Learn about local and national organizations you can support through corporate giving initiatives.
As a socially responsible company, it’s our honor – and duty – to support organizations that help our community thrive. Over the past nine years, we’ve contributed gifts-in-kind, time, talent, and over $100,000 in cash to organizations and charities that serve Dane County and beyond. Why do we do it? Not only does corporate giving help make the Madison area a better place to live and work, but it can also be an enriching experience and increase employee satisfaction.
If you want to help your company pay it forward, here are a few of the organizations we’ve supported that could also benefit from your charitable contributions:
Organizations for Kids
Founded in 1966, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Dane County helps develop positive mentoring relationships between adult volunteers (“Bigs”) and children (“Littles”), age 6 through 18. Consider this impact – young people in the program are less likely to try drugs or alcohol, less likely to feel isolated by their peers, and more likely to receive a four-year college degree.
How to help: Giving opportunities here include making a one-time gift, making a monthly contribution that helps introduce one waiting Little with a Big, and participation in project sponsorships.
- Foundation for Madison’s Public Schools (FMPS)
FMPS brings together students, educators, parents, and the community to improve Madison public schools through grants, programs, and community partnerships. Their largest fundraiser, the Circle of Friends luncheon, regularly brings in over 600 people.
How to help: You can support FMPS through a one-time gift, stock donation, retirement beneficiary designation, IRA charitable rollover, estate planning inclusion, and in-kind contributions.
With more than 1.7 million girls and 750,000 adults, the Girl Scouts offers young women a chance to develop leadership and real-world skills, gain confidence, and develop positive friendships. They promote the power of every G.I.R.L. (go-getter, innovator, risk-taker, leader) and her ability to make a difference in the world.
How to help: Donate 100% tax-deductible funds that stay in Wisconsin to help benefit local girls.
This imaginative and play-focused museum for kids offers hundreds of activities, classes, and workshops for every age. The Madison Children’s Museum has a vision to cultivate a welcoming and joyful learning environment that helps nurture creativity and curiosity.
How to help: If this is an organization you’d like to support, consider providing annual corporate giving to MCM through event, campaign, or event sponsorship, or become a corporate member to receive employee discounts on admission and special rental rates.
Health Organizations
The leading national health organization for Alzheimer’s disease has a South Central Wisconsin chapter focused on helping the more than 110,000 people in Wisconsin who live with Alzheimer’s or dementia.
How to help: Charitable giving options include participating in an event, donations, volunteerism, employee giving programs, and corporate partnerships and sponsorships.
For nearly 100 years, the American Heart Association has been fighting heart disease and stroke with over 33 million volunteers. The organization has invested around $4 billion in cardiovascular research with giving societies, local events, and corporate sponsorship.
How to help: Your company can make a difference here through employee community service events, sponsorships, and other workplace giving programs.
This local organization provides support to individuals with Down syndrome and their families in South Central Wisconsin. Their offerings include family events such as bowling nights, programs, and educational seminars and conferences.
How to help: One-time or recurring gifts, sponsoring the annual Down Syndrome Awareness Walk or golf outing, and volunteering are just a few of the ways you can support MADDS.
Environmental Initiatives
- Aldo Leopold Nature Center (ALNC)
This organization offers opportunities for over 500,000 visitors to connect with nature through school field trips, adult and teacher workshops, scout programs, summer nature camps, and other special events.
How to help: Supporting ALNC can be in the form of monetary donations, matching employer gifts, planned giving, honorary or other non-cash gifts, and corporate sponsorships.
Built to inspire sustainability and environmental change in the Dane County area, Sustain Dane is behind leading environmental initiatives, including The Sustain Dane Summit, MPower Business Champions (our own Rose Molz is one of these Champions), and the Sustainable Business Network.
How to help: Your company can donate to Sustain Dane through a workplace giving campaign or take advantage of sponsorship opportunities including the Sustain Dane Summit and Sustainable Business Network.
Connecting social justice with environmental advocacy, Community Shares of Wisconsin is comprised of 65 member nonprofits that lead the way to protect civil rights and build a sustainable future for our state.
