There are several reasons for a business to give back to the communities it serves. Giving back can expose your business to potential new customers, build goodwill for your company brand and boost employee engagement and morale. Of course, the primary reasons for giving back are to help others and make your community stronger.
Many successful businesses who are committed to community engagement in ways that are authentic and impactful look for these things:
- Align with company values: Whether you’re just launching your company’s efforts to give back or updating your charitable giving program, the most effective way to ensure authenticity is to align your efforts with your company’s mission and core values. For example, if your company values education and development, consider book drives, volunteer reading programs or other efforts that support youth or adult literacy.
- Address important community needs: Business leaders understand the best environment in which to grow their company is a strong community. When considering ways to give back, look at the biggest issues facing your community and determine how your business can help address them.
- Consider employee passions: To keep employees engaged in your efforts, ask what’s important to them and find ways to connect your company’s giving to your employees’ interests. Survey your team members to learn which organizations or issues are most important to them, and then make donations and/or create volunteer opportunities to support those causes. You could also create a program that matches a portion of employee contributions to the nonprofits they support.
Once your charitable giving program is aligned with your company values, addresses community needs and connects with employee passions, it’s time to act. Encourage and empower employees to give back with their time, talent and treasure.
- Give your time: Volunteering is a great, low-cost way for your business to give back. Many nonprofits post volunteer needs on their websites. Your organization can choose an ongoing volunteer effort, such as reading to schoolchildren each month, or a one-time activity, like a neighborhood cleanup or meal-packing effort. Many companies also offer Volunteer Time Off so employees can participate in volunteer events during company work hours.
- Use your talents: If your employees are highly skilled in a specific trade or profession, consider sharing those talents via in-kind donations of time, such as serving on a board or committee, and/or related supplies.
- Share your treasure: Whether your organization is donating millions to the local food bank or a few hundred dollars to support an after-school program, your generosity makes our community stronger.
If you’d like to learn more, check out the Bankers Trust Community Difference Makers podcast for fast-paced discussions with nonprofit leaders and learn more about community organizations and possible volunteer opportunities in the Central Iowa community.
