Everyday I wake up excited and have new energy – life is GREAT!  The book on business giving I have been working along on for 4-5 years now is fast becoming a reality and will be released in February 2011!  So hard to believe after all the hours of self-doubt about whether I knew enough to be writing a book in the first place and of guilt and frustration that it was moving so slowly and not “done” yet.  Also, I increasingly was embarrassed because I felt like I had somehow not fulfilled my commitment to the great thought leaders I interviewed from 40+ companies for this book after they had so generously shared their time and company perspectives on community involvement with me.  That spiral goes nowhere but down…and becomes quicksand!

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When I bought my last 4 pack of Light & Fit yogurt by Dannon, I noticed the Hope with Every Cup special labeling.  Dannon® is “teaming up” (I like that language!!) with the National Breast Cancer Foundation to “Give Hope With Every CupTM” in the fight against breast cancer.

From the stand alone Give Hope with Every Cup website, I learned “Dannon and the National Breast Cancer Foundation are united to carry out a mission of giving hope. It is the long standing mission of the National Breast Cancer Foundation to increase awareness through education, provide diagnostic breast care services for those in need, and provide nurturing support services to save lives through early detection.

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Nau is such a cool company – I first learned about them at the 2007 Social Venture Network Fall Conference where they received an SVN Social Innovation Award.  Nau is an eco-friendly clothing company based in Portland, OR started by former senior executives from Nike and Patagonia. Nau blends profitability with philanthropy — what they see as the new measure of success. Their high standards for sustainability inspired Nau to create 28 new fabrics that are “open source” to encourage industry peers to achieve the same level of sustainability. Nau donates 2% of gross revenues to nonprofit “partners for change,” and they involve customers by having them select the nonprofit to receive their 2%.

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Ever wander through a mall and had the sweet odor of cinnamon drive you directly to Cinnabon for a snack?  It is SO hard to resist…  Anyway, I just heard about their support of U.S. Troops overseas…gives you a really good excuse to stop by the next Cinnabon you see!

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Boston College’s Center for Corporate Citizenship developed the corporate social responsibility index (CSRI). The CSRI is the combined average of the general public’s perceptions along the three key dimensions – Citizenship, Governance and Workplace. This combined score yields greater insight into the influence of stakeholder programs, policies and activities on reputation.

The 2010 Corporate Social Responsibility Index (CSRI) has been released.  In 2010, the areas of Citizenship, Governance and Workplace continue to account for over 40% of a company’s reputation, or Pulse score, in the United States.

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Have you seen the TownePlace Suites Make a Bed Program on Facebook? I decided to check it out thought I am never very thrilled to click yes to anything that allows someone to access my friends etc…but I figured Marriott is a reputable company.  So click I did!  One click, the bed made itself and $2 was donated.  Check it out!

From the CSRWire press release: “You may not like making your bed at home, but with TownePlace Suites by Marriott, making a bed makes a difference. Any time between now and November 1, 2010, with a simple click on the brand’s new Facebook applicationwww.facebook.com/makeabed, you can make a bed and TownePlace Suites will donate $2 to American Red Cross Disaster Relief. Our goal is to donate up to $50,000 by November 1, 2010.

In addition to helping others, you help yourself. After making a bed, you can register to win a Flip Video™ Camera. Take it one step further by sharing the Make a Bed app with your Facebook friends to help make an even bigger difference for people in need. When four of your friends on Facebook make a bed and register, you will be entered to win a 7-night stay at any participating TownePlace Suites location.”

Service Jam started today.  Very fun to see what is on people’s minds and engage in the international dialogue!  If you haven’t signed up to participate, check it out.

I just posted the following.  What are YOUR thoughts on this?  I’d love to hear from you!

Through my company, Business Nonprofit CONNECTIONS, I work with businesses on how to strengthen their community involvement/investments to not only optimize those social contributions to make a real impact but also strengthen their business bottom line. I also work with nonprofits helping them rethink their resource development to get beyond begging for checks to partnership and collaboration to leverage more social good.

For me, one of the issues I see all the time that gets in the way of true partnership and collaboration between the business and NGO/nonprofit sectors is the charity mindset and the over-focus on providing monetary input. In many ways, that keeps the “relationship” pretty superficial – no rolling up the sleeves and diving in together to synergize and co-create most of time. Granted cash is something that all every NGO can use and in this economy especially need to keep operational. However, collaborative efforts that go beyond to draw on the skills and resources of both types of organizations can leverage so much more.

What have you done to help get your organization “ready” for something more – deeper collaborations for change across sectors?

Gap Adventures has been my international travel tour company of choice – I have been to Spain, India, and Peru with them – all were really great trips!  Today I got an email that caught my eye, no pun intended….  Thinking about taking a cool trip?Definitely check Gap out!!

It said, “To celebrate the rarity of this calendar date we’re putting our group tours on sale this weekend only! Hooray for the 10th day of the 10th month of the 10 year….errr, 2010th year.

Plus, you can share your savings by helping others obtain 20-20 vision! Through our Planeterra Foundation, we’re raising funds for building a permanent eye camp in Cambodia to treat simple eye conditions and increase prevention and detection of cataracts and other eye diseases. We’ve supported temporary eyesight camps in Tibet for years and value any support you can add to the cause as we help change people’s lives!

