Smart Giving: How to Give Back as a Business
- Washington Avenue Advisors
- 1 day ago
- 3 min read
Year-End Charitable Strategies That Align With Your Values—and Your Numbers
The final quarter of the year is often packed with big decisions. As you wrap up your financials, prepare for tax season, and set goals for the new year, there’s one area that can easily be overlooked in the rush: charitable giving.
Generosity is important to many of our clients, and At Washington Avenue Advisors, we believe this isn’t just a value—it can even be a strategy. Smart giving means making intentional choices that allow your business to support causes you care about while also benefiting your bottom line.
The Impact of Giving as a Business
Giving back doesn’t just serve the community. It can also:
Strengthen brand trust and customer loyalty
Boost team morale and employee engagement
Offer tax advantages when done correctly
Clarify and reinforce your company’s mission
Remember, the key phrase here is when done correctly.
Charitable Giving With Intention
There are multiple ways your business can contribute at year-end:
Direct donations to qualified 501(c)(3) nonprofits
Sponsorships or cause-marketing campaigns
In-kind contributions such as services, goods, or volunteer hours
Donor-advised funds (DAFs)Â for structured, tax-smart giving over time
Setting up or contributing to a corporate foundation
Which one is right for your business depends on your structure, goals, and current financial landscape.
Where We Come In
Our advisory and accounting teams work hand-in-hand to help you give smarter. We’ll help you:
Evaluate your current cash flow and year-end tax position
Determine what level of giving is financially wise and sustainable
Document and categorize your contributions properly
Explore ways to weave giving into your business model for long-term impact
Whether you’ve already identified causes close to your heart or are just beginning to explore giving as a business strategy, our team is here to help you do it with clarity and confidence.
Service, Leadership, and Communities We Care About
At Washington Avenue Advisors, giving back is more than a seasonal talking point—it’s a part of who we are. Our team members are deeply engaged in organizations that align with our values of community, leadership, and impact. Managing Partner Nick Pope has served on the board of the Todd Martin Youth Leadership Foundation for over a decade, contributes to the East Lansing Film Festival, and volunteers extensively through Entrepreneurs’ Organization (EO).
Reuben Levinsohn, WAA’s Managing Partner of Exit Quotient Ventures, also volunteers as co-director of StartupGrind Lansing, serves as an Entrepreneur in Residence (EIR) at Michigan State University, and has dedicated four years to the City of East Lansing’s Downtown Development Authority (DDA).Â
Another key member of our team, Brandon Weaver, has been on the NextGen committee for the Association of Corporate Growth for the past two years and is involved in Save A Heart through the University of Michigan.Â
Our team members’ commitments reflect a sincerity that shows up in work and daily life, emphasizing WAA’s broader mission: to not only build financial success but also support the growth, innovation, and well-being of the communities we’re a part of.
Giving Is Good Business
There’s still time to make an impact this year—on both your community and your financial future.
Ready to talk through your options? Reach out to our team →
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The information presented does not involve the rendering of personalized consulting, investment, financial, legal, tax advice, or solicitation. Investment advisory services offered through Washington Avenue Advisors, LLC ("WAA"), an SEC Registered Investment Advisor.