I was in DC this week meeting with a client. While I was there had an appointment at the Peace Corps with Rosie Mauk, the Associate Director of the Office of Volunteer Recruitment and Selection - formerly the Director of AmeriCorps at the Corporation for National and Community Service.  During our discussion she mentioned to me one of the initiatives of the Peace Corps that I had not heard of previously so I wanted to share it. 

Did you know you can support Peace Corps projects all around the world by donating through the Peace Corps Partnership Program? All donations are tax deductible and 100% of your contribution goes to the project you select.  This is a great way for businesses interested in global issues to support projects in developing countries.  Most of the projects are requesting relatively small amounts of money - often $2000-$5000.  You choose how much to donate - you don’t have to fund the whole thing. 

The projects are developed “on the ground” by Peace Corps volunteers with members of the community in which they work.  For the project to be eligible for consideration, local community members must supply some resources - often labor - as a “local match” to the dollars requested.  Submitted project proposals are then fully reviewed so you know whatever project you choose to support has been fully vetted  and will truly benefit local people.  One of the things I really like is that we can read the sumary of the projects - listed by country and region - and choose specific projects to support that match our interests.  Sometimes even when contributing to good global causes, it feels like my relatively small business philanthropy dollars go into a black hole.  Not so with these projects - I know exactly what I am supporting and how the money will be used.  I am making my first donation today.

The website says, “We are not asking for a handout to the communities we serve. This is a true partnership. In order to receive funding through Partnership Program, a community must make a 25% contribution to the total project cost and outline success indicators for the individual projects. This helps ensure community buy-in, a greater chance of long-term sustainability, and, ultimately, success.”

As 100% of your donation goes directly to the project, this program is a great way to really help the poorest of the poor.  Because projects are reviewed at Peace Corps headquarters and posted on their website, for most of us, this is a far better way to be of assistance in the world than trying to generate something ourselves.  Due to my international development background, I know that sometimes our best efforts to make a difference actually create unanticipated problems.  We don’t always fully understand local culture and our well intentioned innovations may not be the most appropriate.  I have seen projects, for example in Haiti, where folks flew in from the US for a week, started an aquaculture project and then ran out of time and left assuming the local people who had not been fully consulted or integrated into the project would finish it up.  Not a good use of anyone’s resources - the US folks felt good because they tried to do something positive but they left with an unrealistic sense of their true impact (or lack thereof)!!

I was very excited to hear about this program - it seems to be one of those best kept secrets that should be more visible.  I have worked with MANY Peace Corps folks over the years through my international development work and my more recent work with AmeriCorps and National Service.  I think helping support these small local programs through the Peace Corps is a great way to counter some of the bad press the US has gotten in recent years around the world.

Rosie mentioned to me that for her birthday, she picked a women’s empowerment project that caught her eye on the list and told her children that instead of buying her a gift, she would prefer they made a donation to the project.  For the holidays, she mentioned making donations to projects in the countries where her staff had served as a gift to them. 

Could you make donations through the Peace Corps Partnership Program on behalf of your company?  Your staff? Your clients?  Yourself?  Give it some thought - it is a great way to make difference in our world.

Today I got the first issue of the free BNC Newsletter for 2008 completed and sent to our subscribers.  In the newsletter, we listed our February webinar offerings.  In case any of these are topics that might help you as one of my blog readers, I am will list them here, for your information.  If you want more information on any of these, go to Events.

BNC WEBINAR: Community Involvement 101

February 13, 2008  Time: 4:00 - 5:00 pm (ET)   Where: Online at your desktop

Community involvement (CI) is an essential consideration for companies of any size committed to sustainability and corporate social responsibility (CSR). CI requires strategic planning and action to be effective — just like the” other” components of CSR (ethics and governance, human rights, and marketplace, workplace, and environmental policies and practices). Don’t default to using to a shotgun approach for your company’s community contributions. Instead, invest scarce resources in ways that provide mutual benefits - maximizing impact on the causes you care most while also positively addressing your business goals. This webinar will debunk the five myths of community involvement, give you an overview of the menu of options for contributions and commerce with nonprofits/NGOs, and present four types of business benefits beyond the obvious “feel good factor” and tax deductions.

