Business Nonprofit CONNECTIONS just offset its carbon use for last year through TerraPass.  I learned about them through the Net Impact website.  (I am a member of Net Impact.) I used Terra Pass’ calculator to figure out how much CO2 we generated through our office, computer use, vehicles, air travel, and work lodging and paid a fee to offset the total.  When I was done, it generated a pdf report and it was easy to make payment, as well.  You should check this out and calculate yours, too.

From the TerraPass website, “Purchasing TerraPass offsets sends a strong message about your values to your employees, customers and stakeholders. People prefer to work with organizations they believe in. As one component of your environmental strategy, a TerraPass carbon offset program will provide your company with the unique ability to empower your customers and employees to take action on climate change.

Additionally, committing to purchasing carbon offsets for your business creates the right internal incentives to reduce your footprint over time. Each year, the conservation and efficiency measures that you implement will lower your carbon footprint, requiring you to purchase fewer offsets.”

Join me?

Do you want your company to be more involved in the community but are having difficulty making the case for business giving in this economy?  Check out the following benefits of strategic philanthropy that your company can also tap into.  You can “Do Good AND Do Well.”

STRATEGY – Instead of just throwing money here and there, we now have a deliberate strategy that directs our efforts for maximum impact.

VALUES – Our company’s philanthropy is a way for us to demonstrate our values are heartfelt and go beyond just making a profit.

INTEGRATION – Our giving is now integrated across our departments and locations to leverage more impact in the community and strengthen our internal cohesion.

VISIBILITY – Our strategic giving program sets our company apart from our competition.  We have gone from being “just like everyone else” to doing something remarkable that makes a difference.

SALES – Consumers like to know the products and companies like ours that they invest in are doing good with their money.  Our customers do business with us because they see that we care about the community.

MEDIA – Our community involvement and giving have helped us get invaluable attention from the media – we couldn’t have afforded the great positive buzz this generated for our company.

IMPACT – We were able to create a sound business case for this program.  It’s not just feel good fluff, but work that creates a win/win – for our company’s bottom line and the community.

PRODUCTIVITY – Our employees feel good about being part of something larger than themselves.  Because they feel pride in our company and themselves, they are more productive in their jobs. “We work for a company that cares.”

MAXIMIZE – We are now clear where and how to focus our scarce resources to do the most good in the community.

RESULTS – We actually know how we are going to measure the results of our giving programs.

What can your business do to give back?  How can your give back program be in alignment with your core products or services and company values?  If you can use assistance in being more strategic with your giving program, contact me at shyatt@BNConnections or 303-512-0808…I can definitely help!

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.

Designing Strategic Partnerships with Businesses
This is Your Personal VIP Invitation
Thursday, March 11, 2010
3:00 – 4:00 pm Eastern

If you are like most nonprofit leaders, you probably are very concerned these days about the impact of a tough economy on your ability to get needed resources for your organization or program. You see the need mushrooming in your community every day…and you see the companies around you starting to tighten their philanthropic belt. So what to do?

No matter how good your program or organization may be, if you can’t clearly make the case for why a business should support YOUR nonprofit organization over all the others also seeking their support, you are bound to fail. You need to know the right formula for approaching businesses to create win-win partnerships to secure the resources you so desperately need.

In this call, Susan Hyatt reveals how to move past the old school “beg for donations” and checkbook philanthropy mentality to present your organization, NOT as needy, but as a valuable partner – offering to share your assets (such as networks, publications, special events, etc.) with companies that choose to partner and share their resources with you. If you want to strengthen your “ask” and improve your success rate, you definitely need to attend this FREE teleseminar to:

• Learn about 4 current trends in the business world that affect giving practices;
• Discover the 4 critical needs of businesses that you can help address through a partnership;
• Learn the 10 biggest mistakes nonprofits make when seeking business support – so you don’t make them!
• And much more!

Get ready for an hour of information and insights that will change the tone and success of your business partnerships forever.

More Information about Susan Hyatt:

Susan Hyatt is the author of The Nonprofit Toolkit: Designing Strategic Partnerships with Businesses. She is a nationally-known consultant, trainer, and speaker and the founder of Business Nonprofit CONNECTIONS, Inc., which is dedicated to helping nonprofits and businesses partner more effectively for real impact on pressing social issues. Working with nonprofit organizations domestically and internationally for more than 20 years, Susan continually pushes the envelope to find NEW ways to address issues of nonprofit sustainability through strategic business partnerships.

Susan has conducted training in 49 states for over 10,000 nonprofit leaders and their board members on such topics as strategic business partnerships, performance measurement and evaluation, and using data effectively to gain stakeholder support. Susan has conducted interviews with more than 50 business leaders as part of the research for her forthcoming book, Strategic Business Philanthropy: How Smart Companies Do Good AND Do Well.” She has been featured in Entrepreneur Magazine, The Akron Times Beacon, and the Denver Business Journal. Her insights and articles regularly appear in her email newsletter, CONNECTIONS, which reaches business and nonprofit leaders worldwide.

REGISTER HERE FOR THIS FREE TELESEMINAR!

You will receive all the call information sent to the email you submitted. Please check your spam box if you do not receive the email within a few minutes.

