10 reasons why employers should take charity partnerships seriously!
Companies have been supporting charities for many years - and for many reasons. From creating PR stories to providing opportunities to connect with customers, it seems such mutually beneficial partnerships are on the up!
This is great news for charities, which are often left to plug the gap in welfare services created by the financial crisis. And these days charity partnerships are not just about fun runs and baked bean baths; the serious business benefits are numerous. In fact, more than three out of four surveyed firms say charity partnerships are either ‘important’ or ‘very important’ to their business agenda.
But did you know working with charities can also be great for your recruitment strategy and staff retention?
Nowadays job seekers are increasingly looking for employers that give something back to society. A study by Net Impact reveals that 53% of workers want a job where they can make a social impact - they even ranked this above having a prestigious career.
There are many ways to support a charity and as an employer, charity support should be taken seriously when it comes to employee engagement and attracting good quality job applicants. And as we continue to swim through the rough economic waters, you shouldn’t underestimate the feel-good factor that partnerships can bring.
It doesn’t stop there. Here are 10 reasons why charity partnerships are a hot issue:
- Job seekers may be more attracted to businesses that support charities; not only do they see themselves getting involved, they may also expect similar values to be reflected throughout the business.
- Employees have opportunities to enhance professional and personal skills by organising fundraising events – from bike rides to gala balls.
- Workers often feel a loyalty to an employer that reflects their own personal values – especially if the partnership is with a local organisation.
- Businesses can get employees engaged and motivated by asking them to vote for a charity partner each year.
- Fundraising provides a welcome break from the daily duties and it can even boost productivity in the long-term.
- Everybody loves to see themselves in the local paper; press coverage for charity activity is superb for morale…and for the charity partner!
- Strategic partnerships are on the increase. They impact both the charity and business at deeper levels, and when working with a health charity, staff’s wellbeing could also benefit. For example, charities such as The Stroke Association and Mind may be able to offer advice.
- Staff can get involved in managing a partnership as a serious business relationship by forming a charity committee, giving them diversity in their work and opportunities to work with colleagues outside their usual team.
- If your charity partner needs professional help staff can provide pro bono support. Whether it’s HR, accountancy, marketing or administration knowledge, the volunteers get to work in a completely different environment and extend their skillset which could also benefit the employer
With buy-in from senior management, employees at all levels are more likely to respect the partnership and feel pride in the business