Creating a culture of purpose isn’t a solo act, it’s a team sport. And when it comes to building a successful employee volunteer or giving program, employee ambassador networks are one of the most powerful ways to scale engagement and impact.
The 2025 State of Corporate Purpose Benevity Impact Labs report found that 94% of companies say volunteering helps build a more resilient business, and nearly two-thirds have redefined their purpose strategy in the last year. For some organizations, employee ambassador networks are a key part of that evolution.
In a recent webinar, Jessica Wallace, a Senior Client Success Manager at Benevity, sat down with Rosemary Ganey, Director of Community Impact at Centene Corporation, to unpack how Centene has built a thriving ambassador network across a complex, multi-state health insurance company. Their insights are actionable, adaptable and rooted in lived experience.
Here are some top tips to help you build (or grow) an employee ambassador network that helps drive employee engagement, builds community and advances your CSR program goals.
1. Employee ambassador program structure: balancing framework and flexibility
There is no one-size-fits-all model for employee ambassador networks. What works in one organization may not work in another. That is why it is important to start with structure while building in flexibility.
Begin by defining how long your ambassadors will serve. At Centene, ambassadors commit to a one-year term. Expectations are clearly communicated from day one, including time commitment, onboarding and training requirements.
You should also consider how much flexibility ambassadors have to focus on local priorities. Centene empowers each region to align with the issues that matter most in their area. Some focus on food security, while others choose to support homelessness or youth services.
"There’s really no right or wrong way to manage an ambassador network. You’re going to try things that work and things that don’t." — Rosemary Ganey, Director of Community Impact, Centene Corporation
Tip: Create a clear framework with roles, timelines and expectations. Give your employee ambassadors the freedom to localize efforts based on what matters most to their communities.
2. Build your ambassador network with data in mind
When you’re growing an ambassador network, data isn’t just helpful — it’s essential for driving impact and demonstrating business value. The metrics you track, like volunteer hours or total donations, help ambassadors focus their energy where it counts. But they also tell the broader story of your program’s impact — the one your executives and other stakeholders need to hear.
When ambassadors understand what success looks like, they can help move the numbers that matter. And when they see how their efforts show up in reports, presentations or public recognition, it deepens their connection to the cause.
"We build ambassador networks expecting them to change the numbers — whether that’s engagement, satisfaction or total giving." — Rosemary Ganey, Director of Community Impact, Centene Corporation
Tip: Set clear impact metrics and share them often. Use data to guide ambassador efforts and to help your team tell a powerful story of purpose and progress.
3. Prioritize connection over perfection
One of the most overlooked — but essential — ingredients of a successful employee ambassador network is human connection.
Centene invests in regular touchpoints, including monthly meetings and weekly virtual office hours, to create a sense of community. Over time, these spaces become more than logistical check-ins. They help ambassadors build trust, show vulnerability and collaborate more effectively.
"People show up authentically, and it creates an environment where we receive honest feedback." — Rosemary Ganey, Director of Community Impact, Centene Corporation
Tip: Build in regular connection points for your ambassadors to strengthen relationships, surface feedback and reduce burnout.
4. Get leadership and managers on board early
For employee ambassador networks to succeed, they need leadership support. But equally important is manager buy-in from individual teams.
Centene ensures that ambassadors' managers are aware of the time commitment (roughly two to three hours per month) and understand how the role aligns with the company's culture of service. That early alignment ensures ambassadors have the support they need to drive participation and impact in their regions.
Tip: Position ambassador roles as leadership opportunities and culture-drivers, not extra tasks. And loop in managers from the start.
5. Celebrate and recognize ambassador contributions
Your employee ambassadors are your internal changemakers. Recognizing their efforts is essential to keeping them engaged, motivated and connected to your purpose.
Centene does this through regular shout-outs, dedicated communication channels and opportunities for ambassadors to share their stories. This approach reinforces that ambassadors are not just volunteers. They are leaders who help shape company culture and drive impact.
Tip: Create consistent and authentic rituals of recognition that shine a light on ambassador contributions across the company.
6. Scale gradually and iterate often
Whether you’re building from scratch or evolving an existing network, pace yourself. Centene didn’t launch their network overnight, it grew with intention and iteration.
By starting small and building on what worked, they were able to scale sustainably without overwhelming their team or ambassadors.
Tip: Don’t wait for perfection. Start with what you have, learn as you go, and build from there.
Want to go deeper?
Watch the full conversation with Rosemary Ganey and Jessica Wallace to hear how Centene is bringing purpose to life through their ambassador network.
How Benevity can help
If you’re ready to grow or optimize your employee engagement strategy, Benevity can help you:
- Create volunteer opportunities and auto-track volunteer time
- Support employee ambassador-led events and initiatives
- Track and report on impact
Ready to build your own movement of changemakers? Request a demo to see how Benevity’s Enterprise Impact Platform helps you lead with purpose.
Final thought
The spark of purpose is already in your people. Employee ambassador networks help it catch fire. With the right structure and support, you’re not just launching a program. You’re building a purpose-driven culture that lasts.
