If you are a small business owner, you know there is more to running a business than just the day-to-day operations and focusing on growing your profits. It is also your due diligence to be an engaged member of your community, whether that be with your individual customers or the other small businesses in your area.
If philanthropy is a part of your business’ mission statement, you will be working directly with nonprofits in order to aid them in achieving their organization’s goals. While this partnership is advantageous, there is a lot more conscious thought and effort that goes into ensuring that it becomes a conducive relationship between both the company and nonprofit organization. When the two are working harmoniously in conjunction with one another, it will increase the impact on the community, which is ultimately the end goal.
While there are so many positives that can come out of this relationship, the only way to ensure that both parties are on the same page at the onset is to have open communication from the very beginning. In order to avoid hindering the potential of the nonprofit, there are a few things that nonprofits want companies to know before they work alongside one another:
Do what is best for the cause.
Often, when companies get involved with nonprofits, they plan their activity around what is best for themselves, rather than what is more meaningful for the cause. There have been instances where nonprofits are forced to create opportunities with the needs of the corporation in mind, rather than focusing on their efforts. While these activities are organized with good intentions, it often causes the nonprofit to miss meeting their own goals.
Avoid making more work for the nonprofit.
Some of the most passionate individuals are employed at nonprofits. However, due to the nature of the company and the work it entails, employees often put in extra hours in order to keep up with the high demand of work. If you are planning to volunteer with a nonprofit organization, be flexible and bend to fit the needs of their schedule, rather than burdening them with additional work.
Work closely with the nonprofit.
This process does not merely begin with hearing about a nonprofit and end with your company showing up to assist with an event. Leading up to the event should be communication centered around what type of help is needed and what the end goals of the event are. Once these objectives are clearly outlined, the corporation can send the appropriate number of employees, as well as the employees that have the specific skills to help the event meet the desired goals.
