40 hours of Impact

a group of people in yellow vests holding signs

Written by Len Abbazia

There are many great benefits to working at Coupa, and one that truly makes a difference is our robust Volunteer Time Off. While many companies and organizations encourage employees to take time off to volunteer, offering at least 8 hours a year, Coupa provides a generous 40 hours - a whole week. This extended time allows our employees to make a significant impact in their communities, and many Coupanians across the globe are proud of the difference they are making.

Here’s why they love this robust benefit and how they give back:

Andrea Uribe, Lead Deal Desk Specialist in Bogota:

Growing up, my mom was involved in social work, volunteering for the Red Cross, and working with other community organizations. Volunteering connects me to the real world while balancing my day-to-day job in finance.

I have worked with a wide variety of organizations, from a local rural school in Villeta (a town outside of Bogota), where we donated tools to improve the connectivity and dynamics of the classes, to a pro-bono consultancy for an air pollution awareness non-profit organization in Silicon Valley. My last VTO project involved creating workshops for the post-jail population, helping them with strategies and practical tips to rebuild their lives.

Having access to robust VTO hours has allowed me to live a more balanced life, investing more time in other projects that not only help communities but also allow me to work on skills required to advance in my career.”

Liene Atrena, Workplace Experience Manager in Dublin:

For me, volunteer time means so much because I feel deeply for those more disadvantaged than me, and I strongly believe that if everyone would do their part, we would live in a happier and healthier society. My favorite volunteer time was a pro bono project for the organization 'Education for Sustainability.' It was a three-day project in which we had to tackle the organization's problem statement and develop practical solutions. This project not only benefited the non-profit organization but also me as a professional: it offered the opportunity to enhance my problem-solving, team player, and creative thinking skills.

Alex Moon, AI Trainer in Foster City:

I majored in Psychology for my undergraduate degree, so it is always in my nature and interest to think about ways to provide help for those who need it, and it is a privilege to be at Coupa, where the company supports you and takes an active approach to provide opportunities to do a good deed.

In 2024, I was a mentor for the SuitUp challenge, where the participating high school students acted as CEOs of Coupa to create a new app for Coupa focused on UN SDG # 13: Climate Action. The mentors from Coupa, Salesforce, and AWS guided the students in pitching their ideas in marketing, finance, sales, or strategy, and the CEOs pitched their ideas to a panel of judges. When volunteering individually, I volunteer with [the] Asian Law Alliance in San Jose, where they provide legal services for community members in need, and Asian American Advancing Justice, the most prominent Asian American advocacy group based in Washington, D.C.

Jerry Vaz, Senior Director, Software Engineering in Pune, India

While all of us working at Coupa are honored and proud to be part of the Coupa family and are privileged, a certain section of our society may not be so privileged. Also, I deeply believe that our life's success is measured not by the amount of money we make in our lifetime but by the blessings we receive by helping someone in need. Right from the very first month that I joined Coupa, I felt the need to do something to help contribute and give back to society, so I helped initiate a donation drive to Snehalaya, an NGO with a cause of educating children with Cerebral Palsy. Since then, I have been making around two to three visits a year to the NGO as part of my own contribution. I have also been representing Coupa to oversee some of the contributions Coupa has made towards the upliftment of Snehalaya.

Having VTO benefits helps us capture the time we spend towards the cause and also serves as a reminder of the amount of time we take out of our lives to do something other than usual work.

Paul Bennett, Senior Customer Communications Manager in Reading, UK:

For over 18 months, I have been using my VTO to donate blood plasma. More than 17,000 people in England depend on plasma-based treatments each year for conditions such as autoimmune diseases, neurological disorders, and transplant care. As a member of Coupa ABLE (our Disabilities/Abilities ERG), I have found that taking a couple of hours out of my working day to donate has been an incredibly rewarding experience. Donating blood plasma has a much shorter recovery period than full blood donation, making it a great way of using VTO regularly and continuously.

I have also been very grateful for Coupa’s volunteer rewards program [because it] provides additional donation credit for each hour volunteered. This has allowed me to maximize the value of my volunteer hours by matching them with donations to PAPYRUS Prevention of Young Suicide, a cause that is personally very close to my heart.

Adriana Daga, Director of Marketing LATAM in Sao Paulo:

Volunteering is a profound opportunity to connect, uplift, and transform our communities. By leveraging Volunteer Time Off (VTO) with organizations like Gotas de Flor, we made a significant impact by supporting this NGO, celebrating with children, providing food, and participating in a morning filled with fun activities.

The robust VTO hours fostered a culture of compassion and service, allowing us to grow personally and professionally.