Prosper Strategies has built our business at the intersection of people and profits – we believe that one does not have to be compromised by the other. We envision a world where mission-driven organizations rise to the top – a world where people, profit and the planet are all treated equally.
As we’ve talked about on the blog before, consumers are increasingly prioritizing social impact when making purchasing decisions. Many of our clients are social enterprises and nonprofits, so they are inherently impact focused. But your company doesn’t need to fall into one of these two categories to adopt a mission-driven mindset. Following are five ways to prioritize impact:
Develop a pro-bono program
There is nothing better than using your talents to help an organization you care about succeed. However, it’s important to balance your pro-bono work with paid client work. Your organization should define your criteria for selecting pro-bono clients. Be clear on your timeframe, deliverables and goals, the same way you’d be with a paying client. Defining criteria for how you select benefiting organizations, determining the goals of your pro-bono work and what exactly you are willing to give will bring clarity to the process for your team and the organizations interested in pursuing pro-bono work with your company.
Choose a charity of choice
For some organizations, pro-bono work is just not an option. If you’re unable to give time and talent, think about in-kind or monetary giving. Many companies like to choose a charity of choice. This approach allows you to be purposeful in choosing an organization that aligns with your company’s own mission and values and maximize your impact in one specific area.
Incentivize employee volunteering
Just as many companies are taking a mission-driven approach, many individuals have the desire to make an impact in their work. They want to be a part of something bigger. If your organization can’t provide pro-bono or doesn’t have a charity of choice – or even if you do – consider incentivizing your employees to volunteer. You can give them one day off a quarter to volunteer on a weekday, or set up a day where everyone in the office can get out and work on a project together. This is a win-win, your company is doing good and you’re satiating your employees’ desires to contribute to the greater good. There’s a reason so many companies are looking to employee volunteering as a great retention tool!
Develop an employee match program
Many of your employees probably already have causes they care about. Adopt the “your friends are my friends” mentality and create a corporate matching program. It will amplify your employees’ individual contributions and send the message that you as a company that cares about what your employees care about. Many companies put parameters in place, for example, “we’ll provide a 1:1 match for up to $500.”
Even if you’re not a nonprofit or social enterprise, there are numerous creative ways your company can adopt an impact focus and demonstrate the desire to put people and profit on an equal playing field. Does your company support your community in creative ways? If so, share with us on Twitter @ProsperStrat.
Photo Credit: N@ncy N@nce
