Why Did The SBA Just Gift Millions To For-Profit Businesses?

The SBA just gave away millions in corporate welfare with no strings attached, to venture- capitalists accelerators. This is wrong on multiple levels.  

The U.S. Small Business Administration just announced the award of millions of dollars in grants to 50 "accelerators," which are designed for venture capitalists to sift through countless startups to find the few they think can make them money. But the rationale, efficacy, and fairness of this program all need to be challenged.

The Rationale--Accelerators Produce More Jobs (NOT)

Over the last decade, the SBA has shifted its focus away from the 98 percent of small businesses with 1-19 employees, to work with very large corporations with up to $36.5 million in revenue and/or 1,500 employees. This accelerator grant program is another example of that shift.

The SBA says accelerators produce a lot of jobs, but the evidence suggests the opposite. Over the last five years, the approximately 200 accelerators in the U.S. have created between3,300 and 4,800 jobs, or a measly 700 to 960 jobs a year, at a cost of $130,000 per job created. Small businesses add around 600,000 businesses and three million jobs every year, or an average of 15 million jobs every five years; all without handouts from the government.

The Efficacy--Accelerators Product High-Growth Companies (NOT)

The SBA says accelerators produce high-growth companies. The evidence suggests otherwise.

The best data on job creation from the Kauffman Foundation shows 100% of net new jobs are created in the first twelve months of a new business. 98% of those will never have more than 19 employees (and don't want more), and less than 00.06% have more than 500. And most importantly, nobody can figure out which startup will be the freak that will grow quickly. Not a single business that has gone through an accelerator program over the last couple decades has become "high-growth", and generated tens of thousands of jobs.

In contrast, McDonalds started as a hot dog stand in 1937, and didn't start growing until eighteen years later. It was not built to be big, "high-growth", or even make hamburgers. Accelerator owners would have laughed at it.

Sara Blakely designed and started selling panty hose from her apartment because she didn't like the way her panty hose fit. In a few short years, Spanx became a billion dollar company without the help of an accelerator, or even a single penny of outside investment. And no one, including Sara Blakely, could have guessed it would become huge.

In 1996, two college kids started a company called Backrub on their college campus server. Three years later they moved out of their garage and renamed it Google, which lived in obscurity in the backwaters of the Internet for another couple years. These kids would have never survived the "pitch deck" process to get into an accelerator.

The accelerators never recognized these or any others like them, and the overwhelming evidence is they never do. The fact is, good ideas don't need to be coddled. 81 percent of the fastest growing businesses in America never took a dime of venture capital, and those that achieved the highest financial return also took no vc money. Not one of the fastest growing businesses in America on anyone's list over the last twenty years has come through an accelerator.

Throwing free money at accelerators in not an effective use of SBA funds. They would be better off lending it to small business owners with interest.

The Fairness Issue

The SBA was formed to help small business owners get interest-bearing loans, not to give free money to wealthy vc's. One recipient of the handout, the Arizona Center for Innovation, is owned by Tech Parks Arizona, which owns 5.2 million square feet of commercial office space producing over $100 million a year in revenue. Do they really need a government handout to make more money?

Just as questionable, many other grant recipients formed their accelerator in the last few months, possibly just to get the grant. Some don't have a website yet. Some haven't even opened. One is a rental kitchen that opens this month and will rotate chefs in their for-profit restaurant area. How is that "high growth"? With no track record at all, the SBA is throwing money at all these, no strings attached. It's mind-boggling and a terrible investment practice that no accelerator with integrity would support.

How does any of this giveaway make sense? This is crony-Industrialism, and an affront to the millions of small businesses slugging it out in the trenches, who are more deserving, but won't see a dime of this giveaway. The SBA has a lot of explaining to do.

by Chuck Blakeman, Author of the #1 Rated Business Book of the Year, Making Money is Killing Your Business and Top 10 business book, Why Employees Are Always A Bad Idea

www.ChuckBlakeman.com

Article as seen on Inc.com

Why Doesn’t Everyone Use the Incoterms® Rule DDP? Incoterms®, EXW, DDP

The Choice of Incoterms® Determines the Seller's Responsibilities

U.S. exporters must prevent their products from entering into a counties or markets which are prohibited by U.S. laws, or into the wrong hands for use of the product in a detrimental way. Exporters need to know and have trust in the purchaser.

