How to Give Back When Funds are Tight

In today’s climate, the cost of living is soaring — and so is the cost of doing business. Whether you’re a sole trader or a growing enterprise, navigating tight margins has become the norm. But while profitability may be squeezed, your ability to give back doesn’t need to be. In fact, now is a critical time to continue supporting non-profits and purpose-driven organisations. And it doesn’t have to cost you a cent.

Many businesses feel they can only engage in giving when they have surplus cash. But giving doesn’t always mean writing a cheque. The most valuable contributions often come from skills, networks, and infrastructure already within your reach. Here’s how your business can give back -  without taking a hit to your bottom line.

1. Offer Pro Bono or Discounted Services

One of the most powerful ways a business can give back is by offering what it does best - its core products or services.

Whether you’re a lawyer, accountant, marketing consultant, or software provider, consider offering pro bono or discounted support to non-profits in need. These organisations often operate with minimal overhead and limited resources, which means your expertise could fill a critical gap.

For example:

• A law firm could assist a charity with their governance, contracts, or privacy policies.

• A marketing agency could help develop a donor engagement strategy or a year-end giving campaign.

• An accountant could offer end-of-year support or help with compliance reporting.

If you can’t commit to ongoing support, consider setting aside a certain number of hours each quarter or partnering with one non-profit each year.

2. Use What You Already Have - Smarter

Giving back doesn’t need to mean doing more - it can simply mean doing what you already do, with purpose.

Think about your supply chain, your assets, or your routes. Is there a way to share those with a non-profit doing good work?

A great example of this is businesses that align their operations with delivery support. A trucking or logistics company could partner with a baby goods charity and deliver nappies or formula as part of their regular routes. A café could donate leftover food to a local shelter at closing time. A coworking space could offer unused desks to a social enterprise for free. These aren’t new costs - they’re smarter uses of existing infrastructure.

This kind of giving is highly effective because it leverages operational strengths, creates genuine impact, and doesn’t drain financial resources.

3. Skill-Sharing and Volunteering – During Paid Hours

If cash donations are off the table, consider offering paid volunteer time for your team. Many employees are keen to give back but struggle to find the time outside of work hours.

By allocating even one or two days a year for volunteering, you’re helping non-profits tap into motivated, skilled support, and giving your team a sense of meaning and engagement.

You could:

• Let staff volunteer their professional skills (e.g. a graphic designer helping design posters for a fundraising event).

• Support hands-on volunteering (e.g. a team day helping with a local clean-up or foodbank).

If time is limited, consider hosting a “volunteer lunch-and-learn” where a non-profit shares their mission and gives employees a chance to sign up for short-term, skills-based projects.

4. Micro-Giving and In-Kind Support

Giving doesn’t need to be large to be impactful. Small, consistent giving - especially when it’s systemised - can add up over time.

Ideas include:

• Donating a percentage of sales from a particular product or service.

• Giving clients the option to add a $1 donation to their invoice.

• Donating unused or surplus stock, furniture, or equipment.

Even using your platform to raise awareness of a cause - through your social media, email newsletters, or events - is a form of valuable support that costs nothing.

5. Co-Create a Partnership That Makes Sense

Instead of viewing giving as a one-way street, consider what a mutually beneficial partnership could look like.

Talk to a non-profit that aligns with your values and explore how you can support each other long-term. Maybe you can offer mentorship, help them apply for grants, or invite them to speak at your next client event. In return, they might offer training, shared content, or even referrals.

Sustainable giving happens when the relationship is genuine - and when both sides benefit from the connection.

Rethinking how you give

In hard times, generosity can feel like a luxury. But some of the most impactful contributions come not from abundance, but from creativity.

The business landscape is changing - and so is the way we define giving. More than ever, non-profits need partners who are invested, innovative, and willing to think outside the donation box.

So, if your business is feeling the pinch, don’t let that stop you. Look around. Look within. Chances are, you already have something valuable to give.

This is general guidance. Want to know more? For tailored support on embedding giving into your business model, book a consult here - it’s how we give back