OK…I admit it…oatmeal raisin cookies are my favorite…and I don’t trust me to make a batch from scratch as I will eat them all in one sitting.  Recently, I ran across Immaculate Baking Co.’s ready to bake oatmeal raisin cookies in the refrigerated food section at Whole Foods (you can bake one or the whole batch)…so I decided to try them and test my self-discipline because the package said “Cookies with a Cause” on it and I am drawn to products with cause promotions every time!

The back of the package stated, “When we think about all the folks who have helped us become who we are, we know that giving back is important.  Here at Immaculate, we want to inspire creativity in ourselves and others by donating art supplies, offering folk art workshops, and even holding “giant” bake sales for creative-minded nonprofits.”

On their website, I found their Donations Page which stated: “Immaculate Baking is committed to giving back to the communities it serves. So, we offer in-kind donations of cookie dough (and sometimes, pre-baked cookies!) to special events. If you think you have a special event, please fill out the form below. Please be patient…we receive so many donation requests that, unfortunately, we can’t fulfill them all.

Here are some guidelines for our donation program:

• Must be a non-profit organization
• Priority is given to requests from organizations/ events that align with our mission to nurture creativity in children through support of the arts
• Priority is also given to first-time donation requests
• We ask for a minimum of 60 days notice before the event
• Cookie dough donations require adequate refrigeration for storage from receipt until they are baked”

I liked that they stated their criteria for selection clearly and then provided an online form for requests from nonprofits.  They also had another page which listed some of the nonprofits they have supported in the past, which I also appreciated.

Immaculate also had a page for fundraising which stated, “Lots of folks have been asking us if we’d be willing to partner with their organization in fundraising efforts. The answer is a resounding yes! If you’re interested in exploring fundraising with Immaculate, let us know. We’ll try to tailor a great program for you!” And then gave the email address of staff person to contact.

Nicely done, Immaculate Baking Co.!  (NOTE:  Their cookies were VERY tasty…and I ate them all in one sitting…!!)

The label on my SKIDLESS yoga towel by Yogitoes stated, “A portion of our proceeds will go to Yogitoes Fund providing programs to bring love & awareness to children.”

From their website, I found more information about Yogitoes Fund:

“A portion of proceeds from the yogitoes ALTRUISM SKIDLESS (DEITY collection & CHINESE ELEMENT collection) will be donated to the following foundations which bring love and awareness to children around the world through the yogitoes fund…

SHECHEN CHARITY ORPHAN SCHOOL - a home and education for the orphans of Tibet.  www.shechen-school.org

M.E.G. (MARY ELLEN GERBER) FOUNDATION - mothering Indian children in need.  www.megfoundation.org

tunaHAKI FOUNDATION - empowering AIDS orphans and street children in Tanzania, Africa.  www.tunahaki.org

CASA de MILAGROS - ”Home of Miracles” – a children’s home near Machu Picchu in Cusco, Peru.  www.chandlersky.org

YOGA AT SCHOOL - helping NYC school children find peace.  www.iyiny.org/yogaatschool”

I like that they had a page on their website highlighting who they support with a photo, a brief description of the activities and a link to the organization.  Do you have such a page?  You should!  Customers want to know how you support the local and global community!

I got an email this morning from Jonathan Manske, a speaker I heard first at an IBI/CEO Space Meeting some years back, that caught my attention.  ”Tomorrow, March 12th, I will be getting my head shaved at 6:30 am for St Baldricks.  If you want to watch, I should be on channel 2 news at 6:40ish am.  Or you can come to Salon on the Boulevard at 1485 S. Colorado Blvd.  Don’t want to get up that early but still want to be a part of this – you can donate at www.stbaldricks.org/participants/jonathanmanske.  If you would prefer to use a check, make it payable to St Baldricks and put my shavee ID number 381886 in the memo line and then mail that to me, 5609 Cheetah Chase, Littleton, CO 80124.  I’ll also post the video on my facebook page.

St. Baldrick’s raises money for children’s cancer research.  Last year 33,373 people across the country got their heads shaved for this event and they raised $16,634,962.  I personally raised almost $1000.”

Jonathan Manske “assists individuals and organizations to escape from prison – the prison in their own heads.  He helps them to get out of their own way so that they can succeed.

Jonathan is an author, speaker, trainer and consultant.  The cornerstone of all that he does is:   What is going on inside your head really does matter! Your thoughts, your attitudes and especially your non-conscious programming create your results.  When you change what is going on inside your head, your real world results change as well.”

