editor’s forum
Give Back … But to Whom? You need a charitable partner for your business. But do your homework first.
That’s right, I’m guilty. Or at least I feel it. Who can blame me? It’s that time of year when giving becomes a business, a profit center, an empire. Commercials, mailers, and even Santa Claus (a weird irony) are speaking to us daily, guilting us into to giving, giving, giving. “You gave to that cause? Now give to mine.” And you know what? We should. Whether you are making millions or just scraping by—we are all blessed to do something we love to do. Those of us doing this more than a few years are taking care of others on what we make from this industry, so in reality it’s a double blessing. We should all have an outlet by which we give to others. Every business should have its “givee” as well. Whether you’re giving hundreds of dollars per month or just using Amazon Smile for your business purchases, (guilty!), having a charitable partner gives your business a social balance. But to whom should you give? Approach this like a major business decision. When you select new vendors, you consider product quality, after-service support, product mix fit, innovation and ease of doing business. Picking your charitable partner requires the same due diligence.
Before you narrow down to an organization, select a cause you believe in. We are all products of our experiences. I grew up in a single-parent home and saw how lack of parental guidance, low access to resources and better life examples, desire without direction and poor role models fed the endless circle of broken families and poverty. So I prioritize educational opportunities and societal change for children. You might be tempted to select what’s currently popular or in the news today, but go deeper. What really means something to you? Ask your staff as well. You will end up with a cause you all feel good about.
6 Mobile Electronics November 2018
You’ve determined your cause; now look for organizations that proactively supply transparency. Some charitable causes have so much bureaucracy that you don’t know if your contribution is helping someone in need or paying some high-level executive. All organizations are required to show their intake and how it is spent, but the organization you select should also let you easily see its yearly initiatives and how it uses contributions to accomplish those initiatives. Don’t be afraid to pick up the phone and call them. If you don’t get the answers you want, consider that a red flag.
“You might be tempted to select what’s currently popular or in the news today, but go deeper. What really means something to you?” My other thought on this is to look local first. Big organizations have the big marketing dollars, but there are smaller organizations that could be making an impact right where you live.
Once you’ve selected a charitable partner, go beyond the dollars when you can. What’s cool about local charitable partners is that you can visit and take part in what they are doing to better society. In any case, look for ways that you can do more than donate. Time is just as important to money. And if your business expertise can somehow benefit the organization, all the better. Good luck with your search and let me know which charitable partners you’ve selected. Maybe we can publish a good list in an upcoming issue. And by the way, have a joyous and fulfilling holiday season!
Why You Should Trust
Absolute Electronix
As a customer, the best feeling in the world for me is to work with a business that takes the time to understand my situation rather than just sell me what’s most profitable for them. That’s the experience you get from owner Ata Ehdaivand and the staff at Absolute Electronix. Rather than selling products, the highly experienced staff uses products to sell solutions, and they do it in welcoming, no-pressure store environment. They know that every client’s needs are based on their own preferences, so their first step is to listen to understand what matters to you. Then they offer personalized solutions that will improve your driving experience. Behind the scenes, they constantly train and research vehicle changes and product technology, so they can deliver the solution you need, when you need it.
