A business story of giving and growth

Tonight I found myself welling up. Not from sadness, but from joy.

I’d just read the draft copy for The Grants Hub’s 2022 Grants Program, and it hit me that we’d be substantially increasing the budget from the last round in 2019. Instead of us giving away $2,000, we’d be increasing it to $10,000.

How the grant started

I first launched The Grants Hub’s grant in 2018, giving away 1x $500 grant. Now that might seem like a small amount - and for many businesses, it would be. But when I made the decision to give that money away, we had less than $3,000 in the bank.

Why on earth would I do that?! Because giving brings me more joy than anything else. It’s my reason for being in business.

I give first, before I spend the rest.

The Grants Hub is a for-purpose business

The Grants Hub is a for-purpose business. We aim to create a work environment where people want to be. That brings out the best in people. That supports people when they’re struggling. That sends thank you gifts throughout the year. That gives big discounts through our annual NFP Sponsorship Program to give not-for-profits a leg up. That gives away money through grants and private donations to amazing causes around Australia. That gives a ‘disproportionate’ (in business terms) amount of money away.

The joy it brought me to give that grant to someone for AUSLAN training in 2018, so that she could communicate with families at the Ronald McDonald House drove me so much harder professionally that year. I had a reason for working to increase sales and grow the business. This wasn’t just a small side hustle anymore, it was a business helping hundreds of organisations around Australia find grants, plus we could now start our own, albeit tiny, grants program.

In 2019, along with The Grants Hub’s growth, we increased the grant program to 2x $1,000.

In 2021, during COVID-19, we gave a $10,000 donation to an organisation close to my heart.

Now, with thousands of members and a continually growing business, we’re able to give away $10,000 through grants, plus other donations throughout the year.

A proven case of profit and purpose working together

I never thought I’d sit here sharing some of the giving we do, but I’m becoming increasingly passionate about sharing my business story to prove that profit and purpose DO go together. Both profit and increased giving can be achieved. In fact, every time we give through either the means I’ve mentioned above or other one-off donations or financial Random Acts of Kindness I do, I see a spike in revenue. Every time.

Now don’t get me wrong, I don’t give to get. Quite the opposite. I just want to share a business story of giving and growth. I want more business owners and entrepreneurs to experience the soul-filling, deep down contentment and motivation that giving has given me. I want more Australian business owners to intentionally add giving to their budget. To consider at least one of the innumerable social and environmental needs national or internationally and then work out how, and what, they’re going to give to that. Toadd giving as a budget line item with a dollar value next to it first, then budget from what’s left.

Giving first

Giving has been etched in my blood since I was a child. Being raised in a Christian home where my parents gave 10% of their income first, before spending/living off the rest, gave me a values base for my natural giving heart. And I’m truly thankful for that.

Putting giving first, instead of giving away from my leftovers, is such an incredibly fulfilling way to live. Giving is in our business budget, family budget, and built into our kids’ pocket money. The giving I’ve shared about? That’s all giving that happens before we spend.

I’ve chosen to give the grants this year before buying a standing desk. Before upgrading my screen. Before paying for a coworking space.

Because the needs and ideas we’ll be able to fund through The Grants Hub’s Grants Program are more important to me than those things. There’s nothing wrong with any of them, but for me, my giving comes before those optional expenses.

The grants we give will (hopefully) encourage someone working on a new idea, support a not-for-profit busting their guts through volunteer hours, provide training, buy a blender for a social enterprise (like we did in 2019), or maybe even fund some custom Canva templates to help an organisation get to their next level.

There is a major shortage of small, untied grants in Australia with simple application processes

Through our tracking of hundreds of grants each week at The Grants Hub, we know that small, untied grants are still few and far between in Australia. There are simply not enough people willing to give away small, untied grants with simple application processes.

Being able to step into that space and make a small but growing contribution gives me far greater, and lasting joy, than a standing desk would.

Maybe you, too, could step into this space and make a difference?

The Grants Hub’s Grants Program

The Grants Hub’s Make It Happen Small Grants are now open! Applications close 20 June 2022.