Corporate giving, it’s never too late to start

Though there’s only a few weeks left until the year is over, it’s never too late to start a corporate giving program. Even during tough times, evidence shows that philanthropy is a solid business investment.

In a 2007 survey of corporate executives by the Boston College Center for Corporate Citizenship, 61% said corporate citizenship makes a “tangible contribution to their company’s bottom line.” In nine out of ten industrial sectors, corporate philanthropy had a positive impact on corporate revenue, according to a study presented at the 2004 meeting of the International Communication Association.

There’s no time like the present to put together a corporate giving program and make a difference in the community. If you want to give back before the year is up, you only have a few weeks left to get going. Start with these simple ideas for corporate giving:

• Organize a canned food drive. Have everyone in the office bring in canned goods to be donated to a local food bank. Encourage more employees to give by providing an incentive such as a day to dress-down at the office. Visit Feeding America to find a food bank in your area.


• Give employees a day to volunteer. Allowing employees to volunteer on the company’s time shows goodwill and improves employee morale. Pay it forward and give employees a day to give their time to a local charitable cause.


• Hold a bake sale. Have everyone in the office bake their favorite holiday treat and bring it in for a company bake sale. Donate the proceeds to a local charity.


• Put leftovers to good use. Once you’ve sent happy holiday wishes to employees and customers, take your leftover company Christmas cards and put them to good use. There’s a number of ways to repurpose your business holiday cards, including sending a card to a wounded soldier, sick child or to a neighbor in need. Read this article for a full list of ideas.


• Sponsor a clothing drive. A clothing drive is a great way to give back to community members in need and also help employees clean out cluttered closets. Donate clothing to nonprofit organizations like Goodwill, the Salvation Army or a local homeless shelter.

Few things say “Happy Holidays” better than a charitable donation. Foster employee teamwork and show your corporate goodwill by giving back to the community during the holiday season and throughout the year.

Corporate giving, it’s never too late to start