More and more companies are placing an emphasis on social responsibility or environmental protection initiatives. This approach is in line with CSR. A companythat engages in charitable activities also reaps tangible benefits. What are they? You’ll find out in the article below. Find out how a small business can support charity fundraisers and help foundations with their daily challenges. 

CSR – a socially responsible company

CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) refers to corporate social responsibility. You may also come across the translation “corporate social responsibility.” It is a concept that involves incorporating pro-social activities into a company’s strategy. CSR is not, of course, mandatory for small businesses, but it is important to note that more and more companies (and their customers!) are paying attention to this.

Is CSR worth it for small businesses?

Yes, small businesses’ CSR initiatives have a positive impact on their corporate image, employee morale, and their relationships with the local community.

Let’s start with the benefits of CSR for small businesses and their employees. Helping others is rewarding. When we do this as a group, we also strengthen our bonds and improve our interpersonal skills. Employee volunteering or company events teach teamwork, boost team morale, and increase job satisfaction. Employees feel that their employer is socially engaged, and if they face problems, they know they can count on the company’s support.

A company's partnership with a charitable foundation contributes to a positive company image—both within the community and among potential new employees. Thanks to CSR, the company can attract new customers and partners, which will boost the company’s profits.

How do I work with a charitable foundation?

A company’s partnership with a charitable foundation can take many forms. The key is to reach out to the organization and discuss how the company can support the foundation, what its current and most pressing needs are, and what the company is capable of doing.

Many business owners choose to provide material and organizational support to foundations. This includes, for example, donating services or items for auctions and raffles, with the proceeds going toward the foundation’s statutory purposes or to benefit specific beneficiaries. An interesting approach is to create special promotional items featuring the company’s logo alongside the foundation’s logo and sell them for charity. Some companies support foundations in IT, marketing, and legal matters, as well as in transporting beneficiaries—the form of assistance depends on the company’s business profile.

Check out: How to choose a cancer foundation?

How can business owners support foundations?

CSR in a small business, even without a budget for social initiatives, can still be effective. We’re talking about employee volunteering. Setting aside even just a few hours a month for the company to assist a foundation not only supports the foundation itself but also serves as a way to build team cohesion. Employee volunteering can include, among other things, visits to hospitals (with the prior consent of patients and the facility), as well as organizing games and workshops with the foundation’s beneficiaries. Presence, support, and moments of joy help patients in their fight against illness and give them the motivation to continue treatment.

How can a small business support charity fundraisers?

Cancer treatment and the rehabilitation that follows entail significant costs for patients and their loved ones. Cancer foundations that organize fundraisers for cancer patients provide essential support to them . At Cancer Fighters, we help our patients create and promote fundraising campaigns. These activities align perfectly with CSR. A company can actively promote charity fundraisers on its social media by posting updates and videos about the campaign. It’s also a good idea to include information about the fundraisers and the foundation’s activities on your website. Supporting charitable fundraisers can also involve serving as a patron for an event promoting the fundraiser or helping with the organization, promotion, and financing of the event.

How can you financially support charity fundraisers?

The easiest way is to make a direct deposit into the foundation’s beneficiary’s subaccount. However, collecting money in a donation jar among company employees isn’t always successful. Instead, you can organize company events—family picnics, fairs, or sports tournaments. Such an event will strengthen bonds among employees, provide a break from work, and, at the same time, help raise funds for the patient’s treatment.

At Cancer Fighters, we offer a platform for fundraising campaigns to support cancer patients. From experience, we know that this opportunity fits perfectly into the CSR strategy of both small and large companies. Fundraising campaigns usually take the form of sports challenges . Others cheer them on and provide financial support to the organizers. However, these can also be other types of events. Recently—as part of their support for those we assist—companies have organized initiatives on our platform such as recycling empty printer cartridges or charity sales of their products.

How can a small business support foundations?

Supporting charity fundraisers, employee volunteering, and providing material and organizational assistance are the most common ways to help a charitable foundation. However, it is also worth mentioning another important aspect: donating 1.5% of one’s income tax to the foundation and its beneficiaries. Such contributions are a valuable donation that enables the foundation to continue its operations and meet the needs of those in need. As part of CSR in a small business that cannot afford other forms of support, employees can be encouraged to support a specific fundraiser for the treatment of a person in the local community by donating 1.5% of their taxes to that cause .

Every company, even the smallest one, has its own network of contacts. This network may include people working in the media and larger business owners. Establishing partnerships to support a foundation—for example, by promoting charity fundraisers—can yield significant results, while also demonstrating that helping others brings people together.

If you want to organize charity events for cancer patients or sign up for employee volunteering at Cancer Fighters, please contact us. We’ll let you know how you can help us and our patients.