Early Stage Growth Part II: Branding and Expanding

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StartUpGrind SoCal was good for our team on many fronts. Our story is not so much different than other start ups, but there are some exceptions.

Our team is from the East Coast, and since our team was traveling across the country to Southern California, we wanted to maximize our time and booked appointments for before and after the StartUpGrind event. This took quite a bit of work before jumping on our plane to Los Angeles.

What this meant was looking through Eventbrite, Meetup, and other local event websites to find things to do, and people to visit. I would estimate about 10 hours went into research and due diligence to choose which events are team should attend.  

For instance the first night after the StartUpGrind event, we pitched at a local “Pitch Globally Shark Tank Style” hosted by Kaustav Chaudhuri. There was a small fee to pitch but all we had to do was register and show up.  

https://www.meetup.com/pitchglobally/

At the pitch event, we met a CEO of a large venture fund, an experienced silicon valley founder and author (Lance Elliott) and several investors/advisor types, all of whom we have followed up, and some have made additional introductions.

Link to Lance Blog  http://www.lance-blog.com (Immerse yourself in content published by experts. Here is one that you may find useful.

Link to Lance Book  http://amzn.to/2hEyHNe  (Great book to help prepare for pitching your business idea.)

Second, we secured lodging using AirBnB and secured a place to stay that was near the StartUpGrind event that included a pool…so yes, it was a nice place. The AirBnB provided a great time to sit out under the stars and chat about the direction of Pass the Plate – a mastermind group time of sorts.  

Toward the end of our time in California, an execution plan was hatched. The question of how was answered. The next 60 day would be focused on accomplishing specific objectives.

“Branding and Expanding”

From wheels up at SoCal StartUpGrind the rule of the day was follow up, follow up, follow up. Both my brother Ross and I, on separate planes, heading in separate directions followed up with people that we had met.

We recently had adopted a CRM called Insightly that installs nicely with Google. Using this system, I took a few photos of business cards to have processed, and then put in a few myself. Emails were sent…

At wheels down, we knew that we were no longer Pass the Plate. We had become ONE DONATION. No longer would we be a stand alone application that let donors give to any nonprofit that they wanted to, we would now open the platform to allow for payroll deduction donations, giving the donor even more power to give to the nonprofit of their choice. And one more thing… wait for it… we have other plans too!

We are ONE DONATION.  And we will help change the world one donation at a time.  

Until the next post…

Do you want assistance in selecting a nonprofit to donate to in 2017?=

Use the link below and answer a short survey.  Based on your answers, our team will send you 3 nonprofits that may fit with what you are looking for.

http://bit.ly/2isnhvV

Would you like for your company to take payroll deductions for your favorite nonprofit?  Please answer a short survey to determine if our platform is available at your company.

http://bit.ly/2iohxkg    

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Thinking about the Christmas holiday?

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Do you like to think? I do too. And its sharing things like this that I hope help you to think of the good you could do with a simple act. This is a very short story with a very simple lesson.

It’s the holiday season and you may still need a holiday gift for someone that has “everything.”

What in the world can you get them that means more than something to just wear or put on a shelf?

Well, if I told you what that gift should be this early you probably would not read the rest of this blog and would run out to purchase that gift immediately.

Have you ever lived in a state that really lived up to its motto?

During my time in Tennessee, I have seen the state really live up to its nickname: The Volunteer State.

One definition, on an online dictionary (https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/volunteer), defines a “volunteer” as one who renders a service or takes part in a transaction while having no legal concern or interest.

I was not born and raised in Tennessee and probably will never be perceived as a local good ole boy but I have lived in this state for over 9 years and learned that the citizens of this state live up to the Volunteer motto.

In May of 2010, I was living in Nashville when over 13” of rain dumped on the city and impacted over 25,000 residents (http://flood.nashvillepubliclibrary.org/).

What I remember more than just the pictures and the stories were the citizens of Tennessee helping each other out. Businesses were providing food for workers; those not impacted were helping their neighbors clean up the mess. Other businesses were using their profits to help the local charities that were lending a helping hand.

For example, the Anderson Design Group created a poster encapsulating the volunteerism in music city with proceeds helping victims
(https://www.andersondesigngroupstore.com/a/collections/spirit-of-nashville/flood-relief ).

In recent news, 15,000 acres in the Smoky Mountains burned impacting towns and families in a place that relies heavily on tourism. Since this disaster happened, the citizens of Tennessee put boots on the ground and have volunteered, donated items and blood and sent prayers to the victims.

The University of Tennessee football players were on the ground assisting as well as former players in Florida creating care packages for impacted families and sending their support back to the state.

I am sure if you think long enough you could come up with a disaster that has impacted you, whether it was a place you visited, live currently or have lived. Now it is time to go out and get that perfect present. >

Recently a One Donation co-founder passed along information about a friend that is a part of a business loaceted in East Tennessee near the wildfires called the Sugarlands Distilling Company (https://gatlinburg.moonshare.org/ ) who is selling t-shirts and hats whose proceeds are going to the victims.

This may not be the perfect present for the individual that you are shopping for, but across the world there have been multiple disasters that have impacted thousands of people. Think of that place that you remember, that was impacted by a fire, hurricane, flood, etc. and find a local business there to buy that perfect present to support those businesses so they can get back on their feet.

If you have any questions or comments about the blog or for the One Donation team please send a message to founders@onedonation.org.

We will be more than happy to perform a search for you and give you 3 options that you may like.

Go here to start today https://goo.gl/forms/AZCdBYfcBAWuimXu1

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The Impact Of Workplace Giving

The One Donation motto is that it takes One Donation to Change the World.  Just think what a community can do.  Speaking of community, businesses can be very influential in working and participating with the people around them.  I have worked for several businesses in my career and a few of them actively participated in their community, but nothing like my current employer.

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Eight months ago I began working for a utility company in East Tennessee.  The orientation covered the importance of community, by teaching us how each customer is a client and should be treated with the utmost respect, not just because they are rate payers but because they are neighbors, friends and coworkers.  Aside from treating these individuals as clients, my new employer stressed how important it was to get involved in the community by participating in fund raisers, donating time, and just being active in and around our service territory.

Since I have been with this organization I have donated food for retiree baskets, donated blood, participated in fund raising events for United Way (all donations are solely from employees with no funds from the employer), and most recently each department is participating in Salvation Army’s Angel Tree which provides Christmas gifts to children in need.

As I recently mentioned a community can make a difference.  Each department has been provided the information about a local child and their Christmas wish list.  Together my department was able to fill a large bag full of clothes, books, a winter coat, shoes and a bike helmet (to go with the bike that would not fit in the bag).  Each department within the company is participating in this program and as a group, we are happy to give back and support the community.

As a parent of two children, I feel fortunate that I can provide these articles to my children but also pleased to work for an employer that puts the community first and provides these articles to local children in need.  New Year’s resolutions are just around the corner.  Whether you are an employee or the owner, maybe your business can come together and make a difference as well.

If you have any questions or comments about the blog or for the One Donation team please send a message to founders@onedonation.org.

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