After spending 17 years in a factory job, Chad Ness founded Ness Pumping Service & Porta-Potty Rentals in his hometown of Waukon, Iowa. That was in 2007.

Ness’ company has since grown from a single truck and 15 portable toilets to a full-fledged fleet and around 800 units. Ness’ wife Diana (co-owner) and daughter Leslie (office manager) have joined the staff. Also helping out are Chad’s other children Carter, Colin, Evan, Kayla and Rachel, along with Dave Dougherty, Randy Vine, Chris Ness and Will Howe.

There are many reasons for the success of Ness Pumping Service & Porta-Potty Rentals, including customer service-and top quality products. But along with those essentials to good business, the company puts forward a lot of effort into community support. The people in the rural northeast corner of Iowa appreciate a company that delivers on its promises — and gives back to the community whenever it can.

“We started giving back to the community the very first year we started,” says Chad. “I guess we just like the fact that people appreciated that somebody would do something like that for them. Since then, the community has helped to build the business. So we like to give back.”

There are many ways in which the company gives back. Whether it’s free restroom rentals, discounted servicing or financial donation, the Ness family believes strongly in the philosophy of what goes around, comes around.

Outside of restrooms, the company also gives what it can from the septic service side of their business. “If a church needs a line jetted or if they’re having issues with the church septic, we’ll just donate the jetting service or donate half the time that we’re there,” Diana says. “After all, churches are all based on donations. They don’t have a lot of money to spare.”

Nesspumping 51 251209 102531 — Wearing their pink cancer awareness shirts and representing a cause they are passionate about even when servicing restrooms (Satellite). Leslie Ness hoses down a unit, while Kayla Ness operates the pumping hose. Rachel Ness prepares to restock supplies.

Five Takeaways on Community Giving

1. Look for regular events

Every community has a regular roster of fundraising events. Check with your community’s local government, public safety agencies and local service groups to find out what they are and who to contact. “A lot of our events are run by groups that do it every year at the same time,” Leslie says. “In most cases, we donate the same things every year, because that’s what they need.”

Or, plan your own regular event that brings the community together and raises funds for a worthy cause. Ness Pumping Service & Porta-Potty Rentals hosts an annual breast cancer awareness walk to raise funds for breast cancer awareness and detection. “Over the years, we’ve managed to raise $16,000 to give to our local hospital for a mammogram machine,” says Chad. “We do this because my mom had breast cancer, and because we’ve had a lot of other community members affected.”

Ness cancerwalk — If you plan it, they will come. Communities rally for a good cause. Organizing events like Ness Pumping Service & Porta-Potty Rentals does, is not only good recognition for their business, but more important, an effort that makes a difference to people around them.

2. Be willing to make an offer

In most cases, community groups seeking support from Ness Pumping Service & Porta-Potty Rentals approach the company directly. “But there are times where we have reached out because we knew they would not approach us, so we just offered it to them,” says Chad. “Or they have called us with the intention of ordering and paying for it and we just say, ‘We’ll take care of it. It’s on us this time.’”

Sometimes the chance to make an offer just happens. “I was just in Elma, Iowa, and that town was flooding,” Chad recalls. “I had a porta potty on my truck. So I stopped, talked to the city guy and said, ‘Hey, if anybody needs this in town, I will drop it off here and pick it up next week when everybody’s done’. So I did. If somebody wants to use it, go ahead. If not, no big deal. But no charge either way.”

Ness walk group — If you plan it, they will come. Communities rally for a good cause. Organizing events like Ness Pumping Service & Porta-Potty Rentals does, is not only good recognition for their business, but more important, an effort that makes a difference to people around them.

3. Donate what is needed most

Different community groups need different things and your donations should reflect that. “So if you see an event or a benefit happening, try to think of what you could do to help them the best way,” says Leslie Ness. “We always just think, ‘Would they need toilets for that or would they rather receive money donations?’ Whatever it is, we try to give them what they need. In some cases, we’ll donate septic servicing to a silent auction, to help them raise funds.”

One of the easiest ways of donating is loaning restrooms to charitable events. “If they’re asking for three toilets, we’ll donate all three of them,” says Chad. “If they’re having a huge, huge event where they take maybe a dozen toilets, we’ll charge for a third of it. When local volunteer fire or EMS departments request porta potties for events such as ATV/UTV rides or 5K runs, we donate 100% of the rental fee to them.”

It doesn’t have to be an act of donation, discount or planning a fundraiser to become involved. Ness uses one of their pumping trucks (Advance Pump & Equipment) to pull a float in the local Christmas parade — a perfect example of immersing in the community while advertising their business.

4. Spread your support

When it comes to showing your customers that your company cares about them, spreading your support to as many groups as possible makes the point best. In the case of Ness Pumping Service & Porta-Potty Rentals, “I try to sponsor as many events as we can,” Leslie Ness says. “This includes the Parks and Recreation department, local basketball and baseball and all of the local fairs.”

Not only does this help the community by supporting groups and people across different areas, it’s great advertising for a business. The more places your restrooms are, or your logo on a banner thanking donors and sponsors, the more recognition your brand will receive. Some companies spend a lot of money on advertising, but by putting that same amount of money back into the community, you’re not only helping those in need, you’re helping your brand.

Nesspumping 55 — This pink Satellite Maxim 3000 is a travelling piece for the company that goes to their breast cancer awareness walk fundraiser. The unit proudly displays the company name along with signatures of breast cancer survivors from their service area.

5. Know that you’re making a difference

It may seem overwhelming to give back to a range of community events, and one company can only do so much. But whatever you are able to do, never forget that your efforts are making a real difference to the people around you.

“In Waukon, people step up to help when they are needed,” says Chad. “That’s who we want to be, and why we do what we do.”