How To Increase Enthusiasm, Support For Workplace Charitable Giving

By Sebastian Troup


One of the most difficult parts of overseeing a campaign of workplace charitable giving is engaging the employees. Often, larger companies have the biggest problem with this as employees are spread about during the working day and the entire staff is not always together. While workers generally are supportive of charitable endeavors, the demands of daily work and personal responsibilities can make contribution difficult. However, there are some simple methods to build excitement and enthusiasm for your corporate giving plan.

You will have more success if you personalize the charity for everyone. For instance, if you choose to support a group that promotes literacy, this might not be something to which most of your employees relate. However, if you bring in speakers to express how the charity has impacted their lives, this can really make it more personal and provide a genuine human connection. This can make a huge difference in employee support and enthusiasm for any project.

Make sure that your cause is non-partisan. Choosing a cause with a political agenda is more likely to cause problems than to create support for workplace giving. There are many charitable endeavors, however, that are not politically charged, so select something that generates enthusiasm from a wide range of workers. For instance, a health-related cause, such as breast cancer research can be apolitical and appealing. Causes that seek to protect children or the economically disadvantaged also tend to garner higher levels of support.

Too often, employees only think about worthy causes at specific times of the year, such as the year-end holidays. The reality is that these charitable programs need assistance all year long. By keeping the issues involved with the causes at the forefront of employee engagement on a consistent basis, your workplace giving program will be more successful in getting participation year round.

Using social media to bolster employee pride in the program is another excellent strategy. Be sure to highlight the efforts of your employees through various social networking sites. This creates a sense of pride among your employees and increases their pride in the company, as well. When a single employee or a few employees make a particularly outstanding contribution, be sure to publically acknowledge this act via social media as well providing personal praise.

Your management and the employees also need to operate effectively as a team. When everyone is involved, the end result is far more positive and encourages further growth. If your company is supporting a program to aid the homeless in your area, get managers and employees to donate time serving food at a local soup kitchen together. When everyone is working as a group to help a cause, this builds a positive sense of community and allows a unique opportunity for employees to interact with managers and additionally, to support a worthy cause.




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