Fun Fundraising: My Top Tips for Giving Back

Fun fundraising: my top tips for giving back
Our team of 300 fantastic colleagues have a deep and broad knowledge of relevant subjects but also a real understanding of the local landscape and local matters. Their passions extend beyond property and land through to our (and our customers’) affect on the environment and indeed as a large employer in the areas in which we operate.

Giving back with heart
The way I, and the rest of the leadership team for that matter, approach giving back starts with the people closest to us – our colleagues. They're not just great colleagues, they're fantastic friends with collective passions both inside and outside of work. Every year, everyone gets a chance to nominate a charity which is close to their hearts. This year, we're proud to be supporting Addenbrooke's Charitable Trust (ACT) in memory of Danielle Spauls, a dear colleague who received incredible care there eighteen months ago. We sadly lost Danielle but to be able to champion her legacy by supporting those that supported her really fuels my passion for giving back, making sure the charities we choose for our organisation resonate deeply with everyone in the team.

Building bonds
What I love is finding out more about our community and our team and that brings camaraderie. We have pushed ourselves together for such worthy causes – we’ve done cake sales, long walks, bike rides, sailing competitions and so much more. It's these moments, big and small, that create lasting memories and a real sense of community.  For me personally, supporting causes like we do is so meaningful because many of the causes are those that we can empathise and relate to. Seeing my colleagues, many of whom are close friends, rally behind these causes they care about is truly inspiring.

We make a difference, together
 We've achieved some incredible things through fundraising, and the way we do it makes it even better. From smashing our goal of £44,000 for Air Ambulances UK to supporting Addenbrooke's Charitable Trust this year, our team and the community consistently go above and beyond. Local causes are just as important to us, which is why our offices are always getting involved in everything from helping out grassroots football and rugby teams by sponsoring their shirts and pitches, to volunteering at community fetes, rural seminars and other events.

Here are some lessons I've learned along the way – hopefully they'll be helpful for you too:

• Get everyone on board and keep them informed: This is key in my opinion. Make giving back fun and inclusive. Not everyone enjoys a mud run, but there are plenty of other ways people can get involved. Take the time to share your progress, events, and updates regularly – posters, emails: whatever works for you, it'll be appreciated.
• Values and passions: I've found that causes that align with both our mission and what our employees are passionate about are often the most successful for giving back programs.
• Build partnerships: Do your research and find local organisations and charities that complement what you do so the work benefits everyone involved.
• Be true to yourself: Authenticity is key – make sure your efforts are genuine and well intentioned.

In my experience, giving back builds a stronger community and provides a good feeling, creating a happier workplace and all of the good things that that can bring for your business, and ultimately, making a better future for the causes you support. And when you add some fun into the mix, it creates lasting memories that makes coming to work even more enjoyable.

Thanks to Access for inviting me to share my experiences.

To find out more about Alton’s approach to giving back, watch our inaugural LinkedIn Live session.

Find out more about Brown & Co by visiting: www.brown-co.com