Over the weekend I was at the San Mateo Marriott attending Brendon Burchard’s Experts Academy 3 day seminar.  His website states, “The program is a private 3-day intensive called Experts Academy and it’s sole focus is on how to make you THE expert in your industry so you can get big-time clients, contracts, paydays, and press coverage for your business.”  It was a FANTASTIC and inspiring weekend – I learned so much!!  It was just the infusion of information and sense of possibility that I really needed right now to grow my business.  I feel like I have “come alive” again and now am ready to move forward again in new and more effective ways.  Brendon is very inspiring as a trainer – great content and presence.  Check it out!!  I strongly recommend anything Brendon does!

During the weekend, Brendon showed us how to use Flip Video camcorders to make videos to post on our websites.  I had not seen them before and I was fascinated how easy it was to use.  I decided I needed one to carry around so I could record mini videos about business giving as I run across great examples.  Today I was replacing my watch at Brighton and wished I had one so I could have recorded the great things told to me by the Brighton store staff at the Cherry Creek Mall about the company’s philanthropy.

So when I got home, I went online to do some research and figure out how to order a Flip Video.  I found that the new smaller version called the Mino can be customized with a cover design.  As I read further, I learned that right now of the many designs available to choose from, 9 are part of a promotion called ”Flip for Good” – For every 15 camcorders sold with a Flip for Good design, they donate a camcorder to charity.  For more information, go to: www.flipvideospotlight.com/flipforgood.  Of course, once I saw that, I selected Geometric Twirl as my design so I could participate in the program!

A recommendation…when purchasing products for use in your business (or personally), pay attention,  When you see products and services that give back – check them out.  Consider your purchase needs and if possible, buy from that company and support their efforts!

And soon – you will see video interviews with companies that give back right here!!  Stay Tuned!

The effect of hard times on nonprofits is clearly a hot topic.  There was an article by Kevin McCoy and Oren Dorell in today’s USA Today, titled “It’s a hard time to be a charity.”  The article starts by discussing the impact of the Freddie Mac financial woes on its charitable arm and thus the nonprofits and programs that received funding from them. 

The article goes on to state, “The economic crisis threatening the nation with the worst recession in decades has set off tremors among non-profits and charities large and small that rely on donations from Wall Street, industry and average Americans.  The potential impact is just now taking shape, because 2009 grants from many philanthropic foundations are still being set and the end-of-year holiday giving season is opening. Although it’s difficult to draw broad conclusions from reports by individual charities, many non-profits say they are feeling an economic pinch.”

“This is the worst fundraising environment I’ve ever worked in,” says Jeffrey Towers, chief development officer for the American Red Cross, which won promises of $100 million from Congress this month after 2008’s hurricanes, tornadoes and floods depleted the group’s disaster-relief reserves.  The Red Cross is suffering as much as a 30% drop in responses and contributions from new donors, and corporate donations are “coming in at lower amounts.”

The article ends with “”Many charities are between a rock and a hard place, being asked to do more with less,” says Ken Berger, president and CEO of Charity Navigator, a large independent U.S. charity evaluator.

If there’s any so-called bright side, he says, it’s that the economic crisis could force redundant, inefficient or otherwise weak charities to merge with stronger organizations or simply shut down, reducing the competition for contribution dollars.”

It is an interesting article, you should read it.  Click here.

I was checking some facts about giving in the US for my book this morning and I found a press release issued September 19, 2008 from Giving USA Foundation about the impact of recession on giving levels.  It stated,”What really happens to charitable giving when the economy is roiling? A new report from Giving USA Foundation examines the topic from the aspect of past recessions and economic slowdowns, and discovers that while there is an impact on giving, it’s not as dire as conventional wisdom would assume.

“When the economy is uncertain, as it is in 2008, non-profits and others naturally assume the one sector that will be heavily impacted is philanthropy,” said George C. Ruotolo Jr., CFRE, chair of Giving Institute: Leading Consultants to Non-Profits and past chair of Giving USA Foundation. “With history as our guide, we know that’s not true. In fact, while charitable giving is impacted by recessions and/or economic slowdowns, it’s not by nearly as much as one might expect.”

Read the whole release and see what you think.  Of course, this was issued before the big slide on Wall Street…so I wonder if it will still hold true?  At Denver’s Two Percent Club event this week, business leaders certainly were concerned that the 40 percent reduction in foundation assets due to recent Wall Street events would significantly impact their ability to give in future years.

