Want to Support a Charity? Send These 3 Promotions That’ll Make Customers Happy, Too

Want to Support a Charity? Send These 3 Promotions That’ll Make Customers Happy, Too

Will your business support a charity this holiday season? Supporting a local cause isn’t just good for your community, it’s good for business too. Research shows 83% of American consumers want businesses to support causes, and 41% have bought a product because it was associated with a cause.

You can support a cause in a variety of ways. You can arrange volunteer sessions with employees and customers, set up a donation drive or collect donations at the register.

Donating a dollar (or two) at the checkout has become a popular option for both businesses and customers. Seventy-two percent of consumers have donated to a cause at checkout and 65% of those consumers felt positive about the business after giving.

If you plan to support a charity this season, here are three promotions you can send to your customers to encourage their support.

Collect charity donations at the register, offer a free item

You can promote the charity and your business at the same time by offering a reward to those who donate to the charity at the checkout.

Consider offering a gift, free item, or a deep discount to anyone who makes a certain donation. For smaller donations, consider giving away company swag, like a drink koozie or reusable bag. For larger donations, consider upping the reward to a free ball cap or coffee mug.

Here’s what to enter as a promotion in Fivestars, just change what’s in the brackets to fit your needs:

What’s the promotional offer?

  • Make a donation and receive a free gift!

What’s the occasion?

  • Make a [$5] donation at the register to [Name of charity] and we’ll give you a free [type of gift].

When does the promotion expire?

  • Two days after sending the promotion

Collect goods, offer a coupon for next visit

Some businesses prefer to collect goods for charities. Whether you collect presents, host a can drive, or ask customers to bring in gently used winter coats, you can encourage more participation with a promotion.

Again, it’s a good idea to offer customers an incentive to participate. Consider giving customers a coupon that’s good for their next visit if they bring in a donation.

Here’s what to enter as a promotion in Fivestars, just change what’s in the brackets to fit your needs:

What’s the promotional offer?

  • Bring in a donation and get [discount amount] off your next purchase.

What’s the occasion?

  • We’re collecting [Name of item] for [Name of charity]. Bring in your donation, and claim your coupon.

When does the promotion expire?

  • Two days after sending the promotion

Organize a volunteer event, give away t-shirts

Some businesses decide to volunteer their time. Whether you serve meals at the shelter, wrap toys for those in need or spend time building a home for those less fortunate, you can get customers involved in the action, too.

Get a combination of employees and customers to sign up to volunteer for specific shifts. Of course, you’ll need to coordinate this with your local charity, but most non-profits are not only happy for the help, but for coordinating the shifts too.

Put a signup sheet at your register and ask customers if they’d like to volunteer with your business. If they’re interested, have them sign up for a date and time. To give customers an extra nudge, let them know that they’ll receive a free t-shirt to wear at the event if they volunteer.

Here’s what to enter as a promotion in Fivestars, just change what’s in the brackets to fit your needs:

What’s the promotional offer?

  • Sign up to volunteer with [Name of charity] and get a free t-shirt.

What’s the occasion?

  • Help us support [Name of charity] by signing up for a volunteer shift at your next visit.

When does the promotion expire?

  • A week after sending the promotion

Be sure to start your promotions early. Consumer donations were up 4% in 2015, but there’s a lot of competition for charitable donations. By running promotions now and offering an incentive, you’ll likely see the best results for your local charity.

Lisa Furgison
About the Author
Lisa Furgison

Lisa is a writer at Fivestars, a freelance journalist, and co-owner of a media company, McEwen's Media.

Leave a Comment