Given below is a mythological story from Japan about the beauty of giving to others and it tells us how we can receive the most perfect gifts when we’re giving and grateful of what we own.

This is the folk tale.

Once upon a time, there lived a young farmer of very modest means. Whatever he tried to do did not find fruition and he always remained penniless. He was completely broke without any money, without any food and with no relatives. So one night, totally despondent, he went to a temple and sat near the altar begging the Gods to show him a way.

“I have always been truthful and assiduous, but all my industry never resulted in anything good for me. What did I do wrong?”

He slept at the feet of the deity after having put that question. In the morning, just as he woke up, one of the Gods of his dream appeared before him enveloped in a brilliant golden light. The voice of the God resounded in his mind.

“After you wake up in the morning, value that which you have in your hand and keep giving it fully to others as you move forward,” the God told him.

The farmer was brimming with questions when he woke up but he tried to shake off his sleep and clear his mind of the strange but clear dream he had. However, he saw a bit of a straw in his hand. It must have remained on his clothes while he worked in his fields.

He nearly dropped it to the ground, but stopped for a moment remembering what the God said. He sat down again. And looked at the straw.

He sat still for a long time thinking what this meant. He had no clue why a piece of straw can be of any value to him. Then he saw a wasp flying around. It eventually landed on the tip of the straw. He caught the wasp and tied it to the straw with a piece of thread from his clothes. Now with a piece of straw with a flying wasp at the end, off he went on the path.

He had proceeded only a bit when he saw a woman and her child coming from the opposite direction. The child was crying. When he wished them, the boy saw the straw in the farmer’s hand with a wasp dangling at the end. The child was curious and asked the farmer if he could have it. He was about to refuse when he remembered how God had told him to cherish what he had and also at the same time to give to others what he had. So he offered the straw to the child. The mother became happy since the child stopped crying because of the gift. In return for the straw the lady gave the man three tangerines.

The man continued on his way. After a while he started feeling hungry and wanted to eat one of the tangerines. But he stopped short of doing it and remembered that he had to gift things to others, not give it to himself.

The farmer was going over a steep hill and on the way he saw a merchant sitting under a tree. The man had a wooden box near him. The farmer wished the man. He appeared to be very tired. He saw the tangerines the farmer held and asked him if he would give it to him. The merchant told the farmer that he was very thirsty.

The farmer was also equally thirsty as the day was hot and he had walked pretty long, still he gave all the three tangerines to the trader. The man ate all the three tangerines and felt fully energized. He felt very thankful to the farmer who was so kind. To show his gratitude, he opened the box that he had kept near him. The box contained several bolts of hand dyed silk. The trader took out one roll, gifted it to the farmer and left.

The farmer walked again and continued on the same path. After a while he found a river from which he drank water. He felt recharged. He went forward with more energy and a feeling of ease.

He walked for some more time but did not come across anyone else. He felt that the silk might be that which would bring him something good. So he chose to go to a town in the vicinity and trade the fabric.

And just when he turned the corner, he saw a group of warriors. One of the warriors who seemed to be the leader was standing by a horse lying on the ground. The farmer heard the voice of the warrior talking to his followers.

“This horse would not last long. We just have to leave it. Just take care of it and catch up.” He jumped up on another horse and galloped off disappearing out of sight.

The fighters who remained there conferred among themselves as to what to do. They had no interest in putting it to death but there was no other option. Finally one of them drew the sword.

The farmer pleaded with them not to do that. He said he was ready to look after the animal. He said they can have the bolt of silk for letting him care for the horse. They agreed to the deal and left the place quickly.

Now the farmer stood there with a dying horse. He thought he might have made a mistake that after all he was not meant to be wealthy. Then he remembered something. There was the stream he’d just passed.

He made his way to the river and once there stripped off his shirt and dipped it in water to be able to feed the horse. He made his way back to the horse again and fed it by squeezing out the water into its mouth. After the water trickled in for a while, the horse reacted and soon became conscious. The farmer was then able to pull it up and make it stand.

Once the horse could stand, the farmer was able to take it to the river. The horse drank directly from the river and the farmer also led it to the patches of grass nearby. Very soon the animal was rejuvenated.

So now the farmer owned the horse! The man and the animal traveled together, and the farmer had to run as the horse led the way. They traveled together for miles. Finally, as the sun was setting, the horse came to a halt in front of a big house. The animal pushed the farmer towards the gate when he finally drew level with it.

As the farmer approached the gate, the doors swung open and to his surprise, an old man appeared. The old man was rushing outside and was looking a little pale. He noticed the farmer and the horse standing by the gate.

The old man asked the farmer what it was that he needed. The farmer said that he wanted a place where he could sleep at night. The old man queried the farmer if he would mind looking after the house till his return as he had to leave for the nearby town on a pressing matter. He also said that it might take some time for him to return.

As the old man seemed to be in a hurry, the farmer offered him the horse. The old man appreciated the generous offer and took off with the horse. As he was leaving, he said something peculiar to the farmer.

“If I do not return within three years, this house is yours.”

As you probably guessed, the old man never returned.

So the farmer lived happily ever after in the old man’s big house with kind-hearted neighbours around and a land rich in good crops. He always kept in mind the rule that he should give to others what he had.

I am grateful to you for reading this story. And how did you feel about it?

Maybe there is a key to something. When we can turn our ‘getting game’ into a ‘giving game’, our life often flows bringing more abundance. But it is not always easy to practice the old wisdom in our real life.

