Business doesn’t have to be a cutthroat endeavor. There are many businesses that not only survive, but thrive with the mindset of being good to their employees, providing great customer service, and giving back to the world beyond the company. Here are some great examples of businesses that propel forward by giving back.
You may have heard about Toms “one for one” program. When the Toms shoe brand started, for every pair of shoes they sold, they would give a pair of shoes to someone in need. Fast forward thirteen years later and Toms has given away almost 100 million shoes worldwide. They have also become one of the most successful shoe brands in the world.
The company has now expanded their philanthropy efforts by donating 1/3 of their net annual profits towards everything from giving away more shoes, grants for education, clean water initiatives and so much more. Toms is a great example of how doing good in the world can also be great for business.
Qualtrics is a software management software that used its sponsorship platform to raise money to fight against cancer. When the NBA started adding sponsorship patches to their jerseys, instead of displaying the Qualtrics patch on each Utah Jazz jersey, they decided to feature the ‘5 For the Fight’ patch.
5 For the Fight represents a program where anyone can donate $5 and 100% of the donations go towards funding research for the fight against cancer. Here’s how the program works:
This campaign has had a massive impact. Schools, businesses and celebrities have all joined the 5 For the Fight, and it continues to grow and raise more money every year.
For Better, Not Worse is a clothing company in Los Angeles that as they succeed, they spread the love by giving back to their local community. For every shirt they sell, they provide groceries to a kid in need. To add a personalized touch to their generosity, they hand deliver these bags of groceries.
This company continues to grow as word gets out that they also help their community, and in turn, they help more and more children and families in need. It’s a perfect example of a positive feedback loop.
These are just three of our favorite examples of companies that give back as they continue to grow. AvantGuard is a firm believer in providing excellent service not only to your customers, but also to our community. We’ve been growing year over year on that premise and showing, like the companies above, that giving back to others can be a successful business model.