Getting Business When Giving to A Charity

[Pompal 09.]

deleted

 

[Tee Tee]

Charity is charity, it is not business.

Think of it this way -- would you give away a free massage, drawn at random from your existing client base? If you don't think that will generate follow on business, then why would giving a massage to someone you have never treated generate more business?

Give if you want to, not because you expect a return on the donation.

If you want business, put the value of our charitable contributions toward an effective advertising plan.

 

[jay]

I have to agree with R&R. I did a free chair massage for a walking event yeas ago. It did net me one client. I have donated to charity auctions, and they have not always gone smoothly. I have gotten yelled at by church people (its MY fault for not taking their GC 3 years after expiration!!). Im rambling now....anyooooo.... If its a charity YOURE compassionate about (for the charity, not the business), then do it. It makes your heart soar. If youre having doubts, then politely decline. You can always say you have met your charitable contributions for the year lol

 

[vaye]

Just some random information:

Cause Marketing: Supporting social causes to earn respect and support from people who feel strongly about the cause.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cause_marketing

 

[Smileycourt]

There's a difference between gift certificates that are raffled off--perceived as getting something for free, basically, because the person doesn't *expect* to win--and certs that are *auctioned*.

In the latter case, the person pays; they may pay below market (although in the case of some charity auctions they may end up paying above) and they don't pay *you*, but they still *pay*. That energy exchange is very important to me, and why I never give certs for raffle, only auction.

 

[Akash]

I've given to 5 silent auctions in my area.

I saw 3 of the 10 gift certificates come in.

A particular example: One male used two (his wife got them and he ended up "throwing out his back").

He then returned for about 2 more visits until he was well. About 6 months later his wife came in for about 3 visits and they referred their adult son who came in for one visit about six months after the lady (his mother) had come in.

That was the return.

I don't have a problem giving to charities for silent auctions. The people who have come in have been wonderful (exception is one lady {not with the family mentioned above} who came in, and then decided to tell me I had "caused" a lumbar disc issue). I have had very poor experience (on a number of levels) with professional and simi-professional (Pro-Am) dancers (especially of the ballroom version), therefore I don't donate to any "dance" silent auctions nowdays.

I too like to donate for the goodwill of it. I do keep a mental track of what occured with those particular gift certificates though.

Hope that helps.



07/22/07 - edited for typo.

 

[GATORADE]

I donated a gift certificate to be given as a "Mother of the Year Award". I felt comfortable making this donation because motherhood is something I hold near and dear.

The woman came in for her massage, and was floored that I had donated the massage, and that no one had paid me. She gave me a sizable tip and had me come to her office with my new client gift certificates, offering the first 1/2 hour at regular price and the second 1/2 hour complementary. She took me around from office to office, introduced me, and gave me the opportunity to give out my certificates. On top of that she bought me a beautiful china tea pot.

Now I was the one who was floored. This woman's generosity far exceeded mine. I did get one woman, from that day, who came in to use her new client gift certificate but I never saw her again after that appointment.

It didn't matter though. I had already received so much already. This woman's gratitude was overwhelming. If you give for the joy of giving, and you do it for something you're passionate about, you will always get something back, no matter what it is, and whether you expect it or not.

Last year a local newspaper called me about having my business name added to the list of sponsors supporting a drunk driving campain. 16 years ago my daughter and I were hit by a drunk driver. I didn't even have to think about it. True, due to lack of money, I could only make the smallest dontation they would accept, but I dontated what I could.

Maybe some day someone will see my name and remember that they saw it in the list of sponsors, and call me instead of another therapist; maybe not. But because the cause was close to my heart, just donating my small amount of money immediately gave me something back. This time it's no more than a good feeling, but it was worth it.

I try to keep my donations to a minimum. When it feels right to say yes, I do. When it doesn't, I don't. If I'm not sure, I ask them to call me back in a day or two, after I've had some time to check my budget. Doing just 2-3 of these type of things a year is not enough to make me feel like I'm being taken advaneforum.xxxe of, but it does make me feel good; like I'm speaking up for what I feel is important. I like to do that.