The holidays are a time for giving, but many charities are feeling the squeeze of the recession and donations are down. Promoting philanthropy with employees is a great way to spread the holiday spirit and promote camaraderie around the office, according to the BBB Wise Giving Alliance.
Charitable giving in the U.S. exceeded $307 billion in 2008, the Alliance reports. As a result of the tight economy, two-thirds of public charities receiving donations saw decreases in 2008. Charitable giving from individuals dropped 2.7 percent and corporate giving dropped 4.5 percent.
The outlook for charitable giving in 2009 is equally bleak. With that in mind, the BBB Wise Giving Alliance recommends the following ways that small business owners can spread the holiday spirit of giving around the office:
Institute a volunteer day. Giving to a charity doesn’t have to mean pulling out the checkbook. Many charities also rely heavily on the gift of time from volunteers. An office-wide volunteer day is a great way to get employees out of the office and working together on something they can be proud of.
Rally around one cause with an office fundraiser. Office bake sales, silent auctions and tag sales are just a few ways to raise money for a charity. If everyone gets involved, then the nickel and dimes can add up to a healthy donation to a needy organization.
Collect food or toys. Around the holidays, many charities are looking for nonperishable food donations or toys. If everyone in the office donates a can of food or a toy, those items can collectively make a huge difference for a less fortunate family’s holiday season.
Offer a matching program. Small business owners can encourage employees to make donations to charities by matching their contributions, which allows individual employees to choose a cause that might be near and dear to their own hearts. By matching their donations, small business owners can show they support their employees with the added benefit of a tax deduction.
Educate employees to be wise givers. Encourage employees to research their charities first with the BBB Wise Giving Alliance at www.bbb.org/charity. BBB Wise Giving Alliance evaluates more than 1,200 national-soliciting charities against 20 rigorous accountability standards.
Start With Trust. For more advice on holiday charitable giving from the BBB Wise Giving Alliance, visit www.bbb.org/charity. Don’t go a day without your BBB. Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn. For more consumer information or to check out the BBBlog, visit wynco.bbb.org or call 970-484-1348 or 800-564-0371.
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The Better Business Bureau, founded in 1912, is a champion for ethics and trust in the marketplace. Only businesses that meet the high BBB standards are invited to become BBB Accredited Businesses. Today, 128 BBBs across the United States and Canada rate more than 3 million local and national businesses and charities with scores ranging from A to F. Only a BBB Accredited Business may elect to participate in BBBOnLine, one of the most trusted and recognized Internet seal programs in the world.
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Barbara Read, VP Communications Director, 970-488-2035, bread@wynco.bbb.org