Mahalo Kokua!

Many thanks to our non-profit partner, the Kokua Foundation, for putting together yet another fabulous eco-friendly festival in light of Earth Day!!  The sixth annual Kokua Festival took place on April 23^rd and 24^th featuring 1% member Jack Johnson, alongside Ziggy Marley, Taj Mahal, Anuhea, and Jake Shimabukuro.

1% FTP settled itself quite literally at the intersection of business and the environment with our booth between member company Brushfire Records, and non-profit partner, Re-Use Hawaii!  Not too far down the green, greetings were shared with other 1% organizations such as member companies, Muumuu Heaven, Patagonia and LLLLIFE, and non-profit recipients Sierra Club and Surfrider Foundation.  Kokua was a spectacularly festive event, bringing together music junkies, outdoor enthusiasts, foodies, treehuggers, children, smiles and more – all great contributors to the 1% community!

Thank you to everyone who stopped by to say hello!!  It was terrific to meet the faces behind the 1% network, be they members, non-profit partners, 1% fans and followers, or simply folks stopping by to get more information!  Mahalo!!

P.S. As we await the release of Jack’s new album this June, check out his latest widgets!

Greening Your Business Is Not Enough

1% CEO Terry Kellogg makes a bold statement today, the 40^th 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.

An interview with Susan, 1%’s VP of Organizational Development

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.

Protectors of the Planet

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!

1% brings home ‘Best Non-Profit Partnership’

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:

• - cars & transporation
• - travel & nature
• - science & technology
• - food & health
• - design & architecture
• - business & politics
• - culture & celebrity
• - fashion & beauty

1% goes paperless!

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!

1% and live music across Canada this month

This week marks the kick-off of the Chris Velan 1% for the Planet Tour.  Sponsored by Mountain Equipment Co-op, the tour spans Canada from Vancouver to Montreal throughout April.  1% member and musician Chris will be headlining the tour with performances in MEC stores and venues in seven cities, all focused on raising awareness of local environmental issues.  Representatives from the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society, a 1% non-profit recipient, will be on hand at each stop to share stories of progress made as a result of donations from 1% members like MEC.

Vancouver: April 1 MEC Vancouver Store 12-2 PM, Railway Club 8 PM

Edmonton: April 7 MEC Vancouver Store 12-2 PM, Haven Social Club 6 PM

Calgary: April 11 MEC Vancouver Store 12-2 PM, Marquee Room 8 PM

Winnipeg: April 14 MEC Vancouver Store 12-2 PM, Park Theater 8 PM

Ottawa: April 24 MEC Vancouver Store 12-2 PM, Zaphod Beeblebrox 8 PM

Toronto: April 28 MEC Vancouver Store 12-2 PM, C’est What 10 PM

Montreal: April 30 MEC Vancouver Store 12-2 PM, Petit Café Campus

Live nearby one of these cities?  We hope you’ll stop by to hear some great tunes and learn about the impact of 1% giving in your area. As an added bonus, the new 1% album will be available in MEC stores during April, so be sure to pick up a few copies!

1% on the road

(1% staff, artists, and friends after Madi Diaz’s Sundance performance.  Front: K.S. Rhoads, Melody Grote, Madi Diaz, Kyle Ryan, Erin McCarley, Sue Devine Back: Terry Kellogg, Susan Comfort, Grace Kronenberg, Lisa Pike Sheehy, Jake Whitcomb)

After a running start to the year with a strong 1% presence at the Outdoor Retailer winter show and Sundance, we’re rolling into 2010 with an ambitious schedule of events from Montreal to Hawaii.

Where you can find us in 2010:

Natural Products Expo West Anaheim, CA March 12-14

Mountain Equipment Co-op/1% for the Planet Canadian Tour Vancouver, Edmonton, Calgary, Winnipeg, Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal April (See here for tour dates) Featuring 1% for the Planet member and musician Chris Velan performing in seven cities and MEC stores across Canada

Kokua Festival Honolulu, HI April 23-25 Jack Johnson (1% member #50) headlining, benefiting 1% recipient, The Kokua Foundation

Social Venture Network Spring Conference Stevenson, WA April 29-May 2

Ceres Conference Boston, MA May 5-6

Vermont Businesses for Social Responsibility Spring Conference Burlington, VT May 17

Sustainable Brands Monterey, CA June 7-10

Slow Money National Gathering Shelburne, VT June 9-11

LOHAS Forum Boulder, CO June 23-25 1% is a proud sponsor of the 2010 LOHAS Forum

Forecastle Festival Louisville, KY July 9-12 Music, Art, and Activism on the banks of the Mississippi River

Outdoor Retailer Summer Market Salt Lake City, UT August 3-6

Opportunity Green Los Angeles, CA October 6-8

Austin City Limits Austin, TX October 8-10

Natural Products Expo East Boston, MA October 14-16

We’ll keep you posted on any changes or additions to this list, as well as any international events staffed by our stellar volunteers.  Several of these events are likely to feature presentations by CEO Terry Kellogg, and 1% Board members, so be sure to stay tuned for updates.  Are you planning to attend any of these events? Have an event to suggest that’s missing from our list? Let us know—grace@onepercentfortheplanet.org or @1percentFTP

1% for Haiti

In conjunction with the food crops that will sprout resultant of Plant With Purpose’s efforts, Trees, Water & People, is providing Haitians with a more sustainable tool to cook these foods!  For but $20, Trees, Water & People is offering a fuel-efficient and clean burning stove to the families of Haiti.  By consuming less fuel, providing nourishing meals, and sterilizing water, these stoves are assisting both the health of the people and the environment of Haiti.  Trees, Water and People just recently received the Sasakawa Prize from the United Nations Environmental Programme in recognition of its stove distribution as a green solution to climate change.  Congratulations Trees, Water & People!

Environmental non-profits focused on restoring agricultural productivity and food security are critical if Haiti is ever to become self-sustaining.   We at 1% are glad to see the sustainable progress being made already by Plant with Purpose and Trees, Water & People in the face of this daunting tragedy.

Announcing the 1% music badge

To support the recent launch of the 1% all-digital album, we just released this web badge (above) to make it easy to share the album online. The badge is a new way for the extended 1% community — from 1% album lovers, to member companies, to 1% environmental non-profit partners, to 1% friends and supporters — to build some buzz about this great album and 1% for the Planet.  Will you join the effort?

Here’s how to join:

1. Visit the share page of our new music site.
2. Choose a badge size that will look good on your site, then post it.
3. Then, show us where you put it by submitting your site address using the form on the share page.

When you enter the location of your badge on our share page form, we’ll check out your site and add you to the list. Help us reach 100 badges and we’ll list your site on our blog. Our team will be using our Twitter account, @1percentFTP, to highlight some of the great badge sightings you share with us along the way.

And if you don’t have a blog or website, the image can go practically anywhere. (We put the image on our facebook page and YouTube page, and are exploring ways to fix it to Fenway’s water dish.)

Still wondering what a badge is?

Think of it as the online counterpart to a bumpersticker for your car, or a charity ribbon to pin on your jacket. A web badge is a small image you put on your web site that calls attention to something special — a club you’re a part of, a standard you’ve met, or a cool offering.

What is the 1% album?

1% for the Planet: The Music, Vol. 1 is a compilation of more than 40 rare and exclusive songs donated by leading artists to supporting non-profit organizations working to create a healthy planet. The album aims to accelerate the 1% movement by engaging more people and inspiring more companies to join. Go to our music site to sample tracks, see what the artists are saying about the album, and download the music.