BNC WEBINAR: How to Conduct a Community Involvement Audit

Thursday, February 21st, 12:00 - 1:00 pm (ET)  Where: Online at your desktop

Do you know value AND the impact of your company’s contributions to nonprofits last year? How did your efforts really benefit the nonprofit(s)? Your company and its bottom line? This webinar will show you a three-step process for (1) summarizing and valuing the total contributions made by your company last year to nonprofit organizations, (2) assessing the effectiveness of your internal organizational systems and decision-making for community involvement and (3) assessing the true impact of your community involvement strategy (or lack thereof) and actions on the nonprofits you supported. After doing a community involvement audit, you can tweak your efforts in the spirit of continuous improvement to make sure there is more ROI this year!

BNC WEBINAR: Moving Beyond Checkbook Philanthropy

Tuesday, February 26, 2008   Time: 2:00 - 3:00 pm (ET)   Where: Online at your desktop

Is money tight? Do you think that you can’t support community nonprofits because you don’t have a giving budget? Think again! There are many other very effective ways to provide needed support that do not involve cash and may be even more effective in building a win/win relationship and helping you meet specific business goals. Learn about your menu of options for contributions and commerce with nonprofits/NGOs.

On December 18th, there was a little announcement in the Colorado Business section of the Denver Post about Junior Achievement of Colorado Springs and Papa John’s International Inc.’s new national partnership to help local JA offices.  Junior Achivement is a nonprofit that “seeks to educate and inspire young people to succeed in a global economy.”  When I went to the JA website, I noticed they had a little ticker tape update running across the top of their site with news of various new corporate support.  I liked it.  Nothing about Papa John’s there though- it has rolled off since I clipped this last month.  However, I did find the press release in their archive.

The news announcement I saw mentioned that Papa John’s would donate $2.00 to JA for each customer who placed an online order at www.papajohns.com and uses the online coupon with the JA logo.  I thought sounded like a nice cause marketing effort.  When I read the press release, I discovered this is actually a much broader and more integrated partnership - which I really like to see.  When a business mobilizes multiple resources to support one nonprofit organization, there can be much greater impact for both organizations.  The release said, “Papa John’s International, Inc. (NASDAQ: PZZA) and Junior Achievement (JA) today announced a national partnership that will help local JA Offices deliver work readiness, entrepreneurship, and financial literacy lessons to U.S. students. Papa John’s will donate two dollars to JA for each customer who places their pizza order at www.papajohns.com and uses the online coupon displaying the Junior Achievement logo.

In addition, Papa John’s franchises and corporate-owned restaurants will conduct “job shadow” events at which JA students can experience first-hand what it is like to own and run a Papa John’s restaurant, and Papa John’s employees will be encouraged to volunteer to teach JA classes at schools in their communities. JA Offices can also expand the partnership to include recruiting Papa John’s franchisees and local market team leadership to serve on their boards of directors. “

I am hungry and in the mood for pizza (even if it doesn’t fit my New Year’s Resolution…), so where do I look for the online coupon so my $2 can go to JA if I am going to order pizza anyway?  Don’t see it on the JA site…  On the Papa John’s site, after clicking a link for online specials and coupons and entering my delivery address, I found the specials listed.

Next time you order pizza for lunch at the office, remember Papa John’s!

There was a little announcement in the Denver Post’s Colorado Business section about Staples making a $10,000 donation to Tree by Tree - Mile High Million to be used for planting trees in nine metro Denver communities.  It also mentioned Greenprint Denver - a group I had not heard of.  So…I Googled “Greenprint Denver.”  Turns out Greenprint Denver is “an action agenda for sustainable development for the City and County of Denver that demonstrates local government can be an effective force for innovation and leadership to improve the environment.”  On the home page, there was a prominent article about Staples.

Clicking on the learn more link, I got to the press release about Staples efforts.  “Greenprint Denver and Staples today announced a $10,000 donation to Tree by Tree - Mile High Million to be used for planting trees in nine metro Denver communities. To help raise the funds, 10 area Staples stores donated $1 of every purchase on Dec. 9 and 10. 

Staples really has made it easy for us to progress toward our goal of planting a million trees in metro Denver by 2025,” said Sara Davis, program coordinator for Tree by Tree - Mile High Million, a Greenprint Denver initiative. “This program is essential for promoting Colorado’s environmental and economic sustainability, and we are grateful to have partners like Staples who help us continue to grow.”

“Staples is committed to making it easy for our customers to make a difference for the environment - what we call EcoEasy,” said Mark Buckley, vice president of environmental affairs at Staples. “We’re proud to support Greenprint Denver in its mission to build a more sustainable Denver.”

