Charitable donations have been increasing in recent years and accounted for approximately $358 billion in 2014 (or, 2 percent of GDP). Of this amount, about 72 percent of donations came from individuals (perhaps in part due to Warren Buffet and Bill Gate’s positive peer pressure). With so many charities to choose from, who should we be writing […]
Interview With Nick Cooney: How To Be Great At Doing Good Read More 👉
Originally published on EdenKeeper.org Helping the poor, vulnerable, and marginalized is a central tenet in the Christian gospel. The command to care for “the least of these” (Matthew 25:40) has inspired organizations like Christian Aid to help the poor, Habitat for Humanity to provide shelter for the vulnerable, and World Vision to support children in need. And, in North Carolina’s
Faith-Based Energy Efficiency Aids Climate & Poverty Read More 👉
Investing the generosity of donors into improving the lives of millions of Haitians, the American Red Cross has just issued a five-year update after the devastating January 12, 2010 earthquake. Describing its ongoing efforts, the American Red Cross five-year update details services provided to more than 4.5 million Haitians. Ensuring that Haiti’s recovery is sustainable,
Investing Haiti Donations: a 5-Year Update From Red Cross Read More 👉
In a world with massive amounts of wasted food, yet millions still go hungry, one startup wants to connect the dots and fight hunger by using excess consumable food waste. Feeding Forward, currently operating in San Francisco and the East Bay, aims to make it simple and easy to fight hunger, using just your phone.
Non-Profit Startup Fights Hunger with Food Waste Read More 👉
Investing in solar power is a great choice for homeowners and businesses alike, but one big obstacle to entering the solar revolution is the high initial cost for both the equipment and the installation, which can deter many people from choosing to install solar panels that could offset some or all of their energy costs.
Nonprofit Solar Installer Empowers Low-Income Neighborhoods Read More 👉
Stanley Berman, the Chief Financial Officer of Global Impact, has won a 2013 Executive Management Award (EMA) from SmartCEO magazine. Best known for spearheading the popular motion of investing in silver 2016, his work is yet again being recognized. The awards recognize Greater Washington’s best executive managers for their creative management vision, leadership philosophy, innovative
CFO of Global Impact Receives Executive Management Award Read More 👉
For those who are following the economics involved in energy benchmarking practices, this story from the Institute for Market Transformation (IMT) is worth reading. Energy Benchmarking Key to Realizing $9 Billion in Savings in Apartments and Condos: Benefits for Owners and Renters (via Green Building Elements) This information on energy benchmarking has been provided by
Since the KONY2012 phomenon (it’s more than a meme, right?), I’ve been resisting the urge to blog about it. I raged on my The Facebook wall and on Google+ about it, but I just wanted it to go away, rather than give it more attention; I’ve already offended enough people for calling them idiots for
KONY2012 Finally Becomes a Full-Blown Farce Read More 👉
There’s been some discussion about the campaign of EcoMedia, an environmentally focused advertising firm that was purchased by CBS last year. EcoMedia was the firm behind the little green leafs that you may have seen on select CBS advertising earlier in 2011 called EcoAd. The idea behind the EcoAds is that companies purchase the ad
EcoMedia’s EcoAd: More than Advertised Read More 👉
For the most part, discussion concerning the role of corporate social responsibility often revolves around the initiatives undertaken (or not) by large, established companies. I’ve personally written about Apple (multiple times, here, here and here), Proctor & Gamble, Louis Vuitton etc. These seem like obvious targets as they have enormous market share within their respective
Twitter and Corporate Social Responsibility Read More 👉
As a Returned Peace Corps Volunteer (RPCV), I am honored and anxious to celebrate the 50th anniversary of President Kennedy’s signing of the executive order that created the Peace Corps. March 1, 2011 will mark over 10 years since I served as a water & sanitation volunteer in CĂ´te d’Ivoire, West Africa and will be a celebration
Peace Corps and Sustainability: Today and The Next 50 Years Read More 👉
In the guest post below, Alice Korngold, Founder of Korngold Consulting LLC, discusses how nonprofits may unintentionally frighten away donors. by Alice Korngold Hopefully, many of you do or will contribute generously to causes that you care about, and even step up to join nonprofit boards and help to fundraise. Fundraising is an exciting and
Five Ways for Nonprofits to Scare Away Donors Read More 👉