Given below are the remarkable factors that we can glean from the story:

* When we are willing to provide what others want, their value for it enhances more than when we are trying to ‘barter’ it (as mostly we hope to get something out of it) since they compare the price with what we expect for it and would obviously pay less.

* When we are not possessive of whatever we have, we will perceive that we thereby have more chances as we can release the existing possessions.

* When life seems to deal us a bad hand, instead of focusing on the problem if instead we focused on giving and caring, life seems to end up bringing better luck later.

* If we try to turn into cash what we have accumulated, because of the conviction that “this is all it would get” thinking that if we do not encash it, we will lose, our life will stand still. Instead, why don’t we keep on giving more and more irrespective of what we have or whether we are actually rich or not.

Giving is intrinsic in the lives of many who have made it to the top. When giving is done first, we are better able to lead a life of grandeur, comfort and glory.

Find out more about how Buy1GIVE1 (BOGO) can transform your business using Cause Marketing.

When the financial market is in chaos all across the world, people consider clinging on to whatever they have and also reduce expenses. And they think that everybody does so, mainly because newspapers proclaim as such.

However, each and every person ISN’T doing so. There are sections of the society which prosper, come what may. Those, who feel surprised about this odd equation, can find the clue for it in a most obvious place where they might have missed it. It might be worthwhile to analyse it together.

Whenever there is a downward trend, whatever it is, the best way to overcome it is by rising higher than it. If we drift with the wind and go where it takes us, we might find ourselves in dire straits, waiting for the wind’s mercy for deliverance.

The truth is that when we know how to steer ourselves and be our own masters, we will able to stay afloat or swim against the current, come what may. Let us see how we can manage it.

‘Go-getters’ or ‘Go-givers’

Let’s say we want more – more profits, a pay raise, more holidays, more freedom, and more opportunities.

When we yearn for a thing, our response is to try to get it. By that yardstick everybody is a ‘Go-getter’. And a ‘go-getter’ is understood as a dynamic, enterprising person with leadership qualities. Such an attitude is a prime requirement for succeeding in life as we understand it. Nevertheless, there is an innate conundrum. When these approaches are put into practice, there are certain unanticipated, though unavoidable upshots.

The gist of the matter is that after ‘getting’ and ‘possessing’ it we tend to ‘get rid of’ it. We might actually jettison it or might become apathetic to the whole idea.

And when we are tired of one thing we concentrate on getting something new. And these fresh cravings never end. The more we go in search of newer things, the wider the chain of desire that makes us continuously yearn for things. It simply becomes an addiction!

Why don’t we turn our ‘getting’ into contributing?

Most of you are aware that the act of providing gives a sense of fulfillment. This ensues from gratefulness and not from panic or avarice. A person can go on providing more and receive more and know full satisfaction in the voyage of life.

Our abundant and providing attitude creates abundant and providing clients and team mates while our cost awareness and ‘getting approach’ would draw towards us only similar clients and team mates. And those are the type of people we would not like to be friends with!

Creative capitalism

Many businesses see this now. They are now starting to give more and more in various ways. There’s a veritable ’sea-change’ going on as more people ‘get’ the role that giving can play in their business. Bill Gates is a class example. In a July 2008 lead article in TIME Magazine he referred to it as ‘Creative Capitalism’.

He opined that the idea of providing for others could become a crucial factor in encouraging people to buy one product rather than another.

The essence of what he says is that when a business has ties with the idea of giving in one way or other, it is bound to be more tempting to others. It stands out above thousand businesses the attributes of which are similar.

Creative Capitalism is about rising above what we reluctantly settle for to reach what we truly aspire to. When we can capitalise on our ideas and imagination in a way that benefits and nurtures the wider community and network; we stop wasting our resources, efforts and talents in trying to temporarily win. We start creating the real win for ourselves and for the sustainability of our global economy.

The appeal of effective giving

Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is the phrase that’s often used to describe giving back at a corporate level. It’s becoming almost a required part of corporate business practice. Yet when it’s done out of a sense of obligation or with the intent to just make ourselves look good, people eventually get what it is. It still is a temporary strategy.

However, ‘giving’ people and businesses always attract more. The passions and beliefs behind what they do are shared with the people with whom they connect. They attract something beyond what the slick PR or marketing campaign provides.

So, what happens if we allocate some of the marketing budget to go toward giving?

From the act of giving rises something that transcends us. The act of contributing results in revelation. And this revelation ensues only when it reverberates across those whom we want to arouse. And we are aroused when we become part of the happening totally. We cannot be satisfied with the narratives that are passed on to us. Those tales have to be lived in. in the end it is human nature to yearn for the satisfaction of making our own donation – to our kith and kin and organizations and society.

Transaction-based giving causes it to happen on its own

A far better atmosphere for donating has become possible because of an idea (or we can call it a ‘phenomenon’) by the name Buy1GIVE1 (Buy One Give One). Buy1GIVE1 is the abode of transaction-based giving. Transaction-based giving overhauls everything. Let us put to use our resourcefulness and decide why.

For example, imagine if every time you had a cup of coffee at your favourite cafe, a child in Africa automatically got access to pure, clean water for one day?

Imagine if every time you subscribed to a magazine you love, a tree got planted automatically just because you bought the magazine? Or every time you dine out, you fed a child in need? Automatically again.

