Giving comes natural to me and is a very wonderful thing. However, it’s important to choose the charities that are right for you and your business.
Every year, I work with three charities I have chosen and believe in. In fact, I had a fantastic experience working with the Wildlife Conservation Society Committee this year. This is actually the second year I have worked with this amazing group, and last year the chairperson was the fantastic Mrs. Stern, a class act herself.
What I loved about working with this group is, like with any client, they were very clear in what they wanted and was very realistic about how to get it. This year’s theme was “Flights of Fancy,” showcasing the extraordinary world of birds.
It was very easy for our director and event producer Vivia Costalas to make all arrangements with them, making this a very successful event. (Special thanks to Tiffany Reiser-Jacobsen, Director of Special Events at the Wildlife Conservation Society for all your amazing work!)
However, in the past, we have done several charity events that were very close to nightmare experiences. Here are a few issues we had to deal with:
1) They wanted everything for close to free. (This is perfectly okay if I chose the charity.)
2) The committee was a group of several people with completely different tastes. (Very little chance in pleasing them with any design.)
3) They assured me that I’d be getting new business from this benefit. (Good news: yes I have gotten jobs. Bad news: they wanted it to be as cheap as the benefit that I did for almost nothing.)
This is my humble advice for choosing the right charity:
- When you are first starting out, this is a good way to get exposure. However, make sure that you do not spend a penny of your money (except if you want to of course). You should at least do this at cost, and if possible try to make a small profit.
- If you are working with a committee, make sure you only answer to one person, and that this person makes all design decisions.
- If you are doing this event for close to nothing, you need to be very clear about how they are planning to promote you, aside from writing your name in the programs. There is always someone in charge of publicity. Make sure your name appears in all press materials.
- Like myself, choose three or four charities a year that are very dear and special to you, and learn to say no to others. Since these are not big profit makers, you need to be careful not to start losing too much time and money. (I’ve been there.)
As I said, giving is always a great thing, but be careful about those charming committees who may seduce you with promises. What do you think? And what are your top three favorite charities?
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George Bernard Shaw once said: “You see things and say, ‘Why?’ But I dream things that never were and say, ‘Why not?’” That quote embodies how Preston Bailey approaches every event.
Andrea @ Superfine Bakery
July 8, 2010
Thanks for the sage advice, Preston! The three types of charities I work with support arts and music programs in my local schools, animal shelters, and marriage for everyone. Should I be picking very specific charities within those genres?
Bem Florido
July 8, 2010
Oh! You are great! Anyone of us may probably had a bad experience working with charity. And all the problems you related are TRUE!! We had a famous actor here, in Brazil, that used to say when asked to work for free: ” Don’t ask me to do for free the only thing I know to survive!” And he was right, wasn’t he?
Thank you for reminds me all important points. Next time it will be better.
Sonia
July 9, 2010
Favorite charities…my church, my church, my church. I believe in what my church is doing in our community. I have been through some of the same negative experiences as you Mr. Bailey and have resolved to saying no to all except my church for now. I have dipped into my pocket too many times for people who are just takers. I too came close to ending my business. I have learned a very important lesson from a very wonderful and successful business man (Jim Flood – Owner of Carico of Canada). He said, “People don’t buy what they need, they buy what they want”. If they really want it, they will find the money.
cna training
July 9, 2010
Terrific work! This is the type of information that should be shared around the web. Shame on the search engines for not positioning this post higher!
physical therapist
July 14, 2010
Terrific work! This is the type of information that should be shared around the web. Shame on the search engines for not positioning this post higher!
Jacqueline M. Northrop
October 7, 2010
Love the advice. I make it a goal to work with 1-2 charities a year and always struggle with keeping a tight scope of work. Thanks
Ashley
March 3, 2011
I am just starting out with my business, and have just taken on my first charity. Thank you for the tips, just in time too!
Wilmara
April 22, 2011
Thank you for your sound advice! I am working with a charity that provides financial support to cancer patients. I used your guidelines and it has helped me tremendously. It really helped shaped my relationship with them and it has been a smooth experience. This is my first time working with a charity so read and re-read your post several times during the process to keep me focused.
Thanks again!
Vanessa Alce
August 2, 2011
I completely agree! My favorite charity is BASE Camp Children’s Cancer Foundation based in Winter Park, FL. Unfortunately leukemia hits close to home as I lost my 17 year old cousin to this terrible disease. BASE Camp was a lending hand to my family during this time of difficulty. Their main focus is to bring children and their siblings joy, celebrate the end of their chemo treatments (doesn’t matter how many there are), making sure that the patient’s siblings do not feel left out as often parents must spend so much time with the young patient, and plan yearly proms for the young patients who may not get a chance to attend theirs. I promise I’m not trying to promote them on your blog but this is a charity that I love to support and plan fundraisers to help raise funds.