Jonathan is a great example of how a small business/entrepreneur can give back authentically and build business at the same time.  Some of the things he did well in my opinion include sending out this email to folks like me on his list – I certainly took note, went to his website for the first time, and will be more likely to refer others to him or use him myself because I like his values.

In addition to his charitable work, he also has a Pay it Forward Program in which he offers free teleseminars for clients and potential clients to offer value and build business.  ”I love the “Pay It Forward” concept and I have a solution for a problem that impacts every single person ~ head trash that is in their way of success.  Furthermore, my mission is to make people’s lives and businesses better.   When I put these all together, I came up with The Pay It Forward Program!”

What can you do to build visibility for you and your company through your business philanthropy?  How can you let your customers know about what you are doing?  Get your thinking cap on or give me a call and set up a consultation call – I can definitely help you with doing something like this!

I have been a big Priya Haji and World of Good fan since I heard her speak about five years ago at a (then) Co-op America Green Business Conference in San Francisco.  I loved her company’s concept and was totally in awe of how smart, committed…and young(!!) she was!  I interviewed her in 2007 for my book.

Click here to download a copy of the transcript from that interview from my “Giving Perspective” Series.  If you’d like to listen to the unedited interview, Click here to download…

Today I saw the press release on the World of Good, Inc. website announcing the sale of the brand.

“World of Good Inc. Sells Brand and Related Assets to eBay; Wholesale Division Acquired by GreaterGood/Charity USA

World of Good Brand Continues to Represent Sustainable Shopping and Market Access for Global Artisans Through E-Commerce

EMERYVILLE, Calif. – February 25, 2010 – World of Good Inc., a five-year-old social venture that connects artisans from developing communities with mainstream retail markets, announced today that eBay has fully acquired its brand and related assets. World of Good Inc. also announced that GreaterGood/Charity USA has acquired its wholesale division and line of designer, Fair Trade products which will be re-branded, while existing relationships with retailers and artisan partners will be maintained. The terms of the transactions were not disclosed.

eBay’s acquisition of the brand results from a two-year long collaboration between the two companies that led to the development of WorldofGood.com by eBay, the world’s largest multi-seller marketplace for socially and environmentally responsible shopping. The transaction reflects eBay’s growing commitment to engaging consumers to affect social change through sustainable commerce. It also represents World of Good’s commitment to creating the greatest market opportunity for small, Fair Trade and environmentally responsible producers around the world. The online marketplace hosts hundreds of sellers, with tens of thousands of sustainable products from 85 countries.”

It will be interesting to track the next chapter of Priya’s brain child.

Argonaut Liquor in Denver publishes Sheila’s eGrapevine with information about current specials and upcoming wine tastings.  A friend of mine forwarded me a copy today and of course I immediately noticed they had a section of the eGrapevine called “Giving” which tells customers about their own giving as well as that of wineries they carry in the store.  Caught my attention!  The March 1st edition included the following:

“Purchase Louis Martini wines during the month of February and the distributor and Argonaut will donate $12 per case to the Women’s Bean Project.” (NOTE: Women’s Bean Project is one of my favorite Denver nonprofits so this definitely caught my attention as a consumer!)

“MacMurray Ranch is donating a portion of their sales to the people of Haiti.”  (NOTE: This also caught my eye as I lived and worked on maternal/child nutrition issues in Haiti in the 1980′s…)

“2007 Chévere!: In the southeast corner of the Colchagua Valley lies one of the few actual hillside plantings in all of Chile; the 2007 Chévere! Begins here on its steep and rocky slopes. While Chévere! Is full with the soft and delicious texture we associate with Chilean cabernet, its higher levels of color, tannin, and fruit concentration underscore its hillside origin. This is a delicious wine to serve with pastas, meats, pizza, robust cheeses, and with any other hearty foods.
Was $9.49 with e-mail $6.99

Chevere is a special bottling with a portion of the proceeds going to the Lambi Fund of Haiti.  The Lambi Fund’s mission is to assist the popular, democratic movement in Haiti. Its goal is to help strengthen civil society as a necessary foundation of democracy and development. The fund channels financial and other resources to community-based organizations that promote the social and economic empowerment of the Haitian people.”

When I went to the Argonaut website, I was pleasantly surprised to see they have a section, called ArGOOD Center.  That page says, “Find out how Argonaut is involved in the community, what charities we support, request a donation and look for great deals in the coupon section.