How to help: Your corporate support here can include workplace giving campaigns, memorial and legacy gifts, stock donations, and volunteerism.
- 4Ocean The mission of this global charitable organization focuses on recovering plastic and other trash from oceans and coastlines. Thanks to their full-time crews cleaning these areas 24 hours a day, seven days a week, they’ve successfully removed over four billion pounds of debris to date.How to help: Your company can further this cause by purchasing 4Ocean recycled bracelets. Each sale provides enough funds for 4Ocean to clean up one pound of trash.
Business-Focused Organizations
Focused on advocating for a local-first mentality, this coalition has more than 600 members and works to help local businesses prosper and thrive. Our membership allows us to continue to support our community by thinking local first. Discover these reasons to buy local here.
How to help: You can make a gift to help support public awareness campaigns or scholarship funds. If you’re a local business, you may also consider joining Dane Buy Local to help further the local-first mission.
- Madison Region Economic Partnership (MadREP)
An economic development agency in southcentral Wisconsin, MadREP collaborates in local initiatives within counties, cities, chambers of commerce, and the private sector. Its goal is to strategically pursue job creation and business growth to help strengthen our local economy.
How to help: You can get involved in initiatives such as closing the workplace skills gap and improving the workplace diversity assessment process.
Our local Chamber of Commerce provides multiple resources to businesses in the community, including buy local advocacy, networking opportunities, and educational programs. It strives to support entrepreneurs, encourage innovation, and promote local economic growth.
How to help: Your Chamber membership will help advance community advocacy efforts and a legislative agenda focused on ensuring a local business climate that’s competitive, innovative, and prosperous.
Community Advocacy
Brat Fest is an annual Madison festival featuring a carnival, kids’ zone, fireworks, and live music. With over 30 years of history, Brat Fest has raised $1.4 million to support dozens of local charities and programs.
How to help: Corporate sponsorships are available at a variety of investment levels. As a proud sponsor for the last five years, we’ve contributed $37,500 to this worthwhile organization. We can attest that sponsoring Brat Fest benefits the community, and it’s also a fun way to spend Memorial Day weekend!
Serving around 1,000 low-income adults each year in Dane County, the Literacy Network works with people in the community to improve their English language skills, reading comprehension, and use of information technology.
How to help: If literacy is as important to your company as it is to ours, you may consider becoming a monthly donor, seeking employer matches, sponsoring signature events and book sales, or volunteering.
In 2016, Dane County purchased a building for a multi-service day resource center for homeless people in our area. The Beacon is a unique collaboration among community groups to provide solutions to help 2,400 people – at least 1,000 of which are children – find housing, jobs, basic needs, and wellness support.
How to help: The Beacon encourages members of the community, including companies, to become part of the solution by providing monthly monetary donations or volunteering.
Through partnerships and collaborative programs, the United Way advocates for the education, financial stability, and health of the community. At its core, the organization works to promote community engagement, mobilize volunteers, and strengthen non-profit efforts to help change lives.
How to help: Sponsorships and workplace volunteer programs with the United Way can bond your employees and provide an opportunity to give back to their neighbors in need.
USO Wisconsin is a leading organization dedicated to keeping military families connected and helping to relieve stress among military personnel with scheduled family events throughout the year.
How to help: USO Wisconsin does not receive funding from the government or USO National, so fundraising is critical to its success. In addition to corporate monetary contributions, you can also participate in fundraising events like the USO Wisconsin Gala Fundraiser and the Golf Fundraiser.
- YWCA Madison Eliminating racism and empowering women of all ages are at the heart of the mission at the YWCA. They focus on generating institutional changes in the areas of race and gender equity, job training and transportation, and housing and shelter.
How to help: Ways to give to the YWCA include event sponsorships of the Women of Distinction Leadership Awards, Racial Justice Summit, or the Circle of Women fundraiser, in addition to online giving and Empowerment Society memberships.
These mission-driven organizations are just a few that could benefit from your company’s charitable contributions. For more ideas on corporate giving, review these ways to give back to your community here.
If you’re not yet an EZ Office Products customer, call our local customer concierge to discuss how we can help your Wisconsin-based business thrive at (608) 310-4300 today.