DoSomething.org Launches DoSomething U

I'm so excited I can barely type. Yesterday, an amazing resource became available for all the current and aspiring do-gooders of the world: DoSomething U. Started by the organization DoSomething.org, this website is another tool through which they "help young people rock causes they care about."

The mission of the site is to help individuals passionate about social change make their ideas a reality. In that vein, the site is full of articles on topics categorized by seven "majors" ranging from activism to technology to human resources.

On the site you'll also find videos on various topics. Each week DoSomething U will release a new one on a different topic. Here are a few to get you started:

• How to Tell a Story Through Video - As someone with little to zero (closer to zero) video media skills this was a great intro to me. And if you haven't heard of Andrew Jenks, he's pretty cool. Google him.
• How to Create a Strong Brand - This one is particularly interesting to me because over the last week or so I've put a lot of thought into how to begin branding the non-profit I work with right now. As a business person, I truly believe in the value of branding for organizations, and not just in the private sector.
• Overcome the Fear of Asking for Money - No matter what kind of organization you intend to start, the money has to come from somewhere. If you're anything like me, it's better to start getting over that fear sooner than later!

So now that DoSomething.org has provided yet another reason to stop putting off any program and venture ideas we may have, how long will it take for you to get started?

A Place Where You Can Pay What You Want

I love when businesses venture out and commit to doing social good. Panera Bread, the soup and sandwich shop, is the latest company to gain my admiration. They have opened up a pay-what-you-want store – known as Saint Louis Bread Co. – in St. Louis, MO as a nonprofit model experiment. The motto: "Take what you need, leave your fair share."

My first thought was along the lines of, “what a ridiculous idea.” Having a background in business, I couldn’t imagine how something like this would work, far less during a recession. Yet, the community has proven initial critics like me wrong.

So what exactly is making this model work you ask?

An honor code.

Yep, the same honor code that some of us had to abide by in high school, requiring us to sign the top of exams and major papers to signify that we had not cheated. We all know that there were always individuals who cheated; however, the point is that the majority of students respected the honor code.

Likewise at Panera. There is an understanding that if you have the means, you will pay. There will always be those individuals who try to game the system (and there have been), however Panera has reported that on average customers pay 90% of the retail price.

Of course this great experiment hasn’t gone without some criticism. Neighborhood mom and pop shops are bearing a significant burden. As one store owner put it, “how do you compete with free?” I know I personally would become a very local customer to a store that is willing to provide me with food/service even when I am low on funds. It would be the first place I’d spend – and overspend – my money.

What I love most about this experiment is the change it offers for the community. Individuals with limited income are able to provide their families with food at a price they can afford. In the Economist article entitled “Sandwich Philanthropy” there is an unemployed gentleman who wrote a letter stating, “Thank God for the Bread Company,” because he is able to bring his kids in for a discounted snack every week.

The pay-what-you-want model also provides opportunities for those without any income to work in exchange for food. According to the New York Times, “About 15 to 20 of the roughly 60 meals it serves each day are given away to needy customers, some of whom wash windows, sweep or break down boxes for an hour or so in return.” This saves the organization from having to pay individuals for these services and allows the volunteers to feel as though they have earned their meals.

Lastly, any net income earned from operations will apparently be used to fund community programs. I can’t think of a single do-gooder who wouldn’t place this kind of shop high on their list of places to support.

Panera seems to be looking to expand this model based upon the success of the St. Louis pilot. While I’m sure there are some cities that this will work better in than others, I would really love to see this concept thrive.

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