Successfully Balancing Business and Philanthropy
Successfully Balancing Business and Philanthropy
For several generations now, female business owners and executives have found themselves in a tugging match between family and work life. While society continues to put emphasis on women as the foundation of the family, the business world continues to expect them to give 110% in the board room or at the storefronts.
Finding a balance between the two is not an easy task, and it often takes years of hard work to finally achieve it. Ultimately, many women feel that the greatest lesson is understanding that they are unable life a fulfilling life with one more prominent than the other.
Benefit Your Business, Benefit the World
Maybe it’s because this balance can be so tenuous that most female business owners and entrepreneurs find themselves at a loss when it comes to contributing to their community and the world through philanthropic work. With so much going on in their personal and work lives, who really has time to devote a sizable portion of money, attention and time to community and world causes? However, philanthropy is a wonderful and fulfilling opportunity for women to benefit themselves, their companies and the world at large.
Philanthropic work is the act of contributing to those in need. While family is often the core of a women’s being, and business is what pushes her to greater success, it’s philanthropic work that connects her to her community and the world.
As the economy downshifts and global problems affect us on personal levels (just take a trip to the local supermarket or gas station to see for yourself), it is becoming more important for businesses to engage in philanthropic work to benefit both their own organizations and the world.
The Elements of Philanthropic Success
You don’t have to have a life-changing experience to embark on philanthropic work, and doing good for your community and the world doesn’t have to detract from other areas of your life. In order to find a healthy balance of philanthropy and business, women must consider several questions before embarking on a goal.
First of all, ask yourself if your business strong enough to begin directing efforts towards philanthropic goals. Business owners need to take it slow during the first years of opening their business and understand that initially your business will need to come first.
While everyone would love to immediately start giving back to their communities and the world, it’s important to make sure that your business is established and healthy before you begin shifting your attention to philanthropic work. To put it plainly, it takes a healthy, well-established business to generate the necessary revenue to put towards philanthropic pursuits. Without that, the chain breaks down.
Open Your Eyes to New Opportunities
Another question women must address is what type of philanthropy they would like to engage in. There are literally thousands of regional, national and global causes out there that deserve attention. Finding the right one can sometimes be a daunting task, and while many female entrepreneurs opt to go with the biggest name or most popular cause, careful research can reveal options that are better suited to your own goals.
Finding out what the cause or charity accomplishes and how your business best fits with their mission will pay off in the long-term as you form a lasting partnership with them. Don’t be afraid to take a risk or view things from a different perspective to find ways to give back. Maybe your choice of charity is off the beaten track. Keep an open mind, and it will open your eyes to horizons you never could have dreamed of before.
Doing Business for the Right Reasons
Finally, owners and entrepreneurs must ask themselves if they are pursing philanthropy for the right reasons. It’s wonderful to find a charity or cause that will complement your business, but there are many causes that are not being recognized because they are simply not as “appealing” from a business perspective.
That’s the difference between honestly giving and simply perfecting your PR image. While both types of charity do good, it will ultimately benefit your business if you help the causes that you personally believe need the most attention.
Establish a Plan to Do the Most Good
After you’ve decided on the philanthropic work you’d like to pursue, it’s time to decide how you can contribute and in what capacity. If you choose to give financially, review your financial outlook or work with your finance department to construct a realistic contribution budget that what works best for your individual company.
However, philanthropy goes far beyond simple monetary donations. It's not that writing a check isn't appreciated; it is. But it is the personal engagement that changes not only those you reach out to, but also changes you. Reaching out to a charity or cause through personal engagement can be a much more fulfilling option for yourself (and your employees). Work with your chosen charity or cause to find out how you can become personally involved in their mission, whether through fundraising, programs or events---the possibilities are endless.
Now more than ever, women entrepreneurs and business-owners must keep the global perspective in mind as they work to benefit their companies. You don’t have to be a celebrity or a multi-millionaire to make a difference. And you can find a perfect balance between family, work and philanthropy. It is amazing how when you do business for the right reasons, things come together and take off.
Successfully Balancing Business and Philanthropy - To learn more about this author, visit Christopher Palumbo's Website.
Like this article? Share it with your friends
Have you ever had the feeling you were being pulled in a million directions at once? For the modern female entrepreneur, this feeling is so prevalent that it almost seems abnormal NOT to have an endless list of tasks logged into their Blackberries.
For several generations now, female business owners and executives have found themselves in a tugging match between family and work life. While society continues to put emphasis on women as the foundation of the family, the business world continues to expect them to give 110% in the board room or at the storefronts.
Finding a balance between the two is not an easy task, and it often takes years of hard work to finally achieve it. Ultimately, many women feel that the greatest lesson is understanding that they are unable life a fulfilling life with one more prominent than the other.
Benefit Your Business, Benefit the World
Maybe it’s because this balance can be so tenuous that most female business owners and entrepreneurs find themselves at a loss when it comes to contributing to their community and the world through philanthropic work. With so much going on in their personal and work lives, who really has time to devote a sizable portion of money, attention and time to community and world causes? However, philanthropy is a wonderful and fulfilling opportunity for women to benefit themselves, their companies and the world at large.
