Creating a company culture that promotes a strong commitment to philanthropy is a brilliant way to build a positive workplace environment and create employee engagement. And, this concept doesn’t just apply to wealthy Fortune 500 companies: any company can commit to philanthropy. There are endless benefits that come along with giving back. Here are a few ideas you may want to consider:

Paid Volunteer Time – This is a great way to allow employees to break away from work to volunteer their time to their cause of choice and really adds a personal touch. Offering a small amount of paid volunteer time is a simple gesture that provides the employer and employee with a way to give back that does not “force” your employees into a giving their time to a cause in which they may not believe.

Support Local – Supporting causes at a local level helps employees put a face to a name with the organization they are supporting.

Small Scale – What can your company do to support these philanthropic initiatives without spending dollars?  All kinds of things! For example, next Friday, February 5 is National Wear Red Day to support the American Heart Association. Send out a short email a few days in advance asking employees to wear red on Friday, take a picture of your work team, then post the picture on social media using the hashtag #GoRed.

This is a simple way to show support that costs nothing and helps get employees engaged. Which leads me to the final suggestion:

Social Interaction – Post on your company’s social media networks about how your employees and/or organization are getting involved and supporting the community. Be proud of incorporating a philanthropic culture into the workplace. Let social media help spread your message on how important giving back is to your company.