Make Mondays Matter: How even solopreneurs can be corporate philanthropists

To help get my week of to a great start, I’ve decided to devote Mondays to talking highilghting things that are good and that do good in the world.  This week, I want to talk about how it makes good business sense to donate part of your profits to charity. 

Two of my clients have asked me help in publicizing thier donations in the past two days.  Laura Howard West is donating 10% of all Joyful Business Guide’s profits to Women for Women - a non profit that helps women in war-torn countries.  Her donation amounts to enough to sponsor three women in the program next year.  Lisa Fredette, of Passionate About LIfe Coaching is participating in the Susan B. Komen Race for the Cure and is donating 50% of the proceeds from her Passionate Growth Teleseminar Series to her fundraising efforts.  If either of these causes appeal to you, please support these ladies in thier efforts.

Why should you give as a business?  There are several reasons from the practical to the more spiritual…

1.  It helps build you image as a business that cares about its clients.

2. You get to network with new people — often the people who volunteer or donate are connected in ways that you aren’t

3. It gives you extra visibility — often the charity itself will promote your donation and/or newspapers will publish press releases on your behalf.

4. You get tax breaks

5. This is the most important (and the most counter-intutive) - I believe that you need to give money away in order to make room for money to flow toward you.  There is no good reason for this law — but it is almost impossible to give away your money — more money comes to replace it.   Many philantropists have tried to give it all away — very few succeed.  As you give money, you open the cosmic channels for the money to come back.  Again, I don’t know why this is true — but it is.

So, now, you might be asking, Meredith, where are you giving?  I do a few things,  lately I’ve been doing a lot of pro-bono graphic design and PR work for my faith community.  Although I am not directly donating - I’m supporting the work that they do in the community.  I’m also considering taking part in another fundraiser for Team in Training (the fundraising isn’t the issue — but I’m not sure I have the time…). I’ve had a great experience every time I’ve particpated in TNT events.

What is your business doing to give?