Philanthropic work is the act of contributing to those in need. While family is often the core of a women’s being, and business is what pushes her to greater success, it’s philanthropic work that connects her to her community and the world.
As the economy downshifts and global problems affect us on personal levels (just take a trip to the local supermarket or gas station to see for yourself), it is becoming more important for businesses to engage in philanthropic work to benefit both their own organizations and the world.
The Elements of Philanthropic Success
You don’t have to have a life-changing experience to embark on philanthropic work, and doing good for your community and the world doesn’t have to detract from other areas of your life. In order to find a healthy balance of philanthropy and business, women must consider several questions before embarking on a goal.
First of all, ask yourself if your business strong enough to begin directing efforts towards philanthropic goals. Business owners need to take it slow during the first years of opening their business and understand that initially your business will need to come first.
While everyone would love to immediately start giving back to their communities and the world, it’s important to make sure that your business is established and healthy before you begin shifting your attention to philanthropic work. To put it plainly, it takes a healthy, well-established business to generate the necessary revenue to put towards philanthropic pursuits. Without that, the chain breaks down.
Open Your Eyes to New Opportunities
Another question women must address is what type of philanthropy they would like to engage in. There are literally thousands of regional, national and global causes out there that deserve attention. Finding the right one can sometimes be a daunting task, and while many female entrepreneurs opt to go with the biggest name or most popular cause, careful research can reveal options that are better suited to your own goals.
Finding out what the cause or charity accomplishes and how your business best fits with their mission will pay off in the long-term as you form a lasting partnership with them. Don’t be afraid to take a risk or view things from a different perspective to find ways to give back. Maybe your choice of charity is off the beaten track. Keep an open mind, and it will open your eyes to horizons you never could have dreamed of before.
Doing Business for the Right Reasons
Finally, owners and entrepreneurs must ask themselves if they are pursing philanthropy for the right reasons. It’s wonderful to find a charity or cause that will complement your business, but there are many causes that are not being recognized because they are simply not as “appealing” from a business perspective.
That’s the difference between honestly giving and simply perfecting your PR image. While both types of charity do good, it will ultimately benefit your business if you help the causes that you personally believe need the most attention.
Establish a Plan to Do the Most Good
After you’ve decided on the philanthropic work you’d like to pursue, it’s time to decide how you can contribute and in what capacity. If you choose to give financially, review your financial outlook or work with your finance department to construct a realistic contribution budget that what works best for your individual company.
However, philanthropy goes far beyond simple monetary donations. It's not that writing a check isn't appreciated; it is. But it is the personal engagement that changes not only those you reach out to, but also changes you. Reaching out to a charity or cause through personal engagement can be a much more fulfilling option for yourself (and your employees). Work with your chosen charity or cause to find out how you can become personally involved in their mission, whether through fundraising, programs or events---the possibilities are endless.
Now more than ever, women entrepreneurs and business-owners must keep the global perspective in mind as they work to benefit their companies. You don’t have to be a celebrity or a multi-millionaire to make a difference. And you can find a perfect balance between family, work and philanthropy. It is amazing how when you do business for the right reasons, things come together and take off.
Successfully Balancing Business and Philanthropy - To learn more about this author, visit Christopher Palumbo's Website.
Like this article? Share it with your friends
 | |
 |
No article feedback found. |
| |
Leave Your Feedback |
 | |
| |||
David BarrDavid Barr is the President of Venture Opportunities, Inc. David has been a professional business broker/intermediary since 1980 focusing on General Business Brokerage and Mergers and Acquisitions representing client transaction value from $400,000 to $20,000,000. Mr. Barr has handled the sale of over four hundred and fifty companies. David earned a university degree from the State University of New York majoring in economics and business. David holds the Mergers and Acquisition Master Intermediary and the Certified Business Intermediary designations from the International Business Brokers Association. He is also a Senior Business Analyst and a Texas licensed Real Estate Agent. For more information about David and Venture Opportunities, visit www.bizdealmaker.com. - Visit David Barr's Website |
|||
Anne BarrAnne Barr has over 26 years experience in sales and marketing, six years as a franchisee. She has assisted over 367 business owners and purchasers to achieve their goals in career change, transition and exit strategy. She holds the designation of Certified Franchise Executive from the International Franchise Association, Certified Business Intermediary from the International Business Brokers Association and Board Certified Broker from the Texas Association of Business Brokers. Anne is active in professional organizations, networking groups and volunteers for non-profit entities. As owner/operator of four successful businesses, Anne has proven people skills and enjoys helping clients find the right "fit" in business ownership. Visit www.FranchiseOpportunitySpecialist.com for more information about me and my company. - Visit Anne Barr's Website |