At a recent workshop on Incoterms®, I prepared my usual outline, using the technique of ranking the Incoterms® from least responsibility for the seller to most responsibility for the seller. Initially, exporters like the term with least responsibility for them, Ex Works. In laymen’s terms, the seller says, “The goods are at my back door, come and get them.” As the workshop develops, exporters learn that Ex Works has risks, one being diversion into the wrong hands..

The Transaction may Determine the Choice of the Incoterms® Rule

A company in Colorado sent two employees to my workshop at the Rocky Mountain World Trade Center Institute. They dutifully took notes but made very few, if any, comments during the course of the class, until we got to the last Incoterm®, DDP (Delivered Duty Paid). Then one of them made a simple statement, “I don’t understand why everyone doesn’t use DDP.”

I responded, “Sir, with that comment, I know you understand Incoterms®.”

The DDP term places full responsibility on the exporter and very little on the importer. The exporter must jump through all the hoops and over all the hurdles including transportation and insurance to the buyer’s facility. This Incoterm® requires the seller to arrange for customs clearance on the buyer’s side.

Why the Incoterms® Rule DDP Was the Exporter's Preference

Why was this important to this company? They manufacture computer products that have the potential for misuse if the goods find their way into the wrong hands. Exporters need assurance that their products arrive at the intended destination and are only used for the purpose intended. By using DDP, the seller has complete control of the shipment to its destination and can avoid the possibility of diversion to unwanted parties or countries.

2 Years Later: A Look at Curiosity

"The first footfalls on Mars will mark a historic milestone, an enterprise that requires human tenacity matched with technology to anchor ourselves on another world"  - Buzz Aldren

August 6th, 2012 - One of the most ambitious space missions to date went into action.  The unmanned space rover, aptly named Curiosity, was set to land on Mars, all that was left was the trip.  After the "Seven Minutes of Terror," Curiosity was to begin its mission into the Martian wilderness.  Over the course of the two years, Curiosity has been active studying the Mars for signs of life and water, reporting diligently back to NASA.  Armed with cameras and a rock-vaporizing laser, Curiosity has been shooting and rocks and taking pictures for two years now, and we've learned some pretty astounding things.

Thanks to the intrepid rover, we have evidence that there was most likely once water on Mars.  We now know that life on Mars was possible given the history of the red planet, and we have an idea of where to search for it.  Among the many things that Curiosity has discovered on its extra-terrestrial mission, the biggest benefit from the rover may be a renewed interest in the space program.  From lego sets to t-shirts to its own Twitter handle, people are interested in what's going on on Mars.

Now, 2 years later, we get a look at what the time and elements have done to our beloved space-faring friend.  And maybe, just maybe, we can one day send someone up there to go meet our rover buddy and thank it for all it has done for us.

Connect & Collaborate - Sex Trafficking Awareness

The most horrific crimes, involving women and children are being committed under a cover of normalcy and ignorance. Human trafficking and sex trafficking victims are exploited and abused here in Denver and very few of us will ever notice. It takes place within a dirty game of manipulation, where victims pose as the girlfriends of their abusers. An incredibly organized structure pits women against women. Many "someones" are making loads of filthy, tainted money from the abuse and tears of the innocent. Denver's position at the intersection of two major interstate highways makes it a major hub for sex trafficking. Victims are found and made within a day or two of a teenager running away from home, or the moment a parent coerces their own child to perform sex acts for money, just this one time. They're hidden in plain sight, where hotels, massage businesses, even restaurants and nail salons serve as fronts for sex trafficking rings.

This week, Denver District Attorney Mitch Morrissey returns to Connect & Collaborate to discuss the troubling problem of sex trafficking, the challenges of prosecuting the criminals and assisting the victims. He introduces us to Becky Bullard, Project Director for the Denver Anti-Trafficking Alliance (DATA) who explains the complications of removing victims from their captors and exploiters.

It's an uncomfortable topic, for certain. We at ICOSA hope that by listening to this interview, our audience will be better able to identify these kinds of situations, and report suspicious circumstances to save a life or simply release a child from this horror. DATA does not suggest any citizen take these situations into their own hands, or confront the abusers. If you see something suspicious, contact the National Human Trafficking Hotline.

