Long before Marketing On a Mission became a certified social enterprise through Benefit Corporations for Good in 2023, I donated each month to causes I believe in. I’ve done this for many years personally, and since 2022, as part of my business model.
Here’s the thing: whether or not your business is a social enterprise, supporting the causes you believe in is good business practice and has many benefits.
Here are some key reasons why you should consider making monthly donations a habit:
- It’s easier to budget small amounts each month than one lump sum at the end of the year
- Monthly giving sets a positive example for others and sets your business apart from others who don’t consider the community around them
- It helps create a lasting impact for the nonprofits and charities who can then depend on stable monthly recurring income to fund their projects, pay their employees, scale their operations, and do all the good in the world they aspire to, but often can’t because of financial restraints
- If you have employees, it may inspire them to do the same
- You will feel more connected and emotionally fulfilled with a deep sense of purpose knowing that you are making a positive difference
- Nonprofits and charities save money on acquisition marketing when they can count on a loyal donor base
- Oftentimes those who donate also follow the organization’s social media and receive their email newsletters making for a wider circle of influence, larger awareness, and the opportunity for a lot of shared media
- Tax benefits (where applicable) to a company’s bottom line
- Giving monthly allows you to support an array of organizations, because I could never choose between the furry faces, the arts, and women’s rights as I am passionate about them all
- For people who can also donate their time, that too is a wonderful way to give back and is always very appreciated by labor-strapped small nonprofits and charities
Having held two board positions in recent years, I know first-hand how much these small gestures are appreciated and you may not realize it, but every show of support – large and small – makes a big impact.
If you’re interested, you can read more about my nonprofit musings in these previous blog posts: 6 Creative Giving Tuesday Asks in Tough Times, Showing Radical Generosity, Why Nonprofits Must Develop a Marketing Mindset to Survive