Nike to donate $1 million of products to Oklahoma tornado victims
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Nike has announced plans to donate $1 million worth of shoes and clothing to aid people affected by the tornado in Oklahoma this week.
University of Phoenix and Good360 Announce New Relationship
Organizations join to supply nonprofits across the country with much-needed technology
PHOENIX and ALEXANDRIA, Va., April 15, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- University of Phoenix® and Good360 today announced a new relationship that will allow the University to donate refurbished technology to nonprofits across the country, while also ensuring that those technologies are disposed of in an environmentally-friendly way when they eventually reach their end of life.
Through Good360's nation-spanning network of nonprofit organizations and online donation marketplace, the more than 100 University of Phoenix campuses and offices across the country can now quickly connect with local organizations to provide them with refurbished computers and other technologies. This new relationship has already helped to provide organizations in Phoenix with 145 computers to help them continue their commitments to serving their communities. The University will now work exclusively through Good360 to donate its technologies.
"For 30 years, Good360 has helped fulfill the needs of nonprofits with corporate product donations," said Cindy Hallberlin, Good360 president and CEO. "We are proud to work with University of Phoenix as they continue to create positive educational and sustainability outcomes in our communities by helping them to see the life of their technologies extended with continued use and safe disposal."
This new relationship also provides the opportunity to greatly reduce the environmental impact of disposing of technologies that can no longer be used. As part of their agreement with Good360, when the technologies are no longer needed, each nonprofit organization in the network must dispose of them in a way that is compliant with all regulations and that is safest for the environment.
"At the core of our business is a mission to ensure that all Americans not only have access to a quality higher education, but also have access to safe, healthy environments where they can continue to learn, explore and grow both personally and professionally," said Pat Gottfried, vice president of Corporate Social Responsibility for Apollo Group, parent company of University of Phoenix. "We are proud of this new relationship with Good360 for both the impact it will have on deserving organizations in need of technology, and in helping to keep our environment safe and clean."
Apollo Group, parent company of University of Phoenix, is dedicated to being a good corporate citizen by serving communities and individuals across the country. Through its corporate social responsibility efforts, Apollo Group focuses on giving in the areas of education, workforce readiness and sustainability. To learn more about the impact of these efforts, please visit http://csrreport.s.apollo.edu/.
For more information on Good360 and its mission to fulfill the needs of nonprofits, visit www.good360.org.
About Good360
Good360 was created in 1983 to help companies efficiently donate slow-moving, obsolete and seasonal inventory to charitable organizations. These products are new and include nonperishables such as apparel, books, toys, personal care products, office and school supplies, computers and much more. Today, the nonprofit leader in product philanthropy distributes goods to a network of more than 35,000 prequalified charities, schools and libraries on behalf of America's top brands. Good360 has been recognized by both the Committee Encouraging Corporate Philanthropy and Forbes for its excellence and efficiency, respectively, in helping companies drive their bottom lines and at the same time do social good. For more information, visit Good360.org.
About University of Phoenix
University of Phoenix is constantly innovating to help students balance education and life in a rapidly changing world. Flexible schedules, challenging courses and interactive learning can help students pursue personal and career aspirations without putting their lives on hold. As the flagship university of Apollo Group, Inc. (Nasdaq: APOL), University of Phoenix serves a diverse student population, offering associate, bachelor's, master's and doctoral degree programs from campuses and learning centers across the U.S. as well as online throughout the world. For more information, visit http://www.phoenix.edu.
SOURCE University of Phoenix
Good360 connects corporate donors with nonprofits
From Mar 2013 | By Susan Reda
Armed with skeins of data and the gift of intuition, retail buyers are pretty successful at choosing the items that will move. But that’s not always the case — buyers have been known to place one too many re-orders, get stuck with a slow-moving item or face a product that’s not quite what they expected upon arrival.
That’s where Good360 comes in. “Instead of something going into a landfill or being sent out to a jobber, Good360 connects companies who have things to people who need things,” explains Carly Fiorina, the chair of Good360. Since its inception, the nonprofit has delivered more than $7 billion in product donations to some 34,000 charities, schools and libraries across the country and has been recognized by the Committee Encouraging Corporate Philanthropy.
Fiorina, who joined Good360 just shy of a year ago, believes it’s an idea whose time has come. “All you have to do is look in landfills and you realize that there is a lot of stuff — toys, mattresses, books, clothes ... that is being dumped. At Good360 we’re about donating instead of dumping.”
The former HP CEO led a panel discussion with retail partners The Home Depot and ANN INC. at the NRF Annual Convention & Expo in January. Her goal: to create more partnerships with retail companies, and ultimately to get more product to people in need.
“Every single retailer has stuff that doesn’t sell,” Fiorina says. “Good360 matches donated product to those in need ... When we provide a new shirt for a veteran going on a job interview or a mattress for someone who has been sleeping on the floor, we’re providing things that are central to their well-being and to their sense of pride and purpose.
“There are so many products that can have a big impact on somebody’s life,” she says. “Disposable diapers, for example, are not covered by food stamps or other government programs. ... It’s so simple and the opportunity to make a difference is enormous.”
Feel good ... and then some
Fiorina believes that associates care deeply about the social footprint of the companies they work for. “Employees — and younger workers in particular — care about what their employer is doing to sustain the environment and improve the quality of life for those less fortunate,” she says. “Not only do they care about it, but we believe that as a result they become more engaged in the company and the mission.”
Donating product is good for brand image, too: Recent studies have found that given the choice of similar products, most consumers are more likely to purchase products with added social benefits.
“As a business person, if it’s good for the bottom line, good for my employees and good for the brand — oh, and by the way, it’s also great for the charities and for the environment — I have a tough time understanding why a company would look away,” says Fiorina.
What’s more, donating product is a cost-effective solution, she says, presenting a considerable financial advantage over cash donations because it can carry an enhanced tax deduction and help companies avoid fees associated with the disposal of excess inventory.
Making it easy
Good360, formerly Goods In Kind International, runs like a Fortune 500 business. Consistently ranked as one of the top 10 most efficient charities by Forbes, the organization operates at approximately 1 percent of the value of products donated.
The National Retail Federation recently became a strategic partner of Good360; Matthew R. Shay, NRF’s president and CEO, was named to the board of directors.
Powering this enormous undertaking is what Fiorina describes as “a world-class technology platform.” Good360’s warehouse and distribution facility, located in Omaha, Neb., handles the repacking and distribution of many of the largest corporate donations. The company moves 50 full truckloads per month; when the less-than-truckload donations are counted, Good360 moves the equivalent of 2,000 shipments a year.
