While major contributors stepping up through public outreach and direct donations are greatly applauded for their impactful efforts, small business is highly encouraged to lend support in the fight against AIDS.

Small business is the backbone of the U.S. economy, and assistance from within the small business community stands to not only raise funds, but also awareness. Not a single community in the country is unaffected by the AIDS epidemic. Yet many businesses shy away from supporting existing or creating their own initiatives to eradicate the spread of HIV/AIDS.

Regardless of size and budget, all businesses can join in the fight against the spread of HIV/AIDS in the following ways:

Tax-Deductible Donations Small business owners can deduct up to 50 percent of their adjusted gross income. The tax-exempt status of any organization must be verified to ensure it is an approved charity. In most cases, they identify as a 501(c)(3) organization.

Promote Volunteer Opportunities Posting information in common areas about volunteer opportunities and fundraising efforts puts one’s workforce in touch with ways to assist. Organizing company-wide volunteerism events boosts morale. Employees are five times more likely to remain with a company that practices philanthropy.

Partnering Small businesses coming together to construct fundraising events reaches a broader audience and garners greater community recognition. All fundraising events play a role in the greater cause. Larger organizations are able to reach a larger audience through great events like Santa Skivvies Run and AIDS/LifeCycle or local small business fundraisers like that that Bunnies of Las Vegas has organized with other local escort services in Las Vegas, NV to help spread awareness.

Learn more at SantaSkivviesRun.com(http://santaskivviesrun.com/)

Learn more at AIDSLifeCycle.com(http://aidslifecycle.com/)

Learn more at BunniesofLasVegas.com(https://www.bunniesoflasvegas.com/)

Small Business and (Product)RED

The (Product)RED initiative is by far the largest-scale partnering in the fight against HIV/AIDS with business heavy-hitters such as Nike, Apple, Starbucks and Bank of America lending support to the cause that donates all monies raised to the Global Fund.

Small businesses are not to be discouraged by their inability to directly partner with (Product)RED. The company is protected by trademark and traditionally partners only with big business, but a small business may donate a portion of company earnings directly to the Global Fund and promote the effort as “inspired by (RED).” Independent businesses utilizing Square to process credit card payments can order the $10 SQUA(RED) card reader for $10, with 97.25% of the fee going to the Global Fund.

Grassroots efforts geared toward stopping the spread of AIDS may not be as widely touted as those by big business contributors, but are not to be ignored. Beyond being socially responsible, consumers recognize efforts of all sizes, and small businesses stand to gain through all philanthropic endeavors.