Disclaimer: This post is reflective of our company while under the name Pledgeling and the listed information may be outdated. Please refer to our main company website on Pledge for current information and resources.
The holiday season is rolling around again, and while the bitter cold is starting to sweep through some parts of the country, we can all look forward to the joy of gathering together with the people we love.
That means that your company should start sending out those holiday party invites any time now. As you start to plan parties and buy gifts for your business partners, keep in mind that you can incorporate giving each step of the way.
Here are 5 ways you can add extra meaning and give back through your company this holiday season:
1. Add Donations to Your Invitations
Every party needs invitations, and most of those invitations take place online, right?
When you use Evite to send your holiday invitations, you can provide guests with an option to donate to the cause of your choice. Evite partners with Pledgeling to power Evite Donations, connecting them to over 2 million nonprofits and charities around the world..
So, if there’s any cause that’s close to you and your team’s hearts, you can include it right in your holiday invitations. You can also choose to crowdfund for a personal cause to your group, if there is something else you’d like to raise money for.
This is an exceptional option for any party, especially when the gathering will offer free drinks and food. Guests will feel inspired to donate to a cause of your choice when they know they are being treated for the holidays.
If you’re concerned at all about the process to use Evite Donations for your holiday parties, let us put you at ease. The process is simple:
- Choose your party theme and Evite invitation style
- Make sure to check the ‘Add Donations’ button
- Select the charity, nonprofit, or cause you wish to support
- Set a goal for your fundraising efforts
After that, just send the invitation and your guests will start donating! You can send Evite invitations by email or text to your guests..
To date, Evite Donations has raised $16.8m and counting through event invitations of all types.
2. Get Out and Volunteer
Volunteering with your team is an excellent way to grow together and enjoy the holiday season. Consider planning a volunteer activity before your holiday parties as an add-on to the festivities.
One way to easily incorporate volunteer and donations incentives for your team is through our Employee Wallets. If you aren’t familiar with Employee Wallets, it may be time to take a look at what they are and the benefits they offer.
The Employee Wallet is a one-stop-shop for employees to navigate their volunteer and donation efforts. Seeing as employees want to work for companies that allow them to better serve the causes they care about, it makes sense to give them an all-encompassing tool that makes giving back effortless.
In-house and remote employees can use this platform to find volunteer opportunities, log hours, and much more.
Not to mention, volunteering is a great way for new employees to break the ice in “out of the office” social settings. New team members might be a little apprehensive about holiday parties, but giving them the chance to volunteer and serve your local community could be the little nudge they need to get involved.
3. Give Gifts that Give Back
Putting your dollar toward gifts is much more meaningful when the money you spend contributes to a greater cause.
When scoping out gifts for business partners and employees, consider supporting businesses that give back with every purchase. A lot of businesses today understand that giving back is synonymous with good business, so you won’t have a problem finding great gifts for your team members.
Make sure to check out the kind of impact your purchase is having before you buy. If you’re struggling to find good options, consider the following:
- Modern Burlap contributes $5 from every purchase to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. They sell clothing and knit throw blankets that are perfect for employees or partners who have families with young children.
- Tiege is a men’s skincare company with an intimate connection to the issue of skin cancer. Portions of their proceeds go to funding the Healthy Skin RV, which travels the country spreading awareness and providing free skin screenings.
- Zox is a wristband and clothing company with a mission to increase access to clean water around the world. Each order placed helps to build wells through The Thirst Project..
Holiday shopping actually feels good when your purchase makes a difference. Plus, the recipient will likely love the impact just as much as the gift itself!
4. Give a Gift to the Earth
Consider providing transportation to and from your holiday parties. This will really help your team members out (we hear they’re making eggnog a lot stronger these days).
As you make arrangements, consider rideshare companies that give more than just a lift home. Motev is a company in Los Angeles, CA that partners with Pledgeling to support the nonprofit organization One Tree Planted with every ride. One tree is planted for every ride given!
If you already have transportation covered, One Tree Planted gives you the simple opportunity to spend one dollar and they’ll plant one tree - so you can still plant a tree in honor of each guest to your party. They plant trees in North America, Latin America, Africa, and Asia, planting 1.3 million trees in 2018 alone. Their goals for the end of 2019 are even higher.
5. Help Your Employees Give
Another way to give back during the holidays is to put the power in the hands of the people you work with. Think about offering Impact Gift Cards as holiday bonuses.
These are donation funds, managed through the Employee Wallets, that can be pledged to any charity or nonprofit of the recipient’s choice. It’s empowering for your team to allow them to choose how they want to make the world a better place.
Want to Start Giving Year-Round?
The holidays are clearly a meaningful time to give back, but what about the rest of the year?
Corporate social responsibility (CSR) certainly produces some good karma, but it also makes for happier customers, engaged employees, and a boost to your bottom line. With that in mind, it doesn’t sound like a bad idea to incorporate giving into your year-round business efforts.
Curious to know more?
Pledgeling offers a cutting edge suite of services that can make your pursuit to give back effortless and simple. Get in touch with us to learn more about how to make it happen in time for the new year.