I heard Keith Ferrazzi, author of Never Eat Alone, speak at Mark Victor Hansen’s MegaSpeaking Empire a few weeks ago.  He gave a great presentation during which he mentioned his business networking site, the Greenlight Community.  The site states “We are a global community of entrepreneurs and professionals who believe that our relationships drive our success and bring us joy. We are looking for a place to be helpful and to find new ideas, encouragement, friends, maybe even someone to kick our backsides when necessary, and ultimately, MORE SUCCESS, however we define that!”  Sounded good to me so earlier this week I signed up to participate. 

The first person to contact me was Maxine Karchie from Edmonton, Canada.  When I went to her Greenlight page to respond to her welcome post to me, I noticed the cover for a book, titled “The Future of Safety.”  On the cover was a logo that said “Profits to Charity.”  So I mentioned it and said I would like to know more.

She directed me to her blog post on the book which states, the book …”is now for sale with all profits going to two safety related charities. The publication, The Future of Safety,” is now available on our website http://www.hatscan.com.  Profits will go to: SMARTRISK helps people see the risks in their everyday lives and shows them how to take those risks in the smartest way possible so that they can enjoy life to the fullest. And Job Safety Skills Society (JSSS): Educating youth about workplace safety is the key to prevention.”  So I started digging a bit more.  The HATSCAN website says, “the “give-back” is to donate the profits of this project to two charities whose mission and values are aligned with HATSCAN’s mission and values; ZERO Injuries and young worker safety.”

The book was developed by HATSCAN.  “Founded in 1988, Hazard Alert Training Inc.’s (HATSCAN’s) goal is to be Canada’s provider of choice for core Occupational Health and Safety training.  The Future of Safety is “can’t-do-without” resource for Safety professionals, managers, regulators and persons in all occupations that impact workplace health and Safety. Here are the thoughts of 21 prominent experts from all workplace Safety disciplines and professions, drawn from across the nation … in their own words.”

So such a great tie in between the product and its contents and nonprofits whose missions are in alignment with that of the business.  I like it!

I have now seen Seymour Segnit speak at three big events – T. Harv Eker’s Millionaire Mind Intensive, Christine Comaford-Lynch’s Rules for Renegades Summit, and Mark Victor Hansen’s MEGASpeaking Empire.  He is a talented guy and is launching Life University’s new program, The BIG Weekend in early 2009.  The BIG Weekend is a three day event to be held in Los Angeles March 27-29.  The website states, “In 3 amazing days you will uncover what is holding you back, retrain the way you think and react to situations and break through any obstacles that held you back from living your ultimate life…This is no cookie-cutter approach to personal development. At The Big Weekend you will focus on those areas in your life that need attention, identify your issues and address them on the spot.”

I was signed up to attend the BIG Weekend in March – however, I am not able to make those dates.  When I went on the website to reschedule, I noticed a tab called Giving Back.  As you know, I am always on the lookout for such things.  So…

From the Giving Back page I learned that “10% of revenues, yes revenues from The Big Weekend go to support charities that promote education around the globe.”  The page goes on to state, “Giving Back: The Heart of The New U.  In a world of far greater global awareness, we are just beginning to see the opportunity – and the impact – that we as individuals and corporations can have on the world.  From its inception, Life University has provided an environment that gives back and supports our planet and our global community based on a founding belief: We are all responsible and accountable for the world in which we live.”

So nice job that one of five tabs on the Life University website is about giving back.  I would have liked to see a few more details about exactly what programs the 10% will go to, but I assume that is coming. 

Do you have a page on your company’s website that gives an overview of your giving philosophy and who and what you support?  If you don’t, I STRONGLY recommend you follow Seymour’s lead and get one going!!

I ran across an article today by Kathy Plomin in Business Lexington, GIVING BACK: Corporate Philanthropy:Giving back offers benefits to the giver, too.

In addition to quoting the usual stats from the Cone/Roper Research Reports to help make the case for business philanthropy, the article states, “If you own a family business or are an officer of a corporation, there are at least four options for you to consider for your company’s charitable giving: a corporate giving program, a corporate foundation, a corporate donor advised fund, and employee matching and non-cash giving.”

The article gives the following advice: “Many corporations operate an annual giving program to make charitable grants part of their annual budgets. Small business owners can blend their family business with family philanthropy by channeling their charitable support through their company. This is usually directed by the senior management and/or ownership of the company.

A company may also wish to create a corporate foundation as an independent, tax-exempt private foundation. A corporate foundation is usually started with a single gift that can become the endowment, to which the company can add future contributions. The foundation’s officers are usually the company’s owners and key executives. At some companies, employee committees make giving recommendations about projects they believe are worthy of support. Just be sure you do your homework –– the corporate foundation is subject to the same rules and regulations applicable to other private foundations.

