Donations from local businesses remain steady, but approach may be changing
For one day at the end of every summer, hairstylist Toni Janus opens her shop to the underprivileged school-bound kids of Clark County. Why? Because the need is there, said Janus, who owns In Mixed Company barber shop and Illusions Hair Design.
For the past nine years, she has partnered with the Salvation Army for its back-to-school program, offering free haircuts to needy students, some of whom have never picked a "real style" out of a book and seen it realized on their heads.
"For most of them, their moms or aunts do it with a pair of scissors in the kitchen or garage," Janus said. "We want them to be happy and feel good for going back to school. It’s very, very satisfying. That’s why we do it year after year."
Before she acquired In Mixed Company almost 11 years ago, Janus said she helped the Salvation Army in Portland with haircuts at Christmastime. But when she opened the shop, she thought the service might be more beneficial to kids headed back to school.
Salvation Army Business Administrator Steve Rusk was a client of In Mixed Company and gave the OK when she presented him with the idea.
So on the last Monday of August, all of the hairstylists from Janus’ two shops volunteer for the day to sculpt the locks of 200 kindergarten through 12th grade boys and girls. They get whatever style they want – Janus gave away her first Mohawk this year.
She estimates the business donates more than $500 worth of services for the day, but said she’d much rather do what she does best than write a check to a charitable foundation.
"I own a small business," she said. "I can’t afford to do a whole lot. I could probably give $200 or $300 to some charity, but I’m giving each kid – each family – something special. It’s instant gratification and our chance to do what little we can in this community. The smiles make it all worth it."
Janus said she’s advertised for other barbers and hairstylists to help out with the back-to-school effort, but none have stepped up.
"I have no idea why," she said. "But I know there’s a lot more out there than the children we can do. The need is there."
Engaged giving
While nonprofits and foundations said the climate of giving remained relatively steady over the past year, Vancouver business owners like Janus, who want to be involved in giving back, are becoming more common.
Rusk said business contributions to the Salvation Army seem down this year, and International Children’s Care Executive Director Doug Congleton said support from businesses has never been there, but many saw little or no change.
"It’s probably about the same," said Nancy Hales, executive director of Community Foundation for Southwest Washington. "The change I’ve seen is businesses are more involved in their giving. The kind of outreach is changing – it’s more engaged giving."
iQ Credit Union President and CEO Roger Michaelis gives to the Children’s Trust Fund through Community Foundation.
Today, he’s highly involved in his giving, but two years ago that wasn’t the case.
"He just wrote the check," Hales said. "(Community Foundation) didn’t know much about his staff, he didn’t know much about what we did. We didn’t know what he cared about."
Then about 18 months ago, Hales and Michaelis met for lunch.
They talked about what iQ is interested in and wants to stand for – helping children – and how Community Foundation could help.
"The next thing we know, his checks jumped from $100 to $5,000," Hales said.
Michaelis said meeting with Hales increased his confidence and gave him a better gauge of where the community’s needs lie. Businesses want to give to the cause that provides the best return or has the most impact, Michaelis said.
"Any time you can personalize, it is beneficial, because certainly today every charity has a need, every cause has a need," he said.
David Fenton, senior development director for the American Red Cross Southwest Washington Chapter, recognizes that businesses are looking for an opportunity to give and said he aims to build partnerships through friendships with the business community.
"But they want something with meaning to them and has return benefits," he said. "They may be weary from all of the asks. There are a million causes, so we need to build a relationship of value first."
That may not necessarily mean giving money, Fenton added.
"A lot of people give from a gut level to what’s important to them," he said. "We want to connect with them for the right reasons."
Making the ask
"We haven’t done a whole lot to target businesses in particular," said Rusk of the Salvation Army. "We probably need to look at doing more to attract support from businesses. I think there are businesses that are able to give that haven’t been asked."
But businesses who have always been friends of the Salvation Army continued their support this year, he added.
Some said businesses were likely unaware of their causes.
"Not a lot of businesses know we’re here," said Sheryl Beauchaine, executive director of the American Red Cross Southwest Washington Chapter. "When there’s a major disaster or a blood shortage, that’s when we hit the news. But not everybody remembers that we’re there every day at house fires here in Clark County. Locally, we don’t see a benefit from big dollars going to a major disaster like Katrina."
Jevan Williams, development officer for Children’s Center, said he is working on getting his organization’s name out there.
Generally, the climate of giving is good right now, he said, and added Children’s Center’s donations were on par this year.
"We have to work a lot harder because people don’t necessarily want to give to mental health," he said. "It’s not necessarily at the top of people’s giving plan. Sometimes I think it’s easier for hospitals and emergency response agencies."
One case that proves asking is a good thing is the Southwest Washington Medical Center Foundation, which is in the middle of its campaign to raise $50 million by December 2007.
In 2005, the foundation received about $2.5 million from businesses. In the 2006 fiscal year, ending the last week in September, businesses have given more than $30.4 million, said Jean Rahn, executive director of the foundation.
To date, the hospital has collected $40 million.
"We had a great year," she said. "People who own the businesses are really stepping forward. The support has just been exceptional."
Many of the gifts have been from individuals who have gathered wealth through businesses, most of which are well-established in the community and have been long-time partners.
"I don’t know that we’re getting a lot of new business owners," Rahn said.