Consider the scenario of someone attending a coaching session. It would be commendable if someone who needs similar coaching would get it as a direct consequence (and just at the cost of not more than 60 cents for the day’s coaching).

Or if a conference sponsors has arranged a speaker, part of whose income goes to help kids who has speech impediments due to deformities, wouldn’t that be a matter to feel satisfied? Just by attending the conference and paying for it, you are becoming part of a noble cause.

Imagine the perfect scenario where transaction-based giving can be applied in one’s own special manner to correspond with the available products and services to include every member of the group and customers. It is possible.

The economy where all benefits

As of now, enterprises all across the world are realising the power of transaction-based giving. TESCO, one of the better known supermarket chains of UK, has correlated its sales in such a way that when someone buys a pair of school trousers from them, a child in Kenya gets a school uniform.

The Mineral Water Company known as Volvic is one that has followed swiftly in this transaction-based giving program. They connect their water selling to well digging in Africa and call it Buy1 GIVE 10, because when one litre of water is sold, the money that comes from it helps in making a 10 litres flow in the well that is being dug.

Small to medium sized companies are now starting to take leadership in expanding this global giving movement through Creative Capitalism. Buy1GIVE1 (www.b1g1.com), a Singapore-based Social Enterprise came up with a mechanism that has turned this transaction-based giving into something every one of us can be involved in.

Buy1GIVE1 is the home of the most impactful transaction-based giving in the world because it connects any business of any size to any cause in the world. It’s creating a global community of business givers and for SME`s, Buy1GIVE1 connects businesses, their customers AND charities in a way that hasn’t been done before. And it all happens automatically.

You can become a citizen of this global giving movement by simply getting a Buy1GIVE1 `VISA` directly off the Buy1GIVE1 site at www.b1g1.com. And if you own a business you can become a B1G1 Business through a simple online application and select your cause for your main product or service to kick-start you’re giving. Buy1GIVE1 forwards 100% of the contributions to their international Worthy Cause Partners (there are now over 528 projects you can select) making the giving even more effective.

Are you aware?

* Half the population of the globe -about three billion people-is forced to survive on less than two dollars a day.

* Even when the new millennium dawned there were still almost a billion people who were illiterate.

* According to UNICEF, 30,000 children die each day due to poverty. That is about 210,000 children each week, or 20 children every minute.

* A mere 12 percent of the world’s population uses 85 percent of its water; and these 12 percent do not live in the Third World.

* About a billion people have no access to minimum health care facilities.

* Rainforests of about 63,000 sq. miles get destroyed every year.

Data From Global Issues

Buy1GIVE1 Businesses- take a look at these examples

* Buy1BUILD1 (www.sunsplashhomes.com, www.arkgroup.com.au)

* Learning to learning (www.kipmcgrath.com.au)

* Medical practice providing healthcare (www.primanora.com)

* Phone card to human interaction (www.ultimatecomms.com)

* Relaxation to healing (www.meditate.com.au)

* Losing weight to feeding children (www.bodychain.com)

* Blind installation to lighting up schools (www.blindscouture.com.au)

* Socks for protecting feet from frostbite (www.socksforhappypeople.com)

* Coaching to educate social entrepreneurs (www.b1g1forcoaches.com)

* And for full details, just log on to www.b1g1.com.

Finding what we are looking for-Nature gives us the clue

So let’s come back to where we started-economic turmoil and getting what we want. What we all really want is actually very simple. You can sum it up with ‘C’ words – connection, collaboration and community.

When we can team up rather than break up and thus create a perfect way to combine resources rather than carry away from one another, we will perceive that there is so much more profusion and so many reserves present on the planet. And when we build relationships, not just with one another but with our innate selves, we understand something infinitely beautiful-that we’re all ONE. Then we realise how simple it is to form an international society from something as commonplace as giving.

The secret was always alive in nature

In earth’s natural workshop, beautiful butterflies fertilize flowers and help to produce gardens that continue generation after generation. It was there even before recorded history.

When a crisis hits the world, we can see an opportunity to get back to the simplicity. It is now actually time to be grateful for what we have in order for us all to keep thriving.

And when a person opts to begin giving today itself, the sense of euphoria would be much more, notwithstanding the economic problems. And with this sense of elation comes a reawakening of hope that will remind him of how the power and direction of tide can easily change. And his giving might be that which brings about this change.

Find out more about how Buy1GIVE1 (BOGO) can transform your business using Cause Marketing.

In the early 1990s, John D. Rockefeller and Andrew Carnegie proved themselves to be two of America’s most influential philanthropists. For example, Carnegie gave away the majority of what he earned to notable causes, including funding the creation of Carnegie Hall in New York City. Today, philanthropists include names such as Bill Gates, the founder of Microsoft, who operates the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation alongside his wife. The foundation is designed to help increase the availability of quality healthcare worldwide and also reduce poverty. The foundation also helps further educational initiatives within the United States.

There are a variety of options for corporations and businesses looking to give back. These include helping charities through general donations and specific endowments. Many also opt for starting their own foundation. Smaller companies can help local charities by becoming a sponsor of their fundraisers.

How does a company pick the cause that they are willing to support? Well, it’s important to keep in mind that any charity selected should have good reputation of helping those in need. Some corporations select charities that work with the working poor and some even help fight specific illnesses. Your company may find that helping animals is what is best. No matter what the charity, make sure they work hard and are not fraudulent.

