I have been fascinated by business engagement with nonprofits for more than ten years.  However, the roots of my interest in this topic run deep.  To start with, I grew up in rural Maine in a family of four that values fairness and equality above all else.  Jokingly, I always say I am from the “buy a box of six doughnuts and you know everybody gets 1.5″ family.  And how many times did my father tell me that I need to be as respectful and polite to the janitor of the building as the president of the United States?  That being a good person on Sunday on the way to church is not enough - one needs to be a good person all week. 

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Got a little time - want to help an emerging entrepreneur from the comfort of your own office?  Today I got an email from MicroMentor seeking new mentors.  MicroMentor is a nonprofit program that connects emerging entrepreneurs with volunteer business professionals in mentoring relationships.

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The Mark Victor Hansen MEGASpeaking event I attended in Los Angeles recently was held at a Marriott Hotel.  His next event is MEGABook Marketing University 2009.  Marriott now has a catalog called Shop Marriott that features items you might want to buy from the company…like their bedding.  On the back cover, they offer the Marriott Bear. 

“Show you care…With every purchase, Marriott will donate a portion of proceeds to America’s Second Harvest – the Nation’s Food Bank Network to support its mis­sion to create a hunger-free America. America’s Second Harvest is the nation’s largest charitable hunger-relief organization, a network of more than 200 regional member food banks and food-rescue programs serving all 50 states, the Dis­trict of Columbia and Puerto Rico. ”

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I mentor a thirteen year old girl through Denver Partners, a local mentoring program.  She is a great and we both learn a lot!  Yesterday she and I went to Rubio’s Fresh Mexican Grill on Colorado Boulevard in Denver for dinner - it is one of our favorite places.

While waiting in line, I noticed a flyer for their fundraiser program so I took one home.

I also went online to their webpage to see what I could find.  In addition to the fun beach noise- waves and birds - I noticed they have a link in their navigation panel “Fundraisers.”  The flyer and website both give detailed information on how to throw a Rubio’s Fundraiser including tips for successsful fundraisers. The website gives information on eligibility as well as other info.

The 5 steps are: “Fill out a Fiesta Fundraiser reservation form online, including date, time and location(s). You’ll need your organization’s Tax I.D. number. We’ll send an e-mail confirmation for your event, and a Fiesta Fundraiser Flyer customized just for you. Advertise! E-mail and hand out flyers to everyone you know (and even a few people you don’t). Your charitable organization will get 20% of each sale when your flyer is presented to our cashier on the night of the event. Cowabunga! Relax and enjoy your evening at Rubio’s knowing that you’re making people happy and making money for your organization. Your big fundraiser check will arrive 4-6 weeks after the event. Almost as satisfying as catching the perfect wave!”

Nice job.

Today I got a mailer from AVEDA, one of the companies I interviewed for my forthcoming book, Strategic Business Philanthropy, announcing their holiday promotions.  The cover caught my eye as it said, “Give Gifts That Make a Difference.”   

On the inside, AVEDA showed a stack of handmade paper boxes on one panel and information on “Extraordinary Gifts” and “Extraordinary Purpose” on the facing panel.  The Gifts paragraph stated, “From the inside-out, Aveda gift sets make a difference - for hair, skin and body, the giver and the receiver, indigenous communities and the Earth.”  The Purpose section stated, “the handcarfted paper on the outsiode of our special boxed gift sets serves an even greater purpose - it helps employ 1,282 Nepali women and men, preserve 90,000 acres of Himalayan forest and send the children of 500 families to school.  Give Aveda gift sets to touch hearts and change lives.”

I went to the website (as usual) to see what else I could learn.  The website also gives educational environmental information about Nepal:

• “Although Nepal possesses only 0.1% of the world’s total landmass, it accounts for over 2% of its flowering plants, 8% of its birds and over 4% of its mammals.*
• After extensive foresting, only 29% of Nepali forest-cover remains**—significantly less than the 40% recommended by ecologists for a healthy environment. ***
• Seeking alternatives to conventional forest practices helps ensure that biodiversity is preserved and resources are available for the people of Nepal.

Paper on our special boxed gift sets was sustainably sourced from the bark of the lokta shrub, harvested without destroying the plant stock.”  They also state, “paper handcrafted by men and women in Malika and Dalika—two regions high in the Himalayas—help them improve their lives and reverse deforestation.” Aveda began partnering with these communities in 2002 and continues to strengthen the relationship.  On another page about the partnership, the Aveda website states that, “When our partnership with Nepali forest product enterprises began in 2002, our focus was simple: create economic opportunities in impoverished communities dedicated to biodiversity conservation.” This page also tells the story of one of the participating families to give it the human touch.

