It used to be the standard practice of businesses to participate in generous charitable giving. These businesses would try to give to as many charities as possible with their charitable giving budget divided among those who asked for contributions. Simply imagine one pie cut in as many pieces as possible – everyone gets a pretty small piece.

Today the process has changed for many businesses. It is not uncommon to see businesses actually create a charitable foundation with a grant application process that is reviewed by a foundation board of directors.

These businesses are also making it clear the type of charities they are most likely to contribute to. In other words the pie isn't carved into as many pieces under this new charitable giving standard – fewer gifts with a greater individual impact.

I've mentioned often in other articles that the coach or team leader has the best opportunity to inspire his or her team. This can be true of philanthropic gestures as well.

You can choose a charity you are most closely aligned with and allow team members to join you in contributing to the cause most closely identified with your business. You can also make the charity known to your online visitor so they have an understanding of what you stand for, and participate if they wish.

Box stores typically make local schools a priority in their giving and will post amounts given to local schools for visitors to inspect. You can make a similar gesture by either posting donation totals or a direct link to the charity.

Recording artists are also taking time in their concerts to promote a charity of choice for fans to consider. This platform has raised millions of dollars for selected charities.

Giving back is a hallmark of a good coach, and a good coach knows that they are given a platform to share the passion they feel for business and for a cause they believe in.

The late Dave Thomas, owner of Wendy's Old Fashioned Hamburgers had a passion for adoption, being adopted himself. He put that passion to work by making sure his employees had financial incentives to adopt. His foundation also lists the top 100 businesses that share the same core values of adoption as their personal drive in philanthropy.

Thomas is just one example of men and women who are, in the role of business coach, taking person passion and using their business platform to do something remarkably good for others.

The needs of charitable organizations are immense, but somehow when a business works to promote the specific needs of a smaller group of charities the overall effect can be greater support and higher visibility for the individual charity.

In essence a partnership is forged that is mutually beneficial on many levels. Yes the needs would be financial, but the benefits are mutual good will and the satisfaction that lives are affected in a positive way through a means of giving that is made possible as you do your best in the arena of business coaching.

The NFL players and coaches give back to their communities and so are progressive businesses both in and out of cyberspace.