Helping others is not only a great way to build your community, but it also drives economic recovery. Many causes are designed specifically to help people get ahead. Your company may, for example, decide its best to start a scholarship fund. Any type of giving like this helps your community get back on track.

Elliott Broidy is the Chief Executive Officer and Chairman at Broidy Capital Management. He is also a philanthropist and and the 2008 Raoul Wallenberg award winner for his for his commitment to civic duty, security and philanthropy in the United States and Israel and writes regularly about corporate giving.

Because the general public are swayed so much by the charity ratings the press and media give, a brand new charity can flourish very quickly with a flood of charitable giving being thrown its way. And of course when the media lose interest, then the charity rating can drop out of the sky overnight.

Charity rating directory listings

With steadily rising distrust and morality guardians of charity being ever suspicious of charity problems like transgression, having pretty large amounts of money spent on the running of charities or mishandling of funds, listings of charity ratings are booming. It is real quaint that humanitarian institutions that are meant for giving others are under the watchful eye of charity watchdogs. The whole idea of benevolence is getting a bit problematical!

Givespot.com, Guidestar.org etc. are institutions that give a detailed list of charity ratings. The list of Givespot.com is known as GiveSpot 100 list, which gives a list of charities that are rated as the top 100. Then there are other institutions like charitynavigator.org which has a charity check systems and also gives a list of the Top Ten charities so that searching for a charity becomes easy. The biggest US charity directory is Guidestar.org and it offers a wide range of charity information some of which is available for free while some of the data require payment. In USA Better Business Bureau is also a charity directory that provides a list of non-profit institutions as well as commercial enterprises.

So if you want to find the 100 top charities then there are so many charity rating guides out there and yet maybe charity ratings are actually about something else. What makes a charity stand above the rest often has nothing to do with its ratings at all. There are special ingredients that make any charity or non-charity organisation successful.

Charity Ratings and belief in the public

A YouGov poll of 2005 stated that about 56 percent of the British population did not have a considerable amount of belief even in well known global charities like Oxfam and Save the Children. Even among the charities that had a good charity rating, only about 15 percent enjoyed the public’s belief in them.

Charity Watchdog Scares are more common

People do not have faith in charities any more. They cannot be blamed for this state of affairs. Eagle eyed critics of charities complain about mismanagement in the field with high salaries for the staff and about 60% donations being spent on overheads for running the venture, leaving little for actual charity giving.

Recent analyses reveal that just the cost of raising funds could amount to about’% in UK and 20% in Australia. The studies of the Association of Fundraising Professionals in USA put the amount to be about 30%. Administrative expenses are in addition to this and could be higher. Many charity givers find that this is the main problem, more so when charity giving grabs media attention as was the case in Singapore a couple of years ago. Such unwelcome focus becomes conducive to a decrease in charity giving which is quite unpleasant.

Charity ratings mystery revealed

There is little difference between businesses and charities when it comes to attracting money. Their end use of the money is of course different, but their special secrets to attracting it in the first place are much the same.

To increase the charity rating as well as attract better flow of funds the secret can be found in a single word – attraction.

When we see a thing and might prefer to buy it, or would consider putting money in it, or creating a bond with it, we are likely to make the decision based on how enticing the whole idea is. If it is a very attractive proposition, we might instantly choose to opt for it while if it is not very enticing, we may not do it immediately.

Charity Water made it to the top of the chart in charity rating and got media support because of its unique and attractive image. The way they sold a bottle of charity water for the best price and projected the idea of using the profit for making clean water accessible to those who required it was very enticing.

The factors that make Charity Water quite fascinating and promote its rating are the following.

* They have the perfect name – Charity Water that makes people easily respond to the obvious passion of the founder to the idea, and his eagerness to share it with others.

* Their idea of the vocation and their message is lucid, plain and remarkable – sell water and give water – Buy One Give One

* They gave importance to the solution and not to the problem. This is an assured way for any charity to get a good charity rating in the public’s eye. People by and large have no interest in being reminded of the miseries of life. They prefer to feel elated. So in this case when they know that their act, that of buying a bottle of water, can affect the lives of others positively, they are glad.

How to reduce you Charity Ratings in a heart beat

The fastest way in which a charity’s ratings would go down is when it turns itself less tempting by centring its attention on the problem. People are by and large disinclined to listen to negative things. On the contrary, most people are keen on listening to positive things that involve verve, dynamism, motivation and effort to bring in a fresh vision.

All we have to do is see ourselves with our own kids and understand how we easily answer in the affirmative when they request for things in an eager and happy and excited way. But when they prefer to make their demands in a peevish or weepy way, we may tend to refuse.

The picture a charity projects would strongly affect its ratings. By projecting an arousing and motivating picture of itself it will be able to influence people well. Then people will be ready to give more in response.

Social Enterprise raises Charity Ratings and reduces Fundraising Problems

Social Enterprise is a new business pattern that evolved a few years ago. This combines trading with a social purpose. This pattern is a result of the interest of some businessmen who have social objectives but does not find the type of functioning of charitable enterprises satisfactory enough.

Many socially conscious businessmen may find the ambiance of a full fledged commercial venture and its decision making mechanism unpalatable. For such people a social enterprise is an apt field where they can use their business acumen and inspiration effectively to solve social problems and usher in changes. One of the best known among such socially aware entrepreneurs is Muhammad Yunus who won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2006. He was the first business man to be given such recognition.

