Together, groups can make a more meaningful impact when it comes to charitable giving. The number of members in a group means small donations of time or money can add up to have a large impact. Furthermore, the resulting impact can be felt equally by everyone who contributed.
‍
Giving back can have benefits that go beyond the charity impact as well. It provides another common goal for your group to rally around. When pursuing a common goal, members make additional connections with one another, tightening the overall sense of community in your group.

Charitable giving also builds your group’s goodwill with prospective members and the broader world -- simply put, doing good feels good. The likelihood that a new member joins your group may increase when you are recognized for charitable impact. Most importantly, groups are uniquely positioned to do additional good in this world. It would be a shame to let the opportunity pass by!

If organizing a charity sounds like a lot of work, remember, no one has to shoulder the burden of organizing a charitable donation themselves.

Instead, there are passionate members like you who are closely involved in a charity or local volunteer organization. Maybe it isn’t clear upfront who they are is, but you can use Heylo to see if any members have a suggestion. Simply float the idea by sending a message or post and seeking responses. Group responses can trigger further ideas.

After helping identify the appropriate charity, ask the passionate member to lead the charity project on behalf of your group.

Members of Project 13 Gyms in San Francisco helped raise over $6,000 as a group for Usher’s Syndrome research. One member who lives with the disease worked with the leaders of Project 13 to create a special Saturday workout organized with their digital community, along with a suggested donation to sign up for the class. Not only did the class sell out, raising both money and awareness of the disease, but members who weren’t able to attend still donated to the cause. Finding a personal connection to a charity among community members makes contributing much more meaningful.

No matter the charity, be sure to share the results with your community both in-person and digitally. Capture a human story from the experience and try to measure the total impact made. Share pictures from the event if applicable, or screenshots of the results.

Combining a heartwarming story about someone that was touched by the donations or work with the total impact made will lead to the greatest reward of charity.

Giving back doesn’t just have to be about money, it can also be in the form of time as well.

Cleanups at a park or serving food at your local soup kitchen are great ways to volunteer your group’s time. It can be a fun project for everyone to participate in, and they should feel encouraged to bring their family or loved ones as well.

No impact is more visceral than making a meaningful difference on a family in your local area. Giving back as a group has more impact than anyone can make alone. If each person in a group of 50 gave $10, then the group has $500 of impact. Gifts of this size can provide a family of 6 with snow boots for the winter season or send three kids back to school with new clothes and supplies. Small donations compiled across a large group really add up.

Giving to charity is, at its roots, about human connection and impact. People give in order to impact someone they know or something they can relate to, and even small numbers can add up to a larger impact with your group.