Table 1 Quotations from three groups of research participants divided into three identified themes

Managers (M)

M1. "After a year, you meet the person you helped, and they remember you. It is a pleasant feeling."

M3. "You have to try new things and leave your comfort zone while helping."

M5. "I can submit any project for consideration. I do this through an internal tool where I describe the situation and what sort of help is needed. Then all employees can vote to make it happen.”

M2. "The Foundation is not separated from the company and its employees, at least we don't see it that way. The foundation is 'us' and we are the foundation."

M4. “You can provide long-term support and change people’s lives in a positive way.”

M6. "We treat ourselves as adults. If we commit to volunteering, the company trusts that we will fulfill it."

White-collar (WC)

WC1. "We invite our families and friends to join these actions

It is a positive experience for everyone—spending time together and doing something valuable. It integrates us.”

WC3. "While interviewing family, we learn to have difficult conversations—to ask difficult, uncomfortable questions and to accept that someone may not want to answer."

WC5. "We all decide where our money from the charity fund goes."

WC2. “We have to face difficult situations while helping, for example, during a difficult conversation with recipients of our help, to whom we have to set psychological boundaries. We can rely on ourselves in these situations. We know that we are together, and this builds trust.”

WC4. "We can organize help to families and friends in need. Thanks to this we know that we can help when the need arises. I know that I can help directly. I don't have to send them anywhere else.”

WC6. "I like planting trees and spending time outdoors. I choose such voluntary actions that fit my preferences."

Blue-collar (BC)

BC1. "My wife works in a prosocial organization, and we are co-organizing a fair with this place. It is a win–win strategy—children get money, and we are happy that we can help."

BC3. "I volunteer when I feel competent in a certain area. If I feel good at something, I will gladly use this skill. I used to work in a renovation company so I took part in a project to renovate the apartment of a lady living off a pension with a family of many children."

BC5. "I do not have too many of my own charity initiatives. I am happy to contribute to someone else's initiative."

BC2. “We all work together. We know who has what skills and we help each other and trust each other, like in a family.”

BC4. "It brings such a joy when you see that you have helped someone. Someone who really needed it."

BC6. “Nobody is forcing me to do anything. Lately, I have little time for after-work activities—small children—so I'm less involved.”