Should SCF be a Not For Profit?

I admire businesses that are NFP. Many do amazing work and give back to their local communities in very generous ways.

I've wondered if Sunshine Coast Funerals should be a Not For Profit business. It's an attractive idea, serving families on the Sunshine Coast and being in a position to support causes like Wishlist or Homelessness or Lifeline.

There's also a marketing angle being recognised as a Not For Profit.

It can be challenging for any business to make a profit, let alone worry about what to do with it. 

The other reality is that being a 'for profit' business doesn't exclude you from being able to assist local charities and causes. In the funeral industry I have met met many families who have lost someone to suicide. These farewell services can be particularly challenging because there's often more questions than answers. Often family and friends will ask themselves if they could have done more to support someone who ultimately took their own life.

There's no simple solution. Suicide is the largest cause of death in Australians under 44 years of age.

So whilst the business is building and moving towards being profitable I'm not in a position to support charities with cash. I can, however offer my time. I'm in the process of becoming qualified to be a crisis support worker with Lifeline. Lifeline supports people in crisis, not just those considering suicide, but Lifelines goal is zero lives lost to suicide. It's a bold ambition, but one that I'm proud to be a part of.