Training is available for businesses and organizations that may confront the effects of trafficking, such as school teachers, truck drivers, or anyone who works with children. To request training, go to www.DenverAlliance.org and click on Resources.

We thank you for taking this information seriously, and for your heart to make our community safer for everyone.

To learn more, listen Saturday at 1:00PM on KNUS 710 –  Please let us know what you think of our program, either by commenting here or on Facebook at Connect & Collaborate with ICOSA or join the discussion on Twitter @ICOSAMagazine.

Math Methods and Madness

I admit that I'm part of the problem. I'm lousy at math. Like many Americans, I can calculate basic equations (though it probably takes me longer than most) and do so accurately. But if I tried to solve problems that kids are given in school today, I would surely pull my hair out before getting any where close to a correct answer.

It's possible the reason American students are so far behind in math on a global scale, is because our school systems frequently change the methods, and then change them again. Worse yet, the methods or standards can change without enough investment in teaching the teacher to teach the new methods. That's according to a rather comprehensive, recent article from the New York Times; Why Do Americans Stink at Math?  by Elizabeth Green.

It's a lengthy article, but worth the read for it's insights, which I'll share, in part, here.

Author Elizabeth Green uncovers the problems with American Mathematics pedagogy by following the teaching career of Akihiko Takahashi from Tokoyo. As a University student, he met the man who would be his mentor, Takeshi Matsuyama, as he worked in the University affiliated elementary school.  His classroom was a sort of laboratory where they studied new teaching ideas. Together, they sought to revolutionize how students learn math by making radical changes in how teachers taught the subject. This included encouraging students to uncover the procedures, properties and proofs for themselves, by having passionate discussions about possible ways to find the answers, rather than focusing on rote memorization.

Hmm. That sounds much like the strategy behind today's Common Core initiatives, but we're not quite there yet.

As Takahashi investigated ways to reform math learning, he found that methods that most intrigued him, came from reformers in the United States. Throughout the next twelve years, Japanese education employed the vibrant, American approach to math. Takahashi also learned about the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics, an American organization and followed their efforts. When he was finally able to move to the U.S. to teach teach math, he was excited to work with other teachers as passionate about these ways of teaching learning as himself.  Imagine his surprise to discover none of those methods were being used in American schools.

As it happened, Americans had developed a new, effective way to teach math, and then failed to implement it. It wasn't the first time, nor the last. It happened in the 1960s with "new math" and then I heard about new math again in the late 80s and early 90s. Now Common Core standards are further refined and more ambitious, although there are limited, to no systems in place to educate teachers to teach them.

"...in practice, most teachers are unprepared and children are baffled, leaving parents furious"

This all emphasizes the recurring notion that traditional methods of teaching math don't work. Yet I learned them.

Today educators indicate innumeracy is the problem, similar to illiteracy in the language world - children simply aren't learning the math facts upon which all arithmetic problems are based. Studies point to student's inability to read an accurately drawn thermometer, or that students are confused by which is greater, 1/3 or 1/4. The default mistake assumes that the higher value denominator connotes greater worth. (It is this revelation that proves to me, I'm better at math than I ever believed!)

In summary, there are wonderful, innovative ways to teach math more effectively. But teachers can only teach effectively when they are given the tools and resources, and through instruction on how to employ those methods.

The article, which I encourage any parent or teacher to read, briefly mentions the Japanese practice of Lesson Study, which has been practiced on a small scale in the United States. ICOSA sponsor, the Colorado Business Roundtable sponsored a Lesson Study here in the Denver Public Schools. It entailed a group of teachers jointly observing one another's lessons in the classroom, critiquing the lesson and observing how the students learned from it. The teachers involved, reported a great deal of insight on their own lessons based on their team teacher's reactions, as well as learning more from other teacher's experiences. As a whole, educators who participate in lesson study, wholeheartedly recommend it's practice, even in acknowledging the extra work and time investment involved. If you'd like to learn more about Lesson Study, there are materials here, and videos of CObrt parent project here:

Business Insider Ranks Colorado #1

With states finally starting to recover economically, Business Insider decided to take a look at the numbers and see just how each state has grown over the past few years.  The metrics used ranged from last years GDP growth, percentage of unemployed citizens, to international exports, housing prices and even auto sales.  ICOSA is proud to report that, according to Business Insider, Colorado is number 1 on the list.