So while not an example of support for a specific nonprofit, this effort shows Staples general support for the environment and the sustainability initiative of the City and County of Denver.  I wish I’d known before hand…I would have made sure to get any needed office supplies on one of the two days they gave a portion back.  Next time…  Maybe Staples could have sent an email to the local folks in its database to let us know or post a sign in the store.  I don’t know they didn’t post a sign as I was out of town those dates - however, remember if you are doing any special promotion like this and want to engage customers - be sure to let them know using various means!

This morning, I went to work at one of my remote office locations (aka Starbucks) at the Denver REI Flagship store.  When I went to the restroom, I was reminded of an REI practice that I have seen before and really like!  On the back of the door inside the bathroom stall, they have hung special plexiglass frames with their logo.  Inside the frame, they post a copy of the REI Events Calendar for the month as well as a description of various upcoming events.  The events listed include classes and programs - most of which are sponsored by REI.  However, also included are volunteer opportunities and nonprofit fundraising events that will take place in their store. The bathroom signs refer you to the REI website for more information on any of the events listed on the calendar .  Paper copies of the Calendar are available right outside the restroom area and at various spots around the store, as well.

In the January edition, the REI Calendar featured three community events.  The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s Team in Training meeting will happen at the Denver Flagship on 1/26, Hike for Discovery: The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s new adventure fundraising program will be presented on three days at two stores, and Saturday afternoons at the Boulder store, REI staff will host a Community Center Open House “to discuss local events, assist with trip planning and preparation, provide information on volunteer service projects and nonprofits, and be your resource for all outdoor activities.”  A great mix of community and business-related information.

Do you have somewhere at your business location that customers or employees spend a little time?  Any way to post information both about company happenings, products, or specials, AND community connections - either blurbs sharing things the company is doing with nonprofits or offering ways customers can partner with your business to get involved?

In the Colorado Business section of the Denver Post just before Christmas, there was a little paragraph announcing Chugwater Chili of Chugwater, WY had established a partnership with Urban Peak, an organization that provides ongoing services to homeless and runaway youth in Denver and Colorado Springs.  Chugwater Chili has committed to contribute 40 percent of the purchase of price of all product sales made through the Urban Peak website.

First I went to the Chugwater Chili website to find out more.  I did not see anything on their standard pages about the Urban Peak partnership or their community involvement in general.  I was disappointed.  Refusing to give up, I next typed “Urban Peak” into their search box and THEN up came a behind the scenes webpage with both organizations’ logos.  On this page, the promotion was prominently displayed - not once but THREE times and with red and blue colored key words- “Remember: 40% of your retail purchase (not including tax and shipping) from this website will go to the Urban Peak center you designate. For accurate credit, please check which center you wish to support; Colorado Springs or Denver.”  All good but I do still think it is a missed opportunity to not have a section on Chugwater’s regular web pages detailing how they support community organizations.

When I went to the Urban Peak site, the Chugwater logo and a link to the site was prominently posted on their home page which is GREAT.  Lets anyone going to the nonprofit’s site know how they can support the organization through this cause marketing promotion with Chugwater and is great exposure for the company.  It has been so cold here in Denver this winter, I am thinking chili sounds like a great meal.  I now know where to get some and do good!

I saw a little piece entitled, “A Fine Idea”, in the Rocky Mountain News a while back that a number of local libraries were donating a week’s worth of fines to the Red Cross tsunami effort.  “To contribute, pay your fine from January 24-30.”  So while I realize libraries are part of local government not the private sector– this is still a great example of a way to get something the organization needs done (i.e., get books returned and fines paid) and give to a worthwhile cause at the same time.

Does this give you any ideas about something your company could do?   Got any late fees coming your way?

On my United flight to DC this week, I found a one page Landing Page article published in the January 2008 issues of Hemispheres, the United Airlines inflight magazine on the Kenny Hugyou teddy bear promotion mentioned in my January 8 blog entry.  While I understand there is a different writing style for a magazine versus an online article, I was surprised to find the full details of this effort are only available by reading both versions - something most customers probably won’t do.  The magazine piece tells readers “United customers and employees show their compassion with a cleverly named bear.”  The promotion appears to be sponsored by the United Foundation as there is a quote from Sonya Jackson, the Foundation president, in the article about cancer being an important issue for their customers and employees.  So, the magazine article answers a couple questions I raised previously about why the American Cancer Society, who was responsible for implementing the promotion and the role of employees.  While employees are mentioned, their real role is not - are employees (like customers) donors of miles and dollars, project coordinators, teddy bear delivery people, or…?    The Hemispheres article mentions joining forces with their many customers who support of the American Cancer Society which tells me there WAS a strategic decision made by the Foundation to support this cause as a way to appeal to customer and employee values and concerns.  Glad to see they mentioned that explicitly.  The magazine article also provides a sentence educating readers about ACS’s programming. 

