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June 28, 2010 Tip of the Day - Make Money By Working for FreeFiled under: Tip of the Day
Middaugh put this into practice with a nonprofit called Indiana Women In Need (IWIN), which provides grants to women while they undergo breast cancer treatment. “They have a flower sale every year, so one year I offered my parking lot to them for the pickup of flowers,” she says. “On a Saturday, cars would come in, and my people would be there to load the flowers, so we actually physically helped them to raise money that day. That was the beginning of our relationship.” Middaugh also volunteered her staff to raise money for the organization twice a year at no cost. This gave her an in with IWIN. “They sell T-shirts for their fundraisers, so they naturally came to us and asked if we can make their T-shirts,” she says. So many companies focus on building revenue that they often lose sight of how giving back to the community by building an awareness campaign or donating to a cause can be a means of revenue. “When making business decisions of how to thrive in a down or stalled economy, be sure to focus on giving back to the community and creating awareness of how your company supports causes,” says D.J. Heckes, CEO of EXHIB-IT! Tradeshow Marketing Experts (asi/191105). One thing that EXHIB-IT! has done locally is an annual business-to-business networking event, which started with the grand opening of its new location in June 2008. It included 400 attendees, such as members of the local chambers and organizations, plus political officials and business owners in the community. At the event, EXHIB-IT! gave away a free exhibit display valued at $1,200 to a selected nonprofit organization. These kinds of events demonstrate to local citizens and business owners that your company is really connected to the community, Heckes says. “This not only shows a true commitment, but it also demonstrates sustainability and that you can grow your business network,” she adds. A key to winning business with nonprofits is to be a part of their events and follow up with them, Middaugh says. “What does do you good is to have some of your staff there asking if they can call on them, and getting back to them afterwards,” she says. “That’s how you get these things to pay off in a big way.” Middaugh also has the advantage of having an employee that was a part of a nonprofit organization called Noble of Indiana, which serves Indianans with disabilities. “This gentleman worked 17 years with Noble,” she says. “He’s a part of our regular staff – he works in the warehouse and chips in whenever something needs to be done, including volunteering in events. So, when they buy thank-you gifts from their donors, they come to us.” To Middaugh, this kind of volunteer work is essential – not only to her business, but to her community. “I feel like we have to support the people who are already supporting us,” she says. Shane Dale is a contributing writer for Wearables. From Wearables June 2010 issue. 0 CommentsLeave a Comment |
Bev Middaugh does a lot of business with nonprofit organizations – but she got her foot in the door by working for free. “We donate to their events, and I encourage my people to volunteer,” says the CEO of Bright Ideas in Broad Ripple (asi/146060) in Indianapolis.