Build-A-Bear Workshop®
is a Company with Heart
When a child makes a bear at Build-A-Bear Workshop, one of the most important steps is placing a small, satiny heart inside the new friend. A friendly Bear Builder™ associate instructs the child to rub the heart between his or her hands to warm it up and fill it with love. After the final stitching and fluffing, the happy child hugs a new friend, knowing a warm heart is tucked inside.
The communities where Build-A-Bear Workshop does business know the company has a warm heart, too. The Build-A-Bear Workshop Bear Hugs Foundation supports beary many worthy organizations that support children’s health & wellness and companion animal programs. The Foundation also considers proposals for literacy and education funding.
Champ grants are awarded twice each year. Decisions are made by the Board of Directors of the Build-A-Bear Workshop Bear Hugs Foundation. Grant amounts typically range from $1000 to $5000. If you are a 501 (c)(3) organization and wish to be considered for a Champ grant, visit www.buildabear.com and click on “About Us” then “Community Involvement” for complete information.
 Build-A-Bear Workshop also gives back to the community through Read Teddy®, a special bear that promotes the importance of literacy and education. A portion of the proceeds from the sale of this furry friend is donated to organizations that support this mission, including First Book®. Build-A-Bear has also partnered with the World Wildlife Fund, Autism Speaks, and The Juvenile Diabetes Research Fund.
Founder and Chief Executive Bear (everyone in the company has a title that includes bear!) Maxine Clark has a new book The Bear Necessities of Business: Building a Company with Heart. She will donate 100% of her proceeds from the sale of this book to the Build-A-Bear Workshop Bear Hugs Foundation. From the friendly Bear Builder Associates to the Chief Executive Bear, this company knows that the way to a customer’s heart is through the heart!
Build-A-Bear Workshop, Inc., is the only global company that offers an interactive make-your-own stuffed animal retail-entertainment experience. Founded in St. Louis in 1997, the company currently operates more than 275 stores in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom and Ireland. Build-A-Bear Workshop posted total revenue of $437 million in fiscal 2006. For more information, call 888.560.BEAR (2327) or visit the company’s award-winning Web sites at www.buildabear.com and www.friends2bmade.com.
Build-A-Bear is a client of Paradigm Shift Studio and our thanks goes to Matt Oldani, Foundation Bear for Build-A-Bear Workshop for his assistance with this Funder Spotlight Feature.
Diversified Revenue Sources are Key to Financial Stability
“It is important for nonprofits to have a long list of financial contributors, but perhaps more important is the amount these funders actually contribute,” writes Kathleen Enright, Executive Director of Grantmakers for Effective Organizations. “For example, if a nonprofit lists 60 supporters on its website, but the grants from three or four of those funders make up 80 percent of the organization’s budget, the funding is not diversified. If one of those three contributors pulls funding, the nonprofit could face a financial crisis.” For the long-term health and growth of an organization, nonprofit executives are challenged to find ways to diversify funding sources.
Funding diversification can occur in several ways. An increasing number of funders are recognizing the value in providing general operating support to nonprofits, not just program support. These unrestricted grants give the organization vital funding needed to build infrastructure and organizational capacity. Plus, they now can invest in a comprehensive, long range development program to secure a variety of funders. Funders may include foundations, government agencies and individuals.
Some nonprofits develop “earned income.” According to the Yale School of Management’s study “Enterprising Nonprofits: Revenue Generation in the Nonprofit Sector,” of 519 nonprofits surveyed, over half have a business venture that breaks even or turns a profit. Many survey respondents said that operating an earned income venture has had an impact on the organization that went beyond the bottom line, including improved organization reputation and better program and services delivery. 63% of those surveyed said running an enterprise helped build an entrepreneurial culture within the organization.
In today’s highly competitive funding arena, many nonprofit executives are so focused on locating funding for the current year that they may not have the time or energy to look to the long-term. Paradigm Shift Studio can help.
Good Shepherd School for Children hired Paradigm Shift Studio in 2004 to assess the development efforts of the school and create a plan to build capacity for long-term sustainability. Although the school had a strong fundraising base, it had only one full-time development professional and needed to maximize its efforts for the greatest return.
Paradigm Shift Studio conducted an organizational assessment, focusing on programs, physical facilities, and operating systems; budgets and diversity of revenue sources; development personnel;  special events and fundraising effectiveness; and board perceptions, spheres of influence, diversity, and training needs.
Executive Director Corinne Esneault notes: “Paradigm Shift Studio gave the Director of Development an additional person to support her, brainstorm with, empathize and collaborate to move forward.” Through this collaboration, Paradigm Shift Studio researched potential foundation partners; wrote program grants; and secured additional funds from previously untapped sources.
As a result of the assessment, Good Shepherd School immediately generated additional revenue through foundation grants, a new corporate sponsorship program and a new planned giving/endowment program. “The Board members who went through the ‘Sphere of Influence’ training greatly benefited and have been more effective in ‘asking’ people to support the organization’s fundraising efforts,” notes Corinne. Overall, the organization gained a new perspective on its unique existing strengths and learned how to build on those strengths to better leverage its efforts.
Corinne praises the work of Paradigm Shift Studio. “Lisa Dinga has a totally ‘positive’ approach. Instead of looking at what’s wrong and weaknesses, she focuses on strengths and opportunities. I would recommend Lisa’s group to anyone, absolutely. Paradigm Shift Studio’s depth of experience and progressive thinking are assets that would be of help to any organization.” For more information on Good Shepherd School for Children visit http://www.goodss.org/
Evergreen Web Solutions
a Paradigm Partner Spotlight
Kim Schwaab
Evergreen Web Solutions
kim@evergreenwebsolutions.com
www.EvergreenWebSolutions.com
314.267.8500
Kim’s mission is to help nonprofits and small businesses get the level of services and expertise they would get from a large agency at a cost they can afford. She says, “It’s a way for me to give back: nonprofits and small businesses don’t always feel they have the necessary resources to keep an effective Web presