Why you should look into Corporate Giving for your foundation

Do you want to jump in donations or corporate giving initiatives, but you don't really know what they are or how to start? We often think of donations as activities that only specific charities, foundations, and NGOs launch to support and advocate a cause. The purpose is to deliver social and beneficial impact and boost reputation, so why wouldn't you start it too? 

You might get cold feet on discovering all the steps to launch such activities but worry not: we're here to help. 

Corporations need to meet the expectations their stakeholders placed in them. And we are not just talking about product quality or customer service. Nowadays, customers are more sensitive and informed, and they expect their favorite brands to be socially responsible. That is, abide by the law and much more. As a matter of fact, they have to set up policies that aim to make a real difference. For instance, they could invest a cut of their profits in social and noble projects, such as hunger-relief projects, scientific research initiatives, educational sponsorship programs, and so on. This way, besides the ethical and moral implications, they can help create an impact. Also, they can enhance their corporate reputation and attract those customers who really value a human and proactive brand.

Moreover, giving programs can consist of monetary donations and in-kind contributions, such as digital and hardware infrastructures, facilities, etc.

Why do it?

Giving money or material to social and charitable associations can yield many positive and tangible benefits for a company:

• Social impact: helping social projects achieve their mission by donation or proactive participation can boost their impact.
• Brand image: standing out as a noble and committed corporate citizen can improve your reputation.
• Customer loyalty: people love brands involved in social activities, and they are more inclined to buy from them in the future.
• Differentiation: living in a period where the competition is tight almost in every market, gaining the reputation of a kind and caring corporation can help you differentiate.

A company can benefit from those and having financial advantages. Indeed, most governments are encouraging philanthropy and therefore trying to attract companies to do it. The widely spread technique is to put an economic system attractive for companies and give them tax exemptions on their giving. This is also an advantage of corporate charity.

How to do it?

Corporate giving can take a lot of forms. The most common one is a gift from a company to a non-profit through a foundation. It can either be recurring or a one-time thing. But there are also employee-involved solutions that we are going to discuss further.

There are a lot of corporate giving programs names. Each of them has its own characteristics that are fundamentals.

Volunteer Community Giving Programs

Some companies are rooting for employees to volunteer in the community. Those can volunteer in a non-profit. Then companies give money to those organizations as a reward for employees' efforts. More than encouragement, this is a way to show involvement in community life.

This exists for individuals but also for a team of employees. The latest is a great way to do team building!

Matching gifts

It's a way for companies to support the investment of the employees in their environment. As one of them is donating money to a non-profit, he refers to his company. The enterprise will give the same amount as the employee (or more in some cases). The employee doubles (or more) his donation! This is as if companies donate money internally to employees to give to the community. This is an excellent way for companies to support causes that matter to the people that work there.

Company-managed donations

Companies can set up automatic payroll deductions on employees' salaries. Employees have to choose one non-profit proposed by the enterprise. Then the company takes it in charge. This way, it is easier for employees to give. This kind of corporate philanthropy program can really help the brand image.

Maximizing the effect of the corporate giving

To maximize the enterprise's benefits from corporate philanthropy, the company has to carefully choose the project to support.

• Audience: If the goal is to attract new customers or create loyalty towards the brand, one of the selection criteria might be related to the buyer persona and the interest of this one. This will build familiarity and have a significant impact on their minds.
• Location: The idea is also that people see that the company is having an effect. It can be promoted through media, or it can be in the very same area where the target is living. This way, it will become even more real for them.

Which tool?

The benefits of corporate giving are now crystal clear.

To gain them, you have to choose the right project and put the best processes in management and reporting. Optimy is software for community investment management that helps enterprises having an impact. We're just saying but we think you might find a lot of precious info on your website. And in any case, if you need more, you can always contact us.