Have a Plan for your Philanthropy

Everything about business operations is carefully managed – from hiring, inventory, and standard operating procedures, to advertising placements, product mix, and I.T. systems. One area, however, often is neglected or just plain suffers from a lack of direction – philanthropy.

Most companies are doing some level of giving, but focused philanthropy requires forethought and management on-par with other business activities. Without a plan, companies will just be cutting checks.

Here are some basic tips for creating an impactful charitable donation plan.

• Pick a charity (or charities) aligned to your company’s goals or values. Chat with directors of several organizations to get a feel for their own values. If your company will seek employee support (and it should), craft a list of possible organizations/causes and survey employees on their favorites. This is the first step in generating support internally.

•  Set criteria and a plan for fielding requests. Companies are inundated with requests through letters, calls, and emails. Setting a list of criteria up front for what types of causes your company will support will help reduce the number of applications. Also, document where requests go when they come in. This is where having a group decide which causes to support creates transparency, both internally and externally, on where dollars go.

• Get employees involved. Involvement could range from creation of a charity board to manage donations, to implementing programs such as a $1 casual Friday, or bake sale. Highly successful programs go beyond just the company-funded variety; they should offer employees opportunities to donate money and/or time. Internal engagement is key.

• Communicate. Internal and external communication are must-haves. Simple updates, photos, emails, social media posts, and press releases all help to keep employees, your customers, and the community updated on your company’s giving activities. While the satisfaction of doing good within the community is its own reward, creating awareness helps paint the company as more than just an employer.

Creating a culture of giving within an organization will not happen overnight. But with a clearly defined philanthropy plan, strong communication, and employee participation, companies will evolve from just writing checks.