Ways businesses can engage the community and grow their businesses through community service 

Saying it with service

In today’s world community service has taken on even greater meaning and importance. While giving back as an individual is a great way to make a difference for causes that are important to you, the opportunity for businesses to make a positive impact through community service is a way to both help others and help your business – improving the lives of others while also improving your company’s bottom line.

Involving your business in meaningful community service has so many proven benefits – including the biggest benefit of all: helping others within your local community. Here are just a few things you can do to make an impact in the community and on your business.

Host and/or sponsor charity events. Hosting or sponsoring a charity event is a great way to both raise money for a cause and build awareness about your business. Playing a key role in charity events is the perfect way to show your commitment to the local community and involve your whole team in community service, while also generating valuable positive exposure/public relations for your business.

Encourage volunteerism. Volunteering together is not only a great way to help the community, but it helps build teamwork and camaraderie as well as contribute to a positive workplace culture. Work with your team to pick a cause that’s important to all of you, and plan a day to volunteer together. You also can encourage volunteerism on an individual level through incentives such as paid time off to volunteer, monetary incentives and possibly create an employee-led “Charity of the Month” type of a program, where employees are able to choose, and lead, a give-back program for a specific cause/organization.

Designate a “Give Back Day.” Consider setting aside a service day/”Give Back Day” where employees are encouraged to get involved by doing things such planting trees in a local park, helping out at a homeless shelter by serving food, or cleaning up/beautifying a local public space. 

Donate to local charities. This can be as simple as writing a check or clicking a button on a website to support a local cause (an easy starting point for businesses that know they want to give back). It also can include donating your company’s products and/or offering your business’s pro-bono services to local organizations in need, which can have an even greater impact.

Other ways that you and your business can spearhead your involvement in community service include joining a board (either a nonprofit, business organization or any other local community board such as a school board), sponsoring a local sports team and getting involved in local online community forums to help connect with the community. This would identify  community needs and see where you and your business may be able to offer assistance.

There are so many ways to get involved in the community and make a difference and so many ways that you and your team can help. By incorporating community service into your business plan, you’ll find that doing good really does do good for all, including you and your business.