August 19, 2011
OPEN Forum Message
Affordably Build Your Brand
FedEx Global Brand Management Director Monica Skipper shares a cost-effective way to build a bigger brand for your small business.
Learn more
When we started our company it was important to me to bring the concept of giving into everything that we do, as it has always been a fundamental aspect of our lives as a family. With each new hire, we share how we give a percentage of company profits to charities close to our hearts. We even provide monthly updates to our staff, with pictures and tangible evidence of our company’s efforts.
Charity is its own reward, of course. But we’ve found that involving our employees in our company’s charitable giving has helped us build a stronger culture and has improved our teamwork.
If you’re thinking about implementing a giving program, consider the following three principles:
1. Make a commitment
Set aside a specific percentage of all profits the company earns to be given to a worthy cause. Whether it’s 1 or 10 percent, make a commitment to always give this portion to the chosen organization. As a company, we donate 10 percent each month to several groups that we chose early on to give to.
2. Get everyone involved
Give to organizations and causes your staff cares about. Does someone know a family in need? Become a “Secret Santa” during the holidays. We’ve adopted single mothers and struggling families as our target charities during the winter holidays. These efforts have been a great motivator and help us stay focused when we might have otherwise lost our drive due to holiday parties, gift shopping and family visits. Making a big impact in someone else’s life gives everyone a reason to work harder.
3. Get local
Don’t forget to get involved in something local. If you partner with a small, neighborhood organization, you and your staff can focus on something closer to home instead of a distant “charity we donate to.” For example, every year our staff partners with an organization that feeds the hungry and the homeless during Thanksgiving. And because much of our staff works remotely and have to travel to be here for the event, it’s a good time to reconnect with far flung colleagues. What a great thing to be thankful for during the holiday season!
Giving motivates, inspires and encourages us to think beyond our personal challenges, obstacles and frustrations. Giving is a huge part of big company growth and healthy inner company relationships. Make a difference, give as a company and share the wealth and the wisdom with someone else.
Sandi Krakowski is a "Back To Basics Step By Step Business" expert who currently serves more than 150,000 clients in over 136 countries. Her systems help the average business owner as well as big corporations get extra-ordinary results!
Check your balance, review recent transactions and pay your bill on the go.
LEVI SMITH 9 months ago
Encouraging article and comments!We've been working to make giving back a much stronger aspect of our culture over the past four years. This year, our efforts coalesced into two areas of focus moving forward: (1) We're donating two days a year of our staff's time to serve our local community. The charity we've chosen to partner with, Mobile Loaves