5 Ways to Turn the Season of Giving into a Culture of Giving

Whether it’s an abundance of avocados shared among neighbors, or a legacy gift ensuring the well-being of generations, people in Hawaii are known for being generous. Giving is in our cultural DNA, part of who we are and what we do as an intertwined island community.

Corporate giving in Hawaii also plays an important role in the community, honoring unspoken rules of reciprocity. Workplace giving maximizes the impact of collective action for the benefit of all. As an added benefit, it creates meaningful engagement opportunities for employees to make Hawaii a better place.

For local companies without a formal giving program, the holiday season is a great time to begin building a culture of giving that extends year-round.

“Start by listening to your employees,” advises Siana Austin Hunt, Director of Corporate Philanthropy at ALTRES.

“Survey them, find out where their hearts are. Once you determine what is meaningful and important to your employees, you can build on that and it will genuinely resonate.”

Here are 5 simple types of corporate and employee giving programs on which you can build a culture of giving at your company:

1. Create opportunities for volunteerism. Studies have shown that volunteerism lowers stress, improves mood, and builds collaborative skills. Consider offering paid volunteer time off for employees to do community service. Or, designate a company Volunteer Day where you all pitch in as a team to help a worthy organization.
2. Promote a community charity drive. Designate a month to promote and collect needed items for an organization chosen by your employees. It could be a food drive, school supplies, clothes, or monetary donations. The opportunities for friendly workplace competitions are endless and the huge donation that results will make everyone feel good.
3. Make a corporate donation. Corporate social responsibility starts at the top, so be sure your company walks the walk. Monetary donations, gifts of in-kind goods and services, and community sponsorships build goodwill in the community and a sense of pride among employees.
4. Start a matching program. Corporate matching gift programs reward the charitable donations employees make by matching their gifts to eligible organizations. Matching programs are a huge boost for company reputation and have a direct impact on employee morale and retention by doing more good.
5. Embrace your kuleana. Take on the responsibility to care for a place. Adopt a beach, trail, park, or playground and work together to keep it clean and safe for years to come. Partner with an established agency or organization to benefit from available guidance, supplies, and educational resources.

The power of many cannot be underestimated. Let the spirit of giving this holiday season inspire you and your employees to make a difference into the New Year and beyond!

Back-to-school supply drive makes an impact on families in Kalihi Valley

ALTRES held a back-to-school drive to benefit Kōkua Kalihi Valley and the families the nonprofit serves. Staff members compiled personalized backpacks for more than 60 keiki and donated hundreds of additional supplies to fill a resource pantry for the school year. In addition, the ALTRES Foundation matched employee donations with a monetary gift of $5,000.

This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Readers should first consult their attorney, accountant or adviser before acting upon any information in this article.