The vast majority of charities that Good360 partners with are in the United States, but there are instances when they distribute globally. Shortly after Fiorina joined Good360, her former company HP came to them with a request. “They had 20,000 calculators and wanted to donate them,” she says. “They requested that we not distribute them in the [U.S.] so we looked beyond the borders. We were able to place 20,000 calculators in China, South America and Africa.”
Good360 is “able to increase our impact by working with manufacturers and non-retail companies as well,” Fiorina says. “Our program with Mattel ... has provided millions of toys to children in need across the United States.”
Another benefit of Good360’s technology platform is a planned upgrade that will allow the company to capture, at a very granular level, where a company’s donation goes and who it helps. Good360 hopes to use the technology to tell stories that companies can share with their employees and their shareholders.
Since 2008, The Home Depot and The Home Depot Foundation have worked with Good360 to distribute products to nonprofit organizations. The program, Framing Hope, recently surpassed $150 million in product donation; in 2012 alone, The Home Depot donated $37.7 million worth of products, with nearly one-third directly supporting veterans.
At the BIG Show Fiorina was joined by Fred Wacker, director and COO of The Home Depot Foundation, who shared that the Framing Hope program was born from the desire of associates to make good use of store merchandise that would have otherwise been discarded. Today, the national program matches more than 1,200 stores with local nonprofits that receive home improvement products to support their charitable efforts.
“Framing Hope aligns with many of The Home Depot’s core values, such as giving back, doing the right thing and building strong relationships,” Wacker said. “In addition, it positively addresses the social, economic and environmental needs of our communities.”
Joining Wacker and Fiorina was Jeannette Ferran Astorga, vice president of corporate social responsibility for ANN INC., which includes the Ann Taylor and LOFT brands. The specialty retailer has had a corporate giving program, ANN Cares, in place for some time.
Working with Good360, ANN INC. recently debuted ANNCares360, a program designed to ensure that store visual materials and fixture donations reach the key groups most aligned with the retailer’s values.
“The benefit for nonprofits is clear — they are able to keep their expenses down by using donated materials — this means they can focus more of their energy and finances on ... advancing their missions,” Ferran Astorga commented in a recent blog. “Our stores benefit by keeping their back rooms clear of items no longer in use, and our store associates are empowered to help their local communities by donating items to help people in need.”
Valuation Webinar Q&A
Gerald Borenstein
Chief Financial Officer
Good360
February 6, 2013--How charities value non-cash gifts drew a good deal of attention in the press this year, and most of it was negative. Recently, Good360, the nonprofit leader in product philanthropy, joined Raffa, P.C., Crowell & Moring LLP and CECP to explore the topic of in-kind valuation in a free webinar for both nonprofits and corporations. The recorded webinar can be found here.
Since we weren?t able to answer all the questions during the webinar, we?d like to take this time to recap some of the main takeaways and clarify some of Good360?s common practices. It?s important to highlight that Good360 always consults CECP?s Valuation Guide ? it?s a wonderful resource and tool when tough questions arise.
Q: If donation value is not provided by the donor, how do you suggest we figure this out?
A: Donations should be valued considering three factors:
Usual Market
- The price that buyers actually pay for similar property
- Where the donor sells property in a wholesale market, it is inappropriate to value the contribution at the property's retail sales price?
- Are discounts generally applied?
Time and Place
- Particularly relevant with perishable or dated items, such as food, drugs, and agricultural products
Quantity Contributed
- The value of a quantity of goods exceeding normal retail amounts may be less than the retail value, even where the donor's "usual market" is retail
Donor-provided fair market value should be used as one input for valuation.? Nonprofits have a responsibility to independently determine the fair market value of a particular donation.
?
Good360 Fair Market Value Process
- Find values for each product in five different active marketplaces
- Remove the highest and lowest values
- Take the average of the three remaining values
- Document everything ? website URLs, screen shots, shared location
- Nonprofits have the burden of proof over their procedures their
- At year-end Good360 further evaluates products for a wholesale adjustment for financial statement preparation.
This is what Good360 considers when thinking of valuations and a brief summary of its methodology and process. IT IS NOT LEGAL OR TAX ADVICE NOR DOES IT STATE OR IMPLY THAT IT IS THE ONLY METHODOLOGY TO VALUE DONATIONS.
?
Q: How do we evaluate food bank donations (canned goods) from the general public?
A: While Good360 does not have experience in valuing perishable donations, it is always important to consider time and place and have a consistent and well documented process.
?
Q: How do we value volunteer time? Do we need to?
A: The CECP 2013 Valuation Guide includes a section on employee engagement and pro-bono valuation beginning on page 5. In addition, information on generating the cost of volunteer time for ?On-Company-Time? volunteering can be found on page 27.
?
Q: If we get inventory from Good360, do we use the donor value provided or our own valuation system?
A: Donor-provided fair market value should be used as one input for valuation.? Nonprofits have a responsibility to independently determine the fair market value of a particular donation.
?
Q: Please clarify what you mean when you say ?be willing to walk away.?
A: Sometimes we turn down a donation because it doesn?t fit our mission objectives or the value of the donation is inconsistent with our ability to support the donated value using our stated criteria.? We have been unable to apply our rules to value a product and match the donors stated value and if the donor is adamant about securing that value from us, we have walked away from the donation.
?
Q: Is it difficult to find reliable market valuation data for foreign markets?
A: The CECP 2013 Valuation Guide includes a section on non-cash giving valuation on page 5. For more detail on valuation in foreign markets, CECP?s report on Developing The Global Guide To What Counts offers detailed global product valuation information on page 28.
?
Q: When approaching companies for cash donations and grants, never have they mentioned non-cash giving. What is the best way to explore that avenue with companies? Should we be looking at different departments within a company to find out who would be the decision maker for non-cash giving?
A: Each company is unique in how they handle corporate donations for both cash and non-cash giving. We recommend approaching the same decision-maker you interact with for cash donations as a first point of contact to discuss non-cash giving. While these individuals may not be the final decision-maker, they will typically be able to point you in the right direction to explore different opportunities. Prior to reaching out, we recommend evaluating your non-cash needs and capacity to accept product donations or pro-bono services.
Thanks to all who participated in the webinar.? If you have further questions, please do not hesitate to email me at Gerald@good360.org.
