When it comes to running a business, there are a lot of things to consider – from strategizing your marketing and sales to keeping an eye on the bottom line. But giving back to the community? That can feel like a whole different beast altogether.

At SWS Warning Lights we believe that all businesses have a corporate responsibility to give back to their local communities. Aside from the fact that giving back to the community feels good, it shows that your business cares about more than just profits. That’s why over here at SWS, we’ve made giving back to the community, a fundamental part of our mission.In today’s blog, we’ll discuss the importance of giving back, and how SWS continues to do so. But before we jump into that, let’s cover the basics. 

What is Corporate Fundraising? 

Corporate fundraising is a way for businesses to support charities and local initiatives. It’s also a great way for companies to engage their employees in meaningful work that benefits their community.

Corporate fundraising can be done in many different ways, from direct donations and grant programs like company trusts and foundations to corporate fundraising drives. In other words, companies may choose to either donate some of their own money or use their market position to help raise money on behalf of the charity.

Benefits of Corporate Fundraising for Charities 

Raising money is central to everything charitable organizations do. Without it, they wouldn’t be able to operate. But securing these funds isn’t always easy – especially for small, local charities that may not have a lot of recognition or connections within the community.

The good news is corporate fundraising can help by providing sustainable funding and increased fundraising resources.

Sustainable Funding 

Sustainable funding plays a key role in any Canadian fundraising campaign. It determines if charities have the resources to deliver projects in the near future as well as over the coming years.

Whether a charity’s fundraising is sustainable primarily stems from two key principles: securing funding from a diverse range of sources and developing relationships with major donors offering long-term funding. Corporate fundraising helps charities meet both of these.

Corporate fundraising works best to provide sustainable funding for charities when a long-term relationship is established between the two parties and the business begins conducting public fundraising drives on behalf of the charity. 

Increased Fundraising Resources 

Another challenge many charities face is not having enough resources to conduct fundraising activities on their own. Typically organized by a small number of paid staff and a handful of volunteers, hosting fundraising events can easily become an uphill battle for many charitable organizations.

Corporate fundraising helps by providing increased fundraising resources, allowing these non-profits to focus on what they do best – helping others and raising awareness about their cause. 

The importance of giving back 

Now that you have a greater understanding of what corporate fundraising is and how it benefits charitable organizations, it’s time to discuss its importance in relation to your business.

It’s no secret that companies have a responsibility to their communities. Not only do they want to be good people, but they know that the more involved they are in the community, the more likely customers are to become loyal patrons.

Still, not all companies are as involved in their communities as they could be. The reason? They don’t know how important it is for them. That’s why we want to make sure you understand just how important giving back is to your business.

The importance of giving back to the community cannot be overstated. It is a matter of corporate responsibility and should be made part of your company’s overall business strategy. When you give back, it shows that you care about a lot more than just your bottom line – it shows that you are invested in making sure that everyone has an opportunity to thrive, regardless of where they come from, what they look like, or how much money they have.

Fundraising for non-profits also helps build a stronger community around your brand. People who have been helped by your company are more likely to be loyal customers and advocates for your products and services. 

7 Benefits of corporate fundraising for Businesses 

Corporate fundraising is a powerful tool for businesses. Not only can it help raise funds for charitable organizations, but it can help create brand awareness, increase customer loyalty, and encourage customer retention.

To illustrate just how transformative corporate fundraising can be for your business, we’ve compiled a list of seven benefits. 

1. Positive branding 

Corporate fundraising is a great way to build positive branding for your business.

When done right, corporate fundraising can help you build goodwill with the community and increase brand awareness. It’s also a great way to get your name in front of potential customers who might not know about your business otherwise.

If you’re looking for ways to improve your brand image, corporate fundraising is an excellent place to start.

2. Stand out from competitors 

In today’s competitive world, it’s important to do what you can to make yourself stand out from the crowd. There are so many companies out there trying to sell their products and services for the same cause, but what makes one company stand out over the other?

With corporate fundraising, you have a unique opportunity to show off your brand and engage with potential clients in ways that might not be possible otherwise.

