Beyond the Donation: 8 Creative Ways to Support Nonprofits in Your Community

There are over 2 million nonprofit organizations in the United States. These nonprofits work tirelessly to address community needs, tackle important issues, and make a difference. Most nonprofits rely on donations from community members and businesses who want to be part of the change. 

 

In 2023, businesses and corporations gave over $36 billion to nonprofits. These funds support vital causes like feeding families, housing those in need, and providing access to education.

 

The value of giving to those less fortunate than ourselves is ingrained in our society, and your financial institution is probably off to a pretty good start. Most banks and credit unions give generously to nonprofits in their communities; this is a great way to show community members that you care about them and local issues. 

 

But while most financial institutions give back, much of this support relies heavily on monetary donations. Providing support to nonprofits isn’t just about writing a check and patting yourself on the back. Sure, that one-time donation can do some good. But nonprofits thrive on long-lasting partnerships and real relationships with their donors. And guess what? Building relationships doesn’t always mean giving money.

 

Nonprofits can receive donations from dozens of sources, but sometimes they need less conventional support. In fact, there are lots of ways you can support the nonprofits in your community beyond giving donations. 

 

Here are some ideas. 

 

Need help planning your nonprofit partnerships? Download this Nonprofit Partnership Template.

 

Download the nonprofit partnership template

 

1. Provide employee volunteers

 

Many nonprofits thrive on in-person events that raise awareness, money, and support. But few nonprofits have the resources and manpower they need to carry out big events or make a real difference. This is especially true for small, community-focused nonprofits. 

 

What a great opportunity for your financial institution to step in and give these nonprofits the help they need! You probably already have an employee volunteer program, so why not offer your employees’ services to the nonprofits in your area? 

 

Let employees know about upcoming events and ask for volunteers. Some banks and credit unions require employees to volunteer a certain number of hours in the community each quarter or year, and this is a great way to nudge employees. 

 

If the volunteer opportunity aligns with your employees’ expertise, those service hours might even count towards your Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) program. Win-win! 

 

 

 

2. Let nonprofits use your meeting rooms or event spaces

 

In addition to not having enough volunteers for big events, many nonprofits struggle to find space for events, meetings, and other needs. 

 

Your bank or credit union branches probably have a few conference rooms or large areas that aren’t being utilized 24/7. You might try offering this space to local nonprofits. 

 

This space could be used for board meetings, client introductions, fundraisers, staff meetings, and so much more. Imagine how much good that nonprofit could do when they no longer have to worry about the logistics of where they’ll meet!

 

As long as you set up a schedule and avoid double-booking the rooms, this is bound to be a positive experience for all parties. This is also a great way to encourage nonprofits to bank with your institution and take advantage of the financial services you offer. 

 

 

 3. Donate old office supplies

 

Here’s a heartwarming story for you…

 

In 2020, North American Savings Bank (NASB) was looking for a way to responsibly repurpose decommissioned computer equipment. They partnered with PCs for People, a nonprofit that recycles and refurbishes used electronics. Working together, NASB and PCs for People refurbished the donated equipment and gave it to local community organizations. 

 

This is a wonderful way to support the nonprofits in your area! Nonprofits want to spend their time and money supporting a cause, not finding office equipment or managing tech. By donating your institution’s old office equipment and supplies, you can give them a new life in the hands of someone doing a lot of good. Plus, it keeps hundreds of computers out of the landfill. You can read the rest of the story here.  

 

 

4. Co-host events and fundraisers

 

Sometimes nonprofits just need a little clout. One way to lend a helping hand is by lending your name and brand. 

 

Try co-hosting an event with a local nonprofit. Promote these events to your customers/members through emails, newsletters, flyers, and word of mouth. Your own audience may be an untapped gold mine for these nonprofits, and spreading the word is one of the best ways you can show your support. 

 

You can even take the lead on event logistics. Letting your employees plan and organize the event allows the nonprofit to focus on what matters most to them. There are many different types of events you could co-host, including:

 

• Charity walks

• Bake sales 

• Auctions 

• Fundraisers

• Financial education workshops

• Park cleanups

• Back-to-school drives

• Food drives and meal prep workshops

 

The type of event you co-host depends on the type of nonprofit you’re partnering with. Work with that nonprofit to set goals and expectations, and keep them in the loop for all event decisions. 