The Home Depot Reaches Product Donation Milestone: $150 Million Donated To Local Nonprofits Nationwide
What do Atlanta Union Mission, Help the Children, and Rebuilding Together have in common? They, along with thousands of other nonprofits, receive regular donations of products from The Home Depot. Since 2008, The Home Depot and The Home Depot Foundation have worked with Good360 to distribute millions of dollars in product to nonprofit organizations that use the materials to help those in need. As the program, Framing Hope, prepares to enter its sixth year this February, we are happy to announce a new and exciting milestone ? we have surpassed $150 million in product donation!
Framing Hope was launched in 2008 after a call from our associates who wanted to make good use of merchandise from our stores that would otherwise be discarded. Now, the national program matches more than 1,200 stores with local nonprofits that receive much needed home improvement supplies to support their charitable efforts. In a true life example of ?one man?s trash is another man?s treasure,? the receiving nonprofits have made use of the donated materials that would otherwise be thrown away to address housing needs of low-to-moderate income homeowners, veterans, seniors and others in need.
Since it began, Framing Hope has become not only a vital part of our organization, but a significant part of our giving strategy. In 2012 alone, The Home Depot donated $37.7 million worth of products to nonprofit organizations, $10 million of which directly supported U.S. military veterans.
?[Framing Hope] started as a grassroots effort on the part of our associates to divert good, useable building materials from the landfill to local nonprofits helping individuals, low income families and the needy have a decent, safe affordable place to call home,? says Fred Wacker, Director and Chief Operating Officer of The Home Depot Foundation. ?It is a great accomplishment of our associates that we have reached the $150 million milestone and impacted over one million homes and families.?
The $37.7 million in product donated during 2012 alone benefited more than 60,000 homes and local facilities that help these deserving families and individuals in their areas. Just a few examples of what Framing Hope accomplishes include:
Recently at the National Retail Federation?s BIG Show, we were thrilled to join Good360 Board Chair Carly Fiorina in a panel discussion, ?Doing Well by Doing Good,? about the strategic business case for product donation. There, Fred Wacker highlighted our program and discussed how the partnership successfully allows us to repurpose Home Depot product for positive social impact. (For more information on the National Retail Federation?s BIG Show, click here)
?Framing Hope aligns many of The Home Depot?s core values, such as Giving Back, Doing the Right Thing and Building Strong Relationships,? adds Wacker. ?In addition, it positively addresses the social, economic and environmental needs of our communities.?
According to a recent report on the program from Indiana University, the ?social, economic and environmental? impact he references have been substantial. Results include:
On the heels of a very successful 2012, Framing Hope shows no signs of slowing down in 2013!
Corporate social responsibility: How ANN INC. does well by doing good
By Jennifer Overstreet | Published: December 18, 2012
?Tis the season for giving, and retailers are ramping up cause-related campaigns to support their favorite charitable organizations. But for many retailers, giving back is simply ingrained in the way they do business year-round.
Ahead of her appearance on a keynote panel at Retail?s BIG Show next month, we reached out to Jeannette Ferran Astorga, ANN INC.?s VP of Corporate Social Responsibility, to talk about how her company makes product donations an important part of their business strategy. ANN INC., which includes the Ann Taylor and LOFT brands, partners with Good360, an organization that helps companies with the logistics of efficiently getting donations to the non-profit organizations that need them.
Read on to find out what ANN INC. gets by giving, and how they ensure their customers can feel good about what they buy.
There are numerous business benefits to CSR, but there?s also a feel-good aspect of working to make a positive impact on the environment and the community. Tell us about one project that you?ve personally found most memorable.
ANN INC. is a company for women. Our client base is 100% women, 93% of our associates are women and our CEO is a woman. Our company is passionate about women?s issues and this makes my job very easy?our associates are committed to CSR, responsible business practices and making a positive impact on the communities we touch and serve. I am most proud of the launch of our CSR website, ResponsiblyANN.com, since it allows us to share our CSR story and journey with our clients and business partners. ANN INC. is a fantastic organization with strong values and the website provides insight into how we uphold our values throughout our operations, supply chain and in the communities we serve.
Global retail supply chains are a very complex thing to manage. When it comes to building a greener and ethical supply chain, what strategies, technologies or tactics have you found most effective in helping you meet your goals?
ANN INC.?s supply chain is complex and connects companies and workers from across the globe to provide the materials and labor to make the products our clients love. Our clients genuinely care about the conditions under which Ann Taylor and LOFT products are manufactured and our impact on the environment. Therefore, we are committed to incorporating our high standards for social and environmental performance into every step of the process, from responsibly sourcing raw materials to selling the garment at our stores. Our suppliers are expected to drive high performance standards and we work only with suppliers that share our commitments and values.
Our impact on the environment is also a focus for ANN INC. and we have made changes across the supply chain to minimize our packaging footprint. We continually work with our suppliers on new initiatives to drive environmental sustainability in our product supply chain and share updates on our CSR website, ResponsiblyANN.com.
Since we?re in the midst of the holiday season, let?s talk about giving. Tell us a little bit about ANN INC.?s approach to product donations.
We have a strong and passionate purpose-driven culture at ANN INC. Our corporate giving program, ANN Cares, focuses on several distinct areas, including the needs of women, children, associates and the environment. To support product donations, we have partnered with Good360 to launch ANNCares360, a program that ensures that our products are able to reach these key groups.
Through our ANNCares360 program, Good360 is able, through its technology, to communicate to organizations within its network of more than 33,000 nonprofit organizations. The benefit for nonprofits is clear ? they are able to keep their expenses down by using donated products ? this means they can focus more of their energy and finances on programs and advancing their missions. Our stores benefit by keeping their backrooms clear of items no longer in use and our store associates are empowered to help their local communities by donating items to help people in need. The benefits do not end there ? our ANNCares360 program creates a new path for products and keeps them out of landfills, which ultimately benefits all of us.
What?s your top piece of advice for retailers getting started with a product donation program?
Contact Good360! Our colleagues at Good360 have been fantastic partners and act like an extension of our own corporate social responsibility (CSR) team. They helped us design and build a program which aligned with our objectives and supported our goals.
What trends are you noticing in the field of CSR? How do you think these trends will evolve the role of CSR executives over the next several years?
The focus on CSR is increasing and there is greater awareness from the consumer. This trend will continue, especially with the growth of industry groups such as the Sustainable Apparel Coalition, a key initiative driving the standardization of how sustainability is measured across the apparel industry in order to make the performance of products more visible to the consumer.
What do you love about working in the retail industry?
