How to Choose a Cause to Support Through your Business

Deciding which cause to support through your business isn’t easy. There are so many wonderful charities out there doing brilliant work in the community. So if you can only support 1 or 2 of them, how do you choose? Having gone through the same process last year, we’d like to share how we came to our decision.

Before you even start looking at who you want to support, you first need to consider the what, why, where, when, and how. These will help you narrow down your search.

Think of them like you would a client, you want to speak to them in person or via phone to start building a relationship.

1. What is your desired outcome from supporting a cause?

• Do you want to raise awareness for a cause?
• Do you want to support a certain demographic?
• Do you want to support research and education?
• You can’t do everything, so decide your main desired outcome. It will no doubt have a positive impact on the organisation you’re supporting as a whole.
  

2. Why is it important to you to support a cause through your business?

• This should help you to find a cause that aligns with your own interests.
  

3. Where do you want to support?

• Think about whether you want to be a part of a large global movement, or support a local independent cause.
• What is your business's current global reach?

4. When do you have the time to give to your chosen cause?

• No matter your level of involvement, you are going to have to dedicate time. How much time can you dedicate weekly, monthly or quarterly?
• Do you want to take immediate action related to a recent event? Or do you want to work on a long term project?
• How much will the time you spend cost the business?
  

5. How do you want to offer this support?

• There are lots of ways to support a cause, and you need to look at your company’s current resources.
• Many charities and organisations are looking for financial support. This could be funds that go directly to the people they’re supporting, or to buy resources and equipment. If a cause is only looking for financial support and this isn’t something you can provide at the time, then don’t worry. It’s just not the right fit.
• If you’re not able to provide financial support, that doesn’t mean you can’t be involved. Time is another valuable resource. You can be a volunteer, or perhaps you have a skill that they could use. You could also create a fundraising event, like a raffle or company bake sale.
• Another option is to donate a certain amount of your products or provide some of your service for free. Think about those companies who when you buy a pair of new shoes, they donate another pair to someone in need. Can you have a similar model?
  

Once you have considered the above, you can start to find the right cause to support you and your business. It’s also incredibly important to research every cause before you commit to them. Make sure  it’s going to be a beneficial partnership for both sides. The cause you choose may also have their own ideas on how you could help support them. Think of them like you would a client, you want to speak to them in person or via phone to start building a relationship.

There are plenty of organisations out there that will appreciate the support you can offer them. Make sure it’s a cause you are truly passionate about and motivated to support.

Some things to research are:

• What is their mission statement?
  

• What activities or actions do they take to support their mission and achieve their goals?
  

• How long have they been established?
  

• What other businesses and organisations work with and support them?
  

• Have they been in the press, if so have they ever received any bad press?
  

• What are their 1 and 5 year plans and targets?
  

• What is their current financial situation?
  

Remember, these are also all questions they will ask you about your business! The above should help narrow down your search and find a cause that aligns with your business.

At Thompson Alexander we have several outreach programs on the go and causes that we support. Below are some of the causes we work with and how we support them to give you some ideas

Our latest is Pride in St Neots. Pride in St Neots is a volunteer led organisation that promotes and raises awareness of the LGBTQIA+ community and issues. They provide a platform for every part of the LGBTQIA+ community. For every CV writing service that we sell, we donate £5 to their cause. Some of our team also volunteer their time to support the running of the organisation.

https://www.facebook.com/PrideInStNeots

We also support Urban Synergy, an award-winning mentoring charity helping young people to reach their full potential. We help raise awareness and assist with Social Media campaigns. We also offer CV writing support and interview skills for young people. The aim is to empower them to achieve their aspirations and recognise their potential.

https://www.urbansynergy.com

The main takeaway is that there are many ways you can support a cause, financial or otherwise. What is most important is finding charity that is right for you. If your gut instinct is saying otherwise, or the cause doesn’t align with your ambitions, then go back to the drawing board. There are plenty of organisations out there that will appreciate the support you can offer them. Make sure it’s a cause you are truly passionate about and motivated to support.

Written by Phoebe Blair