I am a big Aveda fan anyway and even more so since I interviewed Mary T’Kach for my book.  I like this flyer - they tell exactly how many people are benefitting from this promotion.  Do you give similar information about any special promotions you run to support causes either through commerce (they bought the paper from the artisans) as in this Aveda example or through your contributions?  You should…consumers like to know about real impact and how their purchase makes a difference.

Last weekend I attended Mark Victor Hansen’s  MEGASpeaking Empire event in Los Angeles as part of Brendon Burchard’s Center Ring.  Brendon was a featured speaker at the event and did his usual fabulous job!

While I was there, I was very interested to learn of Mark Victor Hansen’s Foundation.  Its mission is “to end global poverty by promoting entrepreneurial literacy on this planet.”  The MVH Foundation currently sponsors four programs.  Check them out by clicking the links. 

The Soul Solution Program - Pathways out of Poverty

The Young Entrepreneurial Challenge - Developing Visionaries

Free Enterprise Scholarship Program - Empowering Young Adults

The Bookmarks Program - Building Bridges to Education

During the MegaSpeaking event, Mark’s event volunteers distibuted envelopes to all attendees so we could make donations to the MVH Foundation as part of our thanks for the value we were receiving from the event.  Volunteers collected the envelopes and then drew one name to receive one of Mark’s products as a thank you.  What a great way to promote the MVH Foundation, increase its visibility, and get needed resources.

The donation envelopes were also available at the MVH Foundation’s display table outside the ballroom.  I liked that the envelope gave the option of contributing as an individual or business either as a one-time gift or a monthly contribution.  They had a nice graphic featuring three levels in the Monthly Donor Program of $25, $50, and $100 though one could select a different amount above.  Nicely done!

At the MegaSpeaking event, the MVH Foundation also had a silent auction of products and services donated by the various speakers and exhibitors with the proceeds to be given to the Foundation.  I bid on the new WOW Factor Program, the Take-Home Experience for Speakers, Authors, Entrepreneurs and Others That Make Presentations created and donated by Lynn Rose, who also is also an amazing singer.  Lynn is fabulous, check out her music - I bought her latest CD and am loving it!  Lynn has a great heart and is giving back in some unique ways - I’ll do another post just on her soon!  Unfortunately, I did not have the winning bid but the Director of the MVH Foundation called and personally left me a message to let me know and thank me for my support.  Now THAT’S GREAT customer service.  You can be sure I am now even more intersted in supporting their work!  The personal touch goes a LONG way…too many other nonprofits and foundations still need to learn that lesson!

Doing research online after I got home, I really liked how clear the MVH Foundation’s webpage was on how to get involved with their efforts to alleviate poverty. This makes it very easy for a business or individual to know the range of options available to participate - everything from a attending their big upcoming fundraiser called the Soul Motion Ball to donating a silent auction item.  Specifically, the page provided information on how to,

“Attend the Soul Motion Ball—Rockin’ The Universe

January 31, 2009 6:30-11:30, with the Global Humanity Pre-Event VIP Reception from 5:30-6:30pm
The Irvine Marriott Hotel
18000 Von Karman Avenue
Irvine, California 92612″

as well as how to make a contribution, donate online or by mail or phone, workplace giving, gifts to honor someone special, gifts of stock, leave a legacy, and/or contribute an auction item.

All in all, it’s a great model!  While I was on the MVH Foundation website’s Visionaries Page, I noticed that Rick Frishman with Morgan James Publishing that I wrote a blog post about a couple days ago is on the Board of Directors which is great!  So be sure to go check it all out!  On the MVH Foundation’s home page, you can sign up to receive Mark’s free 114 page eBook, the Miracle of Tithing.  I signed up, did the downloaded and now look forward to reading it!

Mark’s next event is MEGABook Marketing.  If the event MEGABook is anything like the MEGA Speaking event, it is sure to be inspiring.

I was dismayed to learn this week from my favorite baristas at the Colorado and Arizona Starbucks in Denver that the Gold Card Pilot Program that I got to participate in ended October 31.  Guess I did not read Starbucks Gold News #3.  So the pretty white card with my name on it reverts to be just a regular Starbucks card now.

