TL;DR
The International Day of Charity (September 5) isn’t just symbolic; it’s a real opportunity for financial advisors, tax professionals, and service-based business owners to connect generosity with strategy. Giving back builds client trust, expands visibility, motivates teams, and reinforces credibility in ways ads alone can’t. Even small actions, like a local drive or pro bono hours, can strengthen your brand and deepen client relationships.
How the International Day of Charity Impacts Your Business
The UN created this day in 2012 to honor Mother Teresa and encourage global giving. For financial and service professionals, it’s not about checking a box, it’s about visibly showing clients your values go beyond revenue.
Clients notice. They remember when you support causes, long after a Facebook ad fades. In trust-based industries, credibility isn’t claimed, it’s demonstrated.
Charity as Strategy (Not Just a Good Deed)
Giving back feels good. But here’s what it really does for your business:
- Builds client trust. About 70% of U.S. consumers say companies have an obligation to improve societal issues (Cone Communications CSR Study). Trust isn’t a tagline, it’s earned when clients see you acting with purpose.
- Expands visibility. Nearly 77% of U.S. consumers say they’re more motivated to buy from companies committed to making the world better (Harvard Business School). Supporting a cause gets your name in front of people in ways ads can’t.
- Opens doors. With 73% of U.S. consumers saying they’re more loyal to companies that support social or environmental issues (Cone Communications CSR Study), community involvement isn’t just goodwill, it’s business growth.
Practical Ways to Participate Without Burning Time or Budget
You don’t need a gala or a giant check. Try:
- Host a giving drive. Partner with a charity your clients care about.
- Offer pro bono hours. Share expertise with those who can’t afford it.
- Adopt a cause. Support one nonprofit consistently and share why it matters.
- Tell the story. Post authentic updates about your involvement.
What This Looks Like in Practice
- Financial Advisors: One advisor teamed up with a food pantry for a client-and-family donation drive. It supported the community and created natural entry points for legacy and charitable planning conversations.
- Tax Professionals: A Certified Public Accountant (CPA) volunteered two hours a week providing free tax prep at a senior center, earning credibility and generating referrals from grateful families.
- Service-Based Owners: A home services company supported one nonprofit per quarter and shared it online. Clients noticed the consistency and saw the business as genuinely invested.
Turning One Day Into Ongoing Strategy
The International Day of Charity works best when it’s part of your positioning year-round:
- Document it. Capture photos, write a recap, ask for testimonials. Use the material later in newsletters, social posts, or your About page.
- Repeat it. Turn one-time efforts into a habit, or align with causes your clients already support.
- Connect it. Use these stories to naturally talk about planning, legacy, or security.
- Measure it. Track engagement, referrals, or client feedback. Data makes the business value clear.
This is how one day turns into long-term credibility and strategy.
Why Clients Pay Attention
Your clients don’t just buy services, they buy values. In the U.S., 90% of consumers say they would switch to a brand that supports a good cause, given similar price and quality (Cone Communications CSR Study).
For financial professionals, that’s the difference between being just another provider and being the one they trust with their future.
Ask yourself: would you rather plan your future with someone who only talks about money, or with someone who proves they care about the community, too?
Final Word
The International Day of Charity is more than a date. It’s a reminder that real marketing isn’t just about visibility, it’s about values. Giving back won’t replace strategy, but it will make yours stronger.
Action Step: Block 30 minutes this week to pick one way your business will give back. Whether it’s a donation, a few pro bono hours, or highlighting a cause online, the credibility you earn will outlast September 5.
Ready to put strategy into action? Connect with us today and see how giving back can strengthen both your brand and your client relationships.
FAQs About the International Day of Charity
What is the International Day of Charity?
It’s observed every year on September 5, created by the United Nations in 2012 to encourage giving. The date honors Mother Teresa’s legacy and has become a global reminder of the power of charity marketing. Businesses use this day to highlight their values, align with causes, and show that their strategy goes beyond transactions.
Why should businesses care?
For advisors, tax pros, and service-based businesses, giving back is more than goodwill—it’s strategy. Supporting charity builds trust, improves visibility, and positions you as a credible partner. This is the essence of charity and marketing: clients notice when your brand invests in community causes. In fact, studies explain how businesses benefit from giving back to the community: stronger loyalty, higher referrals, and long-term credibility.
How can small businesses participate?
No big budget is required. Run a small donation drive, offer pro bono hours, support a local nonprofit, or share your team’s involvement online. These are simple but powerful forms of charity advertising. Over time, consistency can grow into cause marketing—long-term partnerships that connect your brand to community impact.
Does giving back really impact client relationships?
Yes. Clients prefer businesses that act responsibly. Giving back creates emotional connection and credibility, drivers of loyalty and referrals. The best nonprofit marketing campaigns prove this: they show that nonprofit content marketing and community support can build more trust than any ad campaign alone. That’s why many companies now integrate digital marketing for charities into their strategy to amplify their efforts and showcase results.
How can financial advisors tie charity into their practice?
Host community events, support nonprofits that align with client values, or offer pro bono planning sessions. These actions are practical examples of charity marketing in action. Advisors who highlight community support, whether through local initiatives or sharing lessons from the best nonprofit marketing campaigns, strengthen both their credibility and their client relationships.
