Did you know that October 24th was National Make A Difference Day? Established in 1992, this special day celebrates giving back through volunteering or any action that has a positive impact on society, such as planning and implementing an eco-friendly change in your personal and professional life. Some companies actually make this into a workplace activity!
Giving back together with your office can help engage more people into volunteering and making better decisions that wouldn’t have thought about it otherwise. This can help them discover a new cause, better understand another community, discover new ways to live consciously, and just overall engage their philanthropic side. It can also serve as a great team bonding activity as well where your employees can connect with others they typically wouldn’t during day-to-day operations.
You can pick a volunteering event for your team to attend or organize an event of your own! Here are some of our suggestions for how you can make a difference on your community together:
1. Organize a donation drive.
Look for a local organization that serves a cause you think most of your team would care about, or better yet, ask them! Ideally, you’ll agree on something somewhat relevant to your business. Look for organizations that are looking for a large number of donations, such as socks or canned food, and encourage your employees to donate. Set a collective goal for everyone with a fun incentive.
2. Organize a field trip to an event.
Some organizations might be holding in-person, socially distanced events such as painting a building or planting flowers. If you think this is something you can see your team having some fun at, promote this event through your emails and hang up flyers. Make an announcement and make sure you emphasize the distance that their hard work is going! For example, if you’re planting trees, state the long term benefits of their one or two days of work.
3. Consider implementing some paid volunteer-time-off.
Not every day off needs to be spent chilling at home or on the beach, it can be used to volunteer! Some companies actually offer paid volunteer hours to encourage giving back. If this is in the budget and there are a good amount of opportunities in your area, discuss this option with your employees. If they’re volunteering independently, you won’t have to organize anything, but you’ll miss out on the team-building opportunity.
4. See if you can offer pro bono work.
If you’d like to volunteer your company’s services, see if you’re able to offer some pro bono work to an organization or individuals who greatly need it. This is likely to span more than a single day and the organizations may want you to contribute on a continuous basis, so make sure you have the resources to possibly continue this.
5. Make a socially conscious change within your own organization.
You don’t need to go out and volunteer to make a difference, you can start from within the office. For example, you can try to operate in a more eco-friendly manner by using less paper when feasible. If it’s in the budget, you can order supplies from different brands that have made commitments to sustainability and environmental justice.
How have you or someone you know empowered your organization to make a difference and give back? Feel free to share your experiences!
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About Stingray Advisory Group LLC: Stingray Advisory Group LLC is based in Grand Rapids, Michigan and is a proud member of Local First and the West Michigan Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. We help small businesses grow by providing guidance in financial planning, website development, marketing, and more.
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