Modern consumers care about social responsibility to the point where they’re willing to swap brands/businesses if it means the company they buy from is helping others, with the Edelman Trust Barometer 2017 finding that 58% of Australians are more likely to be loyal to a brand that supports a good cause (Kimmorley, 2018).
No matter how big or small, a business is part of the community in which it operates (Melone, 2019) and investing in your community is a great way to give back to those who have supported your business and show that as a business you also care about social responsibility. Giving back has wide-ranging benefits and doesn’t have to break the bank, allowing even small business to benefit.
Benefits of Giving Back
Giving back to the Community can have the following benefits for all parties involved (Volunteering WA, 2019):
| Business | Employees |
Community |
| Heightened and positive recognition by customers and consumers.
Better employee attendance, recruitment and retention. More positive corporate image. New business opportunities and improved triple bottom line. |
Opportunities to interact with people from other areas of the company.
Increased company pride and loyalty from staff. Improve staff morale, motivation, team spirit and initiative. More positive perception of career, workplace, peer and management. |
Creating new income streams for community projects.
Improved understanding and appreciation between the business and voluntary sectors. Increased public awareness of community issues. Access to teams of volunteers for major tasks and events. |
Ways Your Company Can Give Back
Donations
- Choose to give a donation to a local charity or community group in lieu of Christmas gift for customers.
- Match donations raised by employees for specific charities or support charities/community groups which employees are apart of g. local sporting clubs.
In-Kind Support/Donations
Instead of monetary donations, businesses can support their local community through the offer of in-kind services, providing labour, space or products directly to the community.
Sponsor / Mentoring Programs
- Sponsor a local sporting group by investing in their uniforms or providing equipment.
- Businesses can offer mentoring or internship programs for university students looking for real work experience in their chosen field.
- Sponsor corporate events/seminars within your business sector.
Corporate Volunteering
Businesses can give back by offering their most valuable asset: their employees time. Corporate volunteering provides your company with the opportunities to develop staff skills, build teams and bolster your reputation within your local community (Volunteering Australia, 2019a).
- Commit to a Corporate Support day allowing staff to volunteer on company time.
Check out the December ISPL Insight on Workplace Volunteering for more details.
ISPL Giving Back
ISPL is committed to providing accessible environmental services to all, not just industry, and will provide up to 10 hours of pro-bono environmental work to community and not-for-profit based environmental groups in need of support, advice or assistance.
If you are in need of environmental advice or support and would like to discuss how we might be able to help, please contact Integrate Sustainability on 08 9468 0338 or enquiries@integratesustainability.com.au.
Download PDF: ISPL Insight – Giving back is good for business
References
Kimmorley, S. (2018, June 25). How to Create Social Purpose Strategy. Retrieved January 28, 2019, from Business Insider Australia: https://www.businessinsider.com.au/how-to-create-social-purpose-strategy-2018-6
Melone, S. (2019). Ideas for a Business to Give Back to the Community. Retrieved January 27, 2019, from Chron: https://smallbusiness.chron.com/ideas-business-give-back-community-24902.html
Volunteering Australia. (2019a). Volunteering Australia. Retrieved January 28, 2019, from Corporate Volunteering: https://www.volunteeringaustralia.org/resources/corporate-volunteering/
Volunteering WA. (2019). Volunteering WA Corporate Volunteering. Retrieved January 27, 2019, from https://corporatevolunteers.org.au/