In addition to awarding cash grants to charity, companies often offer to match their employees’ gifts of cash and volunteer time to nonprofit organizations. Many companies assist and encourage their employees to give by organizing workplace giving programs and by facilitating payroll deductions for employees’ charitable gifts. Companies sometimes match gifts that their employees make through workplace giving programs.”

Plomin has done a nice job giving an overview of business giving.  In my experience though, too many smaller businesses (family owned or not) make the mistake of thinking the best way to give back and make a difference is by setting up their own foundation or starting a nonprofit themselves.  Somehow people don’t realize that either of these options is ALOT of work and the burden on top of running a profitable business, especially in tough economic times may counteract the value of the effort.  My advice would be to do a little research about what nonprofits already exist that are working in the same general area as the cause you want the business to support.  Even if they are not doing exactly what you think best and you have ideas for a new innovative program, consider partnering with them.  Use their structure and networks to help do your good works.  You don’t need to recreate the wheel. 

Same with starting a foundation.  For most companies until you reach annual revenues in the multimillions, it may be far better to run your grant program as a donor-assisted fund at a community foundation than to start your own foundation.  Again, a community foundation has the experience and the existing infrastructure to manage your program for a small administrative fee – leaving you to do good AND have the time you need to run your own business.

Be strategic and think things through BEFORE you leap in over your head!!

As Americans, we hear so much in the news about our current economic crises.  These are definitely difficult times that affect everyone and their sense of stability with worries about about finances keeping many of us awake at night.  However, even in times like these, we really do have so much for which to be grateful. 

In this country, anyone that wants to start a small business to make their own way can do it.  Our basic utilities and transportation systems work, for the most part our air and water is clean.  We live in a country that values helping one’s neighbor…and giving back whether individually or as a business is more the norm than the exception.

Take time to be grateful for what you DO have and the opportunities that are waiting when you are ready to go for them.  Have a great day!

I was checking my Facebook wall a few minutes ago and noticed an ad from Starbucks about their new (RED) affiliation.  As a kickoff they are doing a donation of $.05 per “handcrafted beverage” to the Global Fund on December 1st, World AIDS Day.

Facebook clearly offers a huge marketing reach for a cause marketing ad like this!

I am reading a book by Dave Evans, Social Media Marketing: An Hour a Day, because I am trying to get up to speed on using Facebook, Twitter and other forms of social media for business purposes.  Wow – what a lot to learn!!  The exercise for Day One involves reviewing blogs and wikis to learn about them.  One of the examples given was the wiki for One Laptop per Child (ONLP).  I had heard of the program before but really did not know much about it.

According to the wiki, the mission of OLPC is “One Laptop per Child creates educational opportunities for the world’s poorest children by providing each child with a rugged, low-cost, low-power, connected laptop with content and software designed for collaborative, joyful, self-empowered learning.”

The website gave the following update: “OLPC launched its second Give One, Get One (”G1G1″) program on November 17, 2008, following last year’s popular program which supported the production of over 150,000 XOs. This year the XO laptops will be shipped to donors through Amazon.com, and the program includes Europe. Visit laptop.org/xo.”

For $199, you can give a child in a developing country a laptop.  The Amazon page says:”Why give a laptop to a child in the emerging world? If you replace the word “laptop” with “education” the answer becomes clear. You don’t wait to educate until all other challenges are resolved. You educate at the same time because it’s such an important part of all the other solutions.  The XO laptop was designed especially for children. So no matter who they are or where they live, this computer has the perfect features and software to get them excited about learning. Just imagine how the world would change if every child had the tools to unleash their full potential.”

What a great project and such a low “ticket price.”  Check it out at www.laptop.org and perhaps your business can join the effort and give the gift of education. 

…And I still don’t really get wikis…

The whole social media thing is mind boggling to me!  I did not pay much attention initially because it seemed more social as opposed to business oriented.  Now I am hearing about the business applications all the time!  So…I spent a lot of time this week trying to figure out Facebook and Twitter as ways to get the word out about my work and the resources that I offer for both business and nonprofits as well as be in contact with people of like mind. 

I started a group on Facebook called Business Philanthropy – Do Good AND Do Well.  The purpose of this group will be to “share ideas with other entrepreneurs and small and mid-market business owners and executives who like you are committed to business social responsibility and who want to run more effective business philanthropy programs. Share ideas and learn about the many ways your company can support local and global nonprofits through strategic contributions (time, dollars, and inkind) and commerce to make a real difference in the community and grow your business.”

So please join the group and get in on the discussion!

Strategic Partnerships with Businesses

The last ten years I have been “all about” strategic business nonprofit partnerships.  I first truly became committed to this topic as a result of my consulting work with the national network of Governors’ Commissions on National and Community Service and the AmeriCorps programs they fund in their respective states.  In trainings I give on performance measurement and evaluation, I always find myself up on a soapbox telling program staff they HAVE to measure their impact –for decision-making and continuous improvement of their programs and to share with community stakeholders (including businesses) to leverage additional resources and grow their support base.

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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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