2022 Powerhouse 10-year anniversary retreat “Share the Goodness” workshop
Three Tips to Help Establish a Culture of Giving Within Your Business
By: Julia Maier
“We make a living by what we get. We make a life by what we give” – Winston Churchill
Fact: Almost everyone needs to work or will work in their lifetime. If you’re lucky, that work is born out of a passion. A desire to help people, to make lives easier, or to share a gift or skill with the world. Take Powerhouse Founder and CEO Jessica Bertsch, for example. She has a passion for helping clients grow their businesses, but she also has a desire to make a difference outside of the office. So, she set a goal from the beginning to “Share the Goodness” and dedicate no less than 10% of annual revenue to making a difference in our communities and around the world. In time, as her company grows, so too will the impact they can have on the world. Being a fully remote company, Powerhouse has used service to bond as a team. What started as a holiday gift to staff in the form of a gift card to buy their holiday turkey transitioned into asking employees which organizations mattered to them and then donating to those charities. While this level of involvement may not be feasible for larger companies, it does provide proof that no matter where you are you can give back to the world if you find creative ways to get your team involved. Here are a few ways to foster a culture of giving in your company.
Find your why.
It is common for people to associate giving with the holidays. After all, December accounts for 30% of annual giving, and while there is never a bad time to give back, a one-time push for giving can feel impersonal or obligatory. If having a culture of year-round giving is important to you, then share that goal with your employees from the start. Charitable giving is about so much more than just good PR or a tax deduction; it becomes the umbrella for all other giving among the team. Decide why giving back is important to you, find opportunities that align with your brand, and share that vision with your team because it feels good to give back and make a positive difference and that will trickle down to your employees.
Get employees involved and make it fun.
Did you know that a common form of team building is to participate in a philanthropic activity? It fosters a sense of teamwork and community while also integrating a bit of humanity back into the hustle and bustle of the workday. Companies whose employees regularly partake in philanthropic activities report happier employees, and happier employees are more productive employees—13% more productive, in fact! Everyone has a natural desire to be a part of something bigger than themselves, and what better way to build company morale than through making a difference in your community. Perhaps sponsor a local sports team and have a staff night out to enjoy a game or sell concessions. Consider allowing charitable groups to utilize conference rooms or collaboration space on your premises for free. Celebrate company milestones with giving. As you hit goals or celebrate anniversaries, make it a point to give back in some way. If you are a smaller company, consider donating to a charity of the employees’ choosing during their birthday month. Statistics show that 71% of employees want to work for a company that gives back. Switching things up throughout the year ensures continued engagement and excitement.
Allow days off for service.
Permit employees to volunteer while on the clock, whether that be individually or as a team. Consider designating a day or two to allow your employees to give back in a way that matters to them. That might be volunteering at a child’s school or even participating in a company-wide day of giving. To inspire giving throughout the year, maybe schedule one service outing per quarter, when for one day you close up shop and do something for the community as a team. Allow your employees to submit service projects that matter to them or align with company values. For example, launch a charity drive wherein you collect items in office and then deliver those donations as a team. For small businesses that depend on the community to keep them afloat, it makes sense to pay it forward and put that goodness back into the community. Community engagement, after all, is what sets small businesses apart from larger corporations.
The bottom line? Opportunities to give back as a company are endless. All you must do is decide what works for you and remember that the goal is to make a difference in the world. When executed from the heart, philanthropic initiatives can be a way both to promote your business and to make positive change. “For it is in giving that we receive.” – St. Francis of Assisi
To read more about Powerhouse’s Share the Goodness initiative, click here and follow along on Facebook and LinkedIn as we highlight more of our Share the Goodness efforts, past, present, and future.
