Using your business to help others has lots of benefits. You get a tax break, give your business a shot of unbeatable PR—and you get to do something nice for a cause you care about. If you have the time and the inclination, there’s pretty much no downside. Not sure where to start? Here are just a few ideas to inspire you:
Size doesn’t matter
Start small by donating a few bucks to a good cause that’s meaningful to you and your business, or go whole hog by organizing a black-tie event to raise oodles of cash. WCDA member Sew Be It Studio hosts monthly sewing Meet-Ups where admission is by donation and all monies raised go to charity. The fundraising aspect of these events helps generate buzz about the studio and encourages regulars to bring a friend, which broadens the studio’s client base.
Encourage your employees and colleagues in their charitable activities
Sponsor them in walkathons, make cash donations and support them wholeheartedly by spreading the word about their good deeds in your company newsletter or on your website.
Share the wealth
Be consistent—pledge a specific percentage of your profits every year. Do what the big guys do and ensure that a line appears on your invoices and marketing pieces to let your clients know what you’re doing. It may be your philanthropic activities that win you the next contract. As well, the charity you select will also benefit from the added exposure you give them.
 Get in the trenches
Volunteer your time and encourage your employees, partners and clients to do it too. Give them an incentive by offering a few designated hours a week for volunteer work. WCDA member Charlene Crews, president of The Girls’ Night Out Club, knows how fulfilling giving back can be.
“My group is a women’s social club,” she says. “Although we head to the spa, go white-water rafting and enjoy fine dining, we also do tons of hands-on charity work.” They help build houses with Habitat for Humanity (wearing pink hard hats, of course), get involved in GASP, which helps autistic adolescents, and play a big role in the Fireball, a fundraiser for Sheena’s Place, which helps people with eating disorders.
Offer your services to people who need them
Do what you do best…for free. WCDA member Sandi Gerrard and her colleagues at the Canadian Redesigners Association support the National Ovarian Cancer Association with the Havens for Healing project, which offers free room makeovers for women living with ovarian cancer. It’s a way to offer women a peaceful, beautiful place to rest and recover. It also provides the redesigners with a venue to connect, collaborate and inspire each other with new ideas.
Use your business to raise funds
Gordon's Park Wilderness Retreat and Interpretive Centre, on Manitoulin Island, holds an annual Media Mini Putt Challenge to raise funds for the local hospital, food bank and people in the community who have severe illnesses and no benefit packages. It’s a win-win that promotes the centre while several worthy causes reap the rewards.
Be a sponsor
Help sponsor a charitable event; most fundraising events will display your logo and include your name in their materials for a minimum sponsorship. Something as simple as donating a raffle prize that reflects what your company does, like a WCDA Business Directory Membership with a pocket calendar and a pen (to indicate that you’ll soon be filling it)—is a great way to generate excitement about your enterprise.
Host a creative event
WCDA editor Bonnie Staring once worked with a company that held an annual show called “It’s Pretty, But Is It Art?” Employees donated things they had created (photos, artwork, knitted items) or gift certificates for services (like gourmet meals and personal shopping) to raise money for a group of charities.
This wasn’t a staff-only event: clients were encouraged—and delighted—to attend and got to know the teams working on their projects in a welcoming, relaxed atmosphere…until everyone started outbidding each other! Over $5,000 was raised each year.
 Enjoy a fun night out
Treat employees and colleagues to a charity event such as the Crack A Smile Comedy Night being held on April 21 in Toronto to benefit colon cancer research. Each ticket you purchase helps raise funds and your guests will benefit from the "fun-raising" during the event! Performers include Patrick McKenna, Neil Crone and the lovely Sandra Shamas. Enter to win a pair of tickets to the show by clicking here.
Heidi Watts, Program Director of the Colorectal Cancer Association of Canada, says holding this type of event is “the perfect way to raise awareness of a taboo topic and serve it up with a healthy dose of humour.” Think colon cancer isn’t something women should be concerned about? Then click here to discover why this type of cancer isn’t just for men anymore.
Supporting a cause is a great way to connect with clients and colleagues, as well as have your marketing dollars go further. Give it a try—you’ll feel great about what you’re doing, promote your business and help others at the same time.
Photos courtesy of Charms & Hammers, RestorAction
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