Highest on the list and highest in altitude

The list credits Colorado's wide range of industries as well as a 3.8% growth in GDP and an added 66,000 jobs.  Colorado came in just ahead of Utah, Arizona, Texas and California.

To see how other states ranked, check out the full Business Insider list.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

 

Johann Winks is the Assistant Port Director of Trade with U.S. Customs and Border Protection at the Area Port of Denver at Denver International Airport.  Winks recently meet with ICOSA and shared the following information and resources.

The department is responsible for guarding nearly 7000 miles of land border shared with Canada and Mexico.  Along with guarding nearly 2000 miles of coastal waters, as well as 9500 miles of maritime border in partnership with the U.S. Coast Guard.  They also secure and facilitate trade and travel.

Import specialists at customs can assist companies with understanding laws, regulations, quota restrictions and reduced rates of duty.  The U.S. Customs and Border Protection daily ensure U.S. regulations and laws.  The following list of four services/resources they offer is worth consideration.

The Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTS) classifies everything that comes into the United States.  HTC is a global classification system that is able to describe most comedies across the world.  It applies tariff rates and specific statistical categories to all merchandise coming into the United States.  More detailed information is provided at the U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s website; http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/trade/trade_programs/duty_rates/.

The Generalized System of Preferences is a U.S. trade program designed to promote economic growth in the developing world by providing duty free entry.  It covers 4800 products and benefits 129 countries and territories.  A list of these products can be found at; http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/trade/trade_programs/international_agreements/special_trade_programs/gsp_gen_system/.

Formal entry forms must be filed if merchandise coming into the U.S. is valued over $2,000 and a customs agent or airline should fill it out.  This form and several others can be found at; http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/toolbox/forms/.

Go to the local Customs and Border Protection office to find out what items are restricted to bring into the U.S. such as animals, animal bi-products, firearms, plants and embargoed items including artifacts from other countries, toys and children items.  Contact information can be found at; http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/toolbox/contacts/.

Related articles

• Head of U.S. Customs and Border Protection resigns (cnn.com)

Pathfinder Solutions

 

Community service industries such as Pathfinder Solutions are preparing to show a new work force how to get into the civil service/non-profit field of work.  This industry anticipates job opportunities will continue to open as the baby boomer generation retires.  Pathfinder Solutions is building a bridge to connect the right talent with the civil service industry.

Alexandra Mitchell is co-founder and president of Pathfinder Solutions.  Pathfinder Solutions principle goal is cultivating a diverse civil service workforce.  Mitchell related to ICOSA that 1.5 million people work in the civil service industry which is about 10 percent of the national workforce.

Dr. Jeff Pryor, co-founder and CEO of Pathfinder Solutions has decades of experience in philanthropy.  Pryor served for 20 years as the Executive Director of the Anschutz Family Foundation.  Both Pryor and Mitchell believe civil service organizations need to equally spend time developing and inviting talented individual into the industry.

Pathfinder Solutions is a 15 member, team based consulting firm.  They work on projects, with each member bringing their unique skill-sets.  At the forefront is the Talent Develop Inititive Project in Colorado which inspires individuals to consider working in the civil service industry.  Other states are invited to participate in this project.  Currently Pathfinder Solutions is partnering with the National Council on Nonprofits.  People interested should contact their state nonprofit association and mention the Talent Develop Inititive.

Another Pathfinder Solutions project is with the University of Mongolia in China.  They have asked Pathfinder Solutions to develop a non-profit degree program which will offer a certificate or master’s degree.  A symposium has also been proposed for companies, funders and non-profits focusing on non-profits within China.

For more information, visit; www.pathfindersolutions.org or email [email protected] or [email protected].

http://www.icosa.co/magazine/looking-for-jane-goodall

Spherical Phil Lawson

 

Phil Lawson is the founder and CEO of Spherit Inc. Spherit is a company that looks at the whole of a complex issue and makes sense of it.   Through an online questioner system a chart is created that reports the shape and pattern of a company.  One element the chart produces is staff ability for example is an employee ability being fully used.   The application that does this is called Sphere and it has countless applications.  It can also be used in the areas of health, personal relationships and individual career goals.  The purpose of the application is to assist in navigating to the best possible outcome.

