Doug Pitassi, president of Pacific Office Automation, a small business ready to make a difference in the local community, shares several different ways to get involved with non-profits, and event sponsorships are one of the more dynamic options. Many businesses may start by supporting a charity via an easy route, such as donating to select organizations and getting involved with significant fundraising entities like the United Way.
As a business grows and further refines its core values and mission, Doug Pitassi advises it may be time to branch out with more direct involvement through corporate volunteer efforts or larger partnerships with non-profits that resonate with workers. One great way to pair with a local charity more directly and take fundraising to the next level is through events.
Picking the right event
Often, there are ready-made opportunities to jump into event sponsorship, particularly in the early days. Many events, such as 5K running events, walking events, bicycle races, and fishing tournaments for charity, are coordinated directly by the charity that will receive the funds. The charity then seeks out various sponsors to help support the event and cover the direct costs of coordination. These costs include permits for a route, security, prizes, medals, shirts, signage, and more.
Doug Pitassi understands that some businesses find a natural fit right away. For example, a company that specializes in fishing gear is natural to sponsor a fishing tournament and other water sports, while a bicycle shop may contribute to a cycling event. Other businesses focused on signage or other promotional items may offer in-kind services like sign production or donated items to a charity event and participate in several sponsorships throughout the year.
For the service-based company, the right fit may require surveying employees to identify both an activity and cause that resonates with the workplace. If there isn’t a natural existing event, many local non-profits are happy to coordinate and create a new one with a company that cares, such as Pacific Office Automation.
What does sponsorship entail for a business?
Sponsorship can often be limited to donating funds, but Doug Pitassi explains that the real joy of working with local charity shines through when involvement takes on a personal touch.
Employees can help contribute to fundraising, and a company match can be considered. Workers can volunteer with a paid day off and participate or work at the event to reduce the staffing load for the non-profit. This not only provides the positive benefits of supporting a non-profit and its good works but also helps employees bond outside the office over a shared cause. Many may continue to support the non-profit independently and even look forward to an event repeating on an annual basis.
The key is to make an event fun with team shirts, great music when appropriate, and an atmosphere of community built in from the start.