I have worked in the retail industry over 15 years and I have most enjoyed the years I have spent leading corporate social responsibility in our sector. In CSR, we have an opportunity everyday to connect with our clients and drive programs that align with her values. In retail, CSR goes beyond just sale?you make an emotional connection with your client and align your values with her values. That is true customer service!
Want to learn more about how product giving is a win-win for retailers? Watch Jeannette Ferran Astorga at Retail?s BIG Show, Jan. 13 to 16 in New York City.
Reinventing the Season of Giving
Carly Fiorina
Board chair, Good360
On the heels of a hard-fought election cycle, it's hard not to reflect on what divides us, but so much more unites us. I can't think of a better time to rally around an ideal that we all can agree on -- the importance of giving.
Enter #GivingTuesday -- the social and mobile campaign to create a national day of giving at the start of the annual holiday season. This year it's more than just the Black Friday and Cyber Monday shopping frenzy, #GivingTuesday aims to redefine the most wonderful time of year.
Although the idea was born at 92nd Street Y, the cultural and community center in New York, the creators are making it clear that no one solely owns #GivingTuesday. It relies on countless organizations and people everywhere playing their part to make it a real success. The main goal is to transform how people think about, talk about and participate in the giving season.
Since #GivingTuesday celebrates and encourages charitable activities that support nonprofit organizations, I am proud that the nonprofit I chair has whole-heartedly embraced the movement. Dedicated to fulfilling the needs of more than 32,000 nonprofits with corporate product donations, Good360 has joined #GivingTuesday in an effort to harness the collective power of charities, families, businesses and individuals. To maximize momentum, Good360 has invited its corporate donors and member nonprofits to tweet and post about their giving experience in honor of #GivingTuesday.
Along with the campaign, Good360 is introducing two new initiatives to promote both cash and product contributions. To encourage financial support, Good360 unveils its online Giving Market where individuals can donate symbolic gifts on behalf of their friends and loved ones. The market highlights the substantial impact even small contributions can have due to the fact that for every dollar donated, Good360 is able to deliver, on average, $70 worth of critically needed goods to nonprofits representing every cause imaginable. This means that a $10 donation can deliver $700 worth of toys to sick children or a $50 donation can deliver $3,500 worth of diapers to struggling families. All funds raised will directly help offset the cost of shipping and handling for product distribution to community-based nonprofits that are directly helping people in need.
On the product donation side, I'm particularly excited about Good360's efforts to shout its business case from the roof tops. As the former chairman and CEO of HP, I truly believe that Good360 is a no-brainer for companies on so many levels.
Good360 is striving to make product donation as habitual as recycling. Like many movements, recycling caught on because it became easy for people and companies to execute. Product donation does not have to be an ordeal. With its new motion graphics video, launched today, Good360 has been able to illustrate this simple, win-win proposition in an artfully crafted 60 second snit-bit: Why Product Philanthropy is the Best Idea for Your Business.
Not just an inventory solution, Good360's philanthropy model can improve the bottom line, build employee engagement and improve sales as a socially responsible company all by donating merchandise that might otherwise be stored, destroyed, or liquidated for pennies on the dollar. The added bonus? Good360 can tailor a unique giving program that works for a company's specific needs, whether an on-going initiative that becomes part of a strategic plan, direct product pick-ups from retail locations or a one-time donation designated for disaster relief. Good360 does as little or as much as a company needs.
As we gather to transform the giving season as we know it, I am thrilled to invite you to share my enthusiasm for not only this unique organization, but the #GivingTuesday crusade as a whole. This is truly an idea whose time has come.
?
Follow Carly Fiorina on Twitter: www.twitter.com/CarlyforCA
PetSmart Among the Top U.S. Companies in ?Green? Rankings According to Newsweek
PHOENIX--(BUSINESS WIRE)--PetSmart? (NASDAQ: PETM) announced the launch of its hard goods donation program across its more than 1,200 stores in the United States, Puerto Rico and Canada. The program, supported by non-profit Good360, will save approximately 3,000 dumpsters of usable cat and dog products annually from going into landfills and benefit over 900 animal welfare organizations in local communities. Through the program, tested in August 2011 with ten PetSmart stores and expanded to a 140-store pilot in February 2012, over 1.2 million items have been donated to-date valuing over $990,000.?
Anguilla Animal Rescue Foundation (AARF), a 100% volunteer shelter located in the only veterinary clinic on the Caribbean island of Anguilla 140 miles from Puerto Rico, is a benefactor of this program. The shelter was matched with two Puerto Rico stores, secured storage space and air transportation both free of charge and now receives donated products brought from Puerto Rico to their shelter on Anguilla monthly.
?Being on a small island, we are somewhat isolated so donations of the items needed to help support the cats and dogs at our shelter can be challenging,? said Gayle Enzel, Board member of AARF. ?Thanks to the PetSmart team, we will now have a more consistent inventory of beds, toys, leashes and other items needed to take care of pets at our shelter while they wait for their forever homes.?
The hard goods donation program is part of the company?s commitment to recycling, one of six priorities of PetSmart?s Think Twice? sustainability platform. Working with Waste Management, the company also continues to roll out recycling across all possible locations. As a result, PetSmart facilities recycled 34,271 metric tons in 2011, a 25% increase since 2008 and 4% year-over-year increase.
Green Rankings: Reality Aligns with Perception
Up 25 spots to #279, PetSmart was among the top 300 for the first time in Newsweek?s 2012 Green Rankings of U.S. Companies. These annual rankings are based on quantitative and qualitative metrics such as raw environmental data, reduction strategies, energy and environmental management and engagement activities. And consumers agree, voting PetSmart #16 overall and #2 among retailers in the annual Green Brands Survey, comparing 251 companies on the basis of their ?green? reputation.
Unique Challenges to Sustainability
Unlike most retailers, PetSmart has live animals -including fish- in their distribution centers and stores 24 hours per day, seven days per week. In addition, all of the retailer?s stores offer pet grooming and bathing services. Due to these unique aspects of PetSmart?s business model, consumption of energy and water on a per square foot basis is higher than traditional retailers.
To address their unique energy consumption, PetSmart continues to utilize energy management systems which enable opportunities for efficiency to be identified swiftly. As a result, PetSmart has consistently reduced its carbon footprint on comparable facilities over four consecutive years, despite an increase in the total number of facilities and a 1.7% increase in overall square feet.