So I feel better about this initiative now.  However, I do wonder why the Hemisphere’s article did not mention that the special opportunity to donate miles or dollars for teddy bears for child cancer patients would end January 31st or give an email link inviting participation as it is only mid-January and there are a couple weeks left before it ends.  Unfortunately, interested customers won’t be able to participate unless they do some digging.  The online version does mention the window of opportunity and provides buttons making it easy for customers to donate.  There is one button for miles and another for dollars.  Am I to assume the desired outcome of both written pieces was different?  Action online and awareness in the print version?

I decided right before Christmas to get involved in the blogging world as a way to get more engaged in conversations related to my passion which is gratefully also my work - business involvement in communities and business philanthropy.  When I set up the blog, I was immediately drawn to the Regulus template by Binary Moon.  Today when I was trying to research a few things I have not yet figured out, I found a section on the Binary Moon website, “Want to say thanks?”  It says, “I’ve been asked about a Paypal button for people who make use of the theme who want to say thanks. Well I didn’t make the theme to earn money but if you want to say thank you then you can do one (or more?) of the following.

• Post a comment on the latest Regulus Post saying thanks
• Post a comment on YOUR blog saying thanks and linking to me (I like links )
• Give some money to charity
• Donate some money towards my web hosting charges (uses paypal) - if I make more than I need to cover my server costs then I will give the remainder to charity
• And finally - if you really want to give me something, you can head over to Binary Sun - and buy one of my games. That way I won’t feel bad about taking your money and you get a game to play. “

I really liked that two of the ways to say thanks to Binary Moon for offering a free template were to either make a direct contribution to charity or to donate money toward their web hosting with any remainder being given to charity.  Now I feel even better about my new blog.  Is there something like this your company could do?  Thanks Binary Moon!! 

I just ran across a question in LinkedIn posted by Tracy Chambers, a management consultant from Vancouver (http://www.linkedin.com/answers/management/corporate-governance/MGM_CGV/154082-17019495.) “Have you tied your corporate giving and volunteering program to your corporate strategy?”  Rodger Keesee, President, Kinetix Technology Services,  commented that ROI and volunteering were antonyms and that his company’s community involvement had no expectation of a return.  Loretta Mullany, President, The Mullaney Group, felt her company did get a return in terms of employee skills and goodwill and name recognition for marketing purposes.  “Frankly, we do this because we believe in it and because it is something we can do to give back to society. We don’t bother to formally measure ROI. I do sometimes have to make sure our volunteerism doesn’t hurt ROI by distracting from more profitable activities. It is a balancing act.”

My take is as follows and is what I commented to Tracy.  In my work, I sometimes hear an ambivalence from companies about whether it is OK to expect some “return” from their community involvement or to tell others about what they are doing.  If your community support/engagement comes from a place of authentic values and is not an attempt to whitewash other offenses, I think doing double duty - providing a benefit to both the business and nonprofit - is great and the only way to go.  Having a “return” to your business is not sacreligious.  I recently interviewed leaders from 50 companies of various sizes for a book I am writing for businesses on how to do more effective community involvement.  They all felt their community involvement had a positive impact for the company - everything from “feeling good” to strengthening their business reputation, customer loyalty, increasing sales, employee skills and retention, and access to capital. 

While I believe that doing something in the local community is usually better than doing nothing - just offering up your scarce resources for any social issue (whether cash or time or whatever else) on a first come first served basis can be a missed opportunity to synergize a greater impact in the community and to strengthen your company.  My mantra is “one pack of hotdog buns to every nonprofit that asks has no real impact - for the community or the company.”  Having a strategy about how to best use your company’s resources, skill sets and overall comparative advantage in service to the causes you choose to support with a link to business goals only makes sense to me and is the basis of my company, Business Nonprofit Connections, Inc.’s work with businesses of all sizes. 

My message is similar with nonprofit clients.  With nonprofits, I always emphasize the need to think about themselves as assets in the community and to think about engaging with businesses from a sense of win/win “partnerships” — not just the old school paradigm of checkbook philanthropy. The business also needs to get something out of the engagement or it is likely to be an unsustainable relationship.  The nonprofit will find themselves beating the bushes for new donors next year for their silent auction or other resource development activities which is really time consuming. With some tweaks, both sides can and I think should benefit.