FEEL GOOD STRATEGY Q & A – HOW CAN YOU CREATE FEEL GOOD PROFITS TODAY?

We believe that giving back is never a zero-sum game, you don’t have to give up anything to give back. In addition to that, while giving back is often viewed through the lens of building a legacy in the future we are passionate about doing whatever you can today. Whether it’s time, money, or energy, there is always a powerful way to give back at any stage of your business. We are lifelong volunteers and know that sharing even an hour of your time can be incredibly impactful. If you’re looking for the right feel good strategy for your business let us answer a few questions about the ways in which a number of brands are choosing to align with a cause today.

HOW CAN YOU AWARD A PERCENTAGE OF YOUR PROFITS TO CHARITY?

Brands like Patagonia have committed to donating 1% of all sales to nonprofit environmental groups, they believe in using the whole company as a tool for both environmental and social activism. In contrast, brands like Harry’s have also rallied behind a specific cause that is both timely and something they are passionate about. For instance, in June for Pride Month, Harry’s called on their community to “Shave With Pride” and committed to giving 100% of their profits from their capsule collection to The Trevor Project, the world’s largest suicide prevention and crisis intervention organization for LGBTQ youth. 

HOW CAN YOU WORK VOLUNTEERING AS A TEAM?

For companies like Chobani, volunteering as a team is a core value. Chobani employees were happy to work together to pack trucks with yogurt to send to Houston after Hurricane Harvey. The Honest Company worked together to fill trucks with basic essentials to help families in need during the Covid-19 pandemic through their ongoing partnership with Baby2Baby. They believe that during times as difficult as these it is important to practice kindness and it is incumbent on them to help in whatever way they can.

HOW CAN YOU APPLY A ONE-FOR-ONE BUSINESS MODEL?

Toms has led the way with the one-for-one business model, for every pair of shoes they sell, they give one pair to children in need. Inspired by their work, brands like Roma Boots have committed to giving poverty the boot by ensuring that for every pair of rain boots sold, a brand new pair is donated to a child living in poverty. Companies in entirely different verticals have likewise committed to the one-for-one model as well. Yoobi knows that millions of kids in the United States do not have fundamental school supplies. In an effort to change that they have committed to donating a school supply item to a child in need in the U.S. for every Yoobi item purchased. 

HOW CAN YOU REWARD YOUR EMPLOYEES WITH VOLUNTEER TIME OFF (VTO)?

Salesforce is passionate about their employees having volunteer time off and they are encouraged to take up to seven days or 56 total paid hours for volunteering per year. Meanwhile, Vans has established themselves as a company where style, sustainability, self-expression, and service meet. Vans has a lot of awesome things going on that you might not know about. In addition to their program, Vans Gives Back, employees are given 20 paid volunteer hours each year to serve organizations close to their heart.

HOW CAN YOU DONATE YOUR TEAM’S EXPERTISE TO CHARITY?

Groupon has a program called “Grouponsultation” where small teams take their skills and help nonprofits overcome specific challenges in their organization for free. Alo Yoga believes in finding balance amongst the chaos and are dedicated to bringing movement and mindfulness to children of all ages through their nonprofit, Alo Gives. Alo Gives provides free, scholastic-approved videos designed to be used in classrooms or at home to help introduce kids to the skills necessary to calm their minds and bodies, mute negativity and promote learning. 

There are a variety of ways to add a give back strategy to your company. It is important to understand your company and the company culture you hope to foster among your employees and the community. How can your team give back and make a difference in a way that aligns with who you are and who you want to be?