6 Tips for Business Owners
Charity events are essential for businesses. They help others in need and demonstrate a company’s values for employees and the public. Organizations should participate in philanthropy because many employees are willing to donate their time and money.
Setting up a charitable event can be challenging because it requires strategic planning. This guide shows business owners how to coordinate a successful event.
Why Is Philanthropy Important?
Philanthropy is essential for businesses because it shows they care about causes outside their organization. Numerous people are in need daily due to poverty, natural disasters, diseases and other crises. Taking time away from everyday business presents opportunities to improve someone’s life.
Participating in philanthropy also has positive effects on your employees and recruiting. An American Charities survey finds 71% of employees say it’s essential for their employer to have a culture of giving and volunteering. Charitable events make workers feel good about themselves and improve their morale. One successful charity event could lead to employees asking for more events in the future.
How Can Businesses Organize a Charity Event?
Charity events aim to impact others positively, so a business must prioritize the event months in advance. These six tips guide organizers and demonstrate how to plan a successful event.
Establishing a Budget
The first step is to establish a budget. Anything the business wants to do relies on how much capital it has on hand. An event on company grounds will be less expensive because it won’t have to spend as much on a venue. However, depending on the event, the event may need ample space, like a park or auditorium.
The budget can quickly grow, considering the venue, food, events and other necessities. However, there are ways to reduce the costs. For example, the company could reach out to local businesses to see if they want to donate services to the event. They may embrace the cause and see it as a positive for their public relations.
Alongside the budget, organizers should set a monetary goal for the event. The target should be realistic. An achievable goal will satisfy the participating employees and motivate them to raise money for a good cause.
Selecting a Cause
Another critical element of the setup is selecting a cause. There are numerous worthy causes, so business owners need to ask their employees what matters most to them. Employers can choose the one most meaningful to the company or put it to a vote for the workers to select. Giving employees a say in the matter engages them.
When selecting a cause, business owners can use online resources to vet charities and ensure they have strong ethics. For example, the Better Business Bureau (BBB) set up the Wise Giving Alliance to evaluate philanthropic organizations and monitor their spending.
Creating a Theme
The idea of charity is often enough to get many employees involved, but creating a theme excites workers. For example, a business could hold a casino night where employees bring their families to play poker, blackjack, roulette and other fun card games. Participants can donate money and receive chips in exchange.
An accessible and worthwhile theme is auction night. This event is a terrific way for businesses to partner with local vendors and auction goods and services. Employees can donate memorabilia, art and other prized possessions for the auction. Local businesses can offer free wine tastings, vacations, gift certificates and more prizes that will increase bids at the auction.
Providing Ways to Participate
A charity event can bring in thousands of dollars in one night if everything goes to plan. However, there are ways to increase the total and have a more significant impact. Some employees may be unable to attend the event if it’s only one day or night. Providing multiple ways to participate can increase success.
Use the Thank a Teacher campaign as an example. Virginia Lottery allowed residents to send thank-you cards to teachers across the state. The winning teacher received $5,000 for supplies and earned a vacation. The campaign was successful because participants could send digital thank-you notes, maximizing reach and convenience.
Incorporating digital participation is vital because some employees may be unable to participate because of prior obligations or emergencies. The rise of remote work has decentralized the office, so employees in all corners of the country require alternative ways to participate. Digital engagement also allows for outside participation from those who don’t work at the business.
Using Effective Marketing
A company can organize an event for its employees, but including others in the community can elevate the cause and significantly impact those in need. Maximizing the event’s potential requires effective marketing strategies. An easy start is email marketing and incorporating members of the current mailing list. Companies can also use classic methods like fliers around town.
Social media is an effective tool businesses should incorporate. Twitter, Tik Tok and LinkedIn are only a few of the many websites for digital marketing. Creating an account is free for most platforms, so it only takes a few minutes before organizers can promote the charity event. The U.S. has over 300 million social media users, so it’s wise to research how an account can satisfy algorithms to maximize reach.
Another way to expand outreach is to contact local media outlets about the charity event. Reporters in all media often look for human interest and feel-good stories for their audiences. Inviting local press to cover the event allows for promotion before and after the event. Some journalists immerse themselves in the event to enhance their story, so businesses should invite them to participate.
Training the Staff
Companies may enlist their workers or recruit outside volunteers for charity events. Regardless, the organizers must train and prepare the staff for the challenges ahead. In the weeks ahead, the business should hold seminars or orientation programs to educate the volunteers and instruct them on duties and expectations.
Splitting the volunteers into groups and assigning guides for different duties may be helpful. For example, casino nights will need dealers for blackjack and poker. They also require bartenders if alcohol is available for patrons. Organizers should designate employees with bartending experience to teach those who have never poured a drink for someone else.
Organizing a Successful Charity Event
Charity events are a fun way for companies to give back to their communities. These events could be a bake sale, walkathon, casino night or another engaging opportunity for the community. Regardless, the objective is to help someone beyond themselves.
Organizing such an event requires careful planning. Establishing a budget and securing a venue are the first two steps. Then the planners should find ways to make the event fun and engage the community around them.
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