In addition, PetSmart has decreased its water usage, all while maintaining the safety and care of fish in their aquatics departments and pets in their grooming salons. Gallons of water used per square foot in PetSmart stores over the past four years have decreased over 3%.?
??Finding unique ways to help our adoption partners and our communities is not just a priority for us at PetSmart, it?s who we are,? said Jaye Perricone, Senior Vice President of Real Estate and Development for PetSmart. ?Working with partners like Good 360, Waste Management and animal welfare agencies like AARF inspires each of us to continue to look for creative ways to help PetSmart develop and support innovative solutions for our sustainability challenges.?
To learn more about the company?s sustainability efforts, view PetSmart?s Sustainability Report at www.petsmart.com/thinktwice.
About PetSmart
PetSmart, Inc. (NASDAQ: PETM) is the largest specialty pet retailer of services and solutions for the lifetime needs of pets. The company employs approximately 50,000 associates and operates more than 1,249 pet stores in the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico, over 194 in-store PetSmart? PetsHotel? dog and cat boarding facilities and is a leading online provider of pet supplies and pet care information (http://www.petsmart.com). PetSmart provides a broad range of competitively priced pet food and pet products; and offers dog training, pet grooming, pet boarding, PetSmart Doggie Day Camp SM day care services and pet adoption services. Since 1994, PetSmart Charities, Inc., an independent 501(c)(3) non-profit animal welfare organization and the largest funder of animal welfare efforts in North America, has provided more than $165 million in grants and programs benefiting animal welfare organizations. Through its in-store pet adoption partnership with PetSmart Charities?, PetSmart has helped save the lives of more than 5 million pets.
Follow PetSmart on Twitter @PetSmart
Find PetSmart on Facebook www.facebook.com/PetSmart
See PetSmart on YouTube: www.YouTube.com/PetSmart
Contacts
PetSmart, Inc.
Toni J. Eberhardt, 623-516-3912
teberhardt@ssg.petsmart.com
?
INDA Partners with Good360 in Product Philanthropy Initiative
Leading nonwovens association partners to help the nonwovens industry donate goods to charitable organizations
CARY, N.C. ? October 18, 2012 ? Realizing that its member companies would benefit greatly from a simple and effective way to donate excess inventory to worthwhile charities, the Association of the Nonwoven Fabrics Industry (INDA), has partnered with Good360, the nonprofit leader in product philanthropy, to launch the first-ever nonwovens industry giving initiative.
This partnership creates a simple and streamlined way for companies up and down the nonwovens supply chain to donate products and make contributions to nonprofit organizations in need, helping companies improve their bottom line and, more importantly, make a difference in the lives of the families and communities that need it most.
?Because our industry offers an unusually diverse array of product offerings that can be useful to those in need ? things like diapers, medical supplies, wipes, building materials and filter products ? we are in a unique position to help out those in need,? says INDA President David Rousse. ?Our partnership with Good360 allows companies to give something back to the community by streamlining the process of finding organizations or individuals who can actually use their goods, which charities are worthwhile, or how to get the products to those who need them the most.?
Consistently recognized by Forbes as one of America?s top 10 most efficient charities, Good360 connects companies with product donations to a network of more than 30,000 prequalified nonprofits. It provides companies with expert donation management and a range of logistics services, including picking up available inventory and getting it into the hands of nonprofits in need. They also provide comprehensive donation tracking and reporting essential to measure giving impact and maximize the benefits for recipients and donors alike.
Since its inception in 1983, Good360 has distributed more than $7 billion in product donations to thousands of pre-qualified charities serving countless causes, individuals and communities. For more information on Good360, visit Good360.org.
Donations to Good360 can be made at any time, whether in the event of an emergency or in non-emergency times. Companies can donate when they have excess inventory, to reduce waste going to landfills or simply because you want to make a difference.
?We have the ability to tailor a giving program to any company?s needs,? says Good360 Vice President of Donor Relations, Doyle Delph. ?Our partnership with INDA will provide the nonwovens industry with 360 degrees of good ? good for companies, good for communities and good for the environment.?
In addition to the corporate social responsibility benefits, companies can make a positive difference for individuals and families struggling to make ends meet. Donations help to foster support and good will with employees and the local community as well as reduce landfill waste. In addition, companies that donate through the INDA/Good360 program qualify for an enhanced tax deduction.
To donate or to get involved with the INDA/Good360 initiative: http://www.inda.org/issues-advocacy/join-inda-and-good360-and-make-a-real-difference-in-the-lives-of-others/. When filling out the cash donation form, please select ?INDA? from the ?How did you first hear about Good360?? drop down list. When completing the product donation form, please write ?INDA? where it asks for ?Donation Title.?
To discuss a donation or program, please contact:
Doyle Delph, Vice President, Donor Relations
(703) 299-7532
doyle@good360.org
Knight Foundation invests $1.3 million in technology that empowers communities
New Knight report explores emerging Tech for Engagement field
Oct 2, 2012 ? Four projects that use technology to help communities shape their own futures will receive $1.3 million from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation.
The support is part of Knight Foundation?s Tech for Engagement Initiative, founded on the ideal that technology has the power to transform our democracy. The initiative funds projects that experiment with ways people can engage with each other and take action on issues they care about.
Knight Foundation today also released a new report, Digital Citizenship: Exploring the Field of Tech for Engagement. The result of a June summit with 70 leading thinkers, the report takes a snapshot of the field, explores key challenges and offers recommendations for the future. It can be found at knightfoundation.org/digitalcitizenship.
?While billions are spent working to sustain or invent the next Google or Facebook, there are relatively few dollars flowing into how to improve the kind of active democracy that builds our communities. We need more tools with a civic purpose, and technologists with a passion for community, to help deliver on the promise technology has for our everyday lives,? said Paula Ellis, vice president for strategic initiatives at Knight Foundation.
Ellis announced Knight Foundation?s support for the following projects:
Change By Us (CEOS for Cities - $590,000): Already implemented in New York City and Philadelphia, Change By Us finds citizens where they are already talking (online), and breaks down barriers to civic engagement, Citizens can propose local projects, and are able to recruit volunteers and become eligible for mini-grants that will help achieve their goal. The next version of Change By Us will allow projects to crowdsource funding and will be integrated with Facebook. The goal is to make it easier and more affordable for more cities to adopt the platform.
?The intersection of civic engagement and technology is accelerating change from the bottom up in unprecedented ways. Change By Us is our effort to go beyond clicks and "likes" to engagement and impact,? said Lee Fisher, president and CEO of CEOS for Cities.