In November, I will be offering my comprehensive nonprofit training program, “Recession Proof Resources: How Smart Nonprofit Design Strategic Partnerships with Businesses.” The program is being offered via a 4-part webinar (computer and conference call) November 3, 10, 17, and 24 from 10-11 am MT to allow nonprofit participation from anywhere in the country.

Nonprofit organizations are increasingly worried about the sustainability of their organizations and community programs given the current economic situation in the U.S. and its effect on traditional sources of funding. I believe, “only thinking “donors and fundraising” is an “old school” mindset and shuts down possibilities for win/win ventures between nonprofits and businesses of all sizes. Because cash donations are shrinking, this is a great opportunity to think out of the box and deepen relationships between nonprofits and businesses, finding ways for each to bring their respective talents and resources to the table to join forces to address local needs.”

This program provides nonprofits tips and tools for creating partnerships with mutual benefits. Specifically attendees will learn what businesses are looking when partnering with nonprofits as well as recent trends in strategic philanthropy, CSR, and the market…and how to tap into them. Attendees will also learn how to clarify their organizational assets and needs, how to identify potential business partners and “make the ask,” as well as how to structure partnerships to insure success.

For more information and to sign up, CLICK HERE.

NOTE: A limited number of scholarships are available. Email me for details.

On Monday, I attended the O3 Nonprofit Summit in Denver; I was on a panel about Corporate Sector Response to our economic times.  I was struck by how many of the social sector staff attending the Summit still talk about “donors and fundraising” instead of developing integrated win/win partnerships with companies, especially smaller local ones.  For 10 years, I have trained nonprofits nationally on how to partner with businesses.  (Guess I need to do more work in my own backyard!)  I know from first hand experience that nonprofits that can expand their perspective past checkbook philanthropy to really think mutually beneficial partnerships with businesses are able to develop more substantial relationships that last over time.  I am back on my soapbox…   And I truly believe these times call for collective and creative efforts drawing on the best of all sectors.

Today I launched our 2009 survey for nonprofits to collect information about their partnerships with businesses.  I hope to add to the vast amount of resources I already have on the subject tand use it to inspire both nonprofits and businesses to get more invovled with each other.  The survey gauges nonprofits’ sense of their own effectiveness in six areas related to business partnerships.  It is also designed to collect information about nonprofit best practices in partnering with businesses, challenges experienced, tips and strategies for successful partnering, the types of benefits/resources received, and any impact of current economic conditions.

If you are with a nonprofit, I invite you to click the link and complete this survey.  I appreciate your time.  http://www.zoomerang.com/Survey/?p=WEB228VWVAZBC4

A survey for small and mid-size companies will be released shortly.

Also, I will be doing a workshop in Denver on April 28th 1-4pm, Recession Proof Resources: How Smart Nonprofits Design Strategic Partnerships with Businesses.  It comes with a 4 hour workshop, 1 hour consultation with me, a 100 page workbook, and perspective and support from myself and the group.  A steal at $99…but I want to be sure that cost doesn’t limit smaller nonprofit’s participation.  I will have a page up here for sign-ups shortly.  So if you know any nonprofits in Denver, let them know!  And if you’d like me to give a workshop on this important topic in your city, drop me an email.

I have been writing on a book about business philanthropy for a couple years now and the end is finally in sight!  The book should be published in the early fall finally.  I can’t tell you how pleased I am with its progress recently.  What a project though - I am a bookoholic myself and have a whole new appreciation for authors.  This has been really hard mental work!  I interviewed 50 inspiring business leaders including Gary Hirshberg – Stonyfield Farms, Gary Erickson - Clif Bar, Leslie Sheridan - the Added Edge, Amy Hall – Eileen Fisher, Jessie Newman – Rock Bottom Foundation, just to name a few.  I am so grateful to everyone that gave me their time to talk about their company’s approach to community involvement.  They were all so inspiring.

Here is the overview of my book:

Giving back to local communities is a growing expectation for businesses coming from both outside and inside company walls. Community involvement is no longer a “nice to do” but a “need to do.” Don’t be one of those companies that just tosses dollars at issues for a tax write-off. Instead, use this proven, step-by-step process to maximize your company’s give-back efforts.  Business Giving shows you how to create all-win solutions that demonstrate your values, benefit the causes you care most about, and boost your bottom line. Your company can be engaged in heartfelt ways that positively impact your business goals, operations, and profitability.

This lively, accessible how-to resource guide will give you:

• Best practice examples, tips, and insights on effective community involvement from over 50 business thought leaders;
• A self-assessment tool to audit the status and effectiveness of your company’s give-back efforts;
• The 8 essential steps of effective community involvement to take your strategy and organizational systems to the next level;
• A menu of dozens of proven ways to engage with nonprofits and NGOs through contributions and commerce; and
• Food for thought suggestions to help generate even more ideas about ways to support the causes you care about—regardless of your company’s age, size, or profitability.

So that is what I am up to.  Choosing a title is driving me nuts!  I want this book to be really accessible and easy to read – so want to stay away from something too academic as then it sounds like a snoozer.  So wish me luck - I think I am finally close…

Send me your email to get notification when the book is released so you can be one of the first to get a copy. Let Me Know!