Why Charity is good for your Company

Filed in archive Inspiration on December 14, 2009

© bsabarnowl


Viable quote for 2010: One good turn deserves another. If you aren't currently doing any kind of charitable outreach with your company right now, let me encourage you to consider one for 2010.

Having a charity you work with or give money to regularly, can only make a positive impact on your clients. The only possible downside is that a charity can cut into your budget and possibly your time, but it is a sacrifice that most people expect companies to make (note, charitable donations can also count as deductions on your taxes!).

Let's take a lesson from politics for once. New Jersey's Newark Mayor, Cory Booker (@CoryBooker) heard that one of his constituents was snowed in on New Year's Eve on Twitter. Mayor Brooker himself went over to the gentleman's house and shoveled his driveway personally. (There are pictures and video to prove he actually did this himself, not one of his staff.)

So wait, let me repeat this. The mayor went himself and shoveled snow for someone on New Year's Eve. The shoveling probably wasn't fun and cut into his busy schedule but just think about the amount of positive publicity Mayor Booker got.

Any kind of creative charity can raise you in the esteem of your customer (or constituents for that matter). Even the less creative kinds. The point isn't even the publicity but trying to reach out and help people with no expectation of receiving anything back. Today's consumers, particularly the younger ones, carefully scrutinize brands for their impact on the world around them.

Now is the perfect time of year to get in the spirit of giving. Make a point of going a little farther and helping one extra person this month.

What creative charity projects have you seen businesses do that improved your opinion of them?