Wednesday, 30th November 2016 | Accounting
How to contribute to charity without donating money
‘Tis the season for giving! At this time of year, sleigh bells are jingling, but your cash register might not always be ring-ting-tingling, too. While the holidays often centre on goodwill and the desire to give back to the less fortunate in our community, truth is: some small-business owners just can’t afford to make charitable contributions. Money aside, there are plenty of ways to align your small business with a charity, without breaking the bank. Below are just five methods to consider.
‘Tis the season for giving! At this time of year, sleigh bells are jingling, but your cash register might not always be ring-ting-tingling, too. While the holidays often centre on goodwill and the desire to give back to the less fortunate in our community, truth is: some small-business owners just can’t afford to make charitable contributions. Money aside, there are plenty of ways to align your small business with a charity, without breaking the bank. Below are just five methods to consider.
Donate specialized training or services
If you’re a service-oriented business, such as a photography studio or graphic design firm, consider offering pro-bono work (free of charge) directly to non-profit organizations. You may not realize it, but you’re likely an expert in a field that can benefit others. The nature of the services will depend on your specific business, but using the examples above, a photography studio could offer family portraits to low-income households. A graphic design firm could offer design assistance to promote local charitable events, or even basic training for event staff on how to create their own basic materials.
If your business has a service or specialized type of training that would benefit those in need, or help to improve the operations of a local charity, consider what you can offer. Not only will you greatly assist the charitable organization, you’ll be able to connect one-on-one with members of your community and build valuable relationships, too.
Volunteer time to a worthy cause
Many charities depend on volunteers. If you have time to spare, or a willing team of employees, band together to help a cause in your community. Involve your colleagues in deciding how and where you will donate your time. By including them in the process, you’ll foster a more inclusive working environment and contribute to team morale.
Offer equipment or office space
In addition to volunteers, many charitable organizations also rely on donations of equipment and space to carry out their operations. This may mean donating a board room in your office for a group to host monthly meetings, or perhaps donating the party room in your restaurant for an event fundraiser. For other organizations, equipment is required. If you’ve just upgraded your office computers or phones to the latest models, consider donating your used equipment to a local group in need.
Enable customer giving
Upon check out, small businesses with retail locations can present customers with the opportunity to conveniently donate a dollar or two on top of their purchase to your chosen charity. Some retailers even allow customers to showcase their donations in-store on a wall display (or similar medium) to promote giving as more and more clients cash out. And, by choosing to have the donations profit a local charity that resonates with your customers, many clients may in fact choose to do business with you versus a competitor, solely based on the fact that you’re aligned with a cause they care about.
Contribute prize donations
Prize donations present an ideal sponsorship opportunity for small businesses. Prizes only cost as much as you want them to, and can often be presented in the form of an actual product or voucher for a service that your company already offers. Research silent auctions, charity galas and golf tournaments in your community, which frequently rely on prizes for attendees. Not only is the price economical for you, but it also gets your brand in front of potential clients.
Something to keep in mind when giving back is to ensure you’re doing it for the right reasons. While charitable contributions may give you an edge over your competition, result in positive media coverage and build your brand—those shouldn’t be your primary goals. Supporting a local cause should reflect your willingness to give back to your community and your own sense of generosity.
While giving back can be a rewarding experience emotionally, you shouldn’t be focused on reimbursement through publicity. Aligning with a charity should be a gift in and of itself—and reason enough to continue giving, not just during the holiday season, but all year long.
Read Also