STRYV: STRATEGIC GIVING 101

Business Stories • Feb 20, 2018

The purpose-driven business series features a different Business for Good to showcase their unique giving stories. We hope these stories inspire you with interesting, new and joyful ideas on how to integrate giving into your business.

The typical mindset usually assumed is that businesses would do well in business and give back as a result of doing well. But one of the things that pleasantly surprised the B1G1 team was when we discovered how many of our B1G1 Business members actually used giving as a motivation for doing well in business – because they wanted to give more, they ensured that they did even better in business so that they could give. Today’s featured business takes this motivation 10 steps further, with their full impact summary and strategic giving plan every quarter.

INTRODUCING…STRYV!

WHO: Zander Woodford-Smith from Stryv

WHERE: UK/US, Global

WHAT:Personal growth platform for social entrepreneurs, coaches and life long learners.

CAN YOU GIVE US A SENSE OF WHY YOU DECIDED TO START GIVING?
Compassion for the less fortunate. After a near death experience for myself, and a few years later a very close family member, at a very young age my focus has been to make the most of life, to make a difference, and help others do the same.

WHAT ARE YOUR FAVOURITE PROJECT(S) TO GIVE TO AND WHY?
Ones that align with the sustainable development goals because then it feels like we are contributing to the biggest issues that many thousands of other people are working on also.

HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE THE IMPACT B1G1 HAS HAD ON YOUR COMPANY AND ITS CULTURE?
It’s the purpose behind all our decisions.

WHAT’S THE BEST EXPERIENCE YOU’VE HAD THROUGH YOUR GIVING ACTIVITIES AND BEING A PART OF B1G1?
Seeing the recognition of getting 2nd place in the impact award was great but I love the fact that we are now aligned behind the sustainable development goals.

WHAT QUESTION WOULD YOU WISH THAT WE’D ASKED AND WHAT WOULD BE YOUR ANSWER?
Q: How are you using giving in your organisation.

A: We plan and track our giving against the sustainable development goals. Every quarter, we pick 3 SDGs we are going to focus on and pick 3 (B1G1) projects in each of these – a low, medium, and high giving amount. These then become our focus for the quarter.

Then we establish a revenue and profit margin we need to hit in order to achieve these. Each month, we create a giving impact summary video, and at the end of the quarter we produce a longer video to show the impact statement and set new targets for the following quarter.

If you have an interesting Giving Story to share, write to us at hello@b1g1.com to be included in the next feature!

READ ABOUT THE OTHER PURPOSE-DRIVEN BUSINESSES IN THIS SERIES:

Masami Sato

Masami is the founder and CEO of B1G1 and is the guiding light behind almost every project in B1G1! She is one of the most humble and inspiring people you’ll ever meet.