How volunteering can grow your business: Build trust and relationships

#BeavertonBusiness

As a small business owner or startup, you work more than 9 to 5. In fact, you might work every day and think you just don’t have time for things like volunteering. We believe you should schedule volunteering like another workday for multiple reasons. First, as you want to ‘receive’ in growing your business, giving back completes the circle. Second, it’s a great way to meet people which is effectively expanding your network. When you help others, they want to help you too. Knowing that you are committed to your community or to an organization builds trust with people and you are starting that relationship in a neutral zone, not as an owner needing new business.

What does this look like? If you aren’t already volunteering in a particular organization, find one in an industry similar to yours or pick an opportunity in a field you feel passionate about. For instance, we like wine and know how hard it is for wineries to build their business. We volunteer at fundraisers that benefit the wine industry or support a particular winery as we enjoy it, meet new people, make business connections, and feel great about giving back to a community

How much time should you spend? Ideally, an opportunity a quarter or monthly if you can do it. Organizations like Volunteer Match or Points of Light have a search tool so you can see what’s coming up and may be a great fit for your schedule. If there is an industry you are interested in, a Google search matching that with “charity event” often brings up events in the near future that need volunteers.

Look within your community as well. Local farmer’s market, neighborhood associations, or cities will have multiple opportunities to get engaged and the connections you make will be hyper local. It’s a great way to mutually support local businesses. Here are a couple of great places to volunteer in the Beaverton area:

Beaverton Downtown Association

The Beaverton Downtown Association was formed to enhance the community identity and heritage, foster a center of activity and ensure economic stability for the heart of downtown Beaverton. Its mission is to promote the historic preservation of downtown Beaverton while supporting its economic, physical, and social environment.

While every part of the city is important – the BDA efforts are focused on the historic downtown area. The BDA has produced events to bring people downtown and supported changes to the downtown’s physical environment such as streetscape improvements, landscape enhancements, art, and new business signage.

The BDA is a nonprofit organization incorporated as a 501(c)3- powered by passionate volunteers who want to make downtown a great place to be. (https://www.downtownbeaverton.org/volunteer)

Patricia Reser Center for the Arts

The Patricia Reser Center for the Arts is currently under construction in downtown Beaverton and is anticipated to open to the public in late 2021. The center will be a world-class multidisciplinary arts center to enhance the cultural and economic vitality of Beaverton, Washington County, and the greater region by providing more access to arts, entertainment, and educational programming for residents and visitors. It will be an arts and entertainment destination drawing from far and wide; a home for a variety of touring programs, professional performances, and a much–needed rental resource to regional arts groups. The Reser Center will offer educational and family programming in the visual and performing arts and host business, civic, and social events.

The Patricia Reser Center for the Arts will offer many volunteer opportunities for community members to engage with the center, including as an usher, gallery docent, and special projects. Interested in volunteering? Send them an email at the address below and they will follow up in mid-2021 as we prepare for opening! (Cleo Knickerbocker, Executive/Administrative Assistant. Patrica Reser Center for the Arts)

Faith Cafe

Located in the heart of downtown Beaverton, the Faith Cafe offers a free, hot home-style meal every Sunday at 5:00 pm at Bethel Congregational United Church of Christ. Faith Café is also open the last Thursday of every month for dinner at 5 pm.

Before Faith Cafe opened, there were no free, drop-in hot meal programs for people of all ages who were hungry between downtown Portland and Hillsboro. Since their founding in 2005, Faith Cafe has served over 144,000 free meals. (Reach out here to volunteer: Faith Cafe)

As always, you can email joanne@winehausco.com to ask your small business marketing questions.

WineHaus Marketing is located in downtown Beaverton. We work with small and mid-sized businesses wanting to improve their online presence. We focus on three key areas that drive success: Website Design, Social Media Marketing, and Email Marketing. For a free consultation, call 971-724-2347 or email hello@winehausco.com.