To grab your savings and book a trip, head to:  www.gapadventures.com/trips/promotions/10-10-10-sale/

What is on sale this weekend and when does it end?
Virtually all of our group tours are on sale for 10% off. This includes departures from now until December 31, 2010! But you have to act fast as this sale ends on October 11, 2010.

Why support 20-20 Vision?
It always feels good to give back, doesn’t it? Head over to our Planeterra website to see how you can donate your trip savings and support our eye sight restoration camp project: http://www.planeterra.org/pages/projects/2.php.”

According to their website, “In order to minimize its impact on local cultures, Gap Adventures has also endeavoured to become one of the most sustainable tour operators in the world. To achieve that goal, Gap founder, Bruce Poon Tip founded the companion non-profit Planeterra Foundation in 2003 to aid global community development. To date, Planeterra’s innovative focus on voluntourism and fundraising has funded roughly 30 development projects, delivering everything from health programs to infrastructure improvements.”

When I was in Peru, I got to visit the women’s weaving co-op in the Sacred Valley. I learned that since 2005, Gap has been working with the Ccaccaccollo community to develop a women’s weaving cooperative. Most Gap Adventures groups like mine visit this community as part of their tour to meet the women and learn about all the stages of the weaving process; from hand-spinning the wool, dying the wool using natural dyes, and participating in a weaving demonstration.  It was fascinating to see it all live!  We also were given the opportunity to purchase high quality textiles directly from the women who made them.  One of the pieces I bought now sites in my living room where I see it everyday and I remember my conversations with the woman who wove it.  You can see her holding it in this photo I took.

By working with the women of this community, Planeterra and Gap are encouraging them to be proud of their cultural heritage by showcasing their intricate weaving skills. This also enables the women to help provide for their families and benefit from tourism in a way that avoids negative social and cultural impacts.

Gap Adventures pays the salary of all Planeterra employees and all administration costs so that 100% of each donation goes directly to our projects. 

There are 5 main ways that their projects are funded:
Individual Donations – are made online by donors and are matched dollar-for-dollar by Gap Adventures (up to $10,000 USD per project)

Dollar-A-Day Program – provides travellers with the opportunity to donate one dollar per day for the duration of their Gap Adventures tour to Planeterra before travelling either by clicking the check box online, or by advising their travel agent at the time of booking a trip

Volunteer Tours – include a donation amount that goes directly to our projects

Fundraising Events – are organized around the world by us and third party event organizers

Corporate Partnerships – is an avenue that we are just beginning to explore by developing partnerships with like-minded companies that are committed to social corporate responsibility.

For more information on Planeterra, click here.

I feel my insatiable travel itch surfacing again…hmmm…where will I go next with Gap?

I just signed up to participate in Service Jam so thought I’d share the info with you so you can join me on October 10-12th, 2010 to dialogue about “Service as a Solution!”

What is Service Jam?
Service Jam is an online event that will engage non-profit organizations, corporations, academic institutions, and government agencies in a discussion on how social innovation can help solve our world’s largest problems.  By bringing together prominent leaders, professionals, and passionate individuals, the Jam aims to generate breakthrough ideas that will redefine service and social innovation.

Through IBM’s Jam technology, participants can collaborate virtually and have the flexibility to log into the Jam from anywhere in the world at anytime most convenient to them during the three day event.

To sign up for this free event, click here.  I am looking forward to experiencing it!

Some of the special guests include:

This morning I got an email which I found very exciting!  I get the daily emails from a couple organizations offering Denver deals for a variety of products ad services at deep discounts and have taken advantage of several offerings.  Blacktie Colorado is now doing something similar AND 10% of the daily deal will benefit a Colorado nonprofit. Such a GREAT idea!  To get on the Blacktie Daily email blast list, click here.

From their email:

“Today is the launch of the new Blacktie Daily program.  The Blacktie daily is like other programs with one big difference:  10% of the deal goes to benefit a nonprofit organization.

Today’s deal is a $50 gift certificate at MAD Greens, for only $25, and the beneficiary will be the Kempe Foundation for the Prevention of Child Abuse.

Click on the graphic below to get the deal for October 5th and subscribe to the Blacktie Daily.

If you’d like to find out how your nonprofit could benefit from a Blacktie Daily, please email bill@blacktiedaily.com

I am going to click through and get my MAD Greens certificate as soon as I finish this post.  MAD Greens salads are delicious and healthy!  Great way for MAD Greens to market themselves and leverage real good in the community.

In Denver?  Join me in supporting this great new program!

Blacktie is a national company headquartered in Denver, Colorado, that provides members with solutions for raising money, lowering costs and bringing people together.  Currently with eleven offices and growing, the company has worked with thousands of nonprofits to help make donor outreach and fundraising efforts easier and more productive. Blacktie is a facilitator of communications by and between nonprofits and their philanthropic supporters and the vital businesses who assist their efforts. Their mission is to empower nonprofit organizations by providing access to online event planning and convenient, easy, one-stop web-based technology for heightening awareness, raising money, managing events, communicating with supporters and managing critical data.

I have met with Kenton Kuhn, Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer, to discuss common interests and areas of potential collaboration.  I have really appreciated his perspective and commitment to growing nonprofit capacity and services.  Blacktie provides its members the capacity to grow their organizations using online technology without the need for having a person on staff with the necessary technical skills to make it happen.  Blacktie is a great, cost effective solution for nonprofits to build awareness and manage event sales and donations.  Check them out!