It’s important for tenants to have a sense of community. Or is it? Depending on the source, it’s either very important to encourage community involvement through events and activities, or it’s one of those things that tenants could care less about.

One thing is for sure, however: people are motivated by causes.

Here are some stats from For Momentum:

•  Nearly all U.S. consumers say they have a more positive image of a company that supports a cause (93%)
• Americans are more likely to trust (90%) and be more loyal (90%) to companies that back causes
• Millennials are hyperaware of cause-related efforts to make the world a better place – for themselves and broader society
• African Americans are more steadfast in their convictions to gravitate toward things that promote social good
• “Hispanics are more apt than the general U.S. population to not just purchase products and services associated with causes (94% vs. 89% general population), but also go beyond the register to donate (70% vs. 65%), volunteer (47% vs. 42%) and advocate on behalf of companies (43% vs. 38%)”

Want to host an event your tenants will care about? Here are some ideas sure to set you apart from the competition:

Charities. Pick a charity for the property to sponsor. It’s best to choose a local, community-based charity with which tenants can identify. Let the charity know of the sponsorship and have it become an ongoing thing. You can have a monthly, quarterly, or yearly event, in addition to opportunities for tenants to get involved on a regular basis.

Blood drives. There are a few different organizations that offer mobile blood banks in order to get local businesses involved. Contact an organization like Carter to see about having a blood drive event on the property where tenants can volunteer. Getting creative with this could be key. Organize a local band to provide live music and have a food truck come out to provide snacks to those who donate.

Holiday-based causes. There are several ways you can get creative with causes during the holidays. How about an angel tree in the office from which tenants can adopt children to which they give gifts? You can host a drop-off party, giving everyone an opportunity to meet, mix, and mingle while delivering the presents and enjoying a little holiday spirit. And, of course, there’s always opportunities to meet off-property for causes just like the local soup kitchen, where tenants can volunteer to serve food.

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Taking this approach accomplishes two goals: it brings in and keeps tenants who are interested in such involvement, and it gives back to the community. But, it’s not selfish to remember that it’s also good exposure for the property. So, utilize the opportunity to send out press releases and notify local press when events are hosted. It’s the kind of publicity that will make people take notice without having to spend a dime on advertising.