The back-to-school season is here. Stores are filled with parents shopping for new clothes, shoes, and supplies, while kids across the country are trying to squeeze every last bit of fun out of summer. But for many families, getting ready for a new school year can also bring financial stress.
With the cost of everyday essentials like groceries, gas, paper and pencils continuing to put pressure on household budgets, many families may struggle to afford everything their children need for the classroom. According to the nonprofit United Way, approximately one in four students in the U.S. lacks access to essential school supplies.
When students don’t have the supplies they need, it can affect more than just their ability to complete schoolwork. Lack of access to basic necessities can impact their academic performance, confidence, and attendance. That’s why many families rely on donations and charitable organizations to make the back-to-school season a little easier—and many nonprofits rely on companies and their employees to help make those efforts possible.
At LCS, giving back is an important part of our employee engagement initiatives, including during the back-to-school season. And your organization can get involved, too.
Benefits of Charitable Initiatives for Organizations
Corporate philanthropy takes time and effort, but companies of all sizes can make a meaningful impact in their communities while creating benefits for their employees and organizations.
Here are three reasons to make charitable giving part of your organization’s employee engagement efforts:
- Positive Company Reputation: Companies that actively give back to their communities can strengthen relationships with customers, employees, and prospective employees. Supporting causes that align with your company’s values can help demonstrate what your organization stands for and build trust along the way.
- Increased Employee Morale: Giving employees opportunities to support meaningful causes can create a greater sense of connection and purpose at work.And when employees are engaged, they report higher levels of happiness and productivity than unengaged employees.
- Potential Tax Benefits: Depending on the type of contribution and your organization’s circumstances, certain charitable donations may qualify for corporate tax deductions.
How to Get Involved
The good news is that workplace giving doesn’t have to look the same for every company. Employees appreciate different options, too—finding a variety of causes, methods, and participation incentives is a must for company charity efforts.
Here are some of the ways your team can get involved this back-to-school season and throughout the year:
Donation Drives
Collecting donations from employees is an easy way to support local charitable organizations. For the back-to-school season, many organizations collect school supplies, backpacks, shelf-stable food, or personal care items to distribute to kids and families in need. For example, LCS regularly partners with Operation Give Back each summer to collect school supplies for local students in need. The holiday season is another popular time to host a donation drive, with needed contributions ranging from household essentials to gifts for children and families.
Fundraising & Donation Matching
Instead of collecting physical goods, companies can organize fundraisers to collect monetary donations for a charitable cause. Some nonprofits may even prefer financial contributions because they allow organizations to purchase exactly what’s needed and where to send the supplies. Fundraising initiatives can be a fun employee engagement activity, too—turn an office Penny War into a company-wide fundraiser, organize a friendly competition between departments, or pledge that your leadership will match collected donations to increase total impact.
Sponsorships
Sponsoring a charitable event, such as a walk, run, fundraiser, or community event, is another way to support a cause without having to do the legwork of organizing the event yourself. In addition to supporting the nonprofit’s mission, sponsorships can give your organization an opportunity to increase its visibility in the community and connect with people who may not otherwise be familiar with your brand.
Volunteering
Many nonprofits need an extra set of hands—especially during busy seasons like back-to-school. Volunteers may help sort and organize donations, assemble backpacks, facilitate events, distribute supplies, or assist with other community programs. Partner with a local organization and recruit your employees to volunteer their time to make a difference—something that employees report not only strengthens their relationships with their colleagues, but reduces turnover and improves their perception of your organization.
Organizations to Support
Looking for charitable organizations to partner with for your next philanthropic initiative? Here are several organizations in the Greater Cincinnati area and across the country that need help for the back-to-school season and beyond.
Cincinnati-Based:
- Crayons and Beyond – The Push 4 Pencils initiative offers several ways to support students in need, including physical and virtual supply drives, monetary donations, backpack kit purchases, and more. The organization also hosts fundraisers in need of sponsorships, as well as other events throughout the year, all dedicated to helping local children thrive in and out of the classroom.
- Matthew 25 Ministries – Through its annual Pack a Backpack supply drive, Matthew 25 helps provide Cincinnati-area kids with the supplies they need to succeed in the classroom. They also accept donations all year and have numerous volunteer opportunities.
- United Way of Greater Cincinnati – The Backpacks for Success program provides students with backpacks and school supplies, ensuring students and families have what they need to be prepared for the first day of school. The Cincinnati chapter also makes an impact in the community through housing security initiatives, financial empowerment education, and more.
National:
- Salvation Army – Stuff the Bus is a nationwide partnership with local Walmart locations to donate school supplies to kids in need. The organization also offers numerous opportunities for companies and individuals to support communities throughout the year.
- Feeding America – The Backpack Program helps provide children with nutritious food to take home for weekends and school breaks through local food banks. Feeding America also has other ways for organizations and individuals to get involved in fighting hunger across the country.
Making a Difference Together
Regardless of how or when you choose to give back, both employees and communities benefit from charitable corporate initiatives. And if your organization hasn’t yet gotten involved—it’s never too late to start. Find a cause that matters to your employees and your community, choose a way to get involved, and make giving back part of your organization’s culture. Because when companies and employees come together to support their communities, everyone benefits.
