Giving back to the community should be a part of every apartment company's operations. To begin with, it is simply the right thing to do. However, a commitment to philanthropy can have other powerful benefits as well. 

Increasingly, employees and residents are seeking relationships with apartment firms that exhibit a commitment to corporate social responsibility (CSR) Therefore, providing ways for team members to volunteer and perform charity work can have powerful effects on employee morale and make your company more appealing to prospects, residents and investors.

Here is a range of ways your company can help your employees give back:

Paid time off to volunteer
Providing employees with paid time off to volunteer for an organization or a cause of their choice shows that you care about the surrounding community, and that you care about your associates as people. It shows you want to support their passions and that you view them as more than just an employee.

Group volunteer outings 
A company's charitable efforts can also incorporate group outings, in which associates work together to give back to a particular organization.  

At ROSS, our associates have participated in group volunteer events at Fisher House Foundation and The Childrens’ Inn at NIH. We have orchestrated spring cleanups of facilities, provided meals for families, prepared gift baskets for residents, and coordinated a Wish List Drive so that our residents and employees can contribute needed items.

Gift matching
Some apartment companies have implemented gift-matching programs to encourage employees' charitable donations. Employers typically provide a dollar-for-dollar match, but it's not entirely unheard of for companies to double or even triple the employee’s original donation.

Whichever tactics you choose to create a culture of philanthropy, giving back can provide the following benefits:

Improved employee loyalty and engagement
Today, more than ever, associates want to work for a company that they know is contributing to the greater good. This is in part because of the rise of millennials and Generation Z in the workplace, who share strong philanthropic inclinations. In fact, 63 percent of millennial women and 45 percent of millennial men say their decisions about job offers are impacted by the employer's CSR work, according to the Six-Month Research Update to the 2014 Millennial Impact Report.

Supporting employees’ charitable work serves not only to attract job candidates, but it also allows current associates to develop a sense of pride and loyalty to their employer. Group volunteer outings strengthen the bonds between employees, and working together to help those in need can foster creativity and leadership.

Attracting quality residents and investors
People want to feel good about the companies they support with their hard-earned money, and apartment companies that embrace charitable work should find themselves more appealing to residents, investors and other business partners. For instance, 87 percent of millennials say their purchasing decisions are influenced by their perceptions of a company's commitment to CSR, according to the 2015 Cone Communications Millennial CSR Study.

Increased name recognition and a positive brand
When a company strives to serve others and gives back to society, that can raise its profile among the broader public in a very positive way. Your relationships with local government officials, area business owners and nearby residents will be strengthened when they see that your company and associates care about the well being of your surroundings.

CSR matters more than ever before, and volunteering and charity work must be a fundamental part of your corporate culture.