Running a small business can be extremely rewarding to you as a business owner. Besides the rewards that you can get as the owner, many entrepreneurs find that it’s even more rewarding to give back to the community. Here are a few ways that your small business can give back to your community.
Offer a Mentoring Program
You never know who is out there struggling, wishing they could get a chance to break into your industry. By offering a mentoring program, you can give someone a chance to get their foot in the door and learn the ropes. This might be as simple as letting local high school students come visit your operation for a day. Or it could be an internship program or something similar. The important thing is to make it worthwhile and give people a chance to learn about your industry.
Give Employees a Chance to Volunteer
Many small businesses organize events for local charities, in which they volunteer together. For example, set aside a paid day of work for everyone to go to a local soup kitchen and serve. Help build houses for homeless people. The opportunities to serve others are endless. By giving employees a reason to go help, you can make a big difference.
Do a Fundraiser
Another fun way to help the community is to organize a fundraiser. Find a local cause that could use some help raising money. Partner with them to create an opportunity to raise funds through your business. For example, a local sports team could come in and work for a restaurant for the day. A portion of the proceeds from the day’s sales will go toward the local sports team. By using the power of social media promotion, these fundraisers can sometimes take on a life of their own and get many people involved quickly.
Sponsor a Charity
Find a good local charity to sponsor. Corporate sponsorship can be a powerful tool to help worthy charities in your area. With this approach, you take some of the profit that you’ve been fortunate enough to realize and give it to those who need it the most.
As a small business, you have many opportunities to help out the community around you. Keep your eyes open for the best situations to jump into and lend a hand. Make sure that the opportunity matches up with your corporate culture and that you are partnering with a truly good cause.