February 17, 2016 From approved strategic plan FY2016-2018
FOCUS AREA: Revenue
Objective 1: Increase revenue for member groups
Strategy 1.1. Secure new campaigns
Hannah Solar’s new campaign kicked off on November 19. About 30 employees attended (75 total employees). The event included a presentation by Southface and Chattahoochee Riverkeeper.
Green Chamber of the South’s campaign kicked off on December 2, as part of their monthly lunch and learn programs. About 35 people attended. Our presentation also included a talk by the Atlanta Bicycle Coalition.
The Business Development committee met in January. Key campaign targets for FY16 include: Brenau University, City of Roswell (new - Chattahoochee Nature Center contact), Mohawk Industries, Nelson Mullins and Southwire are “warm” targets.
Member group representatives are updating their business targets; the second quarterly conference call was held in January. Columbus Water Works (Oxbow), Maxxis Tire and Hennessey Car Dealership (Georgia River Network)are new member group targets from the conference call.
We hope to hold a B2B meeting at Interface for Columbus area businesses this year (postponed from January).
Wendy participated in Cox Enterprises’ Volunteer team kick-off event on January 25 to answer employee questions about ESGA and Earth Day events. The 2015 workplace-giving campaign for Cox Enterprises was the most successful yet.
Prepared and submitted grants to Kaiser Permanente for $75,000 and $30,000. The $75,000 grant was awarded and received in December. It includes $60,000 for local member groups (for the next allocation) and $15,000 for ESGA operational support. The $30,000 grant is for Kaiser Permanente’s Presenting Sponsorship of the Earth Day events. We should receive this funding by later February or early March.
Objective #2: Increase direct support for EarthShare of Georgia
Strategy 2.1. Increase online giving
Communications Committee members Sherry Crawley and Eng Taing met to work on fine-tuning messaging for online giving (see Communications Committee report).
Earth Day sponsor benefits are now included as part of year-round benefits for the Corporate Sustainer program providing year-round engagement for companies and their employees, while offering additional benefits. Sponsors confirmed as of 2.5.16 include Kaiser Permanente as Presenting Sponsor, Cox Enterprises, Cox Automotive (AIR); Bank of America, Delta Air Lines, Mohawk Group, SCANA Energy (WATER); Green Shortz, WSB-TV and Veritiv (MEDIA). Stephanie Stuckey Benfield and Michelle Wiseman have confirmed as our 2016 Earth Day Party Chairs.
Strategy 2.5:Establish new revenue sources
We organized a holiday wine fundraiser which was held on Monday, December 14 at the home of Melissa Bunnen. She donated desserts from Piece of Cake and Sun in My Belly Caterers donated hors d’oeuvres. All of the wine was donated, including about 40 bottles from individual board and advisory council members. Steve Edwards organized the inventory and wine sampling at the event. He was able to secure two cases from a wine store. The event raised about $800 (net) for ESGA and was attended by about 30 people, many of them Friend level donors, board and advisory council members. We hope to make this an annual fundraiser and holiday celebration.
Strategy 3.1: Increase brand awareness among business leaders
The Earth Day Leadership Breakfast key note speaker will be Ryan Gravel. The theme for the events is land conservation with sub-themes on farms (food, health and well-being), forests (trees, parks, greenspace) and function (sustainable buildings, tiny houses). We are planning facilitated table discussions to address sub-themes. We also hope to weave the sub-themes through all three events and are working with the Earth Day committee to finalize ideas.
Strategy 3.2: Increase brand awareness among key influencers (media, other non-profit organizations, government, environmental thought leaders)
See direct support – Corporate Sustainer program launched, B2B meeting planned
Partnering with Green Chamber of the South on some benefits for corporate sustainers at higher levels
Presentation planned for Hall County Green Alliance through Rudi Kiefer in March
lll.FOCUS AREA: Stakeholders
Objective #6: Expand the ethnic, race, age and geographic diversity of stakeholders
6.2:Identify programs, partnerships, or other opportunities to expand the diversity of Stakeholders
Nathaniel Smith, CEO of Partnership for Southern Equity came to our January member group meeting to make a brief presentation on the work of his organization and opened up a discussion on the importance of equity issues in the environmental community. We are discussing possible ways to partner in the future.
