How Your Business Can Effectively Partner With A Charity Organization

Thoughts of doing something bigger than yourself and improving the world can be more than just aspirations. A brand might need more resources to do so, but they can partner with charity organizations to fulfill their desire to help and earn valuable local exposure simultaneously.

Finding ways to partner with a charity organization requires careful consideration, open communication with the nonprofit and getting employees and customers involved.

Start the process by discussing which charity you’re interested in working with. How long do you want the collaboration to last? It can be as short as a single day of work or a long-term partnership.

You also should figure out how you want to work with the charity. You could sponsor a 5K, donate time and manpower, or offer a “buy one, give one” (B1B1) model. With B1G1, you donate to a charity each time a customer buys a product. Here are a few steps to take once you’re ready to move forward:

Talk to leaders about how your company can help them grow best. If you’re working with an established charity, they’ve likely worked with other firms now or in the past. Each will also have different needs, so find out if they need physical labor, financial support or ways to get the word out about their cause.

Every organization has different needs. One might request help with a building project, while another may need help fundraising to cover expenses. Talk to the director about the charity’s greatest needs to ensure the relationship works well for each party.

Businesses can collaborate with the public by letting their customers know what they’re doing alongside the charity. Perhaps every purchase gives something back — buy a pair of Bombas socks and they’ll donate a pair to someone in need.

Other ideas include marathons where they donate a set amount for each mention or a specific hashtag. Get everyone involved in spreading awareness and raising money through sponsorships.

You can attract top talent and generate a buzz by involving staff in charity efforts. Gen Z and millennials prefer brands with excellent social responsibility and may choose where they work based on policies.

Some things you can do to encourage philanthropy include offering paid volunteer time off (VTO) and working as a team to help a local group. VTO is an attractive perk to job seekers — they can focus on their goals and overcome setbacks when they make community connections and receive support.

Mixing with people from other industries can produce new information that improves brand image. Let the charity take over your social platforms for the day, posting information on their mission and recent news.

Encourage your followers to visit and like the nonprofit’s page. One of the most significant advantages of working alongside a charity organization is sharing one another’s mailing lists and reaching new people.

Researchers found around two-thirds of employees in the United States think firms must embrace a cause. Once a brand embraces a mission, leadership can explain why they care about the cause and choose to partner with a specific charity.

Spend time during scrum meetings updating everyone on the latest news from the nonprofit. Ask employees for ideas on how best to help the charity and be open to matching their contributions for more significant donations.

The Gap Corporation offers matches for employees donating to nonprofits. Part-time employees can participate, but their limit may be lower, while executives can submit match requests for up to $10,000. Google also offers to double the donation.

Partnering with a charity gives businesses a chance to give back to their community while increasing their name recognition and reputation. Employees can get involved and feel connected to a cause, while enterprises gain tax breaks for donations, learn from the nonprofit directors they work alongside and establish relationships that could lead to new customers. Partnering with a charity organization changes the fundamentals of how you do business and can lead to long-term positive effects for your venture.