Five business benefits of working with a charity, community project or volunteering

Gemma Howley, Individual Protection Market Development Manager at Aviva, discusses how making the time to support a charity or volunteering can bring business benefits.  

Supporting a charity or volunteering both offer numerous advantages that extend beyond the immediate act of giving. For employers, employees and your business, the benefits are both personal and professional. Here are five great business reasons to make time to work with a charity or volunteering project:

1)      It can raise your business profile and generate new opportunities.

Supporting charitable causes demonstrates social responsibility, which can enhance your company's reputation. Customers often prefer businesses that contribute to social and environmental wellbeing. You can also benefit from fantastic PR by taking the time to connect with charities or local projects in your area and sharing your support for them. This can help build public trust in your business.

2)      It can help with networking and provide skill sharing opportunities.

Getting involved in charitable activities can also expand your business network. From collaborating with other businesses, non-profit organisations and community projects you can create valuable connections that may benefit your business in various ways. The chance to be part of a charity event or volunteering opportunity can enable employees to acquire new competencies such as leadership, project management or teamwork. All of which can translate into improved job performance.
 

3)      It can help employee engagement and morale.

It’s not just the public who like businesses that engage with charities and volunteering. Your employees also like it too. Supporting charitable events or volunteering helps foster a sense of purpose, pride, and engagement for employees. They appreciate working for a business that supports their personal values and makes a tangible impact on the community. Employees also appreciate the opportunity to give back while still being paid, it helps to show they are valued. Incorporating volunteering hours into your employee benefits package can bring substantial benefits for both the business and employees. It helps foster a culture of giving, enhances employee engagement and boosts wellbeing. This in turn can help employee loyalty and morale.
 

4)      It helps with recruitment and attracting talent.

Demonstrating good corporate social responsibility such as volunteering, can also help attract talent in a competitive job market. Millennials and Gen Z are openly seeking employers with a strong commitment to social and environmental responsibility, so businesses that actively participate in social causes may be more attractive to prospective employees. By sharing your charity and volunteering stories, you help to boost employee and potential employee engagement. Showcasing the impact and amazing contributions that your colleagues have made is a great way to recognise and celebrate the values of your business and that it’s a great place to work.
 

5)      It feels good.

For many business owners, the act of giving something back can be personally fulfilling. Knowing that your business is making a positive impact on society can bring a sense of purpose and satisfaction. You can link volunteering and charity projects to your company values, helping to boost wellbeing, commitment and understanding of these values.
 

Make time in your business to support a charity or volunteer. If you don’t already have a chosen charity or project, ask your employees for ideas of who they would like to support for the year ahead. From fundraising events, hands on activities and skilled volunteering, there is an opportunity for you and your business to support a charity or project and enjoy the associated business benefits.