Lawson is also the author.  Being Spherical — Reshaping Our Lives and Our World for the 21st Century is a book about navigating through change.  Lawson co-authored, It's Going to be OK (but not like we thought), “A story about absolute certainty, confounding bewilderment and an inescapable transformation,” says Lawson.

For more information, visit; www.engagesphere.com

How to Build Courage, Character and Confidence in Girls―the Girl Scouts

 

The Girl Scouts Women of Distinction are committed to increasing the impact of the Girl Scouts by volunteering and financial giving.  Leaders are chosen by their dedication of service and leadership.  This year’s Girl Scouts Women of Distinction is Faye Wilson Tate.

Fay Wilson Tate is the vice president and director for Global Diversity and Inclusion at CH2M HILL.  CH2M HILL is a global engineering consulting firm.

The Girl Scouts’ program has played a role in Tate’s community stewardship as she was a Girl Scout herself.  The Girl Scouts also teach respect, teamwork, friendship and inclusion.

2012, is the Girl Scouts’ 100^th anniversary.  And as so Girl Scouts Colorado has named 100 Colorado Girl Scouts, Generation WOW!  The Generation WOW honor is given to girls who have exhibited a high level of volunteer achievement and made significant contributions to their community; demonstrated strong leadership skills; participated in a service learning project; promoted healthy attitude, both in mind and body; demonstrated exceptional interpersonal skills in teamwork, conflict resolution and goal setting; and embody the Girl Scout Promise and Law.

The Girl Scouts’ impact on girls and youth is endlessly positive with several girls being able to articulately share their Girl Scout learning experiences.  This is evident in Generation WOW girls―Kaycee Bischoff and Cristina Trimpe and all of Girl Scout troop 4145.

To be part of the Girl Scouts and this up-coming centennial year visit, www.girlscouts.com.

Related articles

• Girl Scouts Declares 2012 the Year of the Girl (prnewswire.com)

National District Export Council and Export University

 

Daniel Ogden is chair of both the National District Export Council (DEC), and the National DEC Trade Policy Committee. He is a former vice-chair of the North Texas DEC and has been involved in DEC since 2005.  He is an attorney specializing in international exporting which includes intellectual property and export compliance.

The National District Export Council is comprised of 16 DEC members who are elected from individual DECs to the National Steering Committee.  The National Steering Committee supports DEC in mentoring, educating and legislative affairs.  Their bottom line is creating U.S. exports.

Companies first starting out in exports to medium sized enterprises use DEC to increase profits through exporting.

With the vitalization of Export University, DEC’s will play a part in developing a premiere, quality export curriculum with uniformity available across the U.S.  Export University will teach financing, logistics, sales and marketing, etc.

Currently Export University is looking for sponsors, visit http://www.exporttexas.com/ds/become.asp for more information.

To learn more about the District Export Council visit, www.districtexportcouncil.com.

Export University will have a new website late January 2012, and currently has a basic site at; http://www.exportuniversity.com.

To contact Daniel Ogden visit; www.internationaltradeattorney.com or email him at [email protected]

Related articles

• U.S. Exports Hit Nearly $180 Billion in October (prnewswire.com)

Lew Cramer: Go Global, Go Big, or Go Out of Business.

Lew Cramer, president and chief executive officer of the World Trade Center Utahknows that if you are not internationally minded, you will go out

of business.  Lew Cramer knows this from his extensive background in exporting which includes;

1. Director general of the U.S. Commercial Service; directing the activities of 1,400 commercial officers at over 150 embassies worldwide, as well as in 65 offices throughout the United States,
2. US WEST International developing major telecommunications projects in 30 plus countries,
3. White House Fellow, as a Deputy Assistant Commerce Secretary, and as the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for International Trade,
4. Practiced corporate law in Los Angeles and in the San Francisco Bay area,
5. Taught at the business schools of the University of Southern California and Georgetown University,
6. Honors graduate of the charter class of the Brigham Young University Law School.

