Idea Box: Philanthropy and Small Business: Making an Impact from the Inside Out

With rising grocery costs, housing, and international turmoil, it seems like everywhere you turn people are requesting donations. Checking out at a fast food restaurant, you are asked to round up to the nearest dollar to donate to the local hospital. Grocery stores ask for donations to food banks. Social media is filled with one GoFundMe account after the next. While all of these are certainly worthwhile causes, what if more businesses focused on regular donations to local organizations?

In today’s economy, corporate philanthropy is needed more than ever. It benefits the organization but can have a significant impact on the small business as well. In a Forbes magazine article, the Cleveland Clinic reports there is scientific evidence in the act of giving as your brain produces the three “feel-good” hormones, serotonin, dopamine and oxytocin. This builds empathy among employees as they serve the greater good and make a difference.

Serving the community can also create a closer bond among your employees. Working alongside one another, from department to department, for the sake of those in need connects you through a common experience. When we don’t often have opportunities to work with other departments during the workday, a company service project can do just that.

Another benefit is company networking. While serving the community, it can create connections with other businesses in the community. Also, you never know when a new employee or customer may come from an organization your company supports. While you aren’t trying to gain more business through corporate philanthropy, it is a way to organically get the name of your business in circulation. A company that cares for its community is attractive to future employees and customers.

Interested in ways to consistently give to the community as a company-wide endeavor? Check out the six suggestions below:

1. ASK: What organizations are your employees already involved in on a personal level? Cancer research, special educational centers, and disaster relief organizations are just a few suggestions of groups that have fundraising events throughout the year or ways for your employees to volunteer to physically impact the organization. Within the pallet industry, giving to environmental projects or participating in area cleanup events are ideas that would coincide with the values of sustainability within the industry.
2. START SMALL: If your business is new to regular philanthropy or has a limited budget, focus on planning one service event per quarter, or maybe twice per year. Eventually you may be able to build up to more frequent service days, possibly once per month. The goal is to not get overwhelmed or burned out with too much “doing good.” Make a goal for two projects in 2025, three in 2026, and so on.
3. DON’T LIMIT: Corporate philanthropy doesn’t have to stay within the employees of your business. Don’t hesitate to plan one or more projects where company families can get involved. Serving the community is great for building cohesiveness in a business but also within a family. Serving alongside family members creates lifelong memories.
4. GET HELP: If service projects are new to your company, it is okay to seek out other companies that already have corporate philanthropy in place. They may have ideas of how to get started or allow your company to join in with a few events to see how it is done. Once you see how it’s done, it isn’t as daunting. You may eventually plan events together with other companies.
5. DO A DRIVE: While it may be difficult to complete a service project, keep it simple and have a collection drive for various organizations. Contact your local animal rescue to see what the needs are, like food, used towels, or toys. The local pregnancy center may be in need of diapers and formula. The nearest food bank may be depleted of peanut butter, jelly, or spaghetti sauce.
6. MAKE IT A COMPETITION: A friendly competition between departments may be the motivation you need to do some significant good in the community. If you are organizing a fundraising effort, consider focusing on collecting loose change and see which department can gather the most “Change for Charity.” Challenge your employees by matching the amount raised. If you are collecting items, compete to see which department has the most items donated. The winning department may get a prize of donuts or pizza, and the community benefits from the entire company project. Healthy competition may be a winner for everyone.

According to www.score.org, in 2019, small businesses donated 250% more than larger businesses to local non-profits and community causes. Also, 93% of employees who volunteer are happy with their employer. Whether giving monetarily or physically, serving the community has lasting benefits on those who are being helped as well as those who are volunteering. It builds strong connections with the community and within your company as a whole.