Perhaps after reading about the benefits of giving to a charity, you’ve decided to choose a foundation for your company to support. This is a great decision! Your journey, however, is just beginning. Selecting an organization can be a daunting task. After all, you need to ensure that it aligns with your company’s mission and that the group will be good stewards of the resources you provide. The charity of your choice will, to an extent, represent your company. The following are important points to take into consideration as you pick the right charity for you.
Determine Your Group’s Values
What does you company stand for? It’s important to choose a charity that supports your mission and goals. It will be most helpful to start the process with a list of your company’s core values. There are normally two types philanthropy businesses pursue. In the first, strategic philanthropy, your company will work with charities that are related to your industry. You have an opportunity to make a great impact through your company’s industry knowledge and resources.
The second type, general philanthropy, is focused more on meeting your local community’s needs rather than sticking to something in your industry.
Compare the Charity’s Values
Once you’ve determined your company’s values, examine the charity’s core values and mission statement carefully. How do they measure up against what your company believes? Make sure they don’t contradict your values in any way. You don’t want to commit to something you disagree with. Such an action also has the potential to damage your company’s reputation.
Research the Charity
Your next step should be to research the charity in which you’re interested. Check sources like GuideStar for more information. This site will be able to give you a better idea about the group’s transparency, history, and any past problems. Ask to see the charity’s strategic plan for the next few years. This will show you how the group is organized and how they structure their projects.
Discuss the Charity with Employees and Partners
Before going further, you should also get insight from your employees and business partners. Is this something that they are okay with getting involved in? Soliciting their feedback will help partners and employees feel involved and appreciated. You value what they think, so why not run the charity by them before committing?
By following these steps, you’ll be well on your way to choosing the perfect charity for your business to support!