Useful
Workplace Charity – Why and How?
During the Christmas season, many companies decide to support a charity, non-profit organization, movement, or family in need with monetary donations or gifts in kind.
There are countless socially important causes, and it's impossible to support them all: how do you choose who to support, and how do you execute the initiative? And importantly, how do you communicate about it without it seeming like a self-serving advertisement?
1. How to Choose Among Many Good Causes?
If you're expecting us to recommend specific organizations in this article, you're in the wrong place! We don’t want to highlight one cause over another, as many organizations and individuals deserve financial support and assistance.
However, it’s important that the choice feels authentic and that your employees are eager to support the cause. You can gather suggestions through an email or a meeting, as this might bring to light organizations you hadn’t considered before.
It can be useful to start from common points: for example, if your company deals with programming, it’s a meaningful gesture to support an organization that helps children in extreme poverty with digital inclusion. Of course, you don’t have to stick to professional lines; the decision can be personal as well: for instance, if most of your employees are women, choosing to support a women’s rights organization can show your respect and solidarity. Once you've made a decision, contact the organization’s liaison to find out what they need most!
Workplace charity can also bring the team closer together.
2. Beyond Monetary Donations
Organizations that operate with limited support often lack not only money but also professional resources for certain tasks. If you want to take a more personal approach than just a bank transfer, think about what professional skills your company has that could be beneficial to the chosen cause!
Do you work in marketing? Create a trendy Facebook profile and cover photo for them! Are you full of handymen? Visit them and fix their broken items! Do you run a restaurant? Send them free food for their Christmas party! It's important to celebrate not only the cause but also the everyday heroes behind the organization, as they help those in need every day of the year, not just at Christmas.
Of course, you don’t have to limit yourself to non-profit organizations: there are initiatives like the Shoe Box Campaign where you can fulfill a child’s wish. Each colleague who wants to participate can prepare a box according to the child’s wishes.
The benefits of workplace charity.
3. Communication: Authenticity is Key
Unfortunately, it can come across poorly if you post a picture a few weeks before Christmas of yourself handing over a donation to the chosen organization. Your followers might think you donated just for the sake of good publicity.
That’s why it’s important to focus not on the amount or the gesture of donating, but on why you believe in the organization’s work and what you share in common. To be even more authentic, consider donating not only at Christmas: supporting organizations with a small fixed monthly amount can also make a difference!
Depending on your business, you can also come up with a related ongoing campaign: for example, if you run an online store, it could be a great idea to donate every returned item.
If your audience feels that social responsibility is genuinely important to you and not just a façade, they will see you as a credible and likable company!
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