Posted on April 22nd, 2010 by grace
1% CEO Terry Kellogg makes a bold statement today, the 40th anniversary of Earth Day: greening your business is not enough. Sure, office recycling programs, efficient buildings, and carpooling incentives show a commitment to protecting the planet, but environmental progress within a company can only go so far unless we change the context – the larger system in which all businesses operate.
1% for the Planet exists to change that context. Cheers to our 1,248 member companies whose commitment to financially supporting environmental work worldwide inspires the rest of the business community to step up to the plate!
Read the full article here.
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Posted on April 13th, 2010 by jake
Susan Comfort is 1% for the Planet’s VP of Organizational Development. A UNC-Chapel Hill grad, former Americorps Director and VP at Environmental Working Group, she brings with her two decades of environmental… “rabble rousing”, as she calls it. A newbie to the blog, I thought to introduce Susan with a quick interview.
Tough questions first. What’s your greatest eco-virtue?
This year marks #20 as a vegetarian. Caveat: I am from Baltimore so very occasionally I might have a few crabs. It’s my culture, hon.
And your worst eco-vice?
Just one? I take long showers in winter. I fly in airplanes. I don’t re-use ziploc bags.
Do you have a favorite fundraising tactic?
My favorite fundraising tactic…drum roll please…asking for money face-to-face. Fundraising obviously depends on asking for money, but too often The Ask is in the form of a “Donate” button or a direct mail letter or a telephone call. Face-to-face opportunities (like individual meetings, giving a pitch at a house party, or door-to-door canvassing) allow for relationships to be established, questions to be asked, body language to be read and that special glow to be seen when someone says, “Yes! I’d like to support that.”
Is there something about the 1% movement that’s most apt to catch a donor’s attention?
Donors like it when their beneficiary isn’t totally dependent on them. And since 1% is supported mostly by its membership dues, our foundation and individual supporters can make special projects and outreach efforts happen that we otherwise wouldn’t be able to consider.
Can you give me a snapshot of the ‘then, and now’ of Susan Comfort, the environmentalist?
Just out of college, I was placed by organizing bootcamp Green Corps in Sacramento, California. I devised a “Haircuts Not Clearcuts” fundraiser during our ancient forest campaign. We organized “All Species Day” and skits of “The Lorax” on Halloween. Partnered with pioneering utility SMUD on an energy conservation campaign.
The future looked bright. But that was 17 years ago. All the problems that were dire emergencies to us then have only intensified since. Which makes for a dour perspective if you are trying to stay optimistic and raise kids and otherwise be happy as a full-time-card-carrying-environmentalist.
So I practice yoga. It serves as my preferred form of exercise, and it also helps me focus on the here and now of my experience on this planet, rather than worrying about the alarming future I see us rushing toward.
And your work day?
Mostly with bad posture behind a laptop, I concentrate my energies on growing the network of 1% for the Planet. Growing the funding partnerships, the member businesses, the nonprofit recipients, the citizen supporters. It’s time well-spent. Last year this network contributed $15 million toward environmental groups and we are on track to give $20 million in 2010.
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Stay tuned for upcoming musings by Susan on topics of fundraising and movement building.
Posted in News
Posted on April 12th, 2010 by grace
Along with crafting the most refreshalicious soda on the planet, 1% member Snow Beverages has educated a league of Protectors of the Planet this school year. Through its Save the Snowflakes program, Snow worked with teachers and parents in classrooms in New York, Boston, Washington, DC, Richmond, and other areas where their soda is sold to educate elementary students about climate change. Students were encouraged to think about how their own choices affected the environment, and to submit their ideas for ways they could change a habit to lessen their impact on the planet. Snow received hundreds of submissions, the most original of which was awarded a classroom party, and donation in the winner’s name to the Natural Resources Defense Council. Congratulations to Mercer, a New York City student who was recently chosen as the leading Protector of the Planet–check out her submission here.
Save the Snowflakes will culminate in the Earthrockers concert, an afternoon of fun and music for kids and their parents to celebrate Earth Day. Held on Sunday April 25 at New York’s Bowery Ballroom, Earthrockers will feature performances by Apollo Sunshine and Real Estate. Click here for more information and to purchase tickets, and we hope to see you there!
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Posted on April 9th, 2010 by jake
Joining 1% for the Planet could be the strongest green play a company can make to inspire global good; and for the second year running, the 1% network has been recognized as such by Treehugger’s new ‘Best of Green 2010′ list! This year’s nominees were drawn from hundreds of online reader submissions from around the world. A nice tribute to — as they say — the power of (1%) networks.
Big congratulations to all green nominees and winners of the 8 categories:
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Posted on April 1st, 2010 by brittany
We were quite excited this week when we received our first completely paperless certification packet for 2009! Kudos to Treasure Mountain Inn, out in Park City Utah, for taking advantage of our new system and submitting their materials electronically! Treasure Mountain Inn, a dedicated member since 2005 has long since been ahead of the curve, working in a paperless way for the past eight years now. We’re happy that we can now work alongside in this effort! Treasure Mountain Inn has truly set the gold standard and led by example with their paperless donations exceeding the 1% commitment and going to great organizations like The Conservation Alliance, Summit Land Conservancy, Southern Utah Wilderness, Utah Open Lands, The Vital Ground Foundation and Access Fund.
If you are a 1% member reading this, please note that as tax day approaches, if you too want to send in your certification materials electronically, we’re more than happy to accept them! Thanks to all of our members for their terrific giving in 2009 and continued support!
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