OpenGovernment.org (Participatory Politics Foundation - $225,000): Funding will bring the popular OpenCongress.org platform to the local level - allowing residents to track items before their city council, voice their opinions to elected leaders and share opinions and news with neighbors. The site will be tested in Philadelphia, San Jose, Calif. and Washington D.C. OpenGovernment is a free and open-source project.
DailyFeats.com ($236,000): The free app and website is best known for helping people take small steps to achieve big goals - whether they concern eating, exercise, personal finance, or other aspects of health and well-being. With funding, the app will expand its push to engage people in doing more for their communities and as citizens. Approaches will be measured and statistically tested to determine what triggers and methodologies work for encouraging community engagement.
Good360 ($250,000): The nonprofit, a pioneer in the field of product giving, connects corporations with nonprofits, schools and libraries that need their donated goods. Through an online product donation marketplace, Good360 will enable communities to build capacity and engagement one individual at a time. Nonprofits will be able to communicate needs through wish lists, search for available product right in their own communities, enlist financial support from their social networks, and share impact stories with corporate and individual donors, alike. The organization hopes the interaction will empower communities to collaborate to meet the vast and exponentially increasing product needs of their massive nonprofit network.
Knight Foundation, a national funder with local roots, is committed to promoting democracy by supporting informed and engaged communities. The Tech for Engagement Initiative, launched in 2010, has invested $10 million in 24 projects, including Code For America, which is changing the way governments work through technology and service.
The initiative seeks innovative ideas that help deepen people?s engagement in their communities, make governments more open and transparent, and help build the greater field of people working in this area. For more, or to apply, visit technologyforengagement.org.
About the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation
Knight Foundation supports transformational ideas that promote quality journalism, advance media innovation, engage communities and foster the arts. The foundation believes that democracy thrives when people and communities are informed and engaged.
About CEOs for Cities
CEOs for Cities is a learning community and partnership network that connects civic CEOs and urban leaders to each other and to smart ideas and practices for making cities successful. We connect across sectors, borders, levels and generations in more than 60 North American cities.
About DailyFeats
DailyFeats, available free for iPhone, Android, and web, helps people make positive change by forming small daily habits. In partnership with Walgreens, Cigna, eBay, Happy Family, O, The Oprah Magazine, ONE Campaign, and a coalition of other organizations, DailyFeats offers tools and motivation for sustainable behavior change, helping its members take action to improve their health and well-being. Members earn points for their actions or "feats," share progress with friends, and redeem their points for savings from national brands, local rewards or partner donations to 501(c)3 non-profits. DailyFeats is a certified B Corporation.
About Good360
An international nonprofit with nearly 30 years of experience in product philanthropy, Good360 is dedicated to helping people and communities in need by distributing corporate product donations to qualified nonprofits. These include nonperishables, such as apparel, books, toys, personal care products, office and school supplies, computers and much more. On behalf of several Fortune 100 consumer, retail and technology companies, Good360 distributes products to a network of nearly 30,000 pre-vetted organizations. Good360 has been recognized by both the Committee Encouraging Corporate Philanthropy and Forbes magazine for its excellence and efficiency, respectively, in helping companies drive their bottom lines and at the same time do social good.
About the Participatory Politics Foundation
The Participatory Politics Foundation is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization with a mission to increase civic engagement. The foundation develops free Web tools that create new opportunities for engagement with government. We believe that the Internet opens an unprecedented opportunity to extend and amplify political voices and actions. For our political system of representative democracy to work effectively, it is essential that we have the ability to see what?s happening in government and communicate our ideas to people in power.
Elevate your good citizen reputation
By Cindy Hallberlin | 08/09/2012
Where Charity Begins - Nonprofit partnerships prove valuable to retailers
JPMorgan Chase Teams Up With Good360 To Recycle, Refurbish & Distribute Technology For Good
by Mark Boyer, 07/13/12
JPMorgan Chase has teamed up with Good360 to launch Tech Warehouse, a new program that will distribute refurbished computers to nonprofit organizations and schools. The program not only puts valuable technology in the hands of those who need it most, but it will also promote the reuse of old machines, instead of sending them to the landfill. Under the partnership, JPMorgan Chase will replace the hard drives in more than 3,000 of its computers and distribute the old ones with Good360?s network of charities.
Good360 (previously known as Gifts In Kind International) is one of the largest charities in the country, and it runs an online donation marketplace. Companies of all sizes donate consumer products, and Good360 helps to channel those products to more than 22,000 community charities around the world. Since it was first formed, Good360 has distributed more than $7 billion in product donations.
As JPMorgan Chase replaces older computers at its offices, it will donate those old computers for Good360 to share with its network of nonprofits and schools. ?As part of the zero-waste initiative that they?re trying to implement within their corporation they decided to refurbish these computers,? explains Kelly McSween, Good360?s senior director of corporate initiatives. ?They shred all of the hard drives, and so we put brand-new hard drives into the computers, and they prevent them from going to the landfill by donating them to charities and nonprofits and schools across the country.
According to McSween there are four reasons why a corporation like JPMorgan Chase would want to participate in a program like the Tech Warehouse. First, updating the company?s technology periodically helps it to maintain a high level of security. By donating the old computers, JPMorgan Chase can have a positive impact both on the community, because they go to schools and nonprofits, and on the environment, because they?re being reused.
?Since 2009, we?ve been able to redeploy almost 30 percent of the more than 250,000 desktops, laptops, monitors and printers collected ? avoiding costs and reducing our environmental impact,? said JP Morgan Chase Chief Information Officer Guy Chiarello in a statement. ?We are proud to develop Tech Warehouse with Good360 as a way to continue our work toward preserving the environment while providing useful technology for those in need.?
H&M Hosts Clothing Drive and Smart Shopping
By Liz Smith
Beginning on Thursday, July 26th through Sunday, August 12th, customers who donate gently worn kids clothing at one of H&M?s children?s locations will receive 15% off their purchase from the Swedish retailer?s fall back-to-school uniform collection! All garments received through the drive will be donated to Good360. Customers can keep their kids looking sharp and polished with H&M?s full line of preppy basics starting at $7.95. The collection includes forty pieces that can be paired as separates or styled together to create a school uniform look?polos, cardigans, and blazers in classic navy, grey, and white, paired with khaki?s for boys or pleated skirts and jumpers for girls. The uniform line is available for purchase in 176 H&M stores where our children?s concept is sold.
