To help you engage in impactful charitable programs that builds your brand and your business, here are some tips from philanthropist Joelle O’Reilly-Hyland for your business to engage in charitable actions that is most relevant.
Consumers nowadays are savvier with higher expectations of companies due to presence of tools that give them greater access to company information. Instead of merely doing “goodwashing” (doing a few virtuous things to bolster their reputation), consumers now expect companies to start having more real impact on society.
Community Relevance
It is important to support the organizations and causes that are relevant to your local community. For example, women education is a decent cause for companies to lend their support to. According to philanthropist Joelle O’Reilly-Hyland, without a decent education, it’s unlikely that women will enter leadership positions, contributing to another gender equality gap in the United States. Women tended to work the same hours, and just as hard as men do. Yet, women aren’t fairly compensated for the work they do.
Hence, by supporting education for women, companies can demonstrate to consumers their commitment to reducing income inequality for women.
Target Relevance: Examples from Joelle O’Reilly-Hyland
Your philanthropic efforts should resonate with your target audience. By supporting the things they care about, you gain their attention, respect, and trust. So research the events that trigger your targets’ charitable donations and the appeals that motivate their participation, and then align yourself with them.
If your target market cares deeply about child rights, then make it a point to support programs an donations that contribute towards the protection of rights for children. Philanthropist Joelle O’Reilly-Hyland has visited exhibitions which aimed to raise awareness of child marriage in developing countries. Joelle O’Reilly-Hyland believed that we can do more to advocate for change within these countries. Specifically, companies and social workers should do all they can to ensure that girls in these countries obtain a full and decent education, so they can speak out on their own behalf and fight back against the oppression placed upon them by an early marriage.
Charitable giving and actions have a tangible impact on company branding. By supporting the things your target demographic cares about, you gain their attention, respect, and trust, as demonstrated by Joelle O’Reilly-Hyland’s practices.
About Joelle O’Reilly-Hyland
Joelle O’Reilly-Hyland is a philanthropist with a big heart. And, in order to maximize her ability to provide aid, Joelle O’Reilly Hyland is partnering with the very best non-profits. Currently, her main interest is in Educate Girls Globally (EGG), a non-profit that has helped educate girls in India and is looking to expand as she and the founders believe the model will work anywhere, no matter how difficult the environment. As EGG looks to branch out into Africa, Joelle O’Reilly-Hyland, has forged an alliance with Africare, which was founded by former Peace Corps members in 1970.
Africare are operational on the ground in 27 countries throughout Africa. Their focus is on hunger but they were looking for an educational component to their work. Women are typically the farmers in Africa, and women who can read make better farmers, not to mention mentors to future generations as the family educators. The results for educating women are exponential and expand well beyond learning metrics.
