Seven ways to introduce philanthropy into your your business

Charities and nonprofits haven’t cornered the market on doing good: businesses have a unique role to play in promoting philanthropy and being a force for positive change in their communities. 

Building philanthropy into your company culture isn’t just a nice thing to do. It’s good business: something that is well recognized throughout the business world. 

On the practical side, you can write off charitable contributions as tax deductions. And on the idealistic side, you can be part of a culture-shift towards an economy that rewards a people-over-profits approach to business.  

Beyond that, being charitable can promote a positive company culture that improves employee retention and engagement. It can reinforce the message that your company is about more than profits. It can also bolster your reputation and build customer loyalty: The 2020 Edelman’s GoodPurpose Study reinforced that contemporary consumers don’t just want brands to have a social purpose–they expect brands to take action to improve lives. 

Here are some simple ideas to start building charity into your business: 

1. Give employees volunteer time off

One of the most common barriers to volunteering is a lack of free time. Volunteering is also proven to be good for us as people, benefiting our relational, mental, and physical health. 

Invest in the health and loyalty of your employees by giving them VTO. Like PTO, these are paid hours off specifically to volunteer. This could be a certain number of hours per year, or the equivalent of a shift per quarter – whatever makes sense for your business. 

2. Host an employee work-service day

An alternative to VTO is a company-wide work-service day. This option combines philanthropy with team-building. Choose an organization to partner with that will benefit from the skills and experience your employees offer, as well as a cause that aligns with your company values.

3. Offer matching donations

Many of the world’s biggest brands offer matching donations to their employees. But even small businesses can promote charity by creating a small matching fund. The match could be for one or a few charities that align with your business purpose, or for any donations made by an employee in a window of time – say, for a month, as you celebrate a company anniversary. 

4. Donate products or services to charity fundraisers

There are many ways to embed philanthropy within your sales model. Some companies donate a percentage of profits to a select group of charities. Others donate products or services to local charities for auctions or fundraising events. 

This is a great way to position your organization values around more than profits: select local charitable partners that showcase who you are.

5. Sell or promote socially conscious products

Stock products or source materials that are environmentally or socially responsible, or work with companies that donate a portion of their own profits back to social causes. This can help boost your reputation with customers and improve loyalty. 

6. Give customers a way to give back 

Create easy and brand-aligned ways for customers to donate to charity while at your business. Our local refill shop, for example, allows customers to donate their jar deposits to select charities each month that align with their socially conscious brand. 

This gives customers a simple way to contribute to the community, while also building a positive association with your values while they shop. 

7. Get creative and invent your own way to be charitable

While it helps to have some examples to follow, being charitable doesn’t require sticking to a script. You can think outside the box and create a way to engage your employees and customers in philanthropy in ways that are true to your company character. 

Take the Restaurant Rumble as an example – this fundraising event features foodservice industry workers taking an amateur swing in the boxing ring to benefit community outreach programs in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside.

These are just a few examples of ways your organization can put on your do-gooder cap. So gather your employees, brainstorm some ideas, and become a force for positive change in your community. And if you have any questions, you know where to find us!