Last week I noticed a chalkboard sign in the Starbucks at REI in Denver announcing that on Earth Day April 22nd, Starbucks was going to donate five cents for each gift card sold that day to Conservation International to support its environmental programming.  I made sure to buy my next card that day.

The Conservation International home page lists their partnership with Starbucks to plant trees in the coffee growing region of Chiapas, Mexico.  After clicking on “Learn More”, I found out the following.  “To ensure that the principles of Earth Day last all year long – Starbucks and CI  are joining together with your help to plant trees in the coffee-growing communities of Chiapas, Mexico. This effort will contribute to the protection and restoration of forests, preserve rich biodiversity, and address the critical issue of climate change.”

The website also allowed visitors to: “DONATE NOW: You can support this program with a donation right now. $10 means 10 trees for the Chiapas community.”

The webpage also provided educational information, “Did you know that more than 20% of all carbon dioxide emissions come from the burning and clearing of forests? That’s more than from all of the world’s cars, trucks, SUVs, and trains combined. Starbucks investment in and support for local coffee growers and the communities that help keep forests intact will help ensure that every cup of coffee they brew produces tangible benefits for both local and global communities.”

I am in Maine this week on a writing retreat at my family’s cabin on Green Lake.  Though the leaves are not out yet, it is a beautiful and very quiet place as the summer tourist season won’t kick off for a while yet.  Today I stopped by Borders Bookstore at the Bangor Mall on my way to Orono, my hometown, for a Pat’s Pizza.  Best pizza on the planet with plenty of “local color.” 

Anyway, seems like everyone is doing a checkout promotion for charity this month!  The woman at the register in Borders asked me if I would like to purchase one of about 10 pre-selected children’s books that were on display behind the counter as a donation to the local Ronald McDonald House.  She explained the cheapest book was $3.99, several were $6.99, and a couple hardcovers were a bit more.  I bought one for them to add to their stack to deliver to the Ronald McDonald House.

I told her about this blog and that I wanted to be able to write a post about their promotion asking if they had any literature I could have.  She called her supervisor and - no, they did not have anything I could take with me.  They did have color posters tacked next to the cash registers about donating books to children but they did not mention what nonprofit organization was the beneficiary.  I had to ask again who was getting the books and she told me, the local RMH.  Also, the cash register receipt only listed the book, not that it was a donation.

So…my tips for them.  Have a flyer or something a customer can take home, should they want more information.  Also, have the purchased book labelled as a donation on the receipt.  I understand that a book is not the same thing as having donated cash directly, but there must be some way to have the register print that out on the receipt.

Last week I was in Concord, NH to facilitate a board retreat for Volunteer NH!, NH’s premier nonprofit organization supporting volunteerism, Citizen Corps and AmeriCorps.  While there, I went to TJ Maxx to buy a suitcase to replace my old, battered one with zippers mangled by the airlines. During checkout process, the woman at the register asked if I would like to make a donation to Autism Speaks.  Since she did not specify an amount and left it open-ended, so I asked how much they were asking for from folks.  She said I could donate however much I wanted.  I admit, I am definitely not a big fan of such open-ended add-on offers.  It seems easier to say no thanks to me because it requires me the customer to work harder to figure out how much to give.  I personally much prefer the round-up to the next dollar or a set $1 or $5 donation add-on approaches - at least for me, they require less thinking making it easier to say, “sure!”  So I ended up giving $1 - not much but something.  The open-ended approach obviously was working for them, however.  There was a handmade sign next to the checkout line announcing that in 2007, the Concord TJ Maxx raised more money than any other TJ Maxx to support autism.  They had raised $3,400 and were hoping to raise at least that much again this year.  Their sign had a thermometer showing the donations received.  Clearly, the store employees were proud of their efforts.  They also had preprinted flyers providing the customer with a few details of Autism Speaks, its mission and website address to take home.  The dollar value of the donation was also listed as a line item on the sales receipt.  Good job!

