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!