A comparatively new global social venture, Buy1GIVE1, also known as B1G1 (Buy 1 Give 1), combines commercial activities with noble causes and charity organisations across the globe. Buy1GIVE1 has reduced the costs of administration and fundraising so completely that it is able to give away the whole of the funds it gets. It functions in a way quite similar to online enterprises like Kiva.org, which has been given support by Bill Clinton; Buy1GIVE1 is a substitute for the conventional style of direct giving to charities. Lots of people find them a more practical way for making donations while receiving valuable things in return.

Entrepreneurs, who are forever on the lookout for avenues to give in return to the society in effectual ways and to donate to beneficial charitable causes, realise the exemplary worth and strong marketing principles of organisations like Buy1GIVE1. Each and every sale that is made makes a change – not merely philanthropically. It makes a change with its strong impact as well, for every sale that is made becomes a poignant story that is an eye-opener. Buy1Give1 is a far cry from the commercial enterprises that might donate a million dollars to charity, for it lets the customers fully relish the joy of giving. The transaction-based giving of Buy1Give1 is a lesson in perfection.

All ventures like Buy1GIVE1 particularize charities and these are mostly charities where help is considered to be fully necessary, with enough potential to attract contributions. Businessmen obviously understand how poignant situations attract customer interest and as such they tend to support such causes rather than give importance to the organisation’s rating. They are only too conscious of the customers’ proclivity to bond better with a stronger story than worry about charity rating.

Maple Muesli in Australia has partnered with Midday Meals in Mumbai, India. With every bag of muesli bought, a hungry child in India is fed. Midday Meals is a charity that feeds 125,000 Mumbai children every day for just US 30 cents per meal. The meals are provided in schools to keep kids off the streets and encourage learning while reducing begging and child abuse.

Maple Muesli has familiarised the whole of Australia with the noble cause of the Midday Meals. The company has made all its customers aware of the stupendous service the charity is doing and how their money is helping it. This has made Midday Meals tremendously popular even though all they are doing is providing meals for the kids. The era of Effective Giving has dawned – that of Plain Charity Donations is disappearing at the horizon.

A change is impending in the setting of the top 100 charities and would become visible in a few years as more novel and productive ways of charitable giving take shape. Nowadays only limited choices exist for making donations for charitable purposes. All the existing ones are not good enough to create enough difference.

Alternative Charity Ratings

Methods of charity have changed over the years and newer ways are making their presence, some of which are rated below. Comparison Points of Charity.

We have compared and rated a few well-known and less well-known charities and Social Enterprises on areas that are important to their donors.

THE SALVATION ARMY

PATH TO GIVING : DIRECT GIVING

The Salvation Army is one among the most well-known 100 charities of the world – Both individuals and enterprises make contributions directly to it.

OPENNESS – B – Not sufficiently open – Plenty of money is being collected – but the results are not always completely clear.

ADVANTAGE TO BUSINESS – C – Even a single donation to Salvation Army by a business might find mention in the press.

EXPENSES FOR RAISING FUNDS -B – Heavy expenses are incurred for raising funds.

DONORS’ CHOICE POTENTIALS -B- For those who want to give directly, there are plenty of charities to choose from.

ABILITY FOR EFFECTING A CHANGE -C – Nothing specific in the activities that is likely to bring about a change.

PRODUCT (RED)

PATH TO GIVING : MARKETING CAMPAIGN

Product (RED) is a brand that enters into partnership with companies, which then creates products with its logo, a percentage of which goes to fighting AIDS, TB and Malaria in Africa.

TRANSPARENCY – B – Lack of transparency – sum of money is contributed for every purchase – but result is not fully measurable.

ADVANTAGE TO BUSINESS – A – People and enterprises by and large prefer to support it as it is promoted by popular idols like Bono and Oprah. End result of marketing is not correctly available.

FUNDRAISING COSTS – C – Spends hundreds of millions of dollars on advertising – could have just given that money to Africa.

CONTRIBUTORS’CHOICE OF CHARITY – C – Partner businesses do not have much choice in the charities that receive their contributions – all are in Africa.

POTENTIAL FOR REAL GLOBAL CHANGE – B – Products (RED) only partner huge companies and all their profits go to Africa.

THE BODY SHOP

WAY TO GIVING: BUSINESS TRADE & GIVING

The Body Shop has a purchasing program known as community trade to help Third World countries; and from the income they generate, substantial contributions are made to charities.

TRANSPARENCY – B – Lack of transparency – sum of money is contributed for every purchase – but result is not fully measurable.

MARKETING VALUE TO BUSINESS – A-tve – Customers are happy to be involved in community trade and are motivated to buy more. Visibility could be a lot better.

COSTS OF FUNDRAISING – A -Comparatively low – It is a good business pattern that makes a lot of donations to charities and enhances community trade.

CONTRIBUTORS’CHOICE OF CHARITY – A – Businesses can choose where their money goes.

ABILITY FOR EFFECTING A CHANGE – B – The ability of the business to give back to the society is good – still few make the required additional effort to press on for change.

LIVE EARTH

PATH TO GIVING : EVENT FUNDRAISING

Live Earth was a series of music concerts for a global audience held on July 7, 2007 which kick-started a three-year long campaign to fight climate changes across the world.

TRANSPARENCY – F – According to Intelligent Giving, there were big questions about accountability as to where the proceeds of ticket sales went.

MARKETING VALUE TO BUSINESS – B – Business sponsors got good coverage – but it was only a one time event and it is not easy to test and measure results.