When consumers see how much effort you’ve put into raising funds for something they too care about, they’re going to be more loyal to your brand because of it!

3. Attract new customers and retain current ones 

Corporate fundraising is a great way to attract new customers and retain your current ones. It’s a well-known fact that doing good is good for business and giving back to the community is one of the best ways to show your customers that you care about them.

When customers notice your corporate fundraising efforts, they feel like they are part of the cause. This in turn increases loyalty and the likelihood that they will recommend your products to others.

4. Gain customer support 

As a business owner, you have a responsibility to the communities you operate in. It’s not just about making money and growing your company – it’s about giving back and being involved. You may have heard the phrase “It takes a village,” but it also takes businesses like yours to make that village thrive.

According to a survey published by Clutch, a B2B research, ratings and reviews site, people expect more responsibility, action, and accountability from businesses and tend to shop at companies that share their same values. The study specifically found that three-fourths of people surveyed (75 percent) are likely to buy a product from a company that supports an issue they agree with.

Consistently giving back and fundraising for non-profits will also garner the attention of people working and volunteering at the organizations you support. They will be grateful and want to show their appreciation by patronizing your business, referring friends and family, or telling others about your generosity.

5. Increase profits 

When your business supports your community, your community supports your business.

Once you give back to the community, and make it a point to give back often, word will spread. This will not only help your company attract new customers, but it will keep existing customers coming back.

With corporate fundraising, people begin to see your business as an integral part of the community. As a result, consumers will go out of their way to support your business, which in turn increases your profits.

6. Network opportunities 

As a business owner, you are probably always looking for ways to expand your network. One of the best ways to do this is through corporate fundraising.

Not only will this allow you to develop relationships with like-minded individuals who are committed to making the world a better place, but it will also give you access to new clients who may be interested in purchasing your products and/or services.

7. Empowering employees 

Not only does charitable giving make you feel good as a business owner, but it also makes members of your team feel as though they too are making a difference.

More and more job applicants are actively seeking out businesses that take their social responsibility seriously. A study by Glassdoor found that 75 percent of job hunters expect prospective employers to support charitable organizations through volunteer activities or donations.

Corporate fundraising is also found to be directly linked to employee engagement. Once onboarded by companies that actively practice corporate fundraising, employees are found to demonstrate increased retention, productivity, and engagement. When employees are more engaged, they take increased ownership of their work and feel motivated to make changes that will benefit both them and their customers. This type of empowerment contributes to better customer service, more sales and thus greater charitable contributions. 

Our partnership with SickKids 

SWS is pleased to support The Hospital for Sick Children and their mission to deliver health care to young patients and their families in a wide range of clinical disciplines. SickKids is a world-renowned healthcare teaching and research facility located in Toronto, Canada, but it didn’t start out that way.

In the 1820s, almost half of the recorded deaths in Toronto were those of children under 10. In an effort to put a stop to this grim statistic, in 1875, Mrs. Elizabeth McMaster opened a hospital in a rented 11-room home on Avenue Street in Toronto, ‘for the admission and treatment of all sick children’, regardless of their financial status. Little did she and her team of forward-thinking women know that this would later serve as the foundation for Canada’s largest children’s hospital.

SWS Warning Lights is proud to continuously support SickKids Foundation, their fundraising events, and their ambitious projects. Lately, the global leader in child health and research has been focused on Project Horizon, an aspiring campus redevelopment project. According to the foundation, the goal of the project is to:

• Build an inspired hospital of the future
• Transform how SickKids delivers care, enabling their staff, physicians, and researchers to do their best work
• Empower patients and families to be partners in their care

SWS is honoured to help SickKids build an inspired hospital of the future and reach its care goals to help preserve and protect children’s health.

Our goal is to raise $100,000 for SickKids Foundation. And you can help us get there by purchasing a minibar or beacon from any series, including our new SELECT series, available exclusively at SWS Warning Lights.

SWS will contribute $2.00 for every SWS Minibar and $1.00 for every SWS Beacon sold. For more information on our beacons and minibars, contact our customer service professionals.