The Value of Philanthropy to a Small Business
December 14, 2015
PHI·LAN·THRO·PY the desire to promote the welfare of others, expressed especially by the generous donation of money to good causes. A philanthropic institution: a charity.
This hectic fast-paced world we live in can be exhausting and overwhelming. Let’s face it: Sometimes the truly in-need are overlooked until the holidays come around. However, it’s never too late to do some good. Volunteering is a great way to boost employee morale, give back to your community, and do a little good with your time, and that’s just what BRIGHT HAUS aimed to do last Friday volunteering at the San Diego Food Bank. We’d like to share our experience and encourage you to make a regular donation of time or money to a cause in need in your community!
Having your business participate in a philanthropic cause not only builds a sense of positivity and community among your employees, it can also be a great way to usher in positive publicity for your company. I’m lucky that here at Bright Haus, I work in an environment that not only welcomed my idea of bringing the company in a more philanthropic direction, but encouraged it. Soon after, we began to plan our time volunteering to assist the San Diego Food Bank for our first holiday philanthropic event.
I set up a date and a time, let the company know, and allowed whoever could donate their time to come volunteer at the Food Bank. At Bright Haus, we have a flex schedule that allows us to work 8 AM – 6 PM Monday-Thursday and 8 AM – 12 PM on Fridays – allowing us to schedule a volunteer event much easier. On Friday Dec. 19th, 18 of us drove to the San Diego Food Bank to volunteer from 1 – 4 PM.
The first project assigned to us at the Food Bank’s warehouse was to bag up emergency food packs for those in need. We finished all the supplies within the first hour, and had packed up 365 emergency bags!
The second project we worked on at the Food Bank was bagging up “backpack” meals for kids who did not have food at home, and would take these packs on weekends for something to eat. We finished 825 bags!
The top 3 reasons your company should be philanthropic
1. It doesn’t have to be complicated.
Philanthropic and community involvement does not have to involve money, a big detailed fundraiser, or even a lot of time! If you are a new business, or just one that cannot afford to drop your own funds at the moment, don’t worry! There are plenty of events and charities to get involved with and donate your time! You just have to look around and offer your services and time. If there is something your company is passionate about and takes donations, donate. If your employees can put in some volunteer hours, volunteer! You can make each event quarterly, semi-annual, or yearly – whatever works for your company and benefits the community at large!
2. Free publicity and committed employees.
A strong commitment to philanthropy and community involvement within your company can actually attract the right kind of employees to your business. Business is all about how good your products and services are and what makes you different from your competitors. You can get your company free publicity on your charitable events via social media, your company site, or local media. Being a company with a commitment to the community can be an advantage to prospective employees, who see your company as going beyond the daily dollar signs. You could be attracting prospective employees that are full of heart and are willing to go above and beyond to help those in need, and can double as employees who care about their company, about their jobs, and about their clients.
3. Your community will appreciate it!
Probably the greatest reason to be philanthropic or give back to your community, especially during the holidays, is because your community will appreciate it.
*Happy Holidays from our Haus to yours!*