You’ve decided you’d like your business to support a charity. Great - it’s a fantastic decision to make. But which one do you choose?
With so many incredible organisations out there, all doing fantastic work, picking a charity to partner with can feel a little overwhelming. Here we’re taking a look at how to choose the right charity for your business, and how you and your teams will benefit. And of course, it’s a great opportunity to tell you a little more about Simon on the Streets in the process.
Do your research
It’s important to choose a charity that aligns with your values as a business. What are the things you care about? What causes do your people care about? In what areas do you want to make a difference? Is there a particular cause that aligns and complements your brand and purpose?
Whichever charity you choose, you want it to mean something to the people in your team. That way, they’re a lot more likely to get involved with any fundraising efforts or events you organise or choose to take part in.
Here are a few things to look for when doing your research:
A clear mission
If you’re going to be investing your business’s time, money and people power, your charity partner should have a clear mission that they’re working towards.
For example, here at Simon on the Streets, we’re passionate about finding a long-term solution to homelessness, and supporting those living it and at risk. We’re focused on delivering outreach and support that helps people take back control of their lives and break the cycle of homelessness for good. If that speaks to you, we might be a good match! Why not get in touch with our fundraising team to learn more?
Community presence
Does the charity you’re considering enjoy getting ‘stuck in’? Are they out there in the community getting to know the people who support their work?
If you’re local, consider getting out and attending an event and meeting charity teams. It’s a great opportunity to learn more about what they do and ask any questions you might have about potential partnerships.
At Simon on the Streets, we’re regularly out and about attending local events - from networking and corporate socials to bigger community projects like our Simon’s Big Sleep Out. We also try and support as many other locally organised events - for example, we recently took part in the Chapel Allerton Arts Festival. Not to mention, you’ll see us at a range of local supermarkets doing bucket collections.
Our supporters matter to us, and we value every single effort made. That’s why we believe it’s important to get out there as much as possible and meet the kind people that support our work.
Good communication
You need to work with a charity team that’s going to support you every step of the way, especially if you’re taking on a big challenge. After all, this is a team effort!
We're always willing to meet, inform and keep in touch - from providing materials for your challenge to running talks for your team, flexibility and openness is key.
Choosing the right charity for your business is a big deal! And we’d be absolutely thrilled to have your business on board. Whether you choose to take on a big challenge or join our 5 for 5 scheme, thank you in advance for supporting our outreach work and breaking the cycle of homelessness in West Yorkshire.
Our flagship fundraiser, Simon’s Big Sleep Out, takes place on Thursday 19th October 2023 outside Leeds Civic Hall. The perfect team building exercise, there are so many ways in which this event could be the ideal way to start your corporate charity journey. To chat with our fundraising team about taking part with your team, please contact us today. You can also find out more about why this event is so special here.