12 ways to give away money
You want to be generous and give back. And it can lead to business, as well. Here are 12 ideas to consider.
Many companies and agents give money to charities. It does good. It raises your visibility in the community. People often prefer doing business with providers sharing their values. It’s a new year. New budgets. You’ve saved a bit of money in 2020. What are some effective ways to be generous with an eye on getting business?
1. Small event sponsorship. Lots of charities look for event support. Find a smaller one, like the Concert in the Park. Thousands attend. There’s a big banner over the stage with your firm’s name in big letters. As then lead sponsor, you are the top line firm name in all their advertising. Smaller charity, yet a bigger splash.
2. Sponsor the town’s fireworks. Another opportunity to piggyback on a big publicity campaign. Your town has the connections to get media sponsors and press publicity. They need someone to pay for hiring the fireworks company. Thousands attend.
3. Sponsoring a race. There are lots of charity races in the spring. It’s an open air activity. A major difference from other events bis the runners wear shirts featuring logos! Hundreds of people running, wearing your firm’s name! People save the shirts and wear them to the gym. What a conversation starter the next time you see one at the gym!
4. Award at a charity golf tournament. Two people mount the stage. One beat off all challengers to win the trophy. The other sponsored the award. Which sounds easier? Lots of photos are taken.
5. Matching gifts. Your firm might agree to match other donor’s donations, dollar for dollar, up to an agreed threshold. You hear this on public radio fundraising campaigns all the time. Another approach is to double your own donation to a charity if your firm has a matching gift program for employee donations.
6. Buying tickets to a charity gala. You buy several or commit to a sponsorship level that comes with several tickets. You bring big clients and major prospects. They sit at your table with you. They see people they know. They feel like big shots. They see you give back to the community.
7. Taking an ad in the event program. You can’t be a big sponsor, but you can find the money for a full or half page event program ad. What do people do while they sit waiting for the first course to arrive? They flip through the program. They see your ad.
8. Become one of many larger event sponsors. This gains you access into the right rooms. There’s often a reception for higher tier donors. You mingle with the local movers and shakers, hopefully in a smaller, more intimate event. Sometimes these are done on a different night, at the lavish home of a board member.
9. Set up a food or toy drive. It’s not my idea. I read about this before the holidays. Tie in with a major local charity with name recognition. They provide all the logistics. You are a drop off location. It brings people to your business. You’ve seen realtors doing it.
10. Support a theme targeting your niche market. You are cultivating business within a specific cultural group in the community. You help sponsor the parade. You and your team march while carrying a banner or ride on a float. You get TV coverage. Your firm is associated with understanding and concern for this community.
11. Entertain clients. Give enough money to allow a hospitality tent at an outdoor event. You invite clients to attend. You pout on a lavish spread of food and beverages. Big firms do this at events like Wimbledon.
12. Give big, but anonymously. It’s how charity is supposed to work. You are a regular, big supporter. You don’t make a fuss. The organization wants to thank you. They will make introductions or ask who you would like to meet.
You want to be generous and give back. At the same time, it can lead to business.
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