by Megan Hudson
Running a business that feels good while doing good is the dream for many. It doesn’t matter what industry you’re in, you can ensure your startup does good from the very beginning. It’s up to you to build a brand that gives back.
START FROM DAY ONE
Many entrepreneurs fall into the trap of thinking they have to generate a profit before making any meaningful donations to charity. They wait until the company is up and running before implementing a social responsibility program or donating funds.
Instead, if you create a roadmap and start the program right from the beginning, you won’t need to make any structural changes or additions to your business later. You can grow your social responsibility program as your company grows.
BE THE CHANGE YOURSELF
Remember the saying charity starts at home? As the business owner and founder, you need to establish a charitable focus for the company. Employees will gravitate toward your enthusiasm. Your excitement could even inspire your suppliers, partners and clients to get involved. If you lead by example, rather than delegate tasks, you'll show those around you that it’s something everyone should do.
BE A LITTLE CREATIVE
Social responsibility and charity work can be done in different ways. You don’t just have to donate money, which is a precious commodity for a start-up. Time and skills are valuable, too. You can help by lending a hand at a charity event, offering workshops, or sharing access to equipment.
The best way to figure out how you can give back is to open up a dialogue between your company and the organizations you want to partner with. Ask them what they need and show them what you have. Manpower and time might be a lot more valuable than any monetary donation.
BUILD THE SKILLS AT WORK
Social responsibility programs can require specialized skills to pull off effectively. Instead of hiring someone to run your fundraisers or coordinate your efforts, look to your employees. They may be interested in learning the skills required to implement your charitable events and programs.
Upskilling employees is a brilliant way to build company loyalty and promote a happy working environment. Ask your employees and partners about their skills and what they’re interested in. Your business really will feel good while it’s doing good.
WRITE IT INTO YOUR BUSINESS PLAN
If you want giving back to be a part of your company’s ethos, then write it into your business plan. Make it part of the very foundation of your company, and include details about how you plan to give back through your business. If you’ll be donating money at any stage, include this in your financial projections. Seeing it in black and white will give you a solid goal.
Megan Meza, owner of Bandida, donated 20% of her profits to City Meals on Wheels.
Remember, your business doesn’t have to be solely focused on charity to have a strong social responsibility program. You can be a commercial outfit that sells a service or product to the general public. However, you can build charity into your business model and include it in your marketing efforts too. For example, advertise that you’ll give a percentage of every sale to a specific foundation, or invite customers to participate in fundraising drives.
The options for giving back are numerous. All it takes is some planning, creativity, and prioritizing to build a business that does good while feeling good at its core.