Also, when you visit our store, please stop by the ArGood Center and see how we are doing our part in the community and how you can help when you purchase certain brands who then donate a percentage of the profits to our selected charities.”

On their charity page, they give a little history, offer a downloadable request form and list some of the nonprofits they have supported – I like this!!  It states:

“As you pass by the new building, you will notice the name on the street-facing is Robinson Building, a tribute to the quietly philanthropic family, and Hank Robinson, the big-hearted community advocate and Argonaut founder. Mr. Robinson has always been respectful of the fact that their business has thrived because of the community and has seen to it that being a good neighbor and giving back to the city is an integral part of the Argonaut brand.

If you have a charity or a non-profit event, please download the Donation Request Form and fax back to us. We will be glad to review your request.”

Do you have a section on your website that talks about your business giving?  Do you streamline the request process by posting the needed form for nonprofits to fill out to get into your selection process so that it takes less of your time and gives you a place to refer people?  This is a great idea with minimal cost and saves a ton of time!  I strongly suggest you think about this for your own company.

I was in Steamboat Springs, CO over the weekend with my recreation club.  A group of us went snowmobiling on Rabbit Ears Pass which was great fun until I hit a bump and managed to break my back…literally.

Yesterday I went to Whole Foods to see about buying some calcium to take – figured it was wise given I have a broken bone.  I bought Garden of Life’s Vitamin Code Grow Bone System – a raw whole food calcium formula with D3, bone building factors, and BioActive Ingredients.

Got home, opened the box and on the lid noticed “For every Vitamin Code bottle sold, a donation will be made to Vitamin Angels and their Operation 20/20 to eliminate Vitamin A deficiency in the world by 2020.”  So of course, I now like the product and the company even better!!  I was disappointed however when I could not find any reference to Vitamin Angels on the Garden of Life website – I would recommend they do add a section to show their customers about their support of this worthy effort. Not mentioning it is a lost opportunity to have their customers appreciate them even more.

The Vitamin Angels website says, “Our mission is to mobilize and deploy private sector resources to advance availability, access and use of micronutrients, especially vitamin A, by newborns, infants and children in need. Vitamin Angels reduces child mortality worldwide by connecting essential nutrients, especially vitamin A, with infants and children under five. Essential nutrients enable young immune systems to fight infectious diseases, helping children attain good health and the opportunity to lead meaningful and productive lives.”

The Vitamin Angels website does have a section which lists its business partners. “Show your support by shopping with our partners. With every purchase you make, we are one step closer to achieving our mission of giving children around the world the foundation to lead a meaningful and productive life.”  Garden of Life is listed with a link back to the Garden of Life’s website which is great.  Good job Vitamin Angels!

I have now had several interactions with tuggl guys, Matt Buchanen and Josh Clauss, and totally love what they are up to!  I first met Matt when he came to my Meeup Group, Business Philanthropy – Do Good and Do Well and Josh at the Recession Proof Resources workshop for nonprofits last week.  They are smart and their enthusiasm is totally contagious!

What is tuggl?  Tuggl is an innovative online mechanism to do what I have been talking about for 10 years!  No wonder I am a fan…

“tuggl.com is a website consisting of individuals, local businesses, and nonprofit community organizations.  Our goal is to transform how local businesses define and achieve success by rewarding those businesses that are committed to providing great service to their customers as well as continued service in their community.  We hope to create a competitive marketplace for local small business philanthropy and definitively prove to businesses that doing good is good for their bottom line.  

As part of our efforts, we are asking non-profits to create a presence on tuggl and start recognizing those local businesses that support their cause in any way.  In doing so, nonprofits are actually helping those businesses get more visibility and grow their business as well as helping consumers know which companies are doing good in their community and supporting causes that speak to their heart.  For nonprofits, tuggl hopes to transform the relationship with local business supporters by giving nonprofits the power to actually have a profound impact on those businesses’ ability to grow.  In this way, we believe nonprofits will have more leverage when seeking local business supporters throughout the community.”

Cool, eh?  Tuggl is being developed and piloted the system here in Colorado….next stop the USA??  Check it out!

I got an email today from Hands Up Holidays.  They found my site and requested to be linked with me.  So I went to their site to check them out and I REALLY like what they are doing!

