Donating to charity is one of the more wholesome experiences of running a business. It allows your business to forge a great relationship with the community, give back to those in need and even receive great PR. Regardless of if your business is big or small, it can be tough to get started. Whether you want to donate to local causes, or donate to India – there’re many charitable endeavours you can be a part of. Follow our business owners guide to charity donation for our tips on how to get started.
Identify a Cause
A lot of causes are meaningful, and it can be hard to decide which one to pick for your business. There are a few different ways to shortlist which charitable causes are significant for your company. You can decide which charity you’d like to involve yourself with by selecting something that is relevant to your company. An educational business, for example, can donate money and volunteers to youths that need financial or study support. A beauty or fashion business can focus on charities that contribute to women’s health or domestic abuse shelters. If you aren’t able to find a charity that has relevance to your company, you can interact with your employees to see if they have their own preferences- or you can even allow your employees to have a paid day off to support a charity of their own choice.
Research Your Charity
It’s important to select a charity that you know well, rather than picking the first result you find in your google search. Doing the proper research is vital when selecting your chosen charity, as not all of them are run well. Try to do your research online and see if the charity you’re interested in has positive reviews. It’s also recommended to contact the leaders of the charity directly, to see if you can discuss the finer details with them and ascertain where exactly the donated money goes. The more you know about the charity, the better you will be able to raise funds- and you can rest at ease knowing your money is going to the right places. Check out why has homelessness increased?
Figure Out How You Want to Give Back
Donating a lump sum each year is a great way to give back, but it’s not the only option. If you own a small business that is yet to make a large profit, there are ways to plan your donation without breaking the bank. Instead of simply donating money, you can manufacture a product (or use one of your existing products) and advertise to your customers that a portion of the proceeds go to charity. Even if you are only able to donate a small percentage of your profits, it’s a great way to spread awareness of the charity amongst your consumer base and allow for extra donations.
Get Your Employees on Board
A great way to give back is to involve as many people as possible. Engaging your employees results in charities receiving more money and support, while also providing your employees with a great sense of pride. It might be tempting to simply ask for a donation, but a better way to engage your employees is by arranging an event for them. Organise a bake sale or an event night for your employees, with part of the proceeds going to charity. You can also ask them to provide charitable ideas, give up their own time to volunteer, or donate gifts to the cause. It’s also a great idea to let your employees lead the way when you can, by allowing them to pick their favourite charity or vote on the best way to donate.
