“Retailers like Target, Trader Joe’s, Wegman’s, Circuit City and IKEA are just a few examples of companies that offer their part-time employees health care options, 401(k) plans, paid vacation time and/or discounts on merchandise,” reports Mary Lorenz of CareerBuilder.com.

So why can’t more nonprofit organizations do the same? Shouldn’t there should be the same benefits for teaching a child to read as for selling hardware or pouring a cup of coffee?

Surveys by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation and others show that as many as half of all workers age 54 to 74 want to work significantly fewer hours, but that jobs, and particularly benefits, are not organized to allow them to do so. Nonprofits organizations, schools and other institutions dedicated to helping others can tap this talent pool by taking a lesson from the private-sector playbook.

CareerBuilder‘s list of companies that offer benefits to part-time workers includes:

• Starbucks—Offers a benefits package that include medical insurance, a retirement package and stock options. Each “partner” who works 20 or more hours per week receives a pound of free coffee each week.
• Whole Foods—Team members eligible for paid training, paid time off, health insurance, retirement savings and a discount to the natural foods store. They also get to vote every three years on which benefits the company should offer.
• REI—All REI employees have access to flexible scheduling, gear discounts and free rentals, tuition reimbursement, a performance-based incentive program and gear grants to support any outdoor adventure challenges they may participate in.
• Barnes & Noble—The bookstore chain offers part-time workers a significant discount on store merchandise in addition to a health care plan and a 401(k).
• Nordstrom—Nordstrom employees’ benefits fall into one of three categories: work/life balance, savings and protection. Benefits such as paid time off and bereavement leave fall under work/life balance; a merchandise discount, a 401(k) plan and profit sharing are part of savings; and short- and long-term disability and life insurance are among its protection benefits.
• Lowe’s—Lowe’s offers part-timers the opportunity to participate in a limited benefit health plan, a dental plan, term life insurance and short-term disability. A year of employment qualifies workers for 40 hours of paid vacation time, which increases with their length of service.
• Lands’ End—In addition to health care and retirement plans, merchandise discounts and paid time off, Lands’ End offers its employees access to a company-owned recreation center, discount tickets to theme parks and movie theaters, and an invitation to the annual company picnic. Bonus: University of Wisconsin-Platteville students get to take advantage of a complimentary busing system to help them get to the company’s Dodgeville facility.
• Nike—Part-time employees who work between 20 and 30 hours per week can qualify for health coverage the first day of the calendar year following a year of employment. Other benefits available include a matching gifts program for charitable donations, discounts at employee stores, discounts on auto and homeowners insurance, and scholarships for employee children.
• Cost Plus World Market—In addition to medical coverage, life insurance and a 401(k), the retail chain’s benefit package for eligible part-time employees includes flexible spending, vacation and floating holidays.
• JCPenney—JCPenney invites associates who work less than 35 hours per week to participate in a dependent care spending account, medical, dental, vision and term life coverage, and paid time off, as well as a discount on merchandise.