There is no doubt that community service and collaborative fundraising in the workplace are on the rise; whether it’s an organized walk/run for a good cause, a company-sponsored cocktail event, or granting a day off to volunteer at a local charity – more and more employers are realizing the benefits of partnering with each other and the community to spread goodwill.
How corporate giving helps your bottom line
How have businesses witnessed firsthand the positive effects that collaborative fundraising has had on employees and clients? Besides hosting fun events that get workers out of the board room and into a more playful environment, the camaraderie can help motivate, energize and foster success. Research has also shown that the majority of collaborative fundraising participants felt that their leadership, communication and decision-making skills improved, and many expressed a stronger commitment to their teammates and employer afterward.
Everyone knows that team building can be a very valuable tool for an employer to provide for their staff. Yet workshops that foster these skills can be costly and don’t always collectively connect or hit the right chord. A day of volunteerism is often just as effective and can provide a powerful bonding experience.
Employers aren’t the only ones who benefit. The gift of time from you and your employees impacts the community by providing a skilled and inexpensive talent pool to assist in the efforts of what is often a cash strapped non-profit or charity. This saves service organizations money in staff and recruitment and passes those dollars directly onto their key target group who they are trying to assist.
Find the right match for giving
So, what is AdvantEdge doing to make a difference? As part of its corporate responsibility plan, AdvantEdge has served as a sponsor for both The Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship (NFTE) and The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS). In addition to monetary support, AdvantEdge has also hosted office events in our business lounges and conference rooms to engage our clients and generate funding and awareness for NFTE and LLS.
Just as we did, you should look for an activity that meets employees’ interests and is a good match for your business, your staff, and your place in the industry. There are a wide range of activities, fundraisers or charitable causes that cost little to no money to implement, take place at your office or off-site, and can take anywhere from a lunch hour to a full day. Consider what works for you and your business and start seeing the benefits of volunteering in your office and the community today, all while helping causes who are in need of support.
