A growing number of businesses and individuals understand the urgency of taking action against climate change. Thinking Beyond Business is a company that cares, wants to take action, and helps heal the world. We aim to empower businesses, by showing them there is a new, better way of doing business, in which maximizing profit is equally as important as how that profit is generated.
Helping businesses and volunteering in our spare time feels great but we seek an even stronger commitment toward a series of causes that we are passionate about. We learned about 1% for the Planet -1FTP-through a piece of literature we read about the founder of Patagonia, Yvon Chouinard, also one of the founders of 1FTP, and we were immediately hooked.
At Thinking Beyond Business we are all about bringing simple and easy-to-implement solutions, so joining 1FTP felt like a natural path because they provide us with a simple and easy way to do our part in protecting our planet while continuing to do what we do best.
1FTP was founded to prevent greenwashing, certify reputable giving, and provide accountability. Their goal is simple; they are a fabulous global community of businesses and individuals working towards ensuring that the planet and future generations thrive. 1FTP sits at the intersection between business and environmental action because they act as intermediaries between the nonprofit organizations working to protect and restore our world and the companies that care for making a positive impact. It is also a great platform to generate long-lasting connections with like-minded people as they regularly host events that allow for local face-to-face networking and additional virtual opportunities by regional location and industry type.
How does it work?
Businesses and individuals can become members of this growing community with over 5,000 members in more than 90 countries. The process of becoming a member is simple. You just need to follow four simple steps:
Join: Business members join 1FTP’s network, committing to donate the equivalent of 1% of gross sales through a combination of monetary, in-kind, and approved promotional support directly to environmental nonprofits. You apply by completing a simple questionnaire. Once you submit your responses, an account manager will be in touch with the next steps. There is a one-time activation fee of $200, which counts toward the 1% of revenue commitment.
Pick your Cause: 1FTP website provides a comprehensive list of nonprofits’ network directories. You can also talk to an account manager to receive advice on which organizations to partner with. Members can have one or multiple nonprofit partners, and they can change their partners as often as they need.
Donate: Business members support their nonprofit partner(s) directly. No intermediary is necessary! This approach helps businesses forge meaningful relationships with their partners. Most nonprofit organizations allow for donations to be tax-deductible. However, it is recommended to confirm with the nonprofit beneficiaries and your tax advisor before making a donation.
Certify: 1FTP certifies all member donations, legitimizing members’ commitment by reviewing and confirming sales and donation details annually.
Non Profit organizations that are part of this network must pass a rigorous selection process that attests to the organization’s integrity and the organization’s financial health to ensure authentic commitment to an environmental cause.
If you are ready to take action, make a valuable contribution, and become part of a group of conscious businesses, don’t wait any longer, 1FTP is the organization to partner with.
At Thinking Beyond Business, we are proud to be members of 1% for the Planet!
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