This is part 2 of Pat Frederiksen’s book review of Strategy for Good by Susan Hyatt, M.S.
You can find out more about Pat Frederiksen at SmarterWomenColorado.com
Strategy for Good shows how you can combine business with philanthropy and be beneficial to both.
The next question is how do you start??? 
First of all make sure your business is viable or you won’t be in business long enough to be philanthropic! Stay focused on your business and the bottom line while in competition with other businesses. Good thoughts don’t necessarily keep the door open.
What are your values and goals? What is your motivation? What do you have to donate to the charity? Money, time, goods or services?
Evaluate what you have done in the past. What did you contribute, to whom and why? What difference did it make for you or the community? Was it the best use of your time and talent?
Develop a strategic creation of your philanthropy. You will receive many requests for your time, talent and money, but which ones are a good match for you? Set up a criteria for your giving. “You have to have a vision for what you want to do.” What is your passion?
Your involvement with a charity is a relationship that needs to be developed. Know the responsibilities, expectations, needs, culture, goals for you and the charity. There is nothing worse than spending your time and resources than to find out your goals were not the same.
How do you measure success? What is working and what is not? How do you evaluate how a program is working? Are you receiving clients from the process?
Spread the word of your success with the non-profit. This builds value and builds a reputation for you and the organization. Partnering a small non-profit with a respected company can cause interest in them. Share an interesting way you supported a non-profit. It can cement relations and create loyalty with clients.
Susan Hyatt has specific ways of addressing each of these questions in her book, Strategy for Good. It is an excellent source of information to focus our giving and make it work for a win-win situation. Also visit www.StrategyforGood.com. This article is quoted and paraphrased from her book.
Leave a Reply