After September 11, George Bush instructed the American people to go shopping. Many of us were extremely disappointed that the opportunity to involve Americans in a host of issues -- ending our dependence on foreign oil, acting as goodwill ambassadors around the world, volunteering to help others to name a few – was squandered. Instead we were told to go forth and consume. More recently, the economic stimulus package, which will give a $600 rebate to individuals, was criticized by Republican Presidential candidate Mike Huckabee as being more likely to stimulate China’s economy than ours (also).
In an age when we are by all accounts consuming ourselves to death, is it even possible to do good by spending well? I may be the wrong person to ask, since by opting to go logo free over a month ago, I have significantly cut down on what I buy (I have had to make exceptions for toilet paper and toothpaste, you simply can’t find those things without packaging and branding!). Still, there are a number of companies that provide ways to be a consumer and fund environmental and other causes. Putting aside those companies that participate in 1% for the Planet or other programs where a portion of profits go to causes like Product (red), Sambazon and others, let’s look at some of those that aren’t about selling a particular product:
- Working Assets – the big kahuna. Working Assets has been around since 1985, and has contributed more than $50 million to progressive causes, including environmental causes. It’s simple for the customer, just use their Credo Long Distance Telephone Service, Credo Mobile Telephone Service and or Working Assets Credit Card. They will also send you alerts on opportunities to take action on various progressive issues like the FISA bill or health care for children. The beneficiaries of their 1% of phone charges and $0.10 for every credit card purchase include Alliance for Climate Protection, Greenpeace, Organic Farming Research Foundation and many others.
- Barnes and Noble – You planning on buying books? CDs? Toys? Gardening tools? Barnes and Noble’s affiliate program may benefit one of your pet causes. Just check on their website and see, because they will get a referral fee for every purchase that comes through their site.
- MyMemberShop – Organizations can work with MyMemberShop to set up their own market place with 2.5 – 3% of all sales coming back to the organization as a referral fee. They partner with Amazon for all of the credit card and paypal processing and have goods form major retailers like Bloomingdales, Wal-Mart, the Gap and others. Before you go online shopping for a computer or kitchen appliance, check out your favorite causes and their websites to see if they have storefronts that are connected.
- Brighter Planet – This start up out of Middlebury, Vermont was a classroom project in the International Environmental Economics program at Middlebury College. The company has partnered with Bank of America to offer a credit card that earns 1 point for every $1 spent. Money is invested in clean energy projects that have been vetted by Native Energy and Brighter Planet’s board, with 1000 points funding about 1 ton of carbon offsets.
- Bank of America – This behemoth bank has a variety of affinity cards to choose, including cards that benefit the Sierra Club, Defenders of Wildlife, Nature Conservancy and others. Like with Brighter Planet, you earn a point for every dollar spent, with points translating into donations to those causes.
- MicroPlace – If you’re going to play the market, why not go for a guaranteed percentage while investing your money in microlending funds? eBay’s new MicroPlace’s motto is “Invest wisely. End poverty.” With returns of 3% or more, it might end up being more lucrative than the current stock market! I know that in the rahrah 90s I bet on a couple of bad horses with company names that I can no longer remember. I would much rather have put that money in the hands of a real entrepreneur with a high level of motivation than a 20 something that blew it on a launch party at Nobu and a flavored oxygen bar.
Further Reading:
