Making the Case for Social Responsibility

Entrepreneurs as citizens have an inherit obligation to give back to the communities that have given them so much. Some organizations sponsor a few charity events a year, others donate a percentage of profits, and unfortunately many do nothing at all. In this post I am attempting to reach the demographic of entrepreneurs who do not actively believe in the importance of social responsibility and giving back to their community. I realize I may not be able to sway you with emotionally charged rhetoric and references to a higher power; so instead I will take a much more realistic and quantifiable approach that will hopefully persuade even the most stereotypical scrooge.

Partnering with and contributing to a recognized charitable organization will provide numerous benefits to any new venture. For instance, partnering with an established charitable organization will give your venture nearly instant credibility and cross branding opportunities. You may be able to leverage your partnership with the organization to gain access to essential contacts through their network. You can also develop interesting methods to help the organization as well as further extend your brand. For instance, profileAds allows users to donate their points to the Accelerated Cure Project for MS. One of the most quantifiable and logical reasons to partner/contribute to a charitable organization is the PR leverage that is available afterwards. Newspapers and other media outlets that would previously ignore your press release will in most cases be more than happy to provide coverage on your new venture and how you are being a responsible social entrepreneur.

While at first glance this post may seem heartless and calculating, I am aiming this towards the entrepreneurs who place charitable contributions and giving back at the bottom of their priority list. I am offering an alternative and quantifiable perspective as to why they should make their start-up a socially responsible venture. Regardless of the reasoning the end result is still a benefit for the greater good (as well as for the new venture).