It’s 2022, and social responsibility has become non-negotiable for many large companies. Now, more than ever, it is important for companies and brands to give back. There are millions of charities to choose from, so how can you ensure that your company is donating its time and resources to a meaningful, successful charity? This takes doing a deep dive into your philanthropic prospects to see which is the right match for you. Here are 6 of the top attributes of a charity that your company will want to consider:
1) Clear Mission
A clear mission is an essential component to consider when selecting a charity. Does the charity have its mission statement on its website? Is the mission straightforward? Do all of the charity’s programs align with the goals stated in the mission? These are all questions to consider.
2) Informative Website
When choosing a charity to donate to, your company will need a quick and simple way to gather information about potential partners. This information is essential to making a final decision on a charity. A charity must have a navigable, communicative, and educational website to properly relay information and statistics. The website should have a balance between detailed descriptions and skimmable paragraphs that communicate information swiftly. An informative website also adds to the charity’s credibility.
3) Transparency
Transparency is an essential trait for successful charities. Being honest with donors and the public builds support and trust. Be sure that your charity of choice clearly discloses where donations go and how they are used. This can be done through a mix of writing, statistics, and graphics; pie charts and bar graphs are a simple way to quickly illustrate the different ways donations are distributed.
4) Reputable Supporters
Does the charity have the support of knowledgeable leaders, philanthropic figures, and/or notable names? This support highlights the charity’s success along with its integrity. With this, the charity would ideally have a section on its website that describes who has verified its accomplishments and what each person has said.
5) Impressive Outcomes and Accomplishments
No company wants to support a charity that fails to make much of a difference with the donations it receives. Be sure to look at a charity’s history. A charity that has accomplished a lot in the past has proven its success and will likely continue this momentum in the future. To get a scope of the charity’s history, see if there is a timeline of achievements on its website. News articles and updates on the site can be helpful as well. Lastly, check alternative news sources that have reported on the charity’s success. Between each of these, your company should have a solid idea regarding what the charity has worked on and achieved in the past.
6) Alignment With Your Ideology
Lastly, and perhaps most importantly, your charity of choice must align with your company’s values. You want to support a charity that is meaningful to what your company stands for. Finding the right fit means creating a shared purpose between the company and charity. This allows the partnership to be much more valuable; it will make for a stronger and more successful connection in the future.
Choosing the perfect charity for your company to partner with is an important decision that takes time and effort. Looking for a charity with each of these characteristics will make the process easier and help ensure that your company will find the perfect fit.
Charities that check off all the boxes:
Food for Life Global
Children’s Defense Fund
Center For Community Change Action
World Resources Institute
Hearing Health Foundation
National Alliance to End Homelessness
Brain and Behavior Research Foundation
Waterkeeper Alliance