Autism Speaks “goal is to change the future for all who nstruggle with autism spectrum disorders.”  They are “dedicated to funding global biomedical research into the causes, prevention, treatments, and cure for autism; to rasing public awareness about autism and its effects on individuals, families, and society; and to bringing hope to all who deal with the hardshoips of the disorder.”

I went to the TJ Maxx website, One for Change page.  The store is partnering with its customers, asking them to donate $1.  Together One for Change has raised $13 million for various charities including Autism Speaks, Save the Children, and Josline Diabetes Center.

I watched part of the NBC’s Biggest Loser last night.  They did a nice segment on “going green” and their involvement with FilterforGood, an effort spearheaded by Brita  and Nalgene to reduce the number of water bottles going to landfills.  They reported that 32,130 plastic water bottles have been saved this season!  An amazing number and really shows that each person can make a difference - add those up and we get big change!

“Brita and Nalgene have teamed up to create the FilterForGood pledge. It’s a simple commitment to reduce your personal waste by giving up bottled water, even if it’s just a few days each week. Together, filtered water and a reusable bottle are an ideal solution for going green at home and on the go. It’s an easy change that can make a big difference.” 

To buy your own FilterforGood bottle, go to: http://www.nalgene-outdoor.com/store/SearchResult.aspx?CategoryID=46.  To take the pledge and get a coupon for a Brita water filer, go to: http://www.filterforgood.com/take_the_pledge.php.

I rented the movie the Kite Runner over the weekend. I had read Khaled Hosseini’s bestselling book last year and was touched deeply and saddened by the story.  I worried the movie would no be able to do justice to it - and I am glad to say, that was definitely NOT the case!  The movie was very good.  I recommend it highly.

What was especially interesting to me (and something I had not seen before) was that when the DVD started, I had a choice of either playing the movie or playing the movie with a PSA.  A PSA on a DVD…???  Huh!?  So I chose that option to see what that was about.  Up comes the author briefly talking about his book but then moving on to highlight what is happening in Afganistan today and the important role NGOs (nongovernmental organizations = aka nonprofits in the U.S.) are playing.  Then the kicker…he goes on to say how the viewer can get involved to support this vital work and a web address appears on a black screen.  www.takepart.com.  What a great idea!  Caught my interest immediately!

So of course I had to investigate.  Seems there is a whole organization called TakePart that I had not yet heard of.  My Google search of the book title and take action…came up with a link.  When I got to this attractive web site, I read “The Kite Runner is a compelling and inspiring story that provides an opportunity to explore the political, cultural, and social dynamics of Afganistan.  TakePart is proud to privide a platform to both affest and discuss these dynamics.”

I started digging around on the site and really like what they are up to.  TakePart is a social action network for education, entertainment and social change via awareness, action and activism.  Their tag line is “Inspire. Connect. Act.”  They offer a free membership: ”Real change starts with people passionate about nurturing an action and dedicated to growing and spreading it. That’s what takepart is all about.  As a member, takepart gives you the action tools to make change:

• Organize and grow with like-minded individuals
• Connect actions to videos, blogs and media
• Add your own voice and content to the community
• Expand your resources with our action dashboard
• When you take part, your actions make a difference. Join today!”

The Kite Runner is only one of the movies they are featuring on the site.  All together, there are eight listed including: An Inconvenient Truth, Darfur Now, and the Visitor.  What a great way to learn and be able to DO something constructive to make a difference.  Check them out and sign up!  Learn more and be a part of the solution to our world’s problems!

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!

It is so exciting to be at a computer keyboard again today.  I finally broke down and rented a computer to use.  My Sony Vaio laptop has been with the Geek Squad (AGAIN…).  About 6 weeks worth this year alone.  The geek boys run diagnostics and say it is all fine and then are baffled when I come in to pick it up and show them it is still doing its weirdness.  They don’t like to see me coming…

Yesterday I went to Trystan Photography’s new Denver studio for some new business photos.  (They also have a studio in Colorado Springs.)  My old headshot is a little too old…and I have been told the self timer shot I have been using makes me look like my older sister…??? (Hmmm…I only have a younger sister so I think that means the photo is bad…?!) 

