Happy International Corporate Philanthropy Day

Funny, I didn’t see a section of cards at Hallmark to celebrate this special day, but nevertheless today is International Corporate Philanthropy Day and an occasion to be in the spotlight. Not only does this day give much needed attention and volunteer time to community charities from local businesses, but it promotes unity and bonding experiences for those who are working together outside of the office. Everyone wins!

Now what exactly is International Corporate Philanthropy Day? Not surprising, it’s just like it sounds! Started in 2004, the purpose is to promote, “a global advocacy day created to mobilize the business community and others with a stake in the positive role that companies play in helping to address pressing societal problems. It’s a day of sharing best practices, communicating progress on established programs, forging new partnerships, and recognizing the importance of collectively addressing the pressing challenges of today—and tomorrow,” as described by the Committee Encouraging Corporate Philanthropy (CECP).

When I worked at a local homeless shelter we would all anticipate this flood of volunteers that would descend upon our property. Armed with buckets of paint, an arsenal of gardening tools and a plethora of cleaning products, these business professionals excitedly got their hands dirty until the job was done. The thing I remember most though was the cheerful banter and the laughter that steadily streamed into my office. They were having a blast!

From a nonprofit’s point-of-view, it was nice having a fresh coat of paint and the weeds pulled, but the most important part was the fact that we were gaining partners in our mission of helping the homeless find a shelter where they were safe, fed, and valued. It was so important to us that others saw the amazing work that we were doing to change lives and giving hope where there previously was none. The volunteers invested one day of their time, but hopefully they also invested a piece of their heart into our purpose.

Supporters can see pictures, hear stories and send a few dollars, but having them see your work on the frontlines is priceless. That’s where solid relational partnership is formed. Then continuing communication such as Facebook posts, e-mails and blogs can create an ongoing commitment. Fundraising and social media networks are the perfect ways to keep your volunteers connected.

So happy International Corporate Philanthropy Day! How are you going to celebrate it?