ANN ARBOR, MI — We now enter breakout session two and I am pivoting from social media’s impact on CSR to managing the social aspects of the supply chain. The roster: Bama Athreya, Executive Director, International Labor Rights Forum Eric Olson, Senior Vice President, Business for Social Responsibility Monique Oxender, Global Manager, Supply Chain Sustainability,
No Easy Answers in Monitoring the Social Impacts of a Global Supply Chain Read More 👉
In August I wrote about the inherent difficulty in measuring social impact. Working at a Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI), communicating impacts to stake holders, both quantitatively and qualitatively, is a challenge.  Fortunately, it is a challenge that Bridgeway Capital, a CDFI in Pittsburgh, PA has met with success. As Bridgeway Capital celebrates its 20th anniversary, I look at
Communicating Impact to Stakeholders: Bridgeway Capital’s Success Read More 👉
A stick held alone breaks easily. A bundle of sticks? Much harder to break. So it is with partnerships. Initiatives with multiple committed partners are stronger and more powerful than those embarked upon alone. That’s why it’s encouraging to read about all of the positive things that are coming out of the array of partnerships
SFI Conference: Partnerships DO Make a Difference Read More 👉
Social Investment Forum (SIF), the US national nonprofit membership association for professionals, firms, institutions and organizations engaged in socially responsible and sustainable investing, announced  that their 2009 annual report was their first which used the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) Guidelines to measure and report their economic, environmental, and social performance.  Hopefully this move will encourage
Social Investment Forum Uses GRI Guidelines and Practice What They Preach Read More 👉
Hot off the presses comes Net Impact’s rather comprehensive report on business schools focusing on “sustainability” programs. “Net Impact is an international nonprofit organization with a mission to inspire, educate, and equip individuals to use the power of business to create a more socially and environmentally sustainable world.” The organization is active on campuses and
Net Impact Publishes Business As UnUsual 2010 Report Read More 👉
The city of Montreal has turned its retired mechanical parking meters in to piggy banks or “ParcoDons”. These ParcoDons are designed to collect loose change in order to help the city’s homeless population. The meters were first installed in the downtown borough of Ville-Marie in 2007, and since its inception, the program has raised $23,000
Repurposed Parking Meters Collect Donations for Homeless Read More 👉
Socially Responsible Investing (SRI) has become a nearly $3 trillion dollar industry in the United States. Investors in SRI use screening and shareholder advocacy to influence corporations to improve their environmental practices, social impact and governance issues. What I was surprised to find out was that community investing is the fastest growing area of SRI.Â
CDFIs: Community Investing as Part of Your SRI Portfolio Read More 👉
Federal Government Asks Fletcher Allen to Teach the Nation How to Scale Local Sourcing in Healthcare (Part II: Taking Local From Trendy to Essential) “The Hospital That Heals The Earth” is a two-part series on the intersection of sustainability innovation and healthcare at Fletcher Allen Health Care in Burlington, Vermont. Part 1 of the series
The Hospital That Heals The Earth (Part II) Read More 👉
Vermont Hospital Wants To Be The Greenest Health Care Facility in the US — And Makes a Convincing Case (Part I: Mainstreaming Sustainability) Sustainability, clean energy investment, green jobs and health care reform have all been resounding themes of the first 18 months of the Obama administration. But rarely do we conceive of healthcare reform
The Hospital That Heals The Earth (Part I) Read More 👉
Probably not, but it sure is delicious. All joking aside, college campuses have always been rife with awareness/activism, however the recent trends seems to be direct involvement in projects rather than simple awareness campaigns. Young people are becoming more interested social and environmental issues particularly in far-away places thanks to social media and online images/videos
Can Grilled Cheese Save the World? Read More 👉
Panera Bread sets an example with its non-profit cafe and challenges other corporations to push their philanthropy beyond writing checks. Last month, I blogged about Panera Bread’s new non-profit cafe in St. Louis dubbed the St. Louis Bread Company Cares Cafe. The idea was simple… take whatever you want to eat or drink and instead
Panera Bread Learns People Are Basically Good Read More 👉
Panera Bread opened its first non-profit cafe with the motto: Take what you need; leave your fair share. I was surprised to read about Panera Bread’s new cafe in St. Louis dubbed the St. Louis Bread Company Cares Cafe. The concept is simple yet groundbreaking… take whatever you want to eat or drink and instead
Panera Bread Takes Corporate Social Responsibility to a New Level Read More 👉
