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!

Business philanthropy (also called community involvement) is becoming more widely recognized as an essential component of business strategy for companies of all sizes – not just the Fortune 500.  Americans’ expectations of companies are at an all-time high. Supporting causes is no longer a “nice to do,” it is a “have to do.” There has been a major shift in the value equation: good business used to be primarily about providing quality products/services at a fair value. However, this is no longer sufficient for you to be truly competitive in today’s marketplace.  Your company must develop deep and meaningful emotional connections with your stakeholders by taking a stand on issues that are relevant to both your business and target audiences.  Sharing your resources including time, expertise, products/services, dollars, and networks is one way to be a “good business citizen” and show your commitment to being part of the solution to issues of our time.

In addition to the heartfelt, intrinsic rewards you feel from giving back and making a difference, there are also many business benefits available to any philanthropic company that engages with communities in authentic, meaningful, and strategic ways.  Especially during difficult economic times such as these, the need for doing “double duty” with your scarce resources has never been greater.  You need to be able to “do good” AND “do well.”

My free report offers selected research findings to show you the business case for strategic philanthropy and to provide food for thought to help you strengthen your company’s community involvement efforts moving forward.

To download your FREE copy, please provide your contact information below.

Back by popular demand! RECESSION PROOF RESOURCES: How SMART Nonprofits Partner with Businesses – a nonprofit teleseminar program.

If you are concerned about the impact of a tight economy on your ability to get needed resources for your nonprofit, join me for my four-part nonprofit teleseminar series, RECESSION PROOF RESOURCES: How SMART Nonprofits Partner with Businesses, on Tuesdays in March (9, 16, 23, and 30) from 12:00-1:30 pm ET. Get ready for six hours of information and insights that will change the tone and success of your business partnerships forever!

For more information and to sign up, go to: http://tinyurl.com/yg9u6z9

Please pass the word to nonprofit leaders you know who could benefit from this important information!!

As a thank you for reading my blog, I would like to offer you a $50 discount on the RECESSION PROOF teleseminar program – enter RPR-5 when registering to receive the discount! Hope you will be able to join me!!

I interviewed thought leaders from 50 companies for my new book, Business Giving Strategies, due out this fall.  One questions which I asked everyone during the interviews was if they had experienced any challenges working with nonprofit organizations and if so, what were they.  The following is a list of ten of the challenges that I compiled for you from what I heard.

1.   Nonprofits are often not receptive to engaging in creative programs with higher levels of business involvement – beyond just asking for checks.   – Niki Leodankis, Kimpton Hotels

2.   Many nonprofits can’t succinctly describe what they do – their mission or message.  They can’t get to the point and spend too much time describing their program models.   Many don’t follow the submission instructions for grant applications.  – Amy Hall, EILEEN FISHER

3.   Nonprofits often don’t give us back any information on the impact of the support we provided.   – Gregor Barnum, Seventh Generation

4.   Many nonprofits are risk-averse.  They are playing not to lose rather than playing to win.  Such risk-aversion has a negative impact on innovation.   – John Sage, Pura Vida Coffee

5.   There can be profound cultural difference between nonprofits and businesses in how work is approached.  Nonprofits sometimes have trouble understanding business demands.   – Seth Goldman, Honest Tea

6.   Timing and organizational culture difference can be challenging.  The business focus on business often is hard for nonprofits to understand as is the fast pace of business and the push to meet quotas.  Also, both partners may have stereotypical beliefs about each other which can get in the way.   – Mary T’Chach, AVEDA

7.   Many nonprofits are not savvy about marketing their partnership with a business to their supporters and the community at large.  While one business motivation to engage in relationships with nonprofits is to enhance their visibility and marketing efforts, nonprofit partnerships don’t necessarily lead to a direct sales opportunity.   – Seth Goldman, Honest Tea

8.   Nonprofits may not have the patience required to build the relationship with a business.  You need to start slow.  – Rodney North, Equal Exchange

9.   Getting nonprofits to understand where the company is coming from and differing definitions of deadlines.  – Clayton Adams, State Farm

10.   So few nonprofits take inventory of their power.  For example, their supporter networks and communication tools are one nonprofit asset of value to businesses.  Mentioning your business in their newsletter, on their website, a thank you at a board meeting or bring their board to your restaurant for a meeting can all be ways to help you get increased exposure.  -Jessica Newman, Rock Bottom Foundation

And…don’t forget  to say thank you to your business partners!  - Leslie Sheridan, The Added Edge

The Denver Post (Friday July 24th, 2009) had an article “Sage offers deals to do-gooders” by Steve Raabe. 

