Without your local community, your business wouldn’t be able to exist, so it’s only natural to want to give back and support it.
Not only is being active in your local community the right thing to do, but it can also attract additional clients and team members to your organization.
“It’s just good business,” says Jeff Rossen, CEO of Rossen Landscape, based in Great Falls, Virginia. “It’s not necessary, but it’s necessary to us because we’re passionate about it. We’re a small local business. We want to take care of who takes care of us.”
Keys to Success
If you’ve been wanting to get more involved in your community, but haven’t really known where to start, seek your team’s feedback first. Encourage them to share what causes they are passionate about. When you select initiatives that resonate with your employees, this will only increase their willingness to participate and support your community efforts.
You can also engage with community leaders and residents to see if there is a need in your area, like a neglected public space or a cause looking for funding.
Consider the impact of your different community efforts, not just the optics, to ensure you don’t end up just making performative gestures. When determining which organizations to work with, look for those that can lead to long-term partnerships versus a one-and-done engagement.
It’s also important to budget an amount for your community outreach efforts. Setting aside funds and labor hours for your charitable work allows you to be more systematic and planned. While there are many opportunities available, having a budget to work within can help you focus on the causes that will have the most impact.
Volunteer Your Skills
One of the most rewarding ways to support your local community is to volunteer your valuable skills. Service projects allow your team to directly engage with residents and see the positive influence they are making.
Some common service project opportunities include renovating or maintaining spaces like local schools, care facilities, non-profits, or animal shelters. For instance, Creative Roots Landscaping, based in British Columbia, Canada, has their Yard Angels program where they donate landscape maintenance services to three deserving residents. They aim to lighten the load of a resident suffering from a debilitating illness or injury who cannot care for their yards.
Project EverGreen’s GreenCare for Troops/SnowCare for Troops is an easy way to give back to local service members by providing complimentary lawn and landscape services to an active-duty deployed service member’s family.
“The extra weight of single parenting and stretched finances just add to the burden,” says Phil Fogarty, master franchise consultant for Weed Man USA. “GCFT volunteers try to take at least one ‘chore’ off their plate as a small gesture of support and thanks.”
If recent disasters have taken place, assisting with clean-ups is another natural opening to volunteer.
Conduct Educational Outreach
Another way to serve your local community is to be an educational resource. This method is also beneficial for connecting with students who may be interested in joining the industry.
Many times, local schools welcome the opportunity to have companies come and speak to classes about the career paths available. Environmental Enhancements participates in Loudon County’s ‘Job for a Day’ program where students come in and shadow different employees out in the field.
Even at the college level, it is greatly appreciated when lawn and landscape companies offer to share some of their expertise or donate equipment to aid students’ learning.
You don’t have to limit yourself to just educating students, either. Hosting learning events at your facilities can help teach individuals about the importance of healthy landscapes and how to better care for the environment. These attendees will be more likely to seek your company out when they do have a landscape project come up in the future.
One possible educational opportunity is hosting an Arbor Day event at a local hub, planting trees and sharing with others the importance of trees and how to properly plant them.
Fund Donations and Sponsorships
Giving charitable donations of funds or plant material, or sponsoring various events or local sports teams is another way to support your community and build brand recognition. Being present in local parades and festivals can help your visibility with the public.
Holding food or clothing drives for local foodbanks or shelters is another way for your team members to get involved and support their community.
An additional option is to conduct a fundraiser for a meaningful cause. For example, Franz Witte, based in Boise, Idaho, hosts OktoberBreast annually to raise money for breast cancer research and recovery.
Serve In Local Organizations
Lastly, don’t overlook the power of volunteering your leadership insights in local organizations. Serving on local sustainability or city councils can enable you to speak for sound environmental practices. Seek out institutions where your involvement can provide beneficial inputs.
Deborah Wade and her husband, owners of Wade’s Lawn Service, based in Goodlettsville, Tennessee, participate in the organization Leadership Goodlettsville, which allows them to foster relationships with individuals who are in the local government.
Choosing to participate on your Chamber of Commerce board is an opportunity to advocate for the local business community and boost your business’s credibility.
However you choose for your company to be more involved in your local community, make sure it is a natural extension of your values.
