Giving Compass' Take:

• Ben Kirshner, CEO of a digital marketing agency Elite SEM, writes about the benefits of company philanthropy for everyone involved.

•  If more corporate giving programs were this hands-on and experiential, would more corporations and employees be willing to participate? 

• Read more about why corporate volunteering is more than just corporate social responsibility.  

Ben Kirshner, an Entrepreneurs' Organization (EO) member in New York, is founder and CEO of Elite SEM, an award-winning, performance-driven digital marketing agency. The company was named Bing's 2018 Philanthropist of the Year for its work with underserved children and their families in Nicaragua. We asked Ben about his company's propensity for philanthropy. Here's what he shared.

How did you grow your company's social consciousness?
Our company's mission is to create "great lives for great people." For me, success is knowing that our company is providing employees, clients, partners and the underprivileged with opportunities to live better lives.  We started by providing pro-bono digital marketing services to non-profit organizations through Google Grants. It feels great to help organizations and charities improve (or establish) their digital presence, get the word out about the work they accomplish and hopefully grow their donor base.

How have employees reacted to your company's philanthropy?
The partnership has inspired a genuine passion for community and charity among employees; the program continues to scale with little involvement on my part. It's one thing to see a donation come out of your paycheck every other week, but the experience becomes much more profound when you meet the children and families whose lives your donation is changing. This partnership has been empowering for all of our employees.

What will you share with other entrepreneurs looking to make their mark beyond their businesses?
Make giving back one of your company's core values and use community service opportunities to reward employees.

Read the full article about company philanthropy from Entrepreneurs' Organization at Inc.