Since 2002, H&M U.S., in partnership with Good360, has donated H&M garments, shoes, and accessories valued at $6.5 million to hundreds of charities in the United States and across the globe. So donate and shop at H&M, leaving the kids fabulous for back to school while helping those less fortunate. Talk about good (fashionable) karma.
Guidance, a web, mobile and social commerce design and development agency trusted by Internet Retailer Top 500 companies, announced today that it has partnered with Good360 to provide technical design, development and integration services for the nonprofit leader in product philanthropy.
Guidance will upgrade Good360?s online product donation catalog onto the Magento Enterprise platform and will integrate it with Navision.
?Good360?s online catalog is the cornerstone of our philanthropy model,? said Shabab Gruberg, Good360?s Chief Technology Officer. ?We chose Guidance because we knew their efforts would improve our nonprofit network?s online commerce experience and because of their expertise with Magento Enterprise.?
Guidance?s Magento expertise was recently recognized with the Magento Partner Excellence Award. Out of hundreds of Magento partners, Guidance was honored for its excellence in quality of Magento Enterprise implementations and exceptional customer satisfaction.
?Good360 supports a network of nearly 30,000 pre-vetted nonprofits,? said Jason Meugniot, Owner & CEO of Guidance. ?It is an honor to support their efforts to help communities in need worldwide.
About Good360
Consistently ranked by Forbes Magazine as one of the top ten most efficient charities in America, Good360 (formerly Gifts In Kind International) is dedicated to helping people and communities in need by distributing corporate product donations to qualified nonprofits. These include nonperishables, such as apparel, books, toys, personal care products, office and school supplies, computers and much more. On behalf of several Fortune 100 consumer, retail and technology companies, Good360 distributes products to a network of nearly 30,000 pre-vetted organizations. The nonprofit organization was recognized earlier this month with the Committee Encouraging Corporate Philanthropy?s Directors? Award as part of its 2012 Excellence in Corporate Philanthropy Awards.
About Guidance
Guidance designs, builds, maintains and hosts highly customized commerce solutions for today?s leading retailers, boosting brand loyalty, traffic and conversion. Since 1993, national retailers and consumer product manufacturers alike have relied on Guidance?s expertise to facilitate more than $3 billion in web, mobile and social commerce. Brands such as Bank of America, Behr, Burlington Coat Factory, Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf, Foot Locker, Harbor Freight, Honda, Hyundai, Intel, Mars, Nike, Oakley, Relax the Back, TOMS Shoes, Walt Disney and others, have engaged Guidance to build more than 300 world-class, multi-channel websites and apps that captivate, engage and incite loyalty.
Future Of Technology Donations ?Cloudy? - 06/01/2012
By Patrick Sullivan
Ann Taylor and Loft Link Up With Good360's Donation Platform
by Bart King
April 23, 2012?Ann Inc. the parent company of Ann Taylor and Loft, announced a partnership with nonprofit Good360, that will facilitate the donation of reusable products to local charities that support women and children.
With the launch of an internal system, called ANNCares360, the company?s stores will be able to enter leftover items from displays and other marketing efforts into a database system linked to Good360?s online product donation marketplace and its network of more than 26,000 charities.
The partnership with Good360 offers a uniform company-wide system, better tracking mechanisms, and a wider reach for Ann Inc.'s donations.
Good360, previously known as Gifts In Kind International, is a pioneer in the product giving space with recognition by Forbes Magazine as one of America?s top ten most efficient charities. In three decades of service, Good360 has distributed nearly $7 billion in product donations to thousands of organizations serving a wide spectrum of people in need. Good360 is developing the world?s largest online product donation marketplace, where product donations from America?s top brands and retailers become goods for the greater good.
?The ANNCares360 program aligns perfectly with our environmental commitment to minimize waste in our operations since most of these items can be reused. We are pleased to know that we will be able to provide resources for communities in need,? said Jeannette Ferran Astorga, Vice President, Corporate Social Responsibility.
Hilton Worldwide set up a partnership with Good360 last year to automate the donation of items such as towels, blankets or office supplies that are recovered through renovation, or, simply reached the end of their commercial service life, but are still reusable.
Bart King is a PR consultant and principal at Cleantech Communications.
GOOD360 - An Idea Whose Time Has Come
Carly Fiorina
Board chair, Good360
Carly Fiorina, former HP CEO, discusses her new position as chair of "Good 360", an online donation marketplace that connects corporate product donations with nonprofit organizations.
Researchers at Indiana University Conclude that Giving Corporate Product Donations is Economically Superior to Liquidation or Disposal
Fast Company: Research released today shows donation to be a better financial choice than either liquidation or landfill when it comes to unloading product that cannot be moved otherwise.
CNBC: Courtney Reagan Highlights Opportunity for Companies to Benefit from Product Donation:
Good360 Ranked by Forbes as One of the Nation's Most Efficient Charities
Hilton Worldwide Partners with Good360 to Donate Reusable Goods to Charitable Organizations
The Home Depot Foundation, National League of Cities, and Good360 Partner to Distribute 500 Housewarming and Tool Kits to Nonprofits Serving Military Veterans
Discovery Communications Employees to donate creative services to Good360 at 12-hour marathon event supporting nonprofit missions
Good360 Summit to Discuss Business Benefits of Product Giving
With the overall poverty rate climbing from 14.3 percent to 15.1 percent just in one short year, even more Americans are financially suffering?to be exact?1 out of every 6 Americans now live in poverty. Our neighbors, their children, the homeless veterans on the street, the under and unemployed are all struggling to survive and get the items they need for everyday life?clothing, personal hygiene products, or school supplies for their kids.
?
Good360, the thought leader in product philanthropy, is hosting a two-day product philanthropy summit in Monterey, Cali. to discuss the impact businesses can not only have on the millions of people-in-need, but also the benefits their company can receive through product giving. The summit will make the business case on why companies should be donating products, how they can align donations to their philanthropic and corporate goals, and show companies how product giving can create a more efficient supply chain.
Good360, Indiana University Collaborate to Measure Corporate ?Product Philanthropy?
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. ? The Indiana University School of Public and Environmental Affairs and Good360, formerly Gifts In Kind International, have completed the first year of a unique, ongoing collaboration designed to measure the impacts of corporate gifts-in-kind to nonprofit organizations.
The collaborators have focused on evaluating the effects on community nonprofits of Framing Hope, a partnership between Good360 and The Home Depot Foundation in which unsold merchandise from Home Depot stores is donated to participating nonprofit organizations. More information and preliminary research results may be seen at http://www.indiana.edu/~spea/research/interdisciplinary_research/index.shtml.
