“How am I going to pay for community engagement activities, when I am already running such a tight budget?” is something that we hear regularly. And it is true; when the finances are limited, community engagement is often one of the first areas to suffer.
We cannot emphasize the long-term benefits of community engagement for your construction company enough and have done so in many previous articles. We also realise that making a social impact in construction is extremely tricky because of financial restrictions.
That is why, in this blog, we show you that not all the funding for community engagement activities needs to come from your tight budget. We will discuss 3 ways in which you can allocate resources for effective community engagement without having to make compromises elsewhere.
Budgeting for community engagement activities
Any serious construction company involved with current developments and eager to grow should already have an allocated budget for community engagement activities in place. This is now an integral part of every project and possible clients will look for it in your proposal. Community engagement is no longer the hot item it used to be. Instead, it has now become a solid notion of the construction industry, encouraged by independent organizations such as the Considerate Constructors’ Scheme.
It is possible, however, that your budget is smaller than you would like or that you would like to make a larger social impact with your construction project than your budget allows. In that case, you want to allocate resources from somewhere else.
These are the best ways to do just that.
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Sponsoring
Some community engagement efforts will remain in the area long after you are gone. We are speaking about a park, benches, a playground, an outside gym, a vertical garden, etcetera. For more creative ideas of community engagement activities in your area, download our book Happy Neighbours.
If you plan to leave something behind for the community, then you will obviously make sure that your company’s name and logo are portrayed. People will be reminded for years to come of who made this project possible. You can also offer other companies a way to gain this brand awareness as well.
Ask one or more relevant companies for a sponsorship. If you plan to build a dog park, ask a pet shop, for example. In return for a donation, you place their name and logo in the area to praise them as a contributor to the project. They will become more visible, better known, and are placed in a positive light. You will have a larger budget for your community engagement activities.
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Offer something in return
Think outside the box, because sometimes making a social impact in construction does not have to cost money. You can pay back in other ways. Volunteering is a good example of that. You can get the residents involved by letting them turn an unused bit of land into a wild flower garden for insects, or you can ask the kids in the school to make hotels for insects or bird houses to place around the area. In return you volunteer for the local charity, organize a cleanup campaign of the area, or help out in the school canteen.
Something else that you can offer in return is awareness and fame. Get in touch with local artists, businesses, or charity organizations and offer them a platform. You can, for example, ask local painters to provide you with artwork to display around the area. Offer the local baker a stall on the square so residents can try his or her pastries. Payment for community engagement activities does not always have to be completed in a monetary currency.
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Grants, crowdfunding, donations
A last way to finance your community engagement efforts is to go and actively search for incomes. There might be grants that you can apply for, especially if your project has an environmental theme. Crowdfunding is an ideal choice when your project is unique, creative, and it makes a difference for all the residents in the area. Finally, you can ask for donations from foundations, government agencies, corporations, or individuals.
The benefit of these options is that you do not have to repay the money you received for creating a social impact with your construction project. The disadvantage can be that you will have to prove the success of your initiative by sending out status reports, by evaluating and sharing the outcomes, and by aligning to the demands and goals of the funder.
Use SitePodium as your community engagement tool
SitePodium is an affordable app for all your community engagement needs. It offers you a means to bring your construction company and the local residents together. You can instantly communicate milestones reached, news, notifications, and other posts in the news feed. Users are able to respond, give feedback, and participate.
By using one medium for contacting the community, you not only streamline and simplify your communications, you also save money on other solutions that have become redundant. This can in turn finance your projects in the community and free up more funds.
We are eager to show you how you can make a social impact with your construction project and SitePodium? Book a demo, download our brochure, or simply contact us to find out more.