Charlotte (Chance) Bundgaard took my shots - she was great!  Fun, made it very unintimidating!  The new studio is amazing.  Their studio is set in an art gallery with other studios - they have the run of the place for photo shoots.  There are many great places in the complex that Char used for backgrounds - both inside and outdoors.  I haven’t seen my shots yet, of course, but I would hihly recommend them anyway.  Their work is great, as you can see from the website.  I am excited to see what she was able to do!

While Char was getting to know me and what I was looking for in my shots, I told her about being a business philanthropy coach.  She was clearly confused and asked me to explain more about what I do.  When I talked about giving back and community involvement for businesses, she got it.  It was the word “philanthropy” that she had trouble relating to - which was interesting food for thought for me. 

Bigger companies google “corporate philanthropy” online to find info but many smaller companies don’t relate to that.  So I have to be careful what words I use in my book that will be out this summer.  Guess I need a conversation with my “Get Your Book Done” coach and publisher, Christine Kloser, as one of her specialties is Conscious Business.

Char told me that she and Trig have been discussing ways to give back. She is interested in supporting something with children and had some preliminary ideas for some events they could sponsor.  However, when I mentioned they could do their give back in ways that matter to them which ALSO could increase their company visibility and the new Denver studio, her first reaction was…oh, but we wouldn’t expect anything back.  Almost felt like Char thought that would somehow be a “bad” thing.  She also expressed concern about how to find and then choose a cause to support. Anyway, we said we would talk more about it.  I still think they can do double duty with their give back - contribute to a children’s cause in alignment with their values AND start getting better known in the Denver market.  I look forward to helping them think it through!  I am a new fan of Trystan Photography and Trig and Char.  Check them out!

The brochure I picked up at Whole Foods Market gave great details about how shoppers checkout donations had raised $675,000 for the Whole Planet Foundation’s microlending programs.  The back of the brochure also gave information about the Whole Planet Foundation Supplier Alliance, which I had NOT known about.  It says, “How are Others Helping?  Whole Planet Foundation Supplier Alliance for Microcredit is an alliance of vendors to Whole Foods Market who have catalyzed $1.05 million over 3 years to microlending programs to help plant the seeds of prosperity around the world.”  Very cool!

Vendor logos on the back included: Allegro Coffee, Back to Nature, Balance, Celestial Seasonings, Earth’s Best Organic, ITO EN, Naked Juice, New Chapter Organics, Seventh Generation, Stacy’s, and Teas’ Tea.

How can you leverage your vendors to join forces to support the philanthropic initiatives your company is involved with?

Waiting in line at Whole Foods Market over the weekend to buy some tasty treats, I noticed another one of their checkout promotions.  They had a nice little display board inviting me to donate to the Prosperity Campaign by tearing off a coupon in the amount of $2, $5, or $10 to add to my food stack, as well as pamphlets (printed on 100% recycled paper using vegetable ink) about the Whole Planet Foundation to take home to learn more.  I am always up for these things, so grabbed a $2 coupon and laid it on my cracker box.  As the cashier was ringing it in, he gave me a big genuine smile and said, “Thanks so much for your donation!”  Had a fleeting thought I should have grabbed the $5 coupon… 

I mentioned that I am always on the lookout for good examples of business philanthropy and that I was going to go home and write a blog post about their promotion.  We chatted a bit more and he called over Drew Calvert, the Cherry Creek Denver store’s Marketing Director to introduce me.  I told her what I was doing and that I really appreciated Whole Foods’ strategic approach to their philanthropy.  She said they were very proud of what they are doing and committed to make sure they actually do walk their talk.

