8 Ways Contributions by Businesses Strengthen our Community

- 10 min read

Giving is good for business, of course.

All together the people of our USA give over   $410 billion a year  to charity, - 70% of all those charitable donations were made by individuals, thanks! That leaves only 5% from corporate giving.

You can find endless reasons for how a business can benefit from charitable giving. Even knowing the benefits a business can receive from charitable giving, many are still reluctant to do it. Business donations can provide huge financial relief to struggling communities but what are some of the additional benefits of your local mom & pop shop? It's not only monetary...

Here are 8 powerful ways that businesses help out:

1. Education, Training & Skills Development

One of the most direct and relevant ways a business can help a local community is by providing the community with new skills either through training or  through supporting charities that can. Amy's Ice Cream and Amy's EDU train entrepreneurs right here in Austin. They are a local educational gem! In turn, the recipients of that education / training can find new, skilled employment — perhaps even start their own businesses. That gives the community a greater flow of income, potentially improving family life and, over time, the fortunes of the community at large.

2. More Bang for the Buck

A business can join up and access resources that are out of a community's "geo-reach". By speaking with suppliers or customers outside the local area, a business can pull from a wide range of potential donors to strengthen their charitable donation to the community. #RoosterTeeth

That means the local community receives more charity than they might otherwise, strengthening their ability to make positive changes.

3. Improving Facilities

A community isn't just about the people. It's also about the spaces in which these people live, work, and play.

Taxes paid by local businesses can help see community areas & facilities restored. Creating a thriving core around which a community can rebuild itself. HEB new HQ in East Austin #EastAustinBiz #MontopolisRecreationAndCommunityCenter

With improved facilities, both adults and children will have places to go to relax in asocial setting. Kids will spend more time having fun when they have spaces they can engage with.

4. Caring for Seniors

Folks are living longer and they are moving to Austin for the Sunshine & Fun! This demographic is growing thanks to our aging population living longer, Yey!

Active cities & towns have more resources capable of assisting their senior residents to live active & full lives. These close services also relieve pressure on the working population, their kids!

IE: Grocery delivery, corner clinics, university R&D labs, the new great doctors that stay close to their residency, ride services to get to appointments, senior sports and recreational groups to name a few active city perks.

5. Supporting Events

Business owners are often part of the city government sitting on the City Council or the Education Boards. Bringing members together for fun city events or important discussions about the future.

These kinds of events, like   SXSW   or   ACL   are where people can get to know each other. They can be excellent venues for coming up with community strategies to fix other issues.

The power of the community pulling together is much more likely to achieve results than a few individuals working alone.

6. Improving Schools

Property Taxes pay for schools & no we are not discussing the Robin-hood measures currently utilized by Texas.

Employed people tend to be homeowners and homeowners tend to pay property taxes. These taxes today, and as property values increase in the future, maintain the quality and safety of education in Austin. That means happier kids and happier parents — and a new generation of happy parents when those kids grow up!

Better schools also help to improve the general quality of the area. They can become a social center,offer play facilities, and host events.

7. Realizing Community Goals

Sometimes, the most precious goals to a community are those it sets for itself. A great example of this is Austin's Zero Waste Goal by 2040.

This is important for our city and it fits our common culture.  This is a movement of businesses and community members together to use waste in constructive ways.

When I attend these events it is the local business community who is there brainstorming on how to reuse our refuse and become a global leader for green business, green living & a green city. #SolarAustin

8. Improving Health and Fitness

Have we mentioned taxes? Business Taxes & Homeowner's Property Taxes pay for trails, river-walks, parks & community centers.

Those beautiful trails to walk or ride, sidewalks along the rivers, parks all get us outside and into the sunshine, Natures Medicine.

In turn, the community becomes healthier over time, restoring its energy.   Even reducing the anxiety & depression of community members   . A healthier community is a happier community, so donating to charities that can improve the health of the community will also improve its future.

The Social Power of Local Businesses who care about the communities they live in.

This isn't an exhaustive list of all the ways businesses can inspire and strengthen a community, but it does illustrate why they mean so much to their local areas. Together we are a community set up to thrive.