PR ByIntention®

 Posted By: April Neill, President April Neill Public Relations

I’m a big believer in giving back to your community by either donating your time or expertise to charities or organizations that you have an affinity for. As you may already know, volunteering has been shown to have a number of benefits –including boosting your health, longevity, and outlook, but did you know that it could also help your small business?

In a recent study by Ernst & Young and the Fidelity Charitable Gift Fund, 62% of small business owners say that giving back to their community has made their business more successful in the long run. Below are 4 ways to support local charities and the benefits you’ll gain:

1. Provide Your Expertise. As a small business owner, you can offer your knowledge and expertise to others by sitting on a nonprofit committee or by offering your services pro bono to a charity. By doing so, your charitable contribution will be your time, and not money out of your budget.

Benefit: For business owners just starting out, this can be the perfect way to develop new relationships while doing good work.

2. Host a fundraiser. People love to go to parties and events and hosting an event that requires a donation to a local charity as admission is a great way to align your business with charitable causes in your community.

Benefit: Hosting a fundraiser is the perfect opportunity to get media exposure for your event and to generate goodwill about the work your business is doing. Positive press is a also great way to build your reputation and increase your market exposure.

3. Volunteer and promote volunteerism. Volunteering your time to projects can make a huge impact in your community and getting your employees involved with organized volunteer days can be the perfect way to bring your company closer together.

Benefit: Giving back feels good and for most people, giving back makes them feel happy. Happy employees tend to be more productive and happy business owners, more successful.

4. Give a little bit to a lot. You don’t need to break the bank to make a cash donation to a charity. A great way to give back is to earmark a small percentage of your profits from each new client or project to a charity that you care about or better yet, a charity your client cares about.

Benefit: Clients are far more likely to do business with you if they know a portion of their fee is going to a good cause. You will also set yourself apart by being socially responsible.

At ANPR, we believe in giving back to our community and we are committed to working with clients that are socially responsible as well. If you’re a small business owner or executive who is looking to increase your social impact and global imprint, we’d love to help you tell your story!

Do you have a unique way of giving back to your community? Tell us about it!

April Neill Public Relations is passionate about working with small businesses to increase their brand awareness and help them find their voice. We offer a complimentary 30-minute in-person or phone consultation. Email AprilNeill@gmail.com to make your appointment today or call (312) 772-3832 for more information. Visit us online at AprilNeillPR.com. Follow ANPR on Facebook at Facebook.com/AprilNeillPR.