Their new membership product is also called a Gold Card and costs $25 a year.  Benefits include a 10% discount on all food and beverages at the time of purchase which is great and comes with three coupons for 10% off other Starbucks purchases.

However, I now see no mention of the piece I was drawn to initially with the pilot program - the percentage back from my cappuccino addiction to a nonprofit.  So I guess they discontinued that feature.  Granted my whopping contribution through the end of September was only $2.58 but it was the principle of getting to choose whether to take the 10% off myself or contribute it that I appreciated.  Bummer.  I see they have now decided to become part of Product(RED) - maybe they decided that was the better way to go?

I bought one of the new Gold cards anyway.  It is still my destination of choice for my morning dog walk and I love the spinach feta breakfast wrap.  Onwards…

On my morning dog walk with Kiwi to Starbucks, I noticed an article on their community bulletin board with a photo of Howard Schultz and Bono announcing that Starbucks is joining the Product(RED) effort to combat HIV/AIDS in Africa.  It made clear that this involvement is about commerce not charity which I liked!  I hadn’t heard about this new partnertship yet…so when I got home, I went to the Starbucks website to see what I could find out.

The October 29, 2008 Starbucks press release says, “Starting on November 27, 2008 and continuing through January 2, 2009,  Starbucks will contribute five cents from the sale of any (STARBUCKS)RED EXCLUSIVE beverage* at all company-owned and licensed stores in the United States and Canada to the Global Fund to invest in AIDS programs in Africa.   Once (STARBUCKS)RED EXCLUSIVE Holiday beverages leave stores, the company will offer its customers the opportunity to make (RED) choices in their purchases every day.”

“(RED)’s primary objective is to engage the private sector in raising awareness and funds for the Global Fund, to help eliminate AIDS in Africa. Companies whose products take on the (PRODUCT)RED mark contribute a significant percentage of the sales or portion of the profits from that product to the Global Fund to finance AIDS programs in Africa, with an emphasis on the health of women and children. Current partners are: American Express (U.K. only), Apple, Converse, Gap, Emporio Armani, Hallmark, Dell, Windows and Starbucks.  Since its launch in the Spring of 2006, more than $112 million has been generated by (RED) for the Global Fund. (RED) money is at work in Swaziland, Rwanda, Ghana and Lesotho. For more information, visit www.joinred.com.”

(RED) has been controversial because people wonder about the level of contribution versus the amount spent promoting it.  However, (RED) is a commerce-based way to support a cause which means it needs to make business sense and be win-win.  Frankly, generating $112 million in 2 years for the Global Fund is only great news!!  What other marketing resources the companies spend to promote their (RED) products and their involvement they would be spending anyway.  At least these companies have all stepped up to be part of a movement that is looking for solutions to a serious issue of our times.

While at Mark Vistor Hansen’s Mega Speaking Empire Event in Los Angeles last weekend, I had the pleasure of meeting Rick Frishman with Morgan James Publishing at a VIP luncheon.  After I explained that I work with businesses to make their giving more impactful, when he handed me his business card he made a point of showing me the logo in the lower left corner indicating their partnership with Habitat for Humanity Peninsula as a Building Partner.  How great!  Such a good idea!

Today I went to their website to see what else I could find out about their partnership.  I was very pleased to see they had a link on their home page labeled Habitat for Humanity.  Clicking that link to get to the Habitat page, Morgan James was very clear about their support for the organization.  They list three main ways they support Habitat:

1. “Financial support – Morgan James Publishing is donating a percentage of all book sales on a monthly basis from our Global (US/UK/CA) efforts under the Habitat for Humanity Peninsula Building Partner Program for the life of each book.
2. Public awareness – Morgan James Publishing is raising awareness by promoting Habitat for Humanity with every book we release, both inside and outside (with authors consent of course). Creating press opportunities to promote Habitat for Humanity and prominently on our Morgan James Publishing, LLC website(s), literature, radio spots, seminars, etc. 
3. Mobilizing volunteers – Morgan James Publishing rolls up our sleeves and does whatever it takes to encourage and mobilize globally volunteers with an emphasis on Habitat for Humanity, including getting our own hands dirty!”

