04/15/2022

Corporate Giving: Why it's so Important for Both Companies and Communities

Project Bread

Our Partners

The COVID-19 pandemic has been a tough time not only for workers, but also for businesses who’ve likely seen major disruption from supply chain issues, to inflation, to a shrinking customer base. Finding space in the budget to invest in giving back can be difficult, even as many small business owners and corporate CEOs are eager to help people and communities, there’s often less resources available for philanthropy. It’s a difficult decision: get by with thinner margins, or invest those thinner profits into supporting the community? Thankfully, philanthropy can be a smart business investment in the long haul. Here are three ways investing in your bottom line can grow your business:

1. Connections with Communities

The past two years have seen a diverse handful of powerful social movements continue to bring change and rebuild communities. Why not help to rebuild communities as well? Charitable giving is vital engagement in social change.

Both giving and volunteerism support the professional growth of employees, in terms of empathy, awareness, and soft skills, and the deep connections you foster in communities also attract new talent and new ideas.

2. Boosting Worker Morale

As any capable CEO knows, your people are your greatest resource. The Great Resignation has seen 4.3 million workers quit their jobs in January 2022 alone—yes, in one month. One of the trends in worker resignations is that workers feel there is less or even no meaningful purpose to their work. Giving opportunities for your staff to participate in activities with social purpose helps, but ultimately, your staff will want to see you put your money where your mouth is. Businesses aren’t charities, which is why you’ll want strong connections with nonprofits like Project Bread to align your goals with the social change that your workforce is craving.

3. Philanthropy is Good Marketing

Supporting charities is the gift that keeps on giving. Getting your business affiliated with a worthy cause is now, during the pandemic, more important to customers than ever.

Case in point, shoe retailer Tom’s donates 1/3 of their profits to community organizations, and not only has attracted socially conscious consumers, but has developed a hardcore consumer base for its brand. All of this is, of course, in addition to the tax write-offs your business will benefit from.

A staggering 81% of millennials want to support brands that show social responsibility.

Sunday, MAY 1, 2022 | Virtual

Join The Walk for Hunger

For 54 years, Project Bread’s The Walk for Hunger has helped businesses build strong interpersonal connections within their teams as we fight hunger in the Commonwealth. With your help, The Walk for Hunger has raised over $2.4 million in the past two years for people struggling without enough to eat by providing support for school meals, food pantries, and SNAP assistance to help communities and families across Massachusetts.

Form a Team with your business for The Walk for Hunger today. Help the 1 in 5 families that struggle with food insecurity.

Learn more about how you can get involved in The Walk