This morning I attended a breakfast sponsored by the Two Percent Club at the Denver Country Club.  The Two Percent Club is an organization actively promoting business involvement in the community.  Their website states: “The member companies of the 2% Club consist of a wide range of industry representation and include every size of business, from sole proprietors to the largest employers. They have supported hundreds of Denver nonprofits with donations, employee volunteers, in-kind support and pro bono services. These leaders encourage and demonstrate business involvement in the community through their support of philanthropic efforts within their own companies, through their own personal commitment and through their leadership and encouragement of others.  We encourage you to get involved—-it’s just good business.”

While we ate our breakfast, each of the six round tables discussed 11 questions concerning community involvement.  They were great questions – I suggest you take a minute and think about the answers to them from your own perspective.

1. Have you arm twisted your vendors or suppliers to get them involved in the community?  How did that work for you?
2. Are government projects and iniatives appropriately steering resources to causes or are they taking funds away from other community groups and causes?
3. Has your company tied your community efforts back to business goals?  If so, how?  Any cause related marketing projects?
4. How do you find time for community efforts – for yourself or your company/employees?
5. What impact is the economic situation having on your giving now or in the future?  What about the overall impact on the nonprofits and the community?
6. Is it OK to self-promote your community efforts, or is that being disingenuous?
7. Do you measure your community efforts?  If so, how?
8. Are your employees involved?  What impact does that have on morale/productivity?
9. Is it good to have a narrow communtiy focus or more of a broad-based focus?
10. Is it appropriate for nonprofits to be invovled in political issues?
11. Black-tie dinners-enough?  Or bring ‘em on?  Alternatives?

The keynote speaker for the event was Peter Coors.  Peter currently is Vice-Chairman of the Board of the Molson Coors Brewing Company.  He previously served as Chairman of the Board of Adolph Coors Company since 2002, and was Chief Executive Officer from May 2000 to July 2002. Peter talked about the unique philosophy we have in the United States concerning citizen (and business) involvement in philanthropy as compared to many other countries where the government is expected to provide all needed servcies in communities.  He talked about business philanthropy being not an obligation for companies as no one is making us do it – rather he feels it is the right thing to do and makes good business sense.  People want to do business with people they think care.

Peter highlighted eight things for companies to remember when engaged in community involvement.

1. Keep your corporate hat on when working with nonprofits – bring business thinking to addressing community issues.
2. Encourage nonprofits to measure their results and business can help with that.
3. Help nonprofits measure their effectiveness using both quantitative approaches while also focusing on the harder to measure feel good factor.
4. Offer in-kind resources
5. Encourage employees and their families to get involved in community projects.  Encourage them to have the same giving philosophy as the business’ leaders.
6. Effectively use your business leverage to make things happen.
7. Be creative, shake up the status quo and look at things differently especially during tough economic times when dollars available have diminished – right now by 40%!!
8. Never doubt the Power of One!  Adopt one school, mentor one child, help one neighborhood.  One person or one business – can make a difference.

It great to have been invited to participate in this event and meet leading local business people who are so committed to supporting their local communities.  The Two Percent Club has a new website and is now actively looking to engage even more businesses as part of its membership.  I am glad to be a member!

I was watching TV last night and at the end of a typical Pizza Hut commercial featuring cheese in their crust, there was a different ending that caught my attention.  Pizza Hut is supporting the movement to end world hunger by supporting the World Food Program through their Friends organization. 

Going to the Pizza Hut website today, on their home page, there was a link to the World Hunger 2008 effort with the tag that $1 feeds 4 children.  The WFP Friends site states, “World Hunger Relief gives a voice to the silent crisis of hunger by generating awareness among millions of people across the globe. Join Yum! Brands and its 35,000 restaurants worldwide in the movement to end world hunger. By donating to Friends of the World Food Program, you provide a basic necessity for life and hope to the world’s hungry. Give today.”  The site offers the option of making a one-time donation or donations over time. 

The Friends site gives a lot of data about world hunger and describes the various programs offered by the organization.  Check it out!

