You may have heard of the B1G1 project. Quite simply, it is a way for businesses to provide help and support to the most vulnerable people and environments in the world, just by getting on with the ordinary work we do every day.
Originally called Buy 1 Give 1, B1G1 in a non-profit organisation based in Singapore. The model allows for businesses to contribute to pre-vetted projects by “embedded” giving. Part of why B1G1 has been a big success story is because it makes giving easy for businesses to do. A typical way “embedded” giving might work, is that a company might opt to donate every time they take on a new client, sell a new product, reaches a milestone.
Their approved charities have all been checked by B1G1, to ensure their finances are in order and that they work effectively. This way, participating businesses can rest assured that their donations are making a real impact on the issues they want to support. Businesses and their staff become connected to the projects they support and those involved soon realise how much impact they can have on someone’s life by making a small change.
The central idea is to make giving a part of your everyday business and eventually it will become a natural movement that benefits everyone in the community.
If you are struggling to choose a project, ask yourself or your team what areas they feel most strongly about or if they have friends or relatives affected by any of the causes.
Another easy way of making giving a habit is by downloading the app, Impact Now, to your phone. The app makes allocating teams or individuals easy and when you have ticked off an objective, you can simply press donate to the cause the team have decided on.
The B1G1 Facebook group provides another opportunity to virtually meet and build relationships; to identify what others are doing and what tips you can make use of for your company. We can all benefit from each other’s experience.
Spread the word and the work internally as well. Instead of leaving your B1G1 in the hands of one staff member, build a team of individuals to work together, make the decisions on projects and release the donations. This is also a great team building endeavour, that your business will benefit from in a multitude of ways.
B1G1 offers the chance to give back to others who haven’t had the same opportunities you have had. Getting involved encourages your company to build a strong sense of purpose and promote a giving culture that can transform the way a business works. It improves staff loyalty and morale and genuinely helps others in need.
After researching B1G1, Assure UK will shortly be introducing the project into our everyday business practice and we look forward to updating you with how we get along. If you want to keep up to date, check back here, or sign up for our newsletter and follow us on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.