The website also said “We place the Habitat for Humanity logo on the back and inside of our books, with a statement that a percentage of the revenues from the book are donated to the organization.  We also have a large, Mercedes Sprinter cargo van with the Habitat & Morgan James logos that features our imprints and authors; we drive it to as many Habitat home dedications as we can around the country to raise awareness for Habitat and our authors.  From the van, we also give a small library of books to the new homeowners.  So at the same time when we are generating funds for them, we are also raising awareness for the organization’s life-changing work, helping low-income families build decent homes they can afford to buy.  Our efficient business model, enabled by our partnership with Ingram Publisher Services, makes it possible for us to participate with Habitat for Humanity in this way.” - David L. Hancock

On the Habitat site, on the Building Partners Page, they list Morgan James Publishing with a link back to the Morgan James Habitat page.  No blurb about the company or a logo but at least it was listed.  An upgrade would be for Habitat to add those for all significant business partners.

I really like that Morgan James Publishing is so clear how they support and promote their partner, Habitat for Humanity Peninsula.  They also give alot of basic data about Habitat and the work they do in the community, as well.  Definitely a best practice!  How can you upgrade your own website to do something similar?

I have had the privilege of consulting and training nationally with the Corporation for National and Community Service, the federal agency responsible for funding nonprofits to run national service programs (AmeriCorps, VISTA, NCCC, Senior Corps, and Learn and Serve America) for 14 years with the Aguirre Division of JBS International.  I added it up last week and I have done trainings in 48 of 50 states, Guam and American Samoa -training over 10,000 people!

As I have said before, I am a true believer in the role nonprofits, service and volunteerism can play in local communities to make a real difference because of the great work I have seen first hand all across the country.  When the Bush Administration came in, those of us working in National Service were nervous about the potential impact of the new administration.  As it turned out, George Bush did end up being supportive of national service so AmeriCorps and the other programs continued forward much as before though funding has been cut back each year.

During this political season, both candidates for President spoke positively about national service and volunteerism which was very exciting.  Now that Obama is President-elect, it appears AmeriCorps and national service will be a featured initiative under the new incoming administration which is GREAT!  Check out the transition website to get a sense of the tone!

It seems the Obama Administration will make some important positive changes which I find exciting!  The San Francisco Chronicle reported, “Obama has pledged to create a Social Entrepreneurship Agency within the Corporation for National and Community Service, to generate more venture capital for socially conscious startups. The new agency would make it easier for small nonprofits to get federal grants, plus come up with a results-driven accountability system so government officials could make better decisions about which charities to fund.”  Check out the full article by Meredith May.

Michelle Obama has firsthand experience with AmeriCorps and seems very supportive.  A recent Newsweek article by Richard Wolffe reporting on his interview with her included the following two questions and answers.

“You want to continue what you did with Public Allies [ which trains young people to become leaders of community groups and nonprofits] as First Lady. What‘ s your thinking on how to go about that?
Barack is talking about a deeper investment in national service; that’s been part of his platform. He’s been meeting with some of the leadership of the AmeriCorps national-service movements—the Public Allies, the Teach for Americas, the City Years of the World—and figuring out how do we use that model, expand upon it, and help use that as a more creative way to defray the costs of college for young people and get all Americans really engaged. What AmeriCorps showed me, during the time that I worked on it, is that all these resources of young people, and not-so-young people, as I call them—because AmeriCorps is not just for young adults but people of all ages—you can fill a lot of gaps with the help of community-service hours. The young people in my program worked as program directors. They worked with kids and they worked in parks and they worked with nonprofit organizations that didn’t have the resources to bring people in full time. So this is one of those clear win-wins. You can help kids pay for school, you can get needed man-hours into really critical things like the environment, senior care, Head Start—a whole range of things. And you get the country more focused on giving back.

There are elements of this already in place at the national level. Is it just a lack of resources, or insufficient focus and organization?
Fortunately, [President] Bush kept AmeriCorps, but it was significantly defunded. I haven’t worked on AmeriCorps in a while, so I don’t know how the funding cuts have really affected them … When I was with Public Allies, and AmeriCorps was at its height, there were resources for expansion. So you had the new program in Chicago that I started. Then there was something going on in Milwaukee, and they were looking at West Coast offices. But I think with those funds reduced, people had to stop that kind of growth. So you’re just limited in the number of slots that you can have for young people or seniors or what-have-you.”

The only downside is that the budgets for such programs are decided over a year in advance so any potential reversal of recent cut backs and austerity measures may take a while to come into being.  In the meantime, these programs and the nonprofits that sponsor them continue to offer great opportunities for your company to get involved locally and make a real difference.  Check the AmeriCorps website to find information about programs you can partner with located in your state.