3 Ways to Make an Impact at Community Organizations

You stand up and tell the group’s story, with some staff support.

You tell your friends you are a member and ask them to join, too.

The organization gains new members that night.

2. Fundraising.

Most people cannot look someone in the eyes and ask them for money.

This is your superpower. You join the committee raising money for sponsorship of an event like the golf outing or garden party.

It is easier to get in front of business owners talking about a charity instead of talking about business.

Opportunity: You become a sponsor. You ask business owners to “join me as a sponsor.” They agree.

You make sure they attend the event, even if you do the driving. You walk them around, introducing them to the organization’s high-profile leadership.

You sit with them at a lively table and see they have a good time. You learn enough about them to reconnect afterwards.

3. Event planning.

Organizations have plenty of people capable of spending money, fewer who know how to raise it.

Your fundraising superpower can come into play here, however here is another idea.

They should have a live and silent auction at the gala event.

They need great items to auction off to raise money. These need to be solicited.

Opportunity: Who donates a week at their beach house or a flight in their private plane?

Not people with no assets. It’s people who own businesses or live on large estates. Working with someone else from the organization, you solicit these auction items.

You make sure the donor attends the event. You sit with them as they watch their item fetch a high price. You have a good time together.

Just as you do in the fundraising scenario, you learn enough to reconnect afterwards.

You’re building your reputation as a worker bee who gets results.

Everyone knows what you do for a living. They want to keep you happy and involved.

Who knows where this might lead?

Pictured: A volunteer packages food at a food bank. Credit: Halfpoint/Adobe Stock