Stronger Together: Charitable Foundation Office Collaboration
Led by Ted Schweitzer, Realtor, the team at Real Estate One helped to organize Bubbles & Brunch to benefit Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northwestern Michigan.
Collaboration can be the catalyst to more successful and meaningful fundraising experiences.
If we think of the fundraising work we do as creating an experience of working together towards a common goal – raising awareness and support for a common charitable organization - then we can think of collaboration as a way to share the good work and increase the overall results.
Over the past few years, a number of our offices have worked tirelessly to establish a collaborative spirit by inviting and encouraging other offices to join in support of volunteer and fundraising opportunities within the local communities. Shout out to our Northwest Michigan offices, Reinhart offices and most recently our Eastside offices. These offices have demonstrated that intentionally collaborating on events maximizes community involvement and exposure, as well as the company match for the event – the more money the event raises, the greater the company match and the greater the benefit to the charity.
For example, the Northwest Michigan REOCF contingent has collaborated across 7 offices for more than 5 years for its annual Golf Outing in support of Child & Family Services and for the past three years holding similar simultaneous Giving Tuesday events in support of the same charitable organization. This willingness to collaborate has translated into several larger community marquee events putting REO and the REOCF at the forefront of the Northwest Michigan community interest.
The Reinhart Charitable Foundation Advisory Board quickly adopted a collaborative mindset pulling together charitable acumen from across the 6 offices to create fundraising experiences that reach out and benefit every office and surrounding communities. Most recently the RCF members rallied around a Diaper Drive for SOS in Ypsilanti donating more than $1000 in diapers and generating an additional $500 in company match. Each year on Giving Tuesday the RCF offices endeavor to support one another through a Progressive Giving Tuesday with each office putting on a designated event/time throughout the day.
Most recently, Al Beahn of Chesterfield Twp. has recruited the offices in Clinton Twp., Shelby Twp., St. Clair Shores, Grosse Pointe and soon-to-be Sterling Heights to work together to create an annual 5K Run/Walk to benefit the athletes of Special Olympics Michigan. While the details are still being hammered out, the team is hard at work collaborating on a plan to host runners and walkers to raise awareness, funds and to increase social interaction within their respective communities.
We are stronger together. There are so many worthwhile charitable organizations to support in our communities that I encourage you to reach out to your neighboring offices and explore opportunities to collaborate on fundraising events. Recognizing that this summer is overflowing with showings, inspections, sales, closings and vacations, etc., it is easy to become overwhelmed. Don’t sweat it. Plan now and look ahead to the fall for opportunities to collaborate with neighboring offices.
Be sure to let us know about the great things you are doing so we can get it out on social media.
Written by Jennifer Essary
Upcoming Events in July
7/10/21 – Traverse City Cherry Festival – Clint Wheeler of our TC Front Street office is putting together a team of volunteers to assist with the parade. For more info. on volunteer opportunities, contact Clint at 231-769-2030 or clint@realestateone.com Time will be 8:00am to 4pm July 10th at the Grand Traverse Resort.
7/27/21 – Reinhart Saline Putt-Putt for Saline Area Social Services 60th Anniversary - Reinhart Saline Office