Utah has doubled exports over the past five years, and World Trade Center Utah played a key role in making that happen.  There are a number of ways they have accomplished this such as applying for grants, hosting events, pushing exporting, etc.  Collaboration is one method the World Trade Center Utah boosts exporting.  WTC-Utah collaborates with the U.S. Department of Commerce, business chambers, universities, economic development agencies, and business.  Collaboration is one of Utah’s strengths.  World Trade Center Utah believes in building with what you got so to get the word out that they successfully assist companies in growing businesses by means of exporting they do by connecting and building partnerships.

The World Trade Center Utah provides businesses with resources and tools and through exporting create profits and jobs by expanding businesses into new territories.

The World Trade Center Utah emphasizes international exporting is not that hard and once you learn it, it’s easy.  An attitude of “we can export” makes a difference.  C-level executives must set that tone.  Businesses must be global.  Exporting is not all about outsourcing but selling American made products/services to another country.

The World Trade Center Utah’s #1 export is metals for example gold and cooper.  China is the near west to Utah and so China is their #2 location to export to.

For more information, visit; www.wtcut.com.

Related articles

• Utah's economy driven by exports ()
• Import Export Center to Host Networking Event in NY on December 8th (prweb.com)

Export University

The Export University program in Hawaii gets small businesses up and going out of their comfort zone and home bias.  Home bias is only doing business with people in your market area or next door.  Export University takes a business into new markets by diversifying customers and making businesses more competitive.  Export University is open to mainland companies. The courses offered at Export University are beginning exporting 101, yet well-established exporters still find relevance in taking the course so any beginning, intermediate or experienced exporter has only to gain for attending a course.  The courses are instructed by John Holman and Steve Green.  Businesses who have taken part in Export University are in agriculture to law―a gamut of exporting good are covered.  Courses are taught by skillful experts in in exporting.  Resources such as experts in shipping such as FedEx and lawyers answer FAQ’s about exporting.

Courses range from $70.00-$150.00 and typically are two-four days.  Exporting workbooks and a basic guide to exporting are included.  Scholarships are available to those who qualify.  Portions of the cost are paid by the attendee with the remainder being paid by the department of agriculture and other companies invested in the exporting business.

Lesley Harvey is the Project Director for the Hawaii Pacific Export Council, Export University Program and holds a master’s degree in Economics, specializing in International Economics. Having helped to secure grant funding for this program, she also helped to develop the materials and construct the curriculum for the HPEC Export University.

Steve Craven is an international business consultant in Honolulu known for his former radio show, now a blog, called “Business Beyond The Reef.”  Some may know him from his days with the U.S. Commercial Service in places like Washington, DC, Taiwan, Germany, Singapore, Austria, Slovakia - and exotic Denver. He currently chairs the Hawaii Pacific Export Council (HPEC), an expert advisory committee appointed by the U.S. Secretary of Commerce.

For more information, visit;

Website: www.globalexportsupport.com,

Blog: www.kekepana.com/blog,

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/groups/Hawaii-Pacific-Export-Council-3995575,

Facebook: www.facebook.com/pages/Hawaii-Pacific-Export-Council/121212024630310.

Related articles

• Import Export Center to Host Networking Event in NY on December 8th (prweb.com)

Technology Solutions Company iGivefirst

Technology solutions company iGivefirst facilitates donations to charitable organizations.  Sharif Youssef is the founder and CEO, of Giving Tools, Inc.  iGivefirst is a tool of Giving Tools and a for-profit professional fundraising company focused on philanthropy.  They are based in Denver, Colorado and have a national reach.

Using technology solutions reduces fundraising costs for nonprofits.   Nonprofits that use the iGivefirst button are able to redirect their work focus.   Not only is the charity’s end of the process made easier but donations can be made with a simple click—similar to the Facebook like button making the giving process easier.  They also centralize tax reporting to give the charity one receipt.

Technology solutions are needed because in the United States three billion dollars are donated a year to charity.  75 percent of that comes from donations that on average come in as $60.00 increments.  That is roughly 230 billion a year.  And only eight percent of the three billion comes from online donations.  Youssef, explains this is in part due to three online problems, donations online are not easy, trustworthy or secure.  iGivefirst.com solves these problems by having a 256 bit-encryption and taking on the donation receiving process.

