In today’s culture, one of the most significant ways to brand your business is by incorporating philanthropic efforts into your business plan. Most consumers want to do business or buy products from companies who give back to their community and help to make the world a better place. No matter how much you of your time and money you donate, any bit of outreach can be a massive win for both your customers, your business, society as a whole.
It’s true that there are many big corporations out there who can afford to give a particular amount of their profits to charity and donate large quantities of money. But this is not the case for all businesses. Google is one of the best examples of a company who can afford to donate to charity; in fact, 1 percent of all total profits and equity is given directly to charity. So how can the smaller companies compete with these businesses that are very generous with their giving?
There is a long list of ways to start growing the philanthropic efforts of your business. A key component to remember is that philanthropy is not just about dishing out money to nonprofit organizations in need. It’s about finding what your company and employees do best and what they can offer to society and other organizations.
Adding philanthropic and volunteer efforts into your business calendar offer the opportunity to have your employees donate their time and skills by getting out into their communities. It is best to set up a few days a year where the employees who wish to give their time and efforts can volunteer in many different capacities.
Another great thing along these lines is for a business to stick to what they do best. For example, both Toms and Warby Parker donate their products to people in need. When you buy a pair of Warby Parker glasses, they donate a pair to someone in need. The same goes for Toms shoes. When the consumer buys a pair of shoes, the company gives a brand new pair of shoes to a child in need. Neither company had to do much and think entirely outside the box to be able to give back and make a difference.
Your business does not have to be on the same level of Google with philanthropic efforts. There are so many ways to play to the strengths of your company and your employees; the essential part is to give back to your community and make the world a better place.