 

Check out this article to learn how Univest Financial uses Kadince to track and manage events.

 

 

5. Encourage leaders in your institution to join nonprofit boards

 

Asking your leadership team to join a nonprofit's board is a win-win for both the financial institution and the nonprofit. 

 

While nonprofits do incredible work throughout the community, sometimes they could use some financial and/or business advice. Having a prominent member of your financial institution serve on a nonprofit board gives them access to your leader’s wisdom. 

 

A study by the Nonprofit Research Collaborative found that 60% of organizations with active board involvement achieved their yearly targets, compared to 53% that didn’t have active engagement.

 

This is another way to earn some CRA credit for your institution. CRA examiners love to see bank leadership serving on nonprofit boards, and the time they spend can count towards your service hours. Outstanding rating, here we come! 

 

 

 

6. Highlight the nonprofit in newsletters and on social media

 

Again, introducing your audience to a new nonprofit is a great way to support that nonprofit. If your institution has an annual, quarterly, monthly, or weekly newsletter, you could include a section that highlights various nonprofits and tells your readers how to learn more. 

 

Most banks and credit unions have some form of social media, whether it’s Facebook, Instagram, X, TikTok, or LinkedIn. Social media is a great way to grow your customer base and showcase the cool things your institution does in the community. What if you posted a weekly nonprofit highlight? Don’t forget to tag them! 

 

Read this article to learn how to encourage your followers to support a cause on social media.

 

 

7. Make introductions throughout the community

 

Your institution likely has something that many nonprofits lack: a well-established network. Use your connections to help nonprofits build relationships with businesses, community leaders, and individuals who share their passion for making a difference. These types of introductions are crucial for smaller nonprofits, as they often don’t have the ties needed to connect with important community members on their own.  

 

Start by identifying overlaps between your nonprofit partner’s mission and the goals of businesses or individuals in your network. For example, connect a nonprofit focused on youth mentorship with a local business wanting to invest in education. 

 

Consider hosting a networking event at your institution where you invite local businesses and community leaders to meet with nonprofits and learn about their mission. These interactions can lead to long-term partnerships, new funding sources, or expanded volunteer bases.  

 

Don’t forget to follow up after making introductions to ensure the connection was beneficial. By staying engaged, you position your institution as a community leader while helping nonprofits grow their reach and impact.   

 

 

8. Provide free training

 

The last (but certainly not least) way to support nonprofits beyond monetary donations is to provide much-needed training and education that will help them take their nonprofit work to the next level and make a real difference. 

 

The people running each nonprofit are doing the best they can, but while they have a big heart, they may not have the knowledge needed to run a successful business. By offering this training free of charge, you can support these nonprofits and prepare them for future growth. You might try training on leadership, technology, finances, marketing, event planning, and so much more. 

 

These efforts not only strengthen nonprofits but also position your institution as a committed community partner. 

 

 

 

Beyond the donation

 

You can’t donate to every single nonprofit in your community, but you can show your support in other ways. From providing volunteers to co-hosting events to highlighting nonprofits in your company newsletter, there are so many ways to make a difference. 

 

So pick one of the ideas above and give it a try. With over 2 million nonprofits in the U.S., there’s no shortage of opportunities to make a difference

 

And when it’s time to start tracking those volunteer hours, donations, and events, Kadince software can help. 

 

Kadince makes it easy to track and manage your community involvement data, so you never have to worry about missing volunteer hours or letting donation requests slip through the cracks. 

 

With Kadince, you can:

 

• Keep a profile on each organization you support (store information like tax status, mission statement, contact info, etc.)

• Make it easy for employees to find and register for events

• Create web-based forms to easily collect volunteer hours

• Receive all donation/sponsorship requests through online application forms

• Use workflows to route requests/volunteer hours to the proper approver(s)

 

Sound like a dream come true? Schedule a demo today to learn more. 

 

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