Does the word “volunteer” make you think of firemen or the Armed Forces? The fact is, most volunteers are small businesspeople … and for good reason.
A whopping 88 percent of business volunteers say their motivation is giving something back to the community, according to Cleveland-based Business Volunteers Unlimited (BVU). But nearly as many say their pro bono experience enhances their leadership and professional skills while developing their professional connections.
“In addition to knowing that they are doing good, business volunteers also want to create a tangible difference in return for contributions of their time and money,” says COSE Executive Director Steve Millard.
Alice Korngold, president and CEO of BVU, says that’s just the first step.
“The challenge is often figuring out where and how to volunteer, because the activity needs to be one that suits one’s personal passion,” Korngold says. “Small business owners are terrific board members for nonprofits, because they truly understand the strategic, financial and operational challenges of running a smaller enterprise.”
Many area business owners believe giving staff time off to perform civic duties makes for better employees. Enhanced management skills and an improved ability to relate to other businesses rate as just two substantial benefits.
The “V” word is being uttered around small businesses now more than ever, especially with corporate entities under the microscope. Volunteerism is more critical than ever, and small business leaders need to step up to the plate.
When you add in the fact that small businesses employ nearly 70 percent of the area’s workers, serving community nonprofits can really make a statement of how strong small business is in Cleveland.
Though the practice of advancing one’s business interests by volunteering has been around for decades, the core of volunteerism is still rooted in goodwill. Says Korngold, “Teams of employees from small business often adopt a nonprofit that can use hands-on help, from fixing up a room in a shelter to serving food to the hungry to planting flowers at a home for children or seniors.” Terri Kevany is the director of communications and marketing at the Greater Cleveland Growth Association and encourages her staff to volunteer in organizations throughout Northeast Ohio. COSE is the nation’s largest chamber of commerce and the region’s largest small business organization. It provides such small business advantages as health insurance, workers’ compensation coverage, education, networking opportunities and government advocacy. It also serves as an educator and aggregator of energy buyers for increased savings. Executive Director Steve Millard can be reached at (216) 592-2436 or at www.cose.org. For more information on small business volunteer opportunities, contact Business Volunteers Unlimited at (216) 736-7711.
