We’re in the midst of the giving season. Soon it’ll be Thanksgiving. Your final tax payment will be sent to the IRS. You’ll be spreading holiday cheer and bonuses with your team members.
How what about giving back to your community? Having a giving plan is important for all businesses – whether you’re volunteering time, making donations to charities in need, or building your business to help support non-profits.
This week, I donated several hours of my time to help with mock interviews for Defy Ventures, fellow WeWork members who I met through an event at WeWork Meatpacking. This week, I’ll be attending the MOUSE gala, an organization that teaches tech skills to high school kids. I also helped build awareness for both organizations by mentioning them in my social media and e-marketing. By pledging just a few hours and clicks, I gave back to people in need.
There are so many causes, but so little time? Where do you even begin?
- Start by thinking about what causes are consistent with your business and your personal values. Involve your team in brainstorming. Perhaps you’ve been touched by a particular health issue. Maybe you have a skill set that others need. Here are some just a few broad categories:
- Kids and education
- Health and wellness
- Environmental issues
- Hunger
- Job training
- Decide whether you want to give locally, nationally, globally, or some combination. Look at the non-profits that have offices at WeWork nationally.
- Research non-profits on a site like Charity Navigator, to ensure that your gifts (monetary or other) are being used well. Smaller non-profits may not yet be listed, so you can do your own research by speaking directly with Executive Directors and founders.
- Consider donating a percent of your holiday sales to a particular cause. In addition, promote your cause on your site, social media, and in e-marketing. Even awareness among new donors has a value to non-profits.
- Instead of holiday gifts to clients, consider making a donation to your favorite organization in need (or ask your clients what their favorite causes are, and give accordingly). Donate products or services for silent auctions or gift bags at fundraisers.
- Make your office a drop-off destination for donations of goods. Or, find a location nearby and set aside a time when people can come by, meet you, and bring their donations.
- Rally your team and devote a day to volunteering at a place like a soup kitchen or a Habitat for Humanity build. It will create a sense of teamwork and a fun holiday spirit. Volunteer Match can also help you find opportunities in your geography.
- Most important, remember that giving back is not just an activity for this time of year. Many startups have incorporated a non-profit mission to their business purpose. Triple bottom line (or TBL) companies (those concerned with people, planet, and profit) have been growing at an impressive rate. Consumer and businesses like to buy from companies that have good products and do good things.
- Volunteering for non-profits and sitting on boards is a great way to meet like-minded entrepreneurs, source new talent for jobs, and hone your management skills. Perhaps you’re a financial whiz or have legal skills. Or, you want to donate marketing talents to an organization that needs to build awareness. Non-profits are always looking for people who can provide services. Cash is not the only gift that has value. Start by attending fundraising events. Meet other board members and non-profit management. You’ll get a good sense of what organization might be the right fit for you.
Looking beyond your bottom line and reaching into the bottom of your heart will fill you with holiday cheer. You may not be able to see all the people you’re touching with your kindness, but their lives will be better for it.