Successful people are always looking for opportunities to help others. Unsuccessful people are always asking, 'What's in it for me?

-Brian Tracy

A while back I talked about Bill Gates, Warren Buffet and the rest of the big boys sharing their money and generally giving back to the world. I want to talk a little more about that today.

Corporate social responsibility. Philanthropy. Giving back to the community.

The thing is, everybody is doing it – Wal-Mart is giving to the Heart and Stroke Foundation, McDonald’s has Ronald McDonald House, Home Depot helps Habitat for Humanity – and it’s great! Philanthropy is becoming trendy.

But what if you don’t have the volume of customers needed to raise money by asking for a few pennies here or there, what if you aren’t big enough to buy a hospital wing? Why bother at all?

Well, without trying to sound too much like a Hallmark card – here’s five reasons why you should practice some form of corporate social responsibility:

1. Giving implies success.
2. Giving says “we care”- it’s that emotional connection that sales people look for.
3. Giving can be tax deductable.
4. Giving associates your business with good things.
5. Giving to your community feels good for everyone in the company – and that strengthens your team and your brand.

Okay, Dom, you’ve convinced me, me and my small business would love to become a giving corporate entity. But profits are down and we’ve really had to cut back, I don’t see how we can contribute…

How can you be “giving” in this economy? Here’s some suggestions:

1. Organize food drives, toy drives, bake sales, 50/50 draws.
2. Consider alternatives to your big company Christmas “do” – start planning early.
3. Ask employees to contribute a small percentage of their paychecks to a charitable organization – a couple of bucks every paycheck becomes $24 by the end of the year.
4. Offer your services or products at a discounted rate to charitable organizations – they will often return the favour by putting your logo somewhere to recognize your contribution.
5. Provide volunteer teams to help out in fundraising events like festivals and races.

Social responsibility is so important in so many ways right now – if there is a way for you to give back, believe me it’s worth it.

See if you can find a way.