My BIG Business Giving Program Reveal

So, today is my BIG reveal..... (drum roll)
My 3 New Private Small Business Giving Coaching Programs. The programs are:

1. Grassroots ~ Get Your Giving Off the Ground TM
2. Trailblazers ~ Build Your Business, Legacy and a Better World TM
3. High Impact Day~ Be a Power Philanthropy Partner in this World TM

These new programs offer something for EVERY business no matter where you are in business. You can be 6 months or 6 six years in business. You can be making $50K or $1.5M. "IT DOESN'T MATTER!" You can make a difference for your business's bottom-line and beyond just through giving. The small act of giving when done strategically for your business is powerful for you and the world!

I will be first to say that I understand giving is not at the top of your priority list. I understand if you have an extra $500 months it's going to a virtual assitant or marketing effort. Did you know giving is a hybrid mix of marketing for business. Huh? Did you know that? Did you know there are 5 ways giving can GROW your business? It doesn't matter HOW much you have to give. It's how you give back WHAT you do have that makes the difference. programs.

Click the link to read more about each program http://www.givingadvice.com/coaching.html

Copyright 2009. Maggie F. Keenan, Ed.D. All rights reserved.
Note: Program titles are undergoing Trademark protection. All rights apply.

The Science Behind Our Generosity

In Newsweek, 3/9/09 Issue, Peter Singer's article, "The Science Behind Our Generosity", highlights how psychology affect what we give to charities. I don't know if it's science or just basic humanity. In his article, Peter states that "according to UNICEF, 10 million children under the age of 5 die each year from causes that are preventable." They die of diseases from unsafe drinking water, sanitation and malnutrition. These are things that we can take for granted. Most of us buy bottled water because we don't like the taste of tap water, and that wouldn't even be a decision for some children and families. They just want clean water. They struggle with some of the most basic needs to sustain life.

So, why do we give? Peter says that we give because even though in the toughest of economic times most people realize that they are better off than others in this world and it's about making a choice to do what is right for others and our planet. Maybe it's because anyone would lend a hand to someone who is in danger, dying, as it maybe just a part of our human instinct and respect for humanity, life.

On a lighter note, in the article it indicates a survey of Americans found that those who gave to charity were happy people. Now we don't know if giving made people happy or if happy people are more likely to give. From my experience, I'd say it's a balance of both. I've met very wealthy people who are just unhappy folks and actually are not very giving. Unbelievable, but true.

So, here is what you can walk away with from this post and Peter's article, people give because we have instincts to care. When we give, it makes us feel really good.

My Interview on TriplePundit: 3pSeries on Profit Philanthropy

TriplePundit is the "new conversation about integrating people, planet and profits into today's business."Their 3p series is Philanthropy in Five and Gennefer Snowfield, a writer for this series recently interviewed me.

You can catch my interview on Proft-Philanthropy. Feel free to join in on the discussion by leaving a post.

Be sure to bookmark TriplePundit if you are a socially conscious business owner who wants to make a difference while making a living.

Givers Gain Gala

Giving stories are coming in! Here is one sent to me from Steve Bell and Gina Fink-Bell, owners of The Networking Masters in Regina, SK, Canada. They are the founders of INFA and hosts of the Authors Unscripted Talk Show. Gina is also the founder of the JV Mavens Group. They invited me as a guest speaker on their Authors Unscripted Talk Show a week ago. Steve interviewed my about the book and you can catch it here. It was a great interview and a special shout out to them for having me.

After the radio interview, Steve and I chatted for a few minutes. He started telling me about a charity gala they hosts each year. Giving is important to both Steve and Gina and that is really clear in all that they do. The 1st Annual Givers Gain Gala really caught a lot of local attention and they have had up to 500+ participants and raised nearly $5,000. Each year they select a different charity to not only raise money for but also awareness. See, this is key. Giving is great for organizations. But part of their mission is to also raise awareness about their cause and what they do in a community or region. The 2nd Annual Givers Gain Gala helped raise money and awareness for the Local Food Bank.

This event is a huge success for everyone, the hosts, the sponsors, the organizers, the charity and the community. Keep up the great work Steve and Gina! Continued success for your Givers Gain Gala.

Could you do something similar through your local business network? If the answer is yes, step up, reach out and make a difference.

FlapJacks Flip for a Cause on the 24th!

YUMMY! I love breakfast and could eat breakfast food at all three meals. My favorite is buttermilk pancakes smothered with real butter and maple syrup. And if you are a pancake lover too, then don't forget February 24th is National Pancake Day.

Here is a good reason why you should head on over to local IHOP for a stack of flapjacks too. In celebration of National Pancake Day, IHOP will give you a free stack of 3 pancakes and all they ask is that you make a donation to children's hospitals through Children's Miracle Network.

Like IHOP's slogan, "Come Hungry. Leave Happy" and Feel Good about Contributing to Children.

Lace'm Up for $140 for a Cure

Okay this is one expensive pair of running shoes. I know, I am a veteran long distance runner of nearly 35 years and I have make a significant investment in my running shoes as good shoes and the right shoe for me helps prevent injury.

Now, I have never worn New Balance. I don't need a straight-last, mid-foot striker shoe and I don't need the wide toe box. But it's a good fit for someone who does needs those things. The other reason I've not worn New Balance, is because, well, it has suede - which makes for a heavier training/race-day shoe and I've always seen it as a shoe that appeals to men versus Ryka or Reebok for women. But New Balance is counting on women to spend $140 on these pretty pink running shoes as a way to commemorate Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure 20th Anniversary. New Balance has been sponsoring this event for twenty years.

It's not so much the cost of the shoe, comparable to high-profile basketball sneakers, but as a cause-marketing campaign it customizes each buyer to have stitched on the tongue of the shoe, "In Honor of" or "Lace Up, " or "Running for" which is really pretty cool. That is what I think women will buy... the emotional attachment to the shoe being customized for them or a friend or loved one. The majority of women have to have the connection to, emotional feeling toward, to be compelled to buy, do are stand for something.

No matter how much New Balance does for breast cancer, I still have them as a male running shoe product ingrained in my head and have for years, but I must admit this may be one way to get this runner to change course.

Twitter hosts Twestival to raise donations worldwide

Okay, I am a Twitterer, Pinger, Ninger and Facebooker. The reality is these social media sites offer many benefits. For me, social media networking allows me to connect and build relationships with other professionals, small businesses, entrepreneurs, and nonprofit executives, offer advice, connect people, share my expertise and crack a funny at times. And you can connect instantly. Zero lag time.

Twitterers Worldwide are Gathering for Twesitval too...

"On Feb. 12, more than 200 cities worldwide will hold events to foster networking within local Twitter communities as well as raise funds for charity: water, a nonprofit that installs wells and rainwater harvesting systems in developing countries. Amanda Rose, the architect behind the multicity Twitter festivities, said Twestival grew out of a smaller get-together held in London last September to benefit a local soup kitchen. “Originally, I thought it was going to be 30 people in a pub doing karaoke,” she said. “But we ended up having 250 people show up.” Ms. Rose said the London event brought in about £1,000 and several boxes of canned goods, and planted the seeds for a much larger event, spanning several international cities.".... "Since then, Twestival has taken off: The London event is expecting upwards of 800 guests, and Ms. Rose estimated there were a dozen satellite events being hosted around Britain. Scott Harrison, founder of charity: water, who is also helping organize the New York event, expects attendance numbers nearing 1,200. In addition, Twestival events have sprung up around the globe from Cape Town to Beijing, Peru, Tokyo and Bangladesh."


Read more about Twestival here