Owning a small business gives owners a unique opportunity to give back to their communities. In fact, charitable giving from companies has increased 2.7% over unprecedented 2020 levels. Post pandemic philanthropy is growing due to high interest in corporate responsibility as well as a social desire to support causes companies believe in. It’s an exciting trend for small business owners to explore if they are looking to make a difference in their community.

When You Give, You Receive

Small business owners might be apprehensive about donating to charity, not because they don’t want to help but because they are worried it will negatively affect the bottom line. However, you might be surprised to learn that it can have the reverse effect. Contributing to a charitable cause will help your business more than you think.

The Benefits of Giving Back

The number one benefit to giving back is opportunity. First and foremost, by giving back, you will receive the opportunity to make an impact on a cause that’s important to you and your community. Contributions may go beyond influencing your local area to affect a global issue. Others in your community will also receive the chance to contribute through your company when they may not have had the opportunity without it. 

The option to give back to your community will organically grow your network. You will meet new local leaders, neighbors, and business owners, and with that, you will attract new customers. Building relationships may lead to increasing the number of advocates for your business. The growth of your network will lead to increased profits.

Expanding your heart and bottom line are just two of the many benefits of giving back. Research shows that employees who volunteer are happier. Aligning your small business with a charity can boost employee morale and improve company culture. Leveling up morale and culture often leads to attracting top talent. 

How Do I Choose Where to Donate?

It makes sense for small business owners to find a local organization tied to the community. You may also want to choose a smaller charity as those can sometimes get lost in the shuffle when larger corporations are looking to donate. You could opt for a national charity but make sure it has a local program that you can connect and work with. 

Choose a cause based on your company values, and be thoughtful when making a choice. Spend time researching organizations and talking to other small business owners about how they give back. Remember, your contribution will affect you and your business, so the cause should be one that you understand and are passionate about.  

Ways to Give Back

There are plenty of options in how your business can give back. As with choosing a charity, you will want to spend a little time thinking about the best way for your company to give back. This could vary from getting your employees involved to donating products and services. You could also offer discounts to people within the organization or even host an event to raise funds.

What we’re doing

For example, here at Air Courier International we are committed to giving back to the community. Over the years we have supported a number of charities and we will continue year on year. We found different ways to raise money, with our staff often getting involved. We also run giveaways across our socials to say thank-you to our followers and customers. These have included incredible hampers, hotel spa and dining vouchers, luxury food goods amongst other fantastic gifts. 

The British Heart foundation is very close to all of us and we have supported them intermittently throughout the years. Most recently one of our team ran a 10km in which they raised over £1200 for the worthy charity. Every few years we donate the money for Christmas gifts to our customers to a worthy charity and most recently we donated a large sum to Age UK. We also support smaller charities by getting involved in different ways.

Air Courier donated food parcels to ‘Driven Forward’, whose original purpose was to provide food and transport for the extremely vulnerable. Since the start of the pandemic the need for their support has increased dramatically. Another member of staff has been volunteering at Bracknell Foodbank which is nationwide concept to help the local community. We also featured an interview with the team there in our newsletter to help bring in donations.

Our aim is to continue to donate to charities all around the country that are trying to tackle the real issues that we face. We will keep you informed across our socials, and if you have any questions regarding any of our charities, please drop us an email charities@aircourieruk.com.

There’s No Wrong Way to Give Back

When you choose a charity and a method that aligns with your small business assets and values, there is no wrong way to give back. Investing in a local charity is an investment in your community and your business. You will create an impact, build connections and feel gratitude with those around you.

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