How to Develop a Philanthropic Strategy That Actually Benefits All Stakeholders

Corporate social responsibility is a hot topic in the business world, and that has a lot to do with the environmental, emotional, and financial issues currently affecting humanity. But in a capitalist world, it’s nearly impossible to do what’s right without first convincing stakeholders.

5 Steps to Creating a Stakeholder-Friendly Philanthropic Strategy

In this article, we’ll discuss how to develop a philanthropic strategy that actually benefits all stakeholders, whether you’re looking to learn how to start a homeless shelter or a hospice.

Step 1: Identify Your Stakeholders

You can’t create a successful philanthropic strategy without knowing who your stakeholders are. Think about who has a vested interest in the success of your philanthropic efforts, such as donors, volunteers, the community, and any organization or individuals you’re working with.

Once you’re familiar with your stakeholders, you can begin to think about how to best serve their needs. In a best-case scenario, your stakeholders will align with your organization’s end goals. If you’re still in the initial planning stages for your business, try to find like-minded stakeholders.

Step 2: Assess Your Resources

After you’ve identified your stakeholders, assess the resources you have available to achieve your philanthropic goals. Consider your time, money, staff, and any other supplies you have access to. Make sure to coordinate all resources to ensure they align with your objectives.

Healthcare software, such as Human Services Software found at footholdtechnology.com, can offer full functionality for homeless information management, making collaboration a breeze. It can work with agencies across the spectrum of human services, allowing for more use cases.

Step 3: Implement Your Plan

While it’s essential to go over your business plan with stakeholders, you need to first develop a strategy that sounds attractive to everyone involved. Rigorous analysis and easy-to-read data will help stakeholders get on board with your idea or tweak aspects that aren’t favorable.

Next, start implementing your plan by reaching out to key parties (i.e., volunteers), developing a budget, and creating a timeline for your project. If you want to get started on the “how to start a homeless shelter” plan, make sure to walk your stakeholders through your process and goals.

Step 4: Engage and Communicate

It’s only fair to engage and communicate with the people funding or supporting your business. After the initial plan is complete, it’s your job to keep your stakeholders informed and give them the power to change things as they go, provided they don’t fall away from your initial plans.

It’s a good idea to develop two-way communication avenues that create feedback loops on what works and doesn’t. Encourage your stakeholders to be active in your philanthropic projects by asking them questions and suggesting regular philanthropic strategy audits and changes.

Step 5: Be 100% Authentic

To create or refine a culture of corporate philanthropy, you must make sure your plan is consistent, both externally and internally. But most of all, your plan should be authentic and transparent, or you’ll damage the trust and goodwill you’ve built among stakeholders.

Keep in mind that workers, volunteers, and advertisers will judge you based on your corporate culture and values. You should always “walk the walk” to build and maintain good relationships.

Conclusion

Developing a successful philanthropic strategy takes time and effort, but it’s worth it. Having your key players on board makes it more likely your philanthropic efforts will be successful.

By following the steps outlined in this article, you can create a strategy that includes all vital stakeholders while at the same time keeping them happy, involved, and completely engaged.