COSTS OF FUNDRAISING – C – Huge amounts were spent on advertising and according to some the whole event was a damp squib without any actual goals.

DONORS’ CHOICE POTENTIALS – C – Funds were made available only to three charities.

ABILITY FOR EFFECTING A CHANGE – C – Occasions like this can be managed only yearly or may be still rarely. The earnings are mostly donated to charities that are already established.

Buy1GIVE1 (B1G1)

WAY TO GIVING: SOCIAL ENTERPRISE

B1G1 is a brand licensed to collaborate with any enterprise – uniting them with any cause across the globe. A fully comprehensive model.

CANDOUR – A – By giving for particular causes, makes sure that funds go exactly for that which it is intended. Customers get information on how exactly their money has made a change – i.e. the children whom it helped, or the environmental cause it protected.

MARKETING VALUE TO BUSINESS – A+tve – Great marketing value because of:

* Measurable giving * Media attraction * Good stories * Word of mouth * Repeat customers

EXPENSES FOR RAISING FUNDS – A+tve – No cost at all – B1G1 can look after a charity’s fundraising requirements which will include a good percentage of management also. All the funds that have accrued go to the cause.

DONOR’S CHOICE OF CHARITY – A – Any donor can contribute to a specific charity, or they can insist on giving to specific causes such as food, environment, or instruction.

POTENTIAL FOR REAL GLOBAL CHANGE – A – Exponential. If more businesses partner charities globally, the potential for real change is massive.

You Would Think Giving away Money Would Be Easy!”

You would think that giving money is easy – pull out a wad of cash, write a cheque or punch in your credit card details. Yet, billionaires philanthropists like George Sores , have gone on the record as saying that effective giving is one of the hardest things to do. Developing nations receive billions of dollars every year and yet it often seems like nothing changes much.

People make changes by asking probing questions about the problems they find in front of them. The winner of the Nobel Peace Prize, Mohammed Yunus, by his introduction of the new category of banking known as Microfinance has made groundbreaking achievements in solving social problems and is leading the way in showing how social enterprise and consumption of goods can positively change the world. Other such ideas worth emulating are that of Buy1GIVE1 or ‘Trade – Not Aid’ of The Body Shop. The overwhelming importance of social enterprise has to be fully appreciated.

Bill Gates, when asked how one can make a difference in the world, pointed to the Internet. Kiva.org and Buy1GIVE1 (www.b1g1.com) are organisations that add value to the giver. With Kiva.org, people can receive email journal updates from the business they have sponsored. This happens with Buy1GIVE1 as well. Businesses also get the added benefit of marketing stories to tell their customers: buy a laptop with us, and we give one computer to someone who cannot afford it.

Next steps to increasing your Charity Ratings

Make sure that you have an open attitude, use the laptop effectively, and keep apart a little time to observe the novel and wonderful systems of charity that are being born. These function through the internet and are mostly network based.

As of now if one is not connected with good international networks via the internet, the chances of losing out are substantial even with good charity rating, tomorrow things are bound to change – totally.

There are more and more examples these days of companies rising up from nothing and being sold three years later for over a billion dollars. This was unheard of ten years ago. Today this is becoming a regular occurrence. All these new Internet companies are doing one thing – tapping into global networks or creating global networks.

Buy1GIVE1 (Buy One Give One)

Buy1GIVE1 is a rather new entrant to the world of Social Enterprises and was launched in’97 by a Japanese lady called Masami Sato. Any business can avail a membership in Buy1GIVE1, and membership charges for smaller ventures will only be one dollar a day and donations can be as little as one cent on a sale. Buy1GIVE1 is in the forefront of the Buy One Give One transaction-based giving world movement. Joining hands with Buy1GIVE1 is totally uncomplicated for businesses as well as charity needs. The working pattern of Buy1GIVE1 is perfectly controlled and practical. It connects the products or services of any given business to a needy cause (Buy1GIVE1’s or their own) and after that whenever a sale is closed, it has to be recorded and the contribution percentage sent to the charity at the end of the month or end of quarter year directly or through Buy1GIVE1.

If you are not forging an alliance with Buy1GIVE1 and encouraging your business sponsors to become Buy1GIVE1 members you will be missing our more and more as this amazing enterprise makes a huge impact in the world of giving.

The dawn of a new age in charity giving

Organizations that have been non-entities just a couple of months ago have now invaded internet with resounding user acceptance. Having an online presence on sites like MySpace, YouTube, Twitter, Facebook, NING or TipJoy are becoming survival requirements. Likewise companies like The Present, Buy1GIVE1 and Kiva are organisations that one should build a relationship with. These are the avant garde institutions that help to create and sustain charity ratings. Now is the time to give new life to a perfect future.

Find out more about how Buy1GIVE1 (BOGO) can transform your business using Cause Marketing.

Voluntary lifesavers volunteer their time to clubs in order to save the lives of bathers. Steps are taken to protect bathers, rescue those that get into trouble and resuscitate them if necessary. Lifesavers work under the command of a patrol captain.

Volunteers must complete and pass an annual life saving exam. They must also have a Surf Rescue Certificate or bronze medallion for life saving. These volunteers operate in groups and are busy on weekends, holidays and public holidays on public beaches around the world.

