20101213-NEWS--16-NAT-CCI-CL_--
12/9/2010
3:07 PM
Page 1
16 CRAIN’S CLEVELAND BUSINESS
WWW.CRAINSCLEVELAND.COM
DECEMBER 13 - 19, 2010
SMALL BUSINESS
Giving: Partnerships help spread word about nonprofits’ causes continued from PAGE 13
Beecology should be made. Mr. Rzepka is far from alone in his philanthropic efforts among the small business community. According to a study released last month by Ernst & Young and the Fidelity Charitable Gift Fund, 89% of entrepreneurs donate money, both personally and through their companies. In fact, 62% feel that giving back makes their companies more successful in the long run, and 26% even incorporate philanthropy into their companies’ business plans.
One such entrepreneur is Deb Mills-Scofield, who has made philanthropy a central part of the way she conducts business. So much so, it’s the policy of her Oberlin-based consulting practice, Mills-Scofield LLC, that any client of the firm must match and donate 10% of Ms. Mills-Scofield’s consultancy fee. Clients can give to the cause of their choice, and some donate more than is asked. Mills-Scofield client giving this year has amounted to $12,000, plus in-kind donations. Over the past nine years, cash and in-kind donations have totaled $250,000.
“I’m willing to help you grow … as long as you’re willing to help someone along the way,” said Ms. Mills-Scofield, who also donates 10% of her personal income to charity.
A win-win Beth Darmstadter, director of development for The Gathering Place, a cancer wellness and support center with locations in Westlake and Beachwood, said there are many benefits derived from partnerships between small businesses and nonprofits. “People want to give back to companies that are not just
making money off them,” she said. “It’s really a win-win model.” During The Gathering Place’s last fiscal year, which ended June 30, 6.7% of the organization’s donated revenue came from external fundraisers, which include small businesses. That number was more than double what had been anticipated, and the hope is that it will exceed those levels during the current fiscal year. Of course, the benefits are not just monetary. “The more we have relationships with community businesses, the more they help spread the word”
A SECOND OPINION SAVED US *
about The Gathering Place, said Ms. Darmstadter. One of the small businesses lending support to The Gathering Place is VanityLab Salon Spa Shop in Westlake, which recently added an onsite local artisan jewelry collection under the name Sparkle Jewelry. Sparkle features the work of more than 50 local artists, and a portion of the proceeds, along with a match from Sparkle, support an area nonprofit. Contributions currently are benefiting The Gathering Place. VanityLab owner Angie Hofelich said sometimes it can be a challenge to juggle the many requests for donations. “They all think you just have extra money to give,” she said. While she might respond to such requests with in-kind donations such as makeover passes, Ms. Hofelich tends to focus her efforts on specific local organizations like The Gathering Place or the Northeast Ohio Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, to which VanityLab already has donated $5,000 to $6,000. “Find something that you believe in and have an organized approach,” she said. “Give what you can give.”
Every little bit counts
TIMES ARE TOUGH, BUT WE’RE STILL GOING, and a Citizens Bank Second Opinion helped us get there. After examining every aspect of our business, a Citizens Banker found ways we could save more money, be more efficient – for our business and personal accounts. Make time to meet with a Citizens Banker. To schedule your Citizens Bank Second Opinion, CALL 800-946-2264 or go online to CITIZENSBANKING.COM/OPINION.
* Results may vary depending on your business situation.
For entrepreneurs like Valerie Mayen — best known by some for her appearance on Season 8 of “Project Runway” — it’s no doubt a challenge to nurture a young business while staying committed to philanthropy. But “doing well by doing good” is a mantra that Ms. Mayen takes to heart. The designer — who currently lives and works in a 2,000-squarefoot loft space in Cleveland — has made the commitment to donate 5% of the profits from Yellowcake, her fashion line. She likes to base her donations on need, going to causes such as the City Mission and those that fight hunger and homelessness. “The need is now … the growth of my business isn’t as pressing,” she said. “I’m still able to pay my bills; I’m still able to eat; I’m still able to enjoy my life.” Ms. Mayen gives anywhere from $120 to $300 a month when sales are consistent. Certainly, she said she would like to eventually be able give more as her business grows. Gina and Ed Trebets of Chesterland — who recently launched their own wine label, Muddy Paw — also included a plan to give back when developing the concept for their product, inspired by their 8-year-old rescue dog and 1-year-old yellow Lab. A portion of the wines’ proceeds — currently at least $1 from each bottle — benefit the Geauga County Humane Society Rescue Village, an organization that Ms. Trebets said does not euthanize and that accepts all types of animals. There’s a business benefit, too, the Trebets admit. People who love animals are drawn to the label and the cause. “It’s rewarding to be able to see your profits and hard work go to good,” Ms. Trebets said. Ms. Darmstadter of The Gathering Place couldn’t agree more on the positive effect that small businesses can have. “No matter how small you are, it all comes together to do big things,” she said. ■