Option 3 - Building Management Occupants Only (Alternative Compliance)

Multi-Tenant Retail Only

1. Upload a description of the type of qualifying civic engagement program that is offered.
2. Check box to certify that the civic engagement program is offered to all full- and part-time employees and staff within building management spaces only.