Technology solutions will increase the eight percent of online donations to charities.  Through iGivefirst, Youssef would looks forward to increasing the eight percent online figure to 50 percent.

Media companies, bloggers and other digital media publishers can put their GIVE button on their websites. iGivefirst is currently open to partnership with nonprofits.  Having publishers add the iGivefirst icon to articles for readers to take the next step and donate is what they are reaching for.

For more information on iGivefirst, visit; www.igivefirst .com

Related articles

• Tis The Season for Giving (socyberty.com)

Colorado Gives Day, The Nonprofit & The Success Story.

Colorado Gives Day is hosted by FirstBank and the Community First Foundation.  The two dedicated collaborators, Marla J. Williams, president and CEO of Community First Foundation and Jim Reuter, executive vice president of FirstBank has set 2011’s goal of exceeded last year’s total distribution of $8.7 million.  Ever wonder how your donation supports the community?  Here are two nonprofits with one their many of their success stories.

The Nonprofit

Rocky Mountain MicroFinance Institute Development Director and Co-Founder Stacey Saggese provide low income entrepreneurs with learning, lending and coaching.  Figuring out the right timing paired with resources such as capita and loans is RMMFI best service.

The Success Story

Radiant Gardens owner Rebecca Dolan participated in RMMFI’s boot camp where she solidified the unique structure within Radiant Gardens and now not only maintains a profit but has four employees and contractors.

The Nonprofit

YouthBiz Executive Director Sonya Garcia Ulibarri work provides youth with the benefits of advancement in community, education and business.  YouthBiz’s future entrepreneurship project plans to take youth step by step from an hourly job, to salary, to business ownership.

The Success Story

Phill Douglas a former YouthBiz graduate and now program coordinator works with a diversified group of youth including those whom he is guiding through and hopefully past gang membership through helping them focus on better avenues in life such as college.

For information on how you can donate visit; www.givingfirst.org.

Related articles

• Innovation and Job Creation (theicosamagazine.com)

Bruce DeBoskey

Bruce DeBoskey is a Colorado-based Philanthropic Advisor, helping businesses to develop philanthropic strategies.

He gave up a career as a successful trial lawyer for 25 years to focus on giving. As Bruce describes, he was going to battle each day for things that only mattered to the people involved, until he decided he wanted to be involved in something with a broader impact.

Now he encourages businesses to to connect their core competencies in their giving. It is advice that all of us can use when it comes to our holiday giving.

WHY WE GIVE All donors need a strategy for their giving, and it should be something in line with what we value. The place to start is your reason for giving; is it theologically based? For ego gratification? Or to create a legacy, so that the things you care about can continue? If you are considering your business' philanthropy, consider your goal. Are you giving to engage employees, to gain customer loyalty or satisfy shareholders? Realize that pleasing shareholders is a legitimate concern for a business. After all, while we all recognize that philanthropy is for the greater good, business is business to make a profit so it is reasonable to invest in your community, your customers, your supply chain to both improve your surroundings and your bottom line. Likewise, unless you can provide evidence to your shareholders that the company's charitable giving impacts the bottom line, you have failed your fiduciary duty.

HOW WE GIVE

The options for making charitable contributions are innumerable.

One way to narrow things down is a Giving Circle. ( http://www.givingcircles.org/) There are 800 Giving Circles in the United States and about a dozen in Colorado alone. The Giving Circle is a way to come together and make a greater impact by researching topics and investing with others.

Families can determine their giving as a part of their holiday traditions. DeBoskey suggests looking around your home to determine if you and your children have enough stuff. If you find that you do, consider foregoing a holiday gift exchange and pool the money you would otherwise spend and give it to a worthy cause. Make it a family discussion of your values and determine what cause becomes a part of your family mission.

Bruce DeBoskey writes about giving at The Denver Post in his weekly column "On Philanthropy". You can learn more about philanthropy with a purpose at www.deboskeygroup.com.

Cristin Tarr

Salt Lake City Windustrial

 

Salt Lake City Windustrial established in 1968, and today is under the umbrella and guidance of WinWholesale Inc., a leading national supplier of domestic and industrial supplies and materials headquartered in Dayton, Ohio.  WinWholesale is on the Forbes list of America’s largest privately-held companies. Their local wholesale employees receive in the benefits of their partial ownership.

