It’s easy for a company to write out a check to a local ministry and give money. After all, it is a tax write-off in many cases. But what if you own a business and want to do more? Maybe you want your company to make a real difference, to get personally involved. While money is always needed in ministry, you can find other ways for your business to help.
Volunteer
Next to money, the thing many ministries need the most is volunteers. Every person that helps is valuable, and a business can increase that tenfold. It also helps employees feel like a part of something important.
There are two ways to volunteer. First, the company can do it as a group. Partner with a ministry and volunteer to help with a fundraising event or other project. A business can have employees sign up internally and let the ministry know how many people are available. This is a great way to get involved and provide valuable help on a one-time basis.
The other way that businesses can help with volunteer needs is to encourage employees to sign up for ministry on their own. Some companies even pay their staff while they are devoting their time to a ministry. For example, someone may volunteer for a couple of hours at a food pantry and still get paid from the company for that time.
Even if your business is small and you don’t have the time or budget available to get personally involved, you can find other ways to help. Instead of donating money or time, donate a product or service that your organization provides. Offer free advertising to a ministry. Provide food or materials if that is what you sell. One example is Habitat for Humanity. This organization is always in need of building supplies to be donated. They also need contractors, equipment and tools for use in the home-building projects.
Start Your Own Ministry
If you really want your business to be part of something bigger, you can start your own ministry. This is a lot more involved than partnering with other organizations and will take a deeper level of commitment. You also have to deal with practical issues such as setting up the ministry correctly and separating it from your business records.
Many times this is accomplished in the form of a scholarship or trust fund where the company raises money and donates it to other charities. The staff is involved in organizing the fundraising event while others determine where the funds will go.
If you want your business to make a difference in people’s lives and not just make money, you can find many opportunities to get involved. No matter how big or how small your company is, there is something you can do. The return on investment can’t be measured in dollars, but it is something far more valuable.
