1 Greater Twin Cities United Way Small Business Philanthropy Fall 2013.

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Greater Twin Cities United WaySmall Business PhilanthropyFall 2013

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Objectives and Methodology

United Way wants to understand the philanthropic approach of small business owners, both personally and professionally, as well as how Giving Communities fit in a small business setting.

Fusion Hill conducted a focus group with seven small business owners to understand:• Personal and business approaches to philanthropy• Challenges/wants/needs for giving as a small business owner• Perceptions of United Way’s Giving Communities

Due to the nature of qualitative research, the findings contained in this presentation are based on a non-statistically significant sample size, and therefore, cannot be quantified or

generalized to represent an entire population. Insights should be used for directional purposes .

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Personal Philanthropy as Foundation

Small business owners’ approach to philanthropy stems from their personal dedication to giving. All participants are involved with organizations that align with their personal passions. Most participants are very active within their chosen organizations, often at the board level as members or chairs.• Sometimes hard to distinguish personal giving from giving

associated with their business since personal income is revenue from business

“My partner and I have a few organizations that we are personally involved in so we tend to put our money into those organizations. We invest our time at a board level or personal level.”

– David

“In the personal giving I got involved with United Way because of the dedication to women and helping increase the stability of women in the community. That is where my passions lie.”

– Lori

“I think there is blurred line between personal and business giving. I think of my personal income as what I bring home, but this is profit, and is what I give on.”

– Kasey

“We enjoy giving and love to give where our heart is.”

– Cindy

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Personal Giving Challenges

Overall, participants are satisfied with their personal approach to philanthropy, but do identify several challenges:

• Find it hard to measure the impact of their donation in money or time

• Feel scattered in too many directions and organizations to be impactful

• Feel it can be difficult to find organizations that fit personal philosophies and beliefs

“The biggest challenge is finding an organization that fits your personal vision that you feel good to commit to.”

– David

“I have been searching for places to focus on … I feel like I could have more impact if I could focus on three [organizations] instead of ten. And that might be more meaningful.”

– Bruce

“It is helpful, like with Feed My Starving Children, [to know] the impact. I asked my daughter how much we could give and did the math [to know how many people that would feed]. It was a huge conversation and it created a picture in my mind.”

– Aimee

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Business Approach to Philanthropy

On the business side, participants find their approach to philanthropy is much less based on their personal passions and more on client requests and business goals. Business donations often take the form of the business’ service or product, but to make a donation, participants must feel it will generate some return for the business itself.• Returns can be increased return business, networking opportunities,

tax deductions, etc.

“We give back to the nonprofits that are our clients. We started a program, our Powers For Good program, which is that we slash our margins down [for nonprofit clients] … By being our clients we give back to them by taking money off our bill.”

– Cindy

“On the giving side we tend to give back to clients because so many clients ask for services back.”

– David

“I think it’s the question, ‘What’s in it for you?’ … What would appeal to you that would be easy to be involved in: to donate time or money or networking or gain additional business?”

– Lori

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Small Business Giving Challenges

Since business philanthropy is so driven by returns for the business, participants have several limitations for their business donations.

• Find they cannot accommodate numerous donation requests because they cannot afford to give away so much free product or service

• Many are short on time to research new organizations or develop creative fundraising campaigns that result in a win-win situation

• Some feel hesitant to push their personal philanthropic choices on their employees

“Owning a print shop, not a day goes by that we don’t get an email ‘Can we get this for free?’”

– David

“I have a hard time with the line of pushing my beliefs on my employees … We try to pick something neutral.”

– Kasey

“Everything that gets done at my business gets done by me. Small businesses don’t have the capacity to pass it on.”

– Sandra

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Giving Communities Are A Start

Most participants feel current Giving Communities do line up with their personal passions and various commitment levels. However, the current setup does not easily allow them to engage their small business because there are few communities that will generate a return for their business.• Networking communities like Women’s Leadership Council do

generate a possible return for the business

“[Networking] is why I joined United Way, honestly. This is a group of senior women leaders who are all high in their organization. I haven’t seen any business with them but I did fill three positions through this networking.”

– Kasey

“It’s of interest to me at a personal level to know that they have the giving programs. As a business owner I want to give back but I want it to be at a personal level.”

– David

“I like giving a check, giving money. I don’t want to give you my time [because I am too busy right now]. Maybe next year [I’ll give time].”

– Sandra

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Opportunity: Catered Giving Strategies

Participants are often strapped for resources so they need help coming up with strategies that fit the needs and capabilities of their business. Develop a program that assists small business owners in creating their own philanthropic business strategy.• One-on-one consultant to develop creative

strategy specific to what business can give• Help owners find organizations that align

with their passions and generate a return• Give case studies of different business

types to illustrate giving in action• Help owners connect with other

businesses that are willing to donate

“[It would be great] if I had a volunteer that could come in for five hours to help, someone to help run the campaign.”

– Sandra

“There is an organization that gives 50 percent of their profits. How can they do that? So how is it that they can make that work?”

– Aimee

“I think the biggest challenge is having the time to come up with and be creative with a campaign.”

– Lori

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Opportunity: Catered Giving StrategiesExampleAn example of a creative giving strategy that United Way could facilitate for small business owners is connecting them to corporations that already partner with United Way. United Way could market the small business by encouraging the corporation to partner with/purchase from them because a portion of the sale would go to United Way.• For example, if you need 200 branded mugs, order 201 through

this company and the value of the extra mug will be donated to the United Way

• This allows the small business to increase their giving and also generates extra business for them

“Best Buy [partners with United Way] … You could say this is a small business that is willing to donate to a cause you support if you give them business … United Way could market the small business.”

– Kasey

“For every invoice we sold, would you be willing to buy one more for United Way?”

– Cindy

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Opportunity: Clarify the Impact

Both personally and professionally, participants want a better handle on the impact of their donations. Encourage organizations that work with United Way to create clear equations of the number of people helped by specific donation amounts.• For example, X amount of dollars or

hours helps Y number of people (like Feed My Starving Children)

• Clarify returns a small business could generate – networking, repeat customers

• Make tax benefits clear since that is a foot in the door

“Once I was a part of [United Way] I liked that they held the business accountable for the dollar … I increased my giving because I know what happens [with the money].”

– Sandra

“A tax advantage tool is … not the warm fuzzy but it is certainly a way to get the conversation started. The chance is that your heart will follow your head.”

– Cindy

“I see agencies that talk about pro-bono work and it’s hard to measure the value of what that brings you.”

– Bruce

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Opportunity: Increase Communication

While participants are active in their giving, most feel they could do more and want to do more, but are unsure of the next step. Starting an informational campaign about small business or personal volunteer opportunities through United Way would make small business owners aware of how they and their families/employees could help out.• Pro-actively send information about various

organizations’ goals and how to participate• Directly ask small businesses to participate• Give examples of how to engage

employees as well

“I think if I was asked more I would do more. I don’t think I get asked enough for all sorts of things, not just for money.”

– Sandra

“It would be nice to have volunteer opportunities [for employees].”

– Lori

“I think it would be great … if there was a calendar [of volunteer opportunities] for families on any given week. You can go to a soup kitchen or pack bags for the army.”

– Cindy

“I don’t have time to do the research … I am so much better at responding to something that is pushed to me.”

– Lori

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Questions?