“Currently there is no real accreditation process that uses sound business practices to distinguish how different companies are giving,” Davidson said. “As a consumer you have no idea what businesses are doing—while they say they’re sponsoring or donating, there’s no auditing for all aspects of giving. What 10% Solution tries to do is provide quantifiable measurement for companies making this a priority.”
The company has a $500 base cost and charges for its services, including annual check-ins, based on client revenue. Client Jeff Lunker said that accreditation was affordable even for a small company. Lunker, owner of Enumclaw Travel, said his travel agency was already donating money and its employees were enthusiastic about volunteering when he found out about 10% Solution. “Our company was set up with a sense of the importance of giving, but not because I wanted to be congratulated. I tend to want to do business with companies that are responsible,” Lunker said.
He wanted to be more environmentally responsible but didn’t know which direction to take with a company that was only half-heartedly recycling. Welsh, who added the sustainability requirement to the 10% plan as a way to of recognizing the connection between philanthropy and concern for the environment, suggested Lunker work toward Green-e reductions or a LEED certification while creating a way to better monitor his company’s volunteer efforts.
Welsh said that the volunteer requirements have been the most challenging addition for several clients. She recommends that employers track employees’ volunteer time through software or simple forms. When volunteers select organizations, Welsh advocates local action and tells them to think about organizations in their area that would benefit from an hour of their time or $100 in a way that’s different from the way a large international organization might.
The first 10 companies to work with Welsh’s organization will make up the 10% Club, which will serve as an advisory board whose members are required to personally talk to two other people from different companies about their giving. If one of their contacts pairs up with her company, the 10% Club member organization will receive 2% of their contact’s accreditation fee to give to charity. The concept of gifting as a cyclical process is at the core of 10% Solution, and Welsh would ultimately like to add an educational component that would provide service learning curriculum to primary school educators.
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