When on duty, volunteers wear yellow and red colored caps. When not busy with rescue work their attire will be long sleeve yellow shirts and shorts that are red. The long sleeves are for the purpose of sun protection. Rescue work requires clothing that enables them to the job of rescuing people. RWC (Rescue Water Craft) divers are clothed in wet suits. Officers on jet rescue boats and offshore rescue boats wear tabards that are highly visible. This is in order to be seen by other colleagues they collaborate with at rescue missions of a serious nature. Lifesaver helicopter crew will don aviation clothing and equipment.

The clubs also have another cap with different colors. This cap is for when clubs partake in the often held inter club competitions. These competitions keep the lifeguards in tip top shape for what they do best – saving lives.

Voluntary Surf Life Saving is a rewarding experience for many. A highlight is often the Surf League competitions that take place in some countries.

Get complete information on how to surf ski when you go online today! You can receive all of the assistance and training you need to develop your surf ski skills fast and easy!

It is said that we only use 10% of our brain’s potential. Since childhood we have been taught how to do mathematics, how to swim, how to cook and how to play cards and the like but have we ever been taught by anybody how to use our mind power? The two things that we have actually learnt since childhood is the fact that success is only a function of backbreaking hard work and secondly, focusing on negative aspects of life.

Firstly, our parents and teachers have always told us that only hard work and nightlong toil brings the success you desire. If you want to become the head of your department you need to stay back in office and work hard. All the abundances that you seek so much, abundance in money, fame, no, of luxury cars, etc are all a matter of chance. But the truth is that any kind of abundance can be manifested in real life with your mind power.

But the one bad habit that we have picked up since childhood is that of thinking about scarcity. If abundance is what you seek and what you work for, then why isn’t it that you always think about scarcity instead of abundance?

Your mind power can only be unleashed if you believe in its existence. That is, if you focus all your attention on that one thing that you want most in your life, visualize it in your mind’s way, charge that vision with all your energy and truly believe from the core of your heart that it will come true and start acting accordingly then the object of your desire will manifest in reality.

Moreover always remain positive. Since your future is a product of your own thoughts, having negative thoughts can never result in a good future. The more joy and gratefulness you feel, life will manifest in a way so that these feelings are returned back to you manifold.

Your mind power thus has tremendous potential and is waiting to be unleashed. Get rid of all negative thoughts, focusing all your attention and energy on things that you want to see manifested in your life. Have faith and truly believe that it will happen, visualize and feel your own energy flow into the vision charging it up. In this way you shall gradually unleash the power of your subconscious and create your own destiny yourself.

The author Roger Connery writes for the http://www.mindpower-info.com website. You can enjoy the incredible experience of your subconscious power for yourself and get 29 Free your mind powers Binaural and hypnosis mp3 audios and videos when you visit here.

The two fold consideration one should have while selecting a music band is the type of music one wants to play in his party and the type of party you are organizing. Budget is the last thing you should consider as focusing primarily on cutting costs might just as well make your party a total flop. But still if budget is an important factor hire bands through the above two approaches mentioned but lessen down the no. of musicians in the band if so desired.

Hire band according to your music preferences i.e. what music would you like to be played at your party. If you want a dance party where your guests shake a leg or two on the beats of the drums, then hire band that can make the crowd groove and go mad on the dance floor. Again if the music preference is soft and soothing just to give a background score for the party, hire band that will set the mood of the party by its light instrumentals.

Thus, going by the kind of music to be played in the party, hire bands specializing in categories of rock, soft rock, live acoustics, blues, jive, swing, jazz, acid rock, death metal, dance, punk, pop, trance, house music and the like.

Secondly, the music bands can also be hired on the basis of the type of party you are having. Infact, today the music bands actually advertise themselves saying that they specialize in some specific kinds of parties or events. Like some specializes is playing in wedding parties while the others are expert in playing at corporate events.

To illustrate this further, a wedding ceremony is an occasion when people of all ages and backgrounds are invited. These people have different tastes for music. Thus, while choosing the band you should see that the band is able to cater to the needs of all the guests. So a music band playing at the wedding party should be versatile enough to play old hits to the recent chartbusters making sure that the flow of the music is smooth and matches the mood of the party. Soft romantic songs could be played or special music pieces during special moments like when the couple kisses each other and when the bride walks down making the wedding touching and emotional.

Again, taking a birthday party as an example, hire bands who can create a happy and fun filled atmosphere playing dance numbers, interacting with the crowd, and making everyone shake their legs to the groovy numbers so that everyone has a gala time on the dance floor.

Thus, it can be concluded that if the genre of music is your prime focus, that is, you are absolutely sure what you want to play, then hire bands belonging to the first category. On the contrary, if you are having a party and your prime focus is to play whatever is best for the event and you do not want to spend sleepless nights in deciding who to choose and what to play, then go for a band specializing in your kind of party who has more experience to deliver just what your party needs to make it a grand success.

Expert James Lee is one of the members of Soul Desire who writes for the http://www.souldesire.co.uk website. You Should Hire Live Band as it will make all the difference to the success of your event. Find out more about how to Bands Hire Kent from this site.

Live bands come in different forms. There are the function bands. There are the wedding bands. There are bands which play a particular genre of music. There are decade bands which plays music of a particular decade like the sixties or the seventies or the eighties. There are tribute bands which pays tribute to an iconic singer or band by playing its cover versions. It is you who will decide which live bands to be selected for your party.

