For small businesses, there are so many great reasons to give back to the community. Giving back positions your company as one that cares about its community, it gives your employees a greater sense of purpose, but most importantly, it just feels good. In fact, according to America’s Charities, “71% of surveyed employees say it is imperative or very important to work where culture is supportive of giving and volunteering.” Here are some creative ideas for serving your community.
Have a service day
Your team does great work together, and channeling that teamwork into charitable acts can be beneficial in so many ways. Close your business for a day and take your team on a volunteer outing, whether it’s helping out at a food pantry or cleaning up a local park. Your staff will appreciate a change of pace and the chance to put their energy towards a good cause.
Make paid volunteer hours available to your staff
Everyone on your team has their own causes that they are most passionate about. Give each employee a set number of hours that they can use for volunteer opportunities of their choice. This can be a great way for your business to serve the community without having to close for the day, and your team will be grateful for the flexibility and the chance to help a cause that they are passionate about.
Partner with a local charity or service organization
While offering volunteer opportunities to your staff can be a great way to serve your community, your customers may also be interested in giving back. Partner with a local charity or service organization to help your customers discover ways that they can pitch in. You might offer customers the chance to donate at checkout or offer volunteer information on your social media pages. No matter how you choose to do it, your community will appreciate the extra support.
Donate to a cause voted on by your staff
Set aside a certain amount of money to donate to charity and let your employees vote on which cause to support. Not only will this be a fun activity for your staff, but it will also ensure that you are giving back to a cause that your team feels passionate about. You could even organize a team-building exercise or a friendly competition to determine where the donations go.
No matter how your business decides to do it, giving back to the community is always a noble choice. Whether your business has given back in the past or not, now is the time to begin planning how you and your team will serve your community.
