Here's why fundraising for charity feels so good
Performing a random act of kindness gives us a warm, glowing feeling that can last the entire day. And when we perform an act of charity – such as putting a gold coin in a collection box, taking part in a fundraising event, or becoming a monthly supporter of a charitable organisation – that feel-good factor is heightened even further.
We all know that helping others feels nice. In fact, there is scientific proof that helping others boosts our mood by releasing neurochemicals in our brain that make us feel happy.
Actively participating in our community is proven to have long term benefits to our physical and emotional health. And giving back to our community makes us feel productive and connected to the people we’re surrounded by.
Further to this, participating in fundraising events with our colleagues helps our employer by increasing staff acquisition, engagement and retention – and that’s why we should all encourage the company we work for to take part in charitable giving too.
Giving to charity is a win-win situation
Whether you’re an employee or an employer, you will benefit from getting involved with a charitable organisation.In a hurry?
Click on the link below to go directly to the section you’re most interested in:#1 Feel happy
Taking part in charity is good for your mental health because it releases happy chemicals in your brain, including dopamine, serotonin and oxytocin. Not only will you feel good knowing you’re helping someone, you will also feel good sharing a bond with the people who are taking part in the activity by your side, be it a friend, team-mate or your manager. Being happy also means being less stressed, which is great for your emotional well being as well as your physical health.
#2 Get fit
Many charity fundraising events centre around a physical challenge, like walking, cycling or taking part in team sports. Training for the big day is one of the best ways to get fit. Cardio-related exercises generate loads of happy chemicals, and getting your daily dose of vitamin D in the sunshine is an added bonus. So if you think you need a little more physical activity in your day, knowing you’ll be helping someone in the process is the biggest incentive you could ask for.
#3 Make social connections
Taking part in a charitable event can give you a sense of belonging and purpose because it allows you to meet and connect with like-minded people. Making new friends becomes easy when you share similar interests. So if you’re doing a walk-a-thon to raise money for a not-for-profit organisation, you already have two things in common with the other participants – walking and giving back to the community. It won’t take long to find other shared interests that will allow lasting friendships to flourish.
#4 Learn new skills
Taking part in a fundraising activity is a great excuse to get into a hobby you’ve considered before but haven’t gotten around to attempting. Whether it’s learning to decorate for a bake sale or honing your kayaking skills – there's lots of activities to consider. If you volunteer your time to a charitable organisation, you can also brush up on admin skills as well as marketing, copywriting, event management, and financial planning, to name just a few.
Take part in a fundraising event
#5 Make professional connections
Doing volunteer work and taking part in fundraising can lead to professional development. You may end up meeting your next employer or making a connection that can open doors and lead to unexpected career paths. You may also discover a new skill or interest that you’d like to pursue professionally. Plus, by taking part in workplace giving with your colleagues, you will strengthen your bond with them, learning new skills and sharing your own knowledge, as well as finding new avenues for collaborative projects.
5 reasons why taking part in charity is good for you, the business
Aligning with a charity can also increase a brand’s reputation, uplift staff acquisition and increase profits by strengthening customer trust and loyalty.
#1 Attract the cream of the crop
Today, people are more socially aware and take an active approach to being more ethical in all aspects of their lives, including where they work. If you want to attract top talent to your team, having a workplace giving program in place will help your talent acquisition team find you the best employees for the job.
#2 Engage and retain employees
Companies with a high attrition rate waste a lot of money and time training new staff. If you want to improve your employee turnover rate and retain them for longer, it’s important to engage with them by creating a workspace that is inclusive and nurturing. An easy way to do this is to take part in a fundraising event with your entire team. Not only will doing this allow everyone to bond in an out-of-office environment, it will also show them that you care about the social issues and are willing to support worthy causes.
#3 Boost staff morale
The easiest way to boost staff morale is to create a great work culture where employees can thrive and do some of their best work. You can do this by choosing to support a worthy cause, giving your staff a sense of purpose and belonging so that they don’t see their job as just a nine-to-five office stint that they have to endure in order to go out and live their real life. Working for your company will become one of the most satisfying aspects of their day, encouraging them to perform at their peak and stay loyal to your brand.
#4 Uplift your brand recognition
Partnering with a charitable organisation like The Fred Hollows Foundation is a great way to create goodwill for your brand. Not only will you gain the respect and loyalty of your employees, you will also benefit from customer loyalty too. By building your brand’s reputation as a socially conscious corporation that cares for the community it operates in, you will also expose your brand to new audiences.
#5 Fulfill your corporate social responsibility
Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), also known as the triple bottom line, shows that corporations have a degree of responsibility for the economic, social and environmental implications of their economic activity. Fulfill your CSR successfully by supporting a charitable organisation that is committed to alleviating the suffering of people struggling due to economic, social or environmental pressures.
5 ways your business can get involved in charity work
#1 Fundraise for a not-for-profit organisation
Taking part in a fundraising activity as a corporation is an excellent way to engage with your staff and boost employee morale. Not only is it a great team bonding exercise for your team, it will also help boost your image with your clients and partners. Share fun photos from your fundraiser on your website or social channels to cement your company as a socially responsible member of the community it serves.
#2 Give in-kind donations
In-kind gifts and vouchers are always welcome, and are a great way to get goodwill for your company and build brand recognition in the wider community. At The Foundation, we have a number of community fundraising events where prizes can be used to boost fundraising effectiveness. Get in touch with us if you’d like to know how you can help.
Please note that in-kind donations are not tax deductible.
#3 Offer your venue or time
NGOs like The Fred Hollows Foundation often host events and functions to raise money to help with charitable endevours, such as restoring sight to people in under-resourced and remote areas in Australia and the world over. If you would like to lend a helping hand and provide The Foundation the use of your venue in Sydney or Melbourne, please let us know.
#4 Corporate fundraising
A number of businesses around Australia and the world choose to donate a percentage of their proceeds to charities like The Foundation as part of the corporate social responsibility.
For instance, a restaurant or cafe might decide to donate their tips to The Foundation to restore sight. Big corporations may even become a major corporate partner and sponsor events like the Fred Hollows Humanity Award.
Gabi Hollows with the NSW recipients of The Fred Hollows Humanity Award, 2019 | Photo credit: Michael Amendolia
#5 Workplace giving
Workplace giving allows you to make small, regular donations to The Fred Hollows Foundation directly from your pre-tax pay. It is a simple, low cost and effective way to help people who need your support the most.
Get in touch if you’d like your business to get involved with The Fred Hollows Foundation in any of the ways highlighted above:
Email: fundraise@hollows.org
Phone: 1800 672 892
Ready to fundraise?
If you’d like to fundraise for The Fred Hollows Foundation, set up your fundraising page here.Also, check out these fundraising events that you can get involved in.
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