Charity begins at work

Supporting a local charity can benefit your business in a number of ways. As well as boosting the company’s profile it can differentiate you from your competitors as well as facilitate team building amongst employees.

So what do you need to consider if you are thinking about supporting a community organisation in your local area?

Not just about the money

While local organisations will appreciate financial support, other forms of giving are just as important. For example, if you are a catering company, food donations to a homeless shelter could be equally as beneficial to the organisation as giving cash.

In It Together

If you are considering supporting a local charity ask your staff which organisation is most deserving. If employees are fully behind the program then they should be more willing to dedicate their time to it. A few hours a month together spent “helping out” an appropriate charity could also promote better team bonding.

Don’t Be Shy

If your company has helped an organisation reach a fundraising goal or host an event, publicise it on your website or contact the local press. As well as helping generate publicity for the charity it will let your clients know that your business is not just about profit margins. This could generate more custom and might also encourage your clients to also lend their support to charity.

Spread The Love

While there may be a particular organisation that is close to your local community’s heart it doesn’t mean that you have to limit your support to one charity. You could choose a different organisation on an annual basis to hold fundraising events for. Again this will help ensure employee engagement if they have a say in which organisation is being supported.

Belt and Braces

If you are participating at an event where your employees are involved on behalf of your company, make sure you check your liability insurance will extend to the activity, or ask the charity if cover extends to include volunteer workers. Either way, you know you’ll be covered if an incident occurs.