The pamphlet I took does a nice job of explaining the program and says in several places “$2 can make a difference.”  I felt better about not having taken that $5 coupon.  Next time…  It also told me that “100% of the funds raised go to Whole Planet Foundation-sponsored microlending programs. (My company, Business Nonprofit Connections, Inc. has selected microbusiness development as one of our major causes to support with our time, talent, and treasure so turns out this mini donation was in alignment with our stated philanthropy focus.)  The pamphlet also stated, “Thanks to shopper generosity last year, over $675,000 was raised giving 22,500 people the chance to move themselves out of poverty.”

I really like it when a brochure such as this not only gives me some information about the program I am supporting, but as evaluation is one of my specialties, I get even more interested when a company goes the next level, is transparent, and provides ”data”!!  In this case, they told me how much was raised and how many people benefitted.  Gives me a sense of the value of the program in a very different way and makes it seem like my little donation is helping make a real difference.

At a minimum, be sure to have systems to track your company’s contributions. It is amazing to me how many companies have only a vague idea about their annual figures for cash, in-kind, and volunteer donations.  Also, it is useful to figure out ways to get information back from the organizations you support about how your resources were used, how many people benefitted, and what difference your company helped make so you have it to report to your stakeholders.

Do you track employee time spent volunteering either on company time or on their own time because it was encouraged/supported by your company ?  If not, you should. It is an important part of your overall contribution to the community.  I believe that companies should value that time, add it to the value of other resources they provide in a year and report it all as part of their overall philanthropic efforts to give a more accurate picture of their level of involvement.  Marc Benioff of Salesforce.com, in his book Compassionate Capitalism, reflects a similar sentiment by encouraging companies to think about donating three percent annually - one percent each from cash, in-kind donations, and employee volunteering.

Some companies, like Motorola, however, choose not to include their employee volunteer time valuation in their annual dollar figures.  Eileen Sweeney, Director, Corporate and Foundation Philanthropic Relations for the Motorola Foundation told me that Motorola has decided that their other philanthropic numbers from cash and in-kind donations are very strong on their own — so while employees do engage in volunteerism, they choose not to report the value of those hours.

I also went to the Macy’s website to see what they had to say there about their community involvement and was surprised to see not the $17 million number given in a newspaper ad I had seen but the figure of $74 million!  Turns out the number given on the website does include employee volunteer time: “Macy’s encourages its employees to be active volunteers through the company’s award-winning Partners in Time program. Approximately 130,000 hours were volunteered through Partners in Time in 2006, which is valued as a $2.4 million contribution by the charities we benefit.”  

At first glance that seemed high to me but it comes out to $18.46 per hour which is a bit less than the value for volunteer time published annually by the Independent Sector .  “The dollar value of volunteer time for 2006 is estimated at $18.77.” 

This figure is used by nonprofits and business to estimate the value of general volunter time such as painting a shelter or doing trash cleanup.  Independent Sector’s website states: “It is very difficult to put a dollar value on volunteer time. Volunteers provide many intangibles that can not be easily quantified. For example, volunteers demonstrate the amount of support an organization has within a community, provide work for short periods of time, and provide support on a wide range of projects. The value of volunteer time presented here is the average wage of non-management, non-agricultural workers. This is only a tool and only one way to show the immense value volunteers provide to an organization. The Bureau of Labor Statistics does have hourly wages by occupation that can be used to determine the value of a specialized skill.

It is important to remember that when a doctor, lawyer, craftsman, or anyone with a specialized skill volunteers, the value of his or her work is based on his or her volunteer work, not his or her earning power. In other words, volunteers must be performing their special skill as volunteer work. If a doctor is painting a fence or a lawyer is sorting groceries, he or she is not performing his or her specialized skill for the nonprofit, and their volunteer hour value would not be higher.”

How many hours do you or your employees volunteer for organizations on behalf of your company?  Does the $18.77 figure help you value those hours?  Or…are your people providing more specialized skills valued at a higher level?