Part of being a good business owner means giving back to the community. If your only focus is about making profits to grow your business, you won’t get very far. 

Giving back not only benefits people in need, but your brand as well. Making an effort to help your community will give your company a positive reputation. Here are 8 simple ways your business can give back to the community:

Donate Money
Donating money from your business is the most straightforward way to give back to the community. There are a couple ways you could go about this. One option is to have a day where a portion of your business sales goes to charity. It doesn’t matter how small this percentage is – every donation counts when it’s for a good cause. An alternative option is to have a donation box on display at the point of sale, where customers are encouraged to give money. This is a common, but effective strategy in retail businesses. 

Volunteer Your Time
Volunteering your time to a charitable cause is just as valuable as giving money, if not more so. You can make volunteering a fun group activity by setting up a volunteer day for employees. Find a charity that your team is passionate about and encourage your employees to lend a helping hand. This will be a great team bonding experience outside of work, which will help to improve employee morale. 

Donate Your Products or Service
Your company’s products or service could be a big help to the people in your community. For example, a restaurant owner could donate any extra food to the local food bank. A construction worker could volunteer their skills to a poor neighborhood that needs sprucing up. Offering your skills and products to those in need is one of the best ways to give back.

Hold an Auction
Looking for a fun way to promote your company’s new products and services? Consider holding an auction where the profits go to charity. People will feel motivated to buy your products if they know the sale is going towards a good cause. You might even gain a few new loyal customers as a result of the auction.

Be a Responsible Business Owner
As a business owner, it is your responsibility to ensure that your business has minimal impact on the environment. You can do this by using ethically sourced products and materials, and being mindful of your day-to-day business operations. You should also choose local resources, vendors and businesses wherever possible. Making a conscious effort to reduce waste will benefit everyone in your community. 

Partner with an Organisation
Is there a school in your local community that needs support? Consider partnering with an organisation to help raise awareness for the cause. Highlight the organisation on your business social media pages and your company website. 

Spread Your Knowledge and Expertise
As a business owner, you probably have a tonne of valuable knowledge and expertise to share with others. Consider holding a class in your community where you could teach people a skill or lesson. There are many people that would appreciate hearing what you have to say.

Hold a Fundraiser
Holding a fundraiser is a fun way to give your business positive publicity, while also giving back. There are many types of fundraisers you could hold, from fun quiz nights to sponsored walkathons. Donate any funds to your local community or a charity of your choice. 

As you can see, there are many different ways your company can give back. You don’t have to donate huge chunks of money to make a difference. Making a genuine effort to help those in need will go a long way.

Author bio: New Zealand-based writer Johanna loves to support local businesses that contribute to society. Johanna also believes that every individual plays an important role in the betterment of their communities. See more of Johanna’s published work on her personal blog, Musings of Johanna.

The post 8 Simple Ways Your Business Can Give Back to the Community appeared first on South Walton Life | 30A News, Events and Community Information.