The Gift of Giving Back
By: Shelly Fulks
“It is more blessed to give than to receive” – Acts 20:35
Giving and receiving – our favorite buzzwords of the holiday season. However, for small businesses, these words ring true throughout the year. A 2018 study conducted by OnDeck found that 77.5% of surveyed small businesses supported their communities in some way and 81% had plans to support their communities in 2019.
In order to better connect our communities for a brighter Alabama, philanthropy is an integral part of the Peritus culture.
In 2019, our team participated in a variety of outreach efforts to help support our Birmingham and Gulf Coast communities, including:
Served as a supporter of the Pepper Place Market to help build connection between local family farmers and the residents of Central Alabama
Volunteered in the “Game of Life” career development event with Birmingham Education Foundation
Facilitated a half-day, pro-bono media training with team members from United Way of Central Alabama
Partnered with Urban Avenues to organize a job search success panel and workshop for rising star high school students
Offered discounted communications services to Jones Valley Teaching Farm and Council on Substance Abuse (COSA)
Supported the Prison Books Collective book drive in honor of Anthony Ray Hinton
Various volunteer, board responsibilities and fundraisers for organizations and causes each of our team members is personally passionate about, including Magic Moments, Fuse Project, Freshwater Land Trust and Rotaract
Volunteered at Coastal Cleanup to encourage a litter free environment
This community focus is something I am equally passionate about in my own life, which is one of the reasons that led me to apply for a Peritus internship. Whether fundraising for my sorority’s philanthropy, hosting events for Samford’s chapter of PRSSA or volunteering my time to spend with potential students on Samford Preview Days, all of these opportunities (big or small) have given me the opportunity to feel invested in my community and proud of where I live.
Because we value giving back in our personal lives and as a firm, our team wanted to share four simple ways you and your business can donate your time and talents to make a difference in your local community in 2020.
Host Give Back Nights
Partnering with stores and restaurants to host events where a percentage of the evening’s profits support a local philanthropy with an aligned mission can be a great way to attract people to your business. Since the partner organization will be leading most of the promotional efforts, you have an opportunity to grow your network and customer base without too much heavy lifting on your part (ROJO give back nights are a great example).
Donate or Discount
Whether creating t-shirts for a little league soccer team, providing food for charity event volunteers, supplying outfits for a philanthropy fashion show or helping plan a nonprofit’s annual budget, there are countless ways businesses can offer their services to benefit local organizations in need. If your business doesn’t have a product to donate, consider offering discounted or pro-bono services for nonprofit organizations or community heroes like veterans, first responders and teachers as an alternative. These services can help support a worthwhile cause or highlight local heroes (and as an added benefit, improve your brand awareness).Sponsor an Event
If there is an annual event that you or other employees participate in or attend regularly, try finding ways that your company can get involved on a more impactful level. You can always start small by offering in-kind donations or becoming a lower-level sponsor to see if the partnership aligns with your company’s interests and values. Supporting these events can have long-term benefits on brand exposure and reputation.
Empower Your Team
When you emphasize giving back as a primary aspect of your company culture, you are likely to attract employees with similar values. By hosting company service days, offering incentives to employees who choose to get involved in their community, or encouraging them to donate services to local philanthropies, you can empower your team to leverage their passion and skillset to do meaningful work. After all, happy employees are 20% more productive than unhappy employees, according to a 2015 study conducted by Daniel Sgroi.
Our PUBLISHED by Peritus takeaway is this:
While giving back is something many of us only think about during the holidays, changing you or your company’s mindset to have a proactive philanthropic mentality year-round will make a positive impact and position your company as community leader.