Are you giving back?
June 11, 2008 by ShannonCherry
Filed under Business
A recent survey from SurePayroll says small businesses want to support charities, they feel they can’t afford it due to the economy.
I wonder if it’s really true. Is the economy really causing small businesses to tighten their belts in the charitable giving department?
The “when things get better excuse” doesn’t cut it for me. If the economy is weak, don’t you think nonprofits need even more of our help?
There are ways you can contribute without donating money. Volunteering is always a good choice (and it gets you networking while doing good).
A SEO colleague, Rebecca Murtagh, and I even help a 1/2 seminar where the proceeds went to a local charity. We got to share our expertise to potential clients while helping a good cause.
And on June 20, I’ll be participating in b5’s The Great Blog Off. As part of this fun event, I’ve enlisted the help of several smart entrpreneurs who will be sharing their advice. You’re going to get 1 post every hour for 24 hours on business topics that can help you!
The Business Channel will be taking charitable pledges (details coming soon). If, for example, you want to donate $1 for every hour that I blog on June 20, you would donate $24. Obviously, flat donations are also appreciated.
You’re donations will be helping Accion International, the channel’s charity for the Great Blog Off. Accion helps small businesses all over the world to become established through small, manageable loans and business advice. This concept of microlending is fabulous and their payback record is impressive. (As a matter of fact, one of my guest posters has used Accion to start her business!)
Stay tuned for more details.
I like the idea with the donations but I’m not shure if this really helps…?
Best regards from Austria,
Mario
Actually, most of the ideas with the exception of the volunteer time is not an outright charitable donation. For example with teleseminars, this is considered a marketing expense for those involved as there was a direct benefit, and the Great Blog Off, without more information is also more than likely a marketing expense as well. All that said, the efforts are good intentioned, but the stategy for small business owners with their giving is what is most important despite economic times.
Currently, in the philanthropy field, microlending and micro financing organizations are facing some tough supply-demand issues. One of the laregest one and most notable went through this about 4-6 months ago.