The benefits of hooking up with a charity

**krupt** · 11-01-2007 06:28 AM

What are the main benefits of hooking up with a charity?

What are some good charities to associate one self with? Breast Cancer has been really popular recently coz all the celebs endorsing it - what about the WWF?

**crackah** · 11-01-2007 06:56 AM

Yeah, i think there could def. be many.

Good publicity, and it just makes you feel good inside

it would depend on what you do.

Just go around and collect some money, donate it to em and get some free press.

**GhostFac3** · 11-01-2007 06:58 AM

I agree with crackah. I see it as, you associate with them and you feel good inside, plus you let potential customers know that you are socially conscious and all that good stuff.

I personally would support Breast Cancer (best free mom is a survivor), and if possible the (RED) campaign.

**krupt** · 11-01-2007 09:00 AM

best free mom? whats that?

**dfveteran** · 11-01-2007 01:32 PM

All supplies bought to help the charity are a tax write off

It's worth it to help charity if you have the time. I used to do charity ebay auctions for the local humane society.

Just give your favorite charity a call. I am sure they would love your help.

**David Rocci** · 11-02-2007 11:28 PM

A lot of times you can get free press coverage when you partner with a charity. It's called a Public Service Announcement (PSA). Most newspapers/radio stations/television stations love this emotional type of story. The best thing to do is to pick a charity you can really feel passion for (cell phones for soldiers, locks of love, etc) - I would pick something a little under the radar. All the major fortune 100 companies jump on the big ticket items like breast cancer. With a smaller, unique charity you can set yourself apart.

Once you've decided on the charity, find someone specific within the organization that will benefit from your efforts. Find a girl with cancer that will get a wig made from the hair (locks of love) donated or find a soldier that's returned home from Iraq and get their story. The soldier can talk about how important it is to be able to call home and how Cell Phones For Soldiers enabled them to talk to their love ones when their telephone allowance ran out.

So now you've got a great charity, and humanized the story with an individual (and a few quotes from them), now you need to find your angle. Are you donating all your profits for one day to this charity? Will you close your shop? Volunteer your time? Your company's resources?

Now, write a killer Public Service Announcement - it should not be about your product or service - as soon as an editor sniffs marketing they will throw it away. It truly needs to be genuine. But, of course, you mention your company - example headline: "Liberty Tax Service closes it's doors to collect used cellphones in the community" - lead it with info about the charity, a snippet from a soldier, a quote from the owner and the program you are supporting.

Boom! You've created free press, donated to a worthy cause, got your name out in the community and generally done a great thing. It's a win-win for everyone!

Good luck!

-dr