First decide what the character of the party is going to be. If it is a wedding party, anniversary or a birthday party, it is better to go for live bands which specialize in functions. Otherwise, if it is a corporate party or a reunion, it better to select bands by music genre, decade bands or tribute bands.

If you are planning a themed party like a beach party, live bands are a must. Imagine a live band playing reggae music while you and your friends are grinding on the beach, slowly sipping the rum in the gentle sea breeze.

Moreover, if you ever throw parties in a lone farm house, with the ‘old west’ theme, have a live band at your service which plays country music. Thus your themed party will be a hit.

A reunion on the other hand, with lots of nostalgia may prefer decade bands which will play music of the high school days of the guests. A private party, with guests having interest in a particular band or music icon may prefer a tribute band impersonating icons like Elvis or the Beatles and singing their numbers.

You have to decide what the character of the party is going to be. You have to select the live bans accordingly. You can find them in the internet, in the Yellow Pages or you can ask your friends and relatives to refer one. You can also find them if you speak with the people of the venue you have rented as live bands often play in these venues. Find the live bands, speak to them and select the one that suits you best.

When you have finally selected your live band and planned for the programme, first and foremost, go through the logistics of the venue. Check whether the venue has a permit to stage live bands. Then go through the sound limits, the on-stage facilities, the dance floor and also the parking area. Check the time limits to play music also, if any. After you have arranged for everything, dive into the party and have fun!

Nigel Smith writes for the live wedding party band site at http://www.souldesire.co.uk. Experience the excitement of Live Music Find out more information about Wedding Band In Kent from this site.

There are different ways to bring music into your reception but the two most common ways would be to use a DJ or a wedding band. The wedding band is usually the more popular choice between the two and it is something that you will want to give a lot of thought.

When looking at a wedding band to hire, it would be a good idea to make sure that you are catching a live performance of theirs. This can be done by attending one of their public gigs. If you are unable to do this, you should have no problem getting your hands on a demo CD. By taking a close listen to their music, you will be able to truly determine whether or not they are a good fit for your wedding reception.

If the band has a website, you will want to make sure to check it out as it will provide you with a lot of the information you need. There are generally photos, musical tracks, and videos to review, all of which will give you a clear understanding of how professional the band is.

If you are lucky enough to come across testimonials on the website, you will want to read through them in order to see just how much their previous customers enjoyed their music. If the repertoire of the band is listed, you will want to pay attention to that.

With so many different types of music out there, you want to try and make sure that you are selecting a wedding band that will play music that will appeal to most of your guests. Think about what the average age of your wedding guests is and you should have no trouble selecting the music you want for the reception.

Of course the price of hiring your wedding band is a big part of the decision making process. Be sure that you have had that conversation with the band manager, and once you have ironed out the pricing be sure that it is outlined within your contract. It is also very standard that you will need to put in a non refundable deposit when you submit your contract so that the date of your event can be secured.

As the wedding gets closer, you will want to make sure that you are calling the band to confirm the details of the reception. If you are concerned about the wardrobe they will be wearing, make sure that you discuss these things with them in plenty of time before the reception.

Remember that the band is likely to have travelled a long way to play at your event so it is only common curtesy to ensure that you provide them with a meal. Lastly, be sure that you give your wedding band a timeline of events for the evening so they are able to work with the flow of the event.

Lee Collings is a member of ‘Soul Desire’ featured at the http://www.souldesire.co.uk website. Having a live Wedding Band will make all the difference to the success of your event. Find out more about hiring an amazing Wedding Band from this site.

The first step is to figure out your budget. Some bands have already set prices, so you won’t have much of an option of how much you spend. Others charge by the hour, and some even make a deal with you on how much you’ll pay them. So, you see, there is some leniency in some of the routes you go with. Making a budget is not the difficult part. It’s staying within the budget that can make it tricky.

Once you do this, you need to look at where you are going to go about and have this event. This is something that you have to do in order to know the times in which the band will be performing as well as so the band knows how far they have to drive. In order to save money, you might have to look into getting a local band.

The third step is choosing location. Find a big space, a space with good acoustics and is spacious so bot your band and your audience don’t feel crowded. Choosing a location may also limit to what bands you can choose from, because some bands may only perform in certain areas. It might even hinder your price a bit too, because it may include gas.

Now choose your date and time. If you give the band a last-minute date and time, they could book for that day before you get your chance. Make sure it agrees. Even work with the band to figure a good day to set up. The more time you give, the better the outcome. A good tip to follow is to book the band two to three months in advance. This gives you and the band time to figure out music selection and make proper arrangements, such as set up and tear down.

Next you’ll want to choose a band. The first place to start is locally and through different websites that can give you recommendations. You might even want to refer to your friends on this one, especially those that are associated with members of bands and with the event. Choosing a band is difficult because there are some many choices. Maybe choose one you’re more familiar with, so you are familiar with the music.

When you find the band that you want to book, you might have to put a certain amount down in order to reserve the date and time. Then, the rest of the rest money that would be due would be expected either before the event or on the day. Each band is different so make sure that you ask.

Don’t fret about finding a band for that party or wedding. It’s fast and easy to do. Booking a band is easier than learning to sing or play an instrument, and it brings life to the event. There is just something about having a live band that draws people in. It makes it seem more professional. It makes the event the event of a lifetime.

Musician Jimmy Gene writes for the www.souldesire.co.uk website. Knowing how to Book A Band will make all the difference to the success of your event. Find out more about professional Hertfordshire Live Band from this site.