The collaboration to develop reliable metrics began as an effort to help Good360 better understand and communicate the financial and social impacts of corporate product donations, both to recipients and to current and potential corporate donors. The initial idea quickly generated widespread interest among School of Public and Environmental Affairs (SPEA) faculty members, not only from the public policy and nonprofit management disciplines, but also from environmental science.
?Once we began talking,? says IU professor Lisa Blomgren Bingham, who holds the Keller-Runden Chair in Public Service in SPEA, ?it became apparent that there would be multiple ways to look at the impacts? the organizational effects on the nonprofits receiving and managing donations, the social effects on the end-users of the products, and the effects on environmental sustainability. It is exactly the kind of complex research project that is custom-made for the School of Public and Environmental Affairs.??
?The research is invaluable to Good360 and other in-kind giving programs because it will help us to better explain the leveraged value of product giving,? added Cindy Hallberlin, CEO and President of Good360. ?We are excited to continue with the research after completing the study on the Framing Hope program and unveil even more groundbreaking findings to our corporate partners at our product giving summit this fall (http://summit.good360.org).?
The early research is promising. SPEA environmental science professor Diane Henshel?s ?capstone? class of students completing master?s degrees quantitatively estimated how product donations contribute locally both to energy savings and to reduction in landfill use. SPEA faculty members Evan Ringquist and Justin Ross hope to expand on this ?green philanthropy? research, and have additional grant applications in process.
In terms of organizational impact of product philanthropy, nonprofit management professor Beth Gazley conducted a national survey of nearly 800 charities that had partnered with The Home Depot Foundation through Good360?s Framing Hope program, to determine how product donations affected their ability to carry out their missions. Further research on disadvantaged populations as the end-users of these donations by SPEA social policy professor Kristin Seefeldt is also in the works. The entire multi-disciplinary project is assisted by SPEA doctoral students Gordon Abner and Oral Saulters.?
For more information on the research collaboration and links to research findings, visit http://about.good360.org/AboutUs/Product_Giving_Research.
About SPEA
The IU School of Public and Environmental Affairs (http://www.spea.indiana.edu) is a world leader in public affairs and the environmental sciences and is the largest school of public affairs in the United States. In the most recent "Best Graduate Schools" by U.S. News & World Report, SPEA ranks second and is the nation's highest-ranked graduate program in public affairs at a public institution. Six of its specialty programs are ranked in the top 10 by U.S. News.
Groundbreaking Research on Business Benefits of Donating Products to Be Released During Event
WASHINGTON, DC (WUSA)-- Angie Goff (@ohmygoff) reports local charity Good360 gave out 4,000 free diapers to families in need.
Communities and individuals are encouraged to participate and donate diapers and baby wipes on Thursday, June 23 to Carpenter?s Shelter in Alexandria and The Family Place in Washington.
The United Way and Furniture Sharehouse donated over 100 mattresses on Thursday to families throughout Westchester County.
The American Trucking Association, a nonprofit known as Good 360, and a local politician joined forces to bring attention to a need in southern West Virginia.
Kevin Hagan laughs ? at least sort of ? when he describes Good360. ?This,? says the chief administrative officer of the nonprofit headquartered at Alexandria, Va., ?is logistics hell.?
Small, unused balances on prepaid gift and debit cards can provide billions of dollars in resources for great causes.
Baby Codes Author Kevin Mills Teams Up with Good360 to Give Diapers to Babies in Need.
Changing Diapers, Changing Lives campaign Featured on WUSA9's MomsLikeMe.com segment. Click here to watch the interview.
Changing Diapers, Changing Lives--These days, too many of our friends and neighbors have too little. This is especially true where struggling families are concerned. It costs about $11,000 a year to raise a child, but one in four families earn less than that. So we came up with a quick and simple way for all of us to help these moms and dads using nothing more than our cell phones.
Gifts In Kind announced that Scentsy, Inc., has donated $375,000 in plush toys to be distributed to Gifts In Kind International groups across the country. The donation was announced today as part of the NBC TODAY Show?s annual toy drive and is part of a larger pledge by Scentsy worth $2.5 million in toys for nonprofit organizations dedicated to helping children.
Today, in Denver, Colo., Gifts In Kind International distributed product donations collected from Denver businesses and sorted by attendees at a National League of Cities (NLC) service project held during the 2010 Congress of Cities & Exposition to local Denver nonprofit Mile High Youth Corps.
TAMPA - Linda Webb is a U.S. Army veteran who is ecstatic to be moving into her house around the holidays. But her outlook wasn't so cheery in recent months.
Warehouse Offers Low-Cost, High-Quality Building Products for Nonprofits.
Today, in Los Angeles County, Help the Children, Gifts In Kind International, and The Home Depot? Foundation announced the opening of the Help the Children Framing Hope Warehouse to offer building and renovation products to local nonprofits at little to no cost. More than 600 nonprofit organizations, including a local shelter for abused women and children, a men?s shelter and a family resource center have already signed up to participate.
More than 300 competitors took to the trails of Cameron Run Regional Park for area charities in a 5K race organized by Alexandria-based Gifts in Kind International Saturday.
Gifts In Kind Int', National League of Cities Partner to Help Denver Nonprofit Organizations in December
Showers open for homeless, but more volunteers needed.
The Basic Hygiene Center, 516 E. First St., Port Angeles, serves individuals and families without access to showers or laundry facilities.
Road Kill Social Media What?s hot one day, can cool off in a hurry.
In just less than a month, the ?Skinned Alive? campaign by the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) had garnered 98,000 fans, driven almost entirely through social media, primarily Facebook and Twitter. MySpace? Not so much.
The IRS is offering a one-time Special Filing Relief Program for small charities.
From the National Council of Nonprofits - Oct. 15 is the due date to preserve tax-exempt status. Watch this quick video to find out more. Please help spread the word to nonprofits who may not know about this deadline.Tax Tips: Small Tax Exempt Orgs Revised Deadline - July 2010 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iLEcaDAoybc
Wisconsin companies contribute to Gulf cleanup effort.
S.C. Johnson & Sons Inc. and Kohler Co. are among the Wisconsin firms contributing to the cause of cleaning up the oil-laden Gulf of Mexico.
Volunteerism Increases at Highest Rate in 6 Years.
The number of Americans who volunteer grew last year at the fastest rate in six years, according to a new report, defying the popular notion that hard economic times suppress civic participation.