I work for a company that is looking into setting up and running a philanthropic team-building event. I was wondering if you had any ideas for fundraising events that would be team-building and philanthropic?

As a company, you need to determine your objectives and decide how you will be handling your event. First, you must decide what philanthropic cause will be the best fit for you as a company and your corporate image. Do you want to be known for supporting the environment, education, sports, or the arts, be a champion of something tied to children in need, support research or a specific cause? Once you choose the type of philanthropic cause you wish to underwrite, it will help you to design a team-building event that is the perfect fit for your company and the cause you are supporting, and one that will help you meet all your event objectives tied to both team-building and helping the nonprofit sector.

It is important to identify everything – and be very honest – that you hope to achieve from this venture (e.g. are you looking simply to tie a company team-building event into something that gives back, or are you also looking at the event as a means to link your company name to a specific cause, promote your brand to potential new customers in addition to helping others, etc.) What you and your colleagues will be undertaking – both personally and professionally – is an investment of time, money and energy, and you will need to be able to enlist everyone’s full support.

You also have to decide if you will be handling the event on your own or doing it in partnership with a nonprofit organization. If you are working in partnership with a nonprofit organization, they may need to play a major part in the event decision-making process as well. Both you and the nonprofit have company images, rules and regulations, legal issues, terms and conditions to meet and uphold. For example, it may or may not be a requirement that their board of directors is actively involved with your committee members and that all promotional material featuring their organization’s name or logo is approved by them before you can use it.

There are many types of corporate team-building activities that you can undertake. One company that wanted to do something for children in need did a team-building event where they turned the backyard of a safe house for children into a wonderful playground haven. The looks on the children’s faces when their new backyard was unveiled brought tears to everyone involved in the project. Teams were not competitive, but all had to work together with regards to timing and logistics. One team was in charge of providing food all day long; another team put up protective fencing; one poured concrete and put in a basketball court; while others worked on setting up the swing sets etc. The following year, this same company decided to make a summer camp for underprivileged children handicapped-accessible. It meant widening pathways so that wheelchairs could be accommodated, revamping washrooms, putting in ramps, etc. They also enlisted the support of local suppliers to help them with expert guidance and direction. In each case, they first checked with the nonprofit organization to see what type of team-building activity would most benefit them. Some organizations, such as Habitat for Humanity, may already have corporate team-building options in place.

Another company wanted to undertake a team-building project that everyone in their offices across the country could partake in. Each region pulled together to put on their own fundraising golf tournament on the same day to support the local branch of the nonprofit organization they had selected to support. It was an overwhelming success and the bonus was that the employees got to spend quality time with potential new customers, while also raising money for a good cause and working together as a team.

Another example is of a company that had an abundance of outstanding musical talent and decided that, as a team-building event to raise money, they would work together and stage a live concert. Their effort was so successful it has become an annual event and each year they choose a different charity to support.

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For paid professional event planning consulting – event design, site selection critique, venue and supplier contract review, budget analysis, strategic planning, event logistical and timing requirements, and on-site orchestration – contact Judy directly at Judy Allen Productions.

Advice and recommendations are based on limited information provided and should be used as a guideline only. Neither the author nor CharityVillage.com make any warranty, express or implied, or assume any legal liability for accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of any information provided in whole or in part within this article.