Business altruism pays off even when payoff isn’t the point By Finance New Mexico
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or many businesses, philanthropic giving ha s a n element of self-interest: It’s giving with the expectation of getting something back in the form of tax breaks and image building. But more and more businesses are discovering that unselfish giving has a value that’s immeasureable, and that reverberates throughout the community, the workforce and the economy.
COMMUNITY QUALITY OF LIFE Businesses that create and nurture an organizational culture based on gratitude can drive significant change that benefits everyone, not just their customers, especially if they can involve likeminded entrepreneurs. When a business spearheads a project that solves a local problem or provides a public service, such as building a bike path or setting aside company land for habitat restoration, it demonstrates an investment in the city or town in which it’s based and a commitment to making the host community a better place for
everyone to live and work. Collaborating with organizations and prominent individuals to identify community needs builds lasting alliances and fosters respect and goodwill toward the business and support for the business’s role in the community — not just as a job creator but also a civic-minded partner.
clients or an endorsement on the partner company’s website or LinkedIn account. For close business partners, a surprise invitation to lunch, handwritten thankyou note or bouquet of flowers doesn’t cost a lot and can reinforce trust, which is essential to a business’s long-term success.
EMPLOYEE COHESIVENESS THAT LASTS Most people are proud to work for a business that’s a force for positive change. It makes them more motivated and engaged. They especially appreciate it when the company is able to give them paid time off to work for a charity or community-oriented project. Some companies let employees contribute as individuals to a cause they believe in, and others let colleagues choose a project they can work on together and represent their employer in a big way. Such collective effor ts give co-workers a break from the workplace routine and a chance to collaborate off the job toward a common goal that has nothing to do with
ENTREPRE NEURIAL PHILANTHROPY
Photo Credit: Courtesy their weekday tasks. And it allows managers and subordinates to see one another in a different light and a different setting, where workplace hierarchies are irrelevant and everyone works together as equals. It becomes, in essence, a team-building exercise in which co-workers can collaborate, strategize and enjoy external achievements in a way that can strengthen workplace collaborations.
B2B GRATITUDE Being thankful isn’t just
for large companies with allocated budgets, and it doesn’t stop at community projects and employee involvement. It includes vendors, salespeople, contractors, industry partners and suppliers in a business’s professional network. A business can cement mutually beneficial relationships with other entrepreneurs by expressing sincere thanks for reliable service and high-quality work all year round — not just during the season of thanks. That gratitude can take many forms, including a referral to other
Bu si ne s s lea der s who approach philanthropy the same way they manage their business — with an entrepreneurial eye toward innovation, opportunity and improvement — can be powerful models for change. Those who make philanthropy part of their compa ny m ission — a nd communicate their vision to stakeholders — will not only distinguish their business from the competition, but also inspire impactful donations among others. F in a n c e Ne w Me x i c o a ssi st s in div i du a l s an d b u sin e sse s with obt ainin g s k i l l s a n d f u n din g resources for their business or idea. To learn more, go to FinanceNewMexico.org.
Plateau Sciences Society to meet Sunday Staff Reports
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he November meeting of the Plateau Sciences Society will take place on Sunday, Nov. 20 at the Red Mesa Center on Hill Street in Gallup. The program starts at 2:30 pm and will feature Pam Maples, who will present the documentary, “Clean Up: Why & How.” The projected climate change is expected to make this region hotter and drier within the coming years. A program being conducted on the Navajo Nation is designed to clean up all residual storage tanks that may be contaminating local water supplies. This project is limited in scope, but in years to come, every drop saved will
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be important. There will be time for discussion afterwards. The business meeting will follow the program. There are three important items on the agenda: (A) Election of Officers for 2017, (B) Report on last week’s trip to old Fort Wingate, and a discussion on the role that PSS should play in site preservation and/ or restoration, and (C) Respond to an invitation from Hubbells Trading Post in Ganado to participate in their annual Holiday Luminaria event on Thursday evening, Dec. 1. We’ve also been requested to help pay for the toys that will be distributed to the attending children, so we might pass a basket for donations. For more information, contact Martin Link at (505) 863-6459.
Friday November 18, 2016 • Gallup Sun
OPINIONS