Today Windustrial is in 43 states with more than 450 locally owned and operate Win companies under the following names;  Winnelson, Winair, Winlectric, Windustrial, Wintronic, Winwater and Winsupply.

Windustrial focuses on the local economy providing services to local customers while at the same time having the advantage of international buying power such as sourcing products out of Germany and Switzerland.  The benefit of having local companies is the ability of meet local needs.  The corporate umbrella with local ownership makes Windustrail the supplier of choice.  The Salt Lake City branch has a family atmosphere and profit share program so the harder an employee works, the better they are compensated.  Retaining employees allows the company to keep a personal connection through employee/customer relationships.  Windustrial sees customers as partners with the goal of meeting customer’s need economically, quickly and accurately.  Windustrial pulls together to provide the best service.

Windustrail also recommends problem solving products to customers.  They reach out to both engineers and industry firms to generate projects.  They continually seek new opportunities to provide their services.  To contact Salt Lake City Windustrial, visit their website at; www.saltlakewindustrial.com.

Sustainable Energy in the U.S. Military

The United States military recognizes the need for sustainable energy.  In August the Army established the Energy Initiatives Office Task Force to develop renewable energy projects and improve energy security.  This is a concern because providing energy to remote military locations is dangerous as well as the possibility of the military communications being offline.  In fact one of eight army causalities is a result of protecting fuel convoys.  New energy technology can save lives, money and the environment.  In Iraq from 2003 to 2007, 3,000 people died protecting fuel convoys.  The fuel is used to run generators which provide electricity for communications.  The end cost is $40.00 per gallon which includes all aspects of getting the fuel to remote locations. One reduction to using fuel is providing solar panels that are easily rolled up into an individual’s backpack.  On base solar panels can be mounted on trailers.  The Department of Defense is interested in micro-grids to provide electricity to the military in an energy crisis.  As new energy products are provided and/or developed both by the military and business, most importantly lives will be saved.

For further reading please, visit: http://rmenergyblog.blogspot.com.

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The Global Forefront of the New Energy Economy

Colorado is at the global forefront of the new energy economy.  Foreign delegates visit the National Renewable Energy Lab and Engines & Energy Conversion Laboratory to see cutting edge energy development.  Creating collaborative agreements develops relationships between Colorado organizations and foreign delegates.  Brian Wilson with EECL develops energy solutions for engines, smart grids, smart businesses and biofuels.  Through research to producing products EECL makes impacts on the environment for example developing pipeline technology.  This technology’s impact is the equivalent to 120 million automobiles removed from the highway.  The Envirofit program at EECL has produced 350,000 cook stoves which has improved the lives of two million people.  Business and other organizations can partner with EECL and Envirofit by visiting www.envirofit.org.

Boosting the demand for clean energy through engaging firms in forums to build partnerships is one focus of NREL.  Partnership activities include multilateral and bilateral partnerships, climate and environmental initiatives and energy assessments. Five barriers to clean energy are policy, new energy technology implementation, standardizing, reducing costs and infrastructure.  NREL works with several entities to solve these issues.  To inquire about partnerships contact the tech transfer office, at: www.nrel.gov/international.

Expansive Education Transformation

 

Allan Jones, president of Emaginos Inc. focuses on changing K-12 education.  Changing the course of public education takes more than reforms.  Reforms are not creating the best benefits in public schools.  The NCEE reported globally we are in the middle or bottom of the middle tier of rankings for having successful K-12 education.  The best practices in transforming public education are:

1. Creating stronger teacher unions
2. Viewing teachers as the solution not the problem
3. The Federal government needs to set the priorities
4. Equity needs to go to the best preforming schools.

Charter schools are an asset in proving innovations.  Only 17 percent of charter schools are successful and those schools should be studied for best practices.

Ignoring public schools have efficiency issues will result in people unable to find jobs.  Extinct jobs are not coming back and schooling can’t get in the way of education.  Schools should focus 80 percent on problem solving and 20 percent on learning facts.

Tracy Learning Centers use hands on applications developed by Emaginos Inc. and have a one percent dropout rate and zero percent teacher turnover.  Their learning models are scalable to public schools.  They help students become active, independent learners.  For more information, visit: http://thepowerofus.org.

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