Hands Up Holidays is a travel company based in London that combines eco-sightseeing with a meaningful taste of volunteering. Their website says their volunteer adventures ”are for you if:

• you are interested in having a break, want to explore a destination, and also give something back to a local community.
• you value meaningful interaction with other cultures – achieved through the medium of volunteering.
• you value small group or tailor-made sustainable tourism practices that directly benefit local communities.
• you do not have specific skills, but have a lot of enthusiasm and a positive attitude (OR if you do have specific skills, we will match your skills where possible.”

Sounds great to me.  I especially liked that they say, “It is our hope that after experiencing a Hands Up Holiday voluntourism trip, you will feel inspired to  volunteer for a longer period somewhere (even in your home town), or become a lifelong advocate or donor for the Community Development project you got involved with.”

Hands Up Holidays also offers corporate trips that blend both community service with relaxation or adventure. “This works well for companies that are seeking to both reward employees and also improve their Corporate Social Responsibility profile; ideal for:
- Incentive trips
- Team building trips

These trips are formulated after close consultation with your Senior Management and HR regarding the goals for your organisation.

Some of the benefits of such a trip for your company include:
- Higher staff motivation and employee loyalty.
- Social image enhancement of your company.
- Measurable results with a tailor-made project (we can include a team building component as well).
- Contribution to a better world.”

Hands Up Holidays is a founding member of the Ethical Tour Operators Group, part of Tourism Concern that is committed to sustainable tourism that benefits local communities and the environment.

I am looking for a great adventure for my 50th birthday later this year…I will definitely check them out as an option!  You should too!  Click here for their eBrochure.

I got an “personalized” email today with the Starbucks Gold News.  At the bottom, they provided me a visual of the amount of money my dividend amounted to – which will be donated to the nonprofit I selected when I signed up.  So the dollar amount ($3.07) for last month is not large based on how much I spent at Starbucks.  However, that they track it… AND let me know…is a great way to keep me hooked in and feeling good about my cappuccino addiction!

What I would now like to see from Starbucks (and hopefully they will do this in the future – the program is only a month old) is how much has been raised TOTAL for the two nonprofits customers can choose to support by donating our dividends.

So, if you are doing a cause marketing promotion with your customers…what are you doing to update your customers periodically – both about the piece they have contributed to the cause you are supporting as well as how much you have raised overall… of which their piece is only a small part?  If you are not sharing that information, you could end up losing business down the road.

Peet’s Coffee & Tea is bringing back its ‘Las Hermanas’ coffee, made by 185 women, on their own land, belonging to a Nicaraguan cooperative. It seems that almost every coffee company nowadays has fair trade certified and organic coffee. In the midst of this growing trend, hot beverage companies are looking to newer ways to differentiate their philanthropic efforts and community-friendly products to an increasingly CSR-aware customer. Pura Vida (company summary on the Business to Nonprofit Connections website) has the sole mission of selling coffee to provide funding for its nonprofit parent. Starbucks has a certification system that aims to be better than that of fair trade. Zhena Gypsy Tea (company summary also on our website) donates profits from its organic fair trade tea to women’s issues&And Peet’s offers Las Hermanas. Women grow the coffee on their own land, and are also responsible for cultivating and tasting the offering. They have sold to Peet’s for five years, and with the money have funded community programs such as a discount pharmacy and local school construction. They represent less than a third the coop, and appear to be especially dedicated to high quality coffee and using money from its sales for community development. Corporate philanthropy and community involvement are becoming more popular in all industry. But especially in the coffee and tea industry, innovative CSR initiatives are becoming a requirement. People have pointed to the relatively small price premium for fair trade products, student involvement, and the coffee industry’s link to disadvantaged communities as explanations for this movement. Yet on a percentage basis the price premium for fair trade coffee is indeed significant, and the latter two explanations seem to be present in almost any industry. Perhaps the explanation is simply that the industry has gained attention, increased customer awareness, and created a demand for more sustainable products. In this case, the opportunity is there for any and all business. Demand and awareness campaigns have driven a standardized and relatively easy to use system of ensuring fair trade. Surely similar international standards could be implemented in other industries? And indeed they have — one example being labor standards for manufacturing. The coffee and beverage example demonstrates the ability to successfully launch these efforts if the will is there. By Louise Doyle For more information please visit the Peet’s CSR press releases at: http://www.csrwire.com/PressRelease.php?id=5912 Peet’s Coffee & Tea, Inc: www.peets.com Las Hermanas information: http://www.peets.com/shop/coffee_detail.asp?id=729&cid=1000040&ct_feature4Text