Sage Hospitality Resources is currently offering a “Give a Day, Get a Night” promotion.  Volunteer for a 501c3 and give 8 hours of community service and you can get a complimentary night stay or 50% discount on hotel rooms at one of 53 Sage hotels across the country. This special offer ends December 20, 2009.  All you have to do is check availability, make a reservation, and provide verification of your volunteering on the letterhead of the relevant 501c3 nonprofit organization you supported with your time.

In the article, Raabe quotes senior vice president of operations at Sage, “One of our values is giving back to the communities where we live and work.  It’s a tough environment right now for philanthropic groups, and we hope this gives them a boost.”  At a 50% discount, Sage is not making money – it is a break even point – but it helps them with their exposure and “it is better than having a room sit empty.”  Sage can make money if people taking advantage of the offer buy food and beverages while staying at the hotel.

This is great out of the box thinking and win-win!  Can help drive people to volunteer, nonprofits win and can offer it as a perk to their volunteers at no cost other than a piece of paper and a little admin time, and Sage wins while doing good and supporting volunteerism.  I like this!

In last Thursday’s Denver Post, StyleFile Column had a story, “Strike a Pose.”  Upscale women’s retailer, Mariel, on Larimer Square in downtown Denver, is teaming up with 303 Magazine and Volunteers of America for a promotion in which a $50 donation to VOA gives you a portrait on a commemorative magazine cover and refreshments, entertainment and a shopping opportunity.  The event will be held Wednesday and Thursday, July 29 and 30th 4-9pm.  Donations support Volunteers of America’s Brandon Center, Colorado’s largest homeless shelter for women and their children.

So perusing the 303 Magazine website, I could find no mention of this fun promotion so that is a missed opportunity for them!  On the page, “this month’s events” the latest thing listed was in 2008 so clearly they need a website update ASAP!  Mariel does not appear to have their own website.  But Volunteers of America has a page giving the event details and links to sign up and pay.

Sounds like fun and it is definitely for a good cause!  Gets Mariel, 303, and VOA all good exposure in the community as well so win-win-win!!

Here is the recorded webinar that I did on Recession Proof Giving.  Please feel free to listen at your convenience.  https://bnconnections.webex.com/bnconnections/ldr.php?AT=pb&SP=MC&rID=28607557&rKey=ABD368EE9ACB6E1E.

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!

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!

Peaberry Coffee (a Colorado gourmet coffee shop chain) on 2nd Avenue in Denver’s Cherry Creek,  is one of my favorite remote office locations – a Big Joe nonfat cappuccino while working on the computer is great!  In the past week, they have put up four new posters in the shop announcing their partnership with Socially Conscious Coffee, a nonprofit founded in 2002 to provide education, healthcare, opportunity, and support to the families of coffee harvesters and their neighbors. The SCC website has a partners page and Peaberry is listed with its logo as a major ongoing partner giving between $10,000 – $24,999/year.

SCC has a web page titled, Why We Do It.  I have been to many nonprofit websites and unfortunately few have such a page (but I wish they did!) so it tweaked my interest immediately.  It says, “Our programs invest directly in education, environmental stewardship, and economic development within an underdeveloped remote region of Northeast Brazil. We are providing assistance to the most disadvantaged people in the coffee supply chain – those who harvest what’s in your cups.

Prior to the assistance and programs provided by SCC, these farming families lived and worked in area with limited infrastructure, schools, services, and transportation. The coffee harvesters continued to work very hard but have historically had limited opportunities to gain an education, obtain healthcare, or develop diverse workforce skills needed to build a better future for themselves and their children. Without assistance, these families will continue to face the same issues of poverty and subsistence living.”

In addition to the posters, they also have flyers by the coffee machine with information about SCC.  This is a great example of a company supporting a nonprofit that is ABSOLUTELY relevant to the core focus of the business.  Good job Peaberry!