A majority of Australian businessess donate to charity
ALMOST HALF OF EMPLOYEES HAVE NO IDEA WHERE THE MONEY GOES
CO-CEO OF COS DISCUSSES THE IMPORTANCE OF GETTING STAFF BUY IN WHEN IT COMES TO PHILANTHROPIC EFFORTS, AND HOW TO DO IT
During these difficult economic times, there has been a significantly increased demand for charities to provide support services to those in need, so it’s more important than ever to donate if you can.
When it comes to businesses doing their part to give back to the community, new data has revealed that 54% of workers say their company donates to charity, yet almost half (42%) of employees don’t know which cause the money actually supports.
The study, commissioned by COS, an Australian-owned and operated company offering product supply solutions for the workplace, surveyed over 1,000 Australian workers and found that employees whose company donated to charity said that they believe all companies should give back (46%) and that they like working for a company that supports the community (35%). 63% of the respondents whose workplace does not donate to charity said they wish their organisation did.
Interestingly, Queensland had the highest rates of companies donating money to charity (57%), followed by Tasmania (56.9%) and South Australia (56.7%).
Delving deeper into the research, it’s evident that there is a disconnect between a business donating money, and which cause or charity the money is being donated to. 67% of Australians said they would like to be part of the decision on where the funds go.
Co-CEO of COS, Amie Lyone says, “It’s encouraging to see so many Australian companies are donating to charities, but what is apparent is that many businesses aren’t connecting the dots when it comes to involving employees in their philanthropic efforts.
“At COS giving back has been a priority since the company was created, with the business donating more than $16 million through the Lyone Foundation to support Australian charities to date. It was of great importance to our Founder & Chairman Dominique Lyone that staff played a part in giving, and it’s part of our DNA as a result.”
To help get employees involved in the company’s philanthropic efforts, Amie shares her top pieces of advice:
Gather the leadership team to decide on a charity stream that’s aligned with company values. For example, the Lyone Foundation has always been focused on human welfare because that was the charity support that the Lyone family received when Dominique and his family first arrived in Australia in the late 1960’s. The Foundation also supports smaller charities that are underfunded, giving a helping hand to disadvantaged, vulnerable and marginalised Australians, such as Cottage by the Sea, Kari Foundation, Newborn IC Foundation and Hope in a Suitcase.
Hold a company-wide meeting. It sounds simple, but gathering all employees together to discuss the company’s plans for donations is an effective way to engage the team and allow for them to understand where the funds are going. Giving people the opportunity to put charities forward is a strong way to engage with staff on a deeper level, and also highlights how the company is committed to giving back to causes that are meaningful to them.
Form a committee of team members to research the nominated charities. Once the wider organisation is on the same page with the donation goals and strategy, and individuals have been given the opportunity to share their thoughts about where they would like to see the donations go, nominate a handful of people who are passionate about this area to research each suggested cause and speak to the charities to find out what they would do with the donation. The team can either decide on the charity themselves or share their findings with the whole company to vote on.
Update the company regularly. Once the charity/charities have been determined, an important factor in keeping employees engaged is by updating them on an ongoing basis. Include messages about how the donations have helped nominated charities in monthly internal newsletters and organise a day each quarter where employees can volunteer so they can experience the impact their company has in person, for example.
Amie concludes, “All businesses, whether they are small local entities or global companies, have the power to improve people’s lives and be a vehicle for giving. If you work through the process with your team, you’ll be amazed at the transformation that happens to staff, especially those involved in the committee, and the morale that comes with it.”
For more information on COS, visit: https://www.cos.net.au/
COS is an Australian workplace product solutions firm founded by Dominique Lyone 45 years ago. The company is celebrating two years since daughters Belinda and Amie successfully took over the COS reigns. The company received ABA100 Winner for Sustainability in the Australian Business Awards in 2021. The firm also plans to be Net Zero operationally and 100% renewable energy by 2023. Giving back is a priority since 2013, with the business donating more than 16 million through the Lyone Foundation to support Australian charities focused on human welfare.
