Here at Lift Your TableⓇ folding table risers, we believe in giving back. In fact, one of the reasons we selected our office is that it’s close to our local high school. We look forward to mentoring young people who aspire to own their own businesses

If you’re interested in building a bond with your community, which will also help publicize your business, there are a variety of ways that you and your staff members can get involved.

Choosing a charity

Consider a few factors when you’re picking the organization that you want to support. In order to avoid scams, make sure that it’s a 501(c)3. That means it’s proved itself as a charity to the IRS and therefore you’re likely supporting a legitimate cause. The organization should be able to show you their Form 990, which they file in order to keep the 501(c)3 designation.

It’s great if your company can find an organization that is relevant to the work. For example, if you run a kid’s toy store, supporting a children’s charity makes a lot of sense. However, you may not be able to find anything that’s directly relevant (like if you manufacture and sell folding table risers!)

If you’re not already familiar with a group you’re considering, do a little research into it. There are plenty of online sources that are dedicated to charities and who they help, what their budget is used for, and so forth. 

Don’t make the mistake of assuming that because there’s a chunk of change dedicated to administration that the group isn’t worthy of your time. Some very worthy charities have to navigate a complex system in order to help their beneficiaries.

Also make sure that your employees are happy to support the group. There are organizations that don’t support LGBTQ+ people,as an example. Your employees (whether or not they’re LGBTQ+ themselves) might have a problem with that. Even if you otherwise think it’s a great group. Having your staff on board means that supporting the charity is something everyone can join in on and benefit from.

It’s generally a good idea, even in your private philanthropy, to pick no more than three charities to devote your money and time to. When you’re spreading everything out over a larger number, each charity gets less benefit. Plus you won’t be able to build the relationships with them that you want as a donor. 

With your company, you could focus on just one, since that will make the giving program easier on everyone. However, creating relationships with several charities might be more beneficial for your business.

Giving money directly

The organizations themselves know best how to allocate their resources, so donating money directly is probably the best way to support them. You might run a donation drive, particularly if you have a brick-and-mortar location. Or you could donate a portion of your sales to a local organization. 

Sponsoring a youth team (such as a baseball or soccer team) is popular. This is a great idea for companies whose audiences are primarily families. Your business name could be displayed on the uniforms, or on some buildings or locations on the field. Other youth groups that need some money also make great donees.

You can also donate online through some kind of giving platform, but that might not be the best way for the community to recognize all that you do for them.

Giving items

While this is popular, it can be a little tricky. Many companies like to organize food drives around November and December holidays, but this is an incredibly inefficient way to get food to people who need it. 

Donate money to food banks instead. Not only do they know what their own clients need, but they typically get items for a much more reduced price than average consumers find in their grocery stores.

Rather than be inefficient with your giving, consider toy drives, or book drives, depending on your company and clientele. You could get even more creative and gather up old technology, like laptops and phones, and donate them to a group that needs them.

Giving time

Volunteer! Not only is this easier on your cash flow than giving money directly, it can be an excellent team-building exercise too. 

You may not be able to have everyone take the day off, so consider sending a mix of people from different departments on different days. Get the team out to a location where they can help others during the workday – don’t ask them to sacrifice time with their families if you don’t have to.

Food banks and homeless shelters are obvious ideas, but you can also volunteer to help out at the charity’s annual fundraiser. Or staff the booth at a show. 

Another way to help is to act as mentors at the local high school or camp or club. If your business is in technology, you’ve probably got some skills to teach that kids can really use. Everyone can get in on the fun – your accounting and payroll staff can help kids (or adults) learn about better ways to handle money, for example.

Ask the charity how they can best make use of your team and go from there. As always, the charities know best what they need so listen to what they have to say.

Do you have to crouch over folding tables to assist with your chosen charity? Help them (and you) out by donating folding table risers that lift up the surface of the table to ease back strain. Check out our full line of folding table risers at our online store.

Lift Your TableⓇ… SAVE YOUR BACK!