For-Profit Doesn't Mean For Evil
It's not just nonprofits and charities that attempt to make a change in the world. Some for-profit businesses are using their employees and revenue to create some of their own change.
Nick Stelmack is a big fan of music festivals where people camp out over a few days. But what bugged him was the sea of camping equipment left behind. So he started Project Shelter in Richmond, Va., to sell brand-new camping equipment online that's delivered to music festivals and then collect, clean, and donate what was left behind to disaster relief organizations, homeless shelters, and refugee camps. Two pilot programs he did produced $500 worth of camping gear to donate; he's waiting to collect more before making the first donation. He also recently partnered with Telluride Blues & Brews, a large music festival in Colorado. And yes, Nick goes to every festival where Project Shelter is participating.
greeNEWit helps people cut energy usage by offering education programs through utility companies, who then give credits to their customers. But the founders of the Columbia, Md.-based company also like social change, so Cleats for Bare Feet was launched in 2009. It collects gently-used soccer equipment forkids in needworldwide. Cleats for Bare Feet co-director Josh Massey says while improving energy efficiency makes an environmental impact, this gives kids a chance to reach their potential. The program has collected 6,000 pairs of cleats and just launched a crowdfunding campaign to create a web platform that directly connects donors with recipients.
Dave Haft' s Impact Hub connects American companies with skilled people living in Africa. Known as impact sourcing, large corporations like Microsoft and Ancestry.com have provided Internet-based work to trained peopleliving in some of the poorest areas of the world. The DC-based organization provides advice to companies interested in getting menial, repetitive digital tasks off their plate. The company recommendsa handful of Impact Sourcing Service Providers in Kenya, South Africa, Ghana, and rural India. Dave says corporations aren't only fulfilling a need within their organization but building communities where there are few opportunities.
