Volunteering Begins with People and Ends in Impact

^{Written by Manuela Mylonas | November 19, 2025}

From cleaning up polluted landscapes to supporting local food banks, Hilti team members around the world are rolling up their sleeves to tackle real-world challenges. Whether it's protecting biodiversity or lending support to vulnerable communities, these efforts go far beyond business.

That’s the idea behind Engaged Beyond Business (EBB), Hilti’s corporate volunteering program founded jointly with the Hilti Foundation in 2020. Its mission is clear: to provide every single Hilti team member around the world with the opportunity to participate in charitable initiatives. We spoke with Franziska Wild, sustainability project manager at Hilti, and Alexandra Breuss, project manager at the Hilti Foundation, who are jointly responsible for shaping and advancing this vision.

Franziska, why did Hilti launch its Engaged Beyond Business Program and how has it developed over the past few years?

Franziska: Hilti team members have always shown great compassion by contributing to the communities they live and work in. One of the goals of creating an official program was to unite these often informal and sometimes isolated social contributions under a common framework. This would enable team members to learn from one another and achieve more, collectively, while strengthening the general sense of community. As a socially responsible company, Hilti wants to support and encourage this commitment with Engaged Beyond Business. Our vision is clear: we want to encourage all our team members around the world to engage in volunteering projects beyond our business activities. 

What kind of volunteering projects are available for team members, and how do you select them?

Franziska: EBB projects are tailored to the needs of each market organization. There are a mix of initiatives. Locally, employees can join one-day projects like reforestation initiatives, providing support for mountain farms, cleaning up beaches, conducting fundraising events or assisting food banks. Employees can also propose their own initiatives and organize individual EBB activities.

For those seeking to make a deeper impact and who can commit more time, there are projects like the Hilti Foundation’s “Building Homes” initiative where teams build houses for families in need. It is an unforgettable experience.

Alexandra, how does the Building Homes initiative work?

Alexandra: The Building Homes project operates in Romania, Bosnia and the Philippines in collaboration with local partners. Employees spend a full week building a house for families in need. Guided by local construction professionals, the employees quickly learn what needs to be done and how to accomplish it, so prior knowledge is not necessary. Motivation and teamwork are key. That’s why entire teams often take part, using the opportunity to strengthen their bond while contributing to something meaningful. By the time participants arrive, the foundation for the building is already in place. By the end of the week, the house is ready for interior finishing and the family receives the keys.  

What is your personal takeaway from participating in an EBB initiative?

Alexandra: Organizing and joining a Building Homes EBB initiative was truly eye-opening. Hearing about impact is one thing, but experiencing it firsthand is something entirely different. Working on-site, side-by-side with colleagues and the local community gave me a deep sense of connection and purpose, showing how powerful teamwork can be when driven by compassion and a shared mission. Meeting the families and witnessing their gratitude reminded me that it’s not just about building homes but about restoring hope and dignity for them. Every team returns from this EBB project with renewed perspective and motivation – both personally and professionally.

Franziska: I learn something new from every project. For example, during an EBB activity on biodiversity we learned about native plants and what each of us can do to suppress invasive species to ensure a healthy ecosystem. In addition to what is mostly physical work, the knowledge transfer and awareness-raising on various topics are central factors of the EBB program.

Looking ahead, how do you see the Engaged Beyond Business program evolving?

Franziska: Volunteering is a strong part of Hilti’s culture. If each of our approximately 34,000 Hilti employees worked for just one day a year on a charitable project, the result would be almost 160 full-time years of work. We are focused on expanding the reach and impact of our EBB program to inspire all our colleagues to get involved. Because sometimes, making a difference takes only a few hours, a pair of helping hands and the willingness to step outside of one’s daily routine. Please enter text here (optional)