Although you might be happy with your role as a business owner within your community, as time goes on, you might be more and more interested in turning from a business owner into a philanthropist. This is especially the case if you have charities that are close to your heart and that you want to help in any way you can- your business might give you the option to do this. Then, here are some of the best ways in which business owners can become philanthropists in 2023.
· End of Tax Year Giving
One of the simplest ways that you can make your dream to help charities a reality is to participate in end-of-the-tax-year giving. By knowing that you are going to make a large donation to a non-profit at the end of the year, you will not have to worry about donating or remember to make a donation throughout the remaining months, and can instead focus on the running of your business. However, when you are planning to donate all at once, it is important to seek out a charity that you believe in and want to support, and that you believe is worthy of your donation. This means that you should look into and do your research on the many different organizations that run end of year giving schemes. Most will allow you to donate to as many or as little as you wish to.
· Focus on Community
However, to really become an upstanding member of your community, you need to make sure that your community comes first. Charity starts at home, and it does not always look like donating large amounts of money to a famous organization. Sometimes, philanthropy can simply mean trying to give back to the place and the people that have supported you in starting up your business. For instance, you might decide to give up some time sharing your knowledge and your skills, or you might want to attend events or host a stall at a local fair. This can help your relationship with your town to become reciprocal and can help individuals and other business owners near you.
· Change Your Company Culture
Before you do anything else, though, you should look at the state of your company culture to ensure that it is fit for a business supposedly run by a philanthropist. For instance, you should be generous and fair at work, and ensure that everyone gets good pay. You should also try to be understanding of your employee’s individual situations and problems, and give them all the support they need to be the best team members possible. You should also look out for their wellbeing and work with therapy companies and gyms to boost their physical and mental health. This will allow you to change your staff’s lives for the better in many little ways.
· Match Employee Contributions
Once your employees are happy, they will be more likely to make donations to charity themselves, especially if they are paid an amount that is above the living wage, and you should encourage them to do this. Rather than pressuring your staff members to donate to a charity without doing so yourself, though, you should look into schemes that allow employers to match their employee’s donations and charitable contributions.