|||
Casey GollanCasey Gollan, Business Coaching & Mentoring Programs. Add $1 Million to $10 Million in the next 1 to 3 years. Since 1996 Casey has to added hundreds of millions of dollars to businesses. Watch a free video see client results Business Coaching website. - Visit Casey Gollan's Website |
|||
Kim CastleWith nearly two decades in the advertising and design business, with clients like Domino's Pizza, General Motors, Direct TV, Pedigree, Wolfgang Puck, Higher Octave Music, Hollywood Celebrity Products, Disney, and Paramount, as well as thousands of entrepreneurs around the world define, structure, communicate, and position their business for greater profits, BrandU(R) co-creators Kim Castle and W. Vito Montone discovered that entrepreneurs could experience the same power that big brands command for a fraction of the cost with the world's only process-based results-drive Integral approach to business creation. BrandU(R) is helping entrepreneurs grow with the power of extreme clarity from idea...to brand...to market(TM) and helping one million entrepreneurs become successful and whole so that they can make a difference in the world. Are you one of them? If you want to experience clarity all the way to the bank(TM), get started now at http://www.brandu.com. - Visit Kim Castle's Website |
|||
Jeff FosterWebBizIdeas.com is a Minneapolis website design company founded to help people start an internet business by providing them with website, business, and internet resources that help foster the growth of successful online businesses and develop innovative Internet business ideas. We specialize in internet consulting & internet marketing. - Visit Jeff Foster's Website |
|||
David AchesonDavid Acheson is the founder of DCJA Consultancy. DCJA Consultancy is a management consultancy business specialising in B2B sales consultancy. They offer bespoke and packaged sales consultancy including Sales Optimisation Review, Interim Sales Management, Sales & Marketing Review, 1:1 Sales & Management Staff Analysis, Management Training, Solution Sales Training, Creation of New Pay Plan, KPI's, run Customer Feedback Campaigns, assist with Recruitment, Coaching, Appraisals and set up Strategic Marketing Campaigns. David spent his early career in accountancy and then moved into sales in 1982, working in Office Equipment, IT, Advertising, Training, Outsourcing and Consultancy. He has held many Senior Positions in SMBs and Global Organisations including Head of Sales Operations & Head of Business Development. His knowledge, skills and great experience of the Sales Industry has led to David making keynote speeches and running educational sessions to key businesses through organisations including The Chamber of Commerce and Business Link. - Visit David Acheson's Website |
|||
Leanne Hoagland-SmithAre your sales where you want them to be? Will you be one of the few who achieves sales or business success or one of the many who have failed to change? Are you tired of being told you are like everyone else? Then you may find my first book on sales of interest. Be the Red Jacket in the Sea of Gray Suits, The Keys to Unlocking Sales available at Amazon or at http://www.processspecialist.com/red-jacket.htm. This book is a reflection of my no-nonsense approach to improving sales to overall business results. If you are truly committed to making sustainable changes, then I can help you secure a positive return on your investment because I focus on executable solutions not telling you the problems you already know you have. From training to corporate (group) coaching to executive one on one coaching, my approach is to assess, create awareness, build a goal driven action plan and then execute. The bottom line question is "Not do you or your employees know it, but do you or they want to do it?" Please call for a free strategy session at 219.759.5601. - Visit Leanne Hoagland-Smith's Website |
|||
Cheryl MatthynssensCheryl is a life skills coach, licensed Chemical Dependency Counselor and a 20 year entrepreneur. Cheryl's dedication to achieving a life of balance led to her expanding her teaching from the simple managing of life's daily challenges to adding financial well being as well. A direct marketer with DrinkACT, she is gaining ground in the online community with her concepts of making sure business owners, entreprenuers and employees have well rounded life styles. She opened up a small affiliate site - The Balance Guide- to help others find resources for mental and emotional well being. Visit Cheryl's blog to see more of the diversity beyond business she has began offering online at www.thebalanceguide.blogspot.com - Visit Cheryl Matthynssens's Website |
|||
|
To learn more about the Evan Elite Author Program please contact us. | |||
 | |
|  |
Subscribe to Christopher's articles
 | |
|
|  |
 | |
|
| |
 | |||||||
|
 | ||
|
||
|
||
 |
||
|
| ||
 |
| Have you written articles that would be of value to entrepreneurs? Become an expert on our site by publishing them! Expose yourself to a wide audience, drive more traffic to your website and get more sales! Click Here for details. |
|
|
 |
| Modeling the Masters: Learn the true secrets behind Walt Disney's business success factors & grow your company! Video produced by Phanta Media |
|
|
 |
"Learn straight from Evan how you can Make a Full Time Income (And More) from a Website"
Click Here To Learn More |
|
|
|
|
Get advice & tips from famous business owners, new articles by entrepreneur experts, my latest website updates, & special sneak peaks at what's to come!
|
|
|
 Balanced Leadership Online Marketing Tools Salesperson Selection Increasing Coaching Effectiveness Life Purpose |
|
 | ||
 |
Top 50 Franchising Blogs
Top 50 Franchising Blogs | |
 |
Top 50 HR Blogs 2009
Top 50 HR Blogs 2009 | |
| ||
 | ||||
| ||||
|
| ||||
| ||||
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||||||
|
Email us your ideas on how to make our website more valuable! Thank you Sharon from Toronto Salsa Lessons / Classes for your suggestions to make the newsletter look like the website and profile younger entrepreneurs like Jennifer Lopez and Sean Combs!
|
|
|