Last week I was in DC helping run the State Service Commissioner Institute presented by the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS), Project TASC of JBS International, and the America’s Service Commissions.  As I sit here, back in Denver I am amazed that after my 14 years of working with state service commissions and AmeriCorps, how many people are still unaware of them.  When I mention that I train and consult with AmeriCorps, I often still have to say, “you know…it is the domestic Peace Corps.”  It is still a bit of a well kept secret and that is a shame.  One of the topics I have done extensive work on with AmeriCorps programs nationally is performance measurement and evaluation.  So what I know to be true is that the vast majority of these programs are providing fabulous service to their communities and making a significant impact - because I have helped them figure out how to measure it!

What is AmeriCorps? 

For those of you that don’t know, AmeriCorps is a National Service program that places members (aka volunteers) at nonprofits and state/local government agencies, often in teams, to provide volunteer service addressing identified community needs.  Full-time members give 1700 hours of their time, receive a tiny monthly living stipend, and at the end of their service commitment an educational award of $4725 to pay for additional schooling or past educational debt.  While the majority of members are in the 20’s, there is no upper age limit and it is not uncommon to see 20 somethings working alongside people in their 40’s, 50s, and 60s from a wide range of backgrounds!  The monthly stipend is great, in my opinion, as it levels the playing field allowing people of any financial background to participate – not just those whose parents can afford to support them while they serve!

AmeriCorps programs are designed by community agencies to meet specific local needs in the areas of education, environment, public safety, human needs, and disaster services.  Members provide direct service working with the beneficiaries of their hosting organization doing such things as tutoring students having trouble in school, running afterschool programs, cleaning up neighborhoods, developing neighborhood watch programs, assisting communities hit by disasters, running food pantries, and building homes – just to name a few.  All AmeriCorps programs are required to provide direct service to the community, provide the necessary training for members to effectively provide their service and become more civically engaged, develop partnerships among community organizations, and recruit other community members to get involved as volunteers. 

AmeriCorps is one of the National Service/volunteer programs funded by the federal government.  However, it is interesting to note that AmeriCorps programs are required to match the federal funds they receive with resources generated locally – basically dollar for dollar.  State-based AmeriCorps programs are designed locally and state commissions are able to tailor the allocation of their AmeriCorps resources to insure they meet that state’s most pressing needs.

What is a State Commission? 

There is a bipartisan State Service Commission in every state in the country except South Dakota, as well as Guam and American Samoa.  In 1993, Congress passed the National and Community Service Trust Act that created the Corporation for National and Community Service to administer and oversee National Service. CNCS is the umbrella agency for the old ACTION Agency programs – VISTA and Senior Corps (RSVP, Foster Grandparents, and Senior Companions) – plus the newer AmeriCorps and Learn and Serve America programs.  As part of the Act, any state that wanted to receive federal AmeriCorps funds based on a population-based formula needed to establish a state service commission.  Commissioners are appointed by the Governor and commissions are run by a small administrative staff.  State Commissions basically have two main mandates.  The first is to administer the AmeriCorps program in the state to insure it meets critical local needs and second is to promote service and volunteerism as a way to address local issues.  Commissions are usually housed within state government (often in the Governor or Lt. Governor’s offices) or can be stand alone 501(C)(3)s.

Why should you care?

If your company is looking to get more involved locally or at the state-level with well run nonprofits and their programs, the executive director of your state’s service commission is a great person with whom to talk.  S/he will know about opportunities to volunteer in your community, regionally, and/or at the state level.  S/he can also point you to specific programs that could use your business savvy and resources to build their capacity to do even more good in the community.  Also the reach of commissions is wide – if you support their efforts, it is a great way to get your company’s name out there in a positive way!

AmeriCorps programs go through an extensive review and training process so you know when you choose to support one of them, they have been VERY carefully vetted!

The enthusiasm AmeriCorps members have about what they are doing in local communities is absolutely infectious.  It always reminds me that I need to get out and do more volunteer work myself.  Interviewing members for various evaluations I have conducted, I am constantly amazed at how much they have learned about local issues and how to be part of the solution, not just sit around and complain. 

Get involved!  To find your state’s commission, go to: http://www.nationalservice.gov/about/contact/statecommission.asp.  From there you can click to go to your state commission’s home page which lists all the local AmeriCorps programs.  Be sure to call the commission’s executive director if you have questions or want to know more about how to get involved.  I know them all – and there is no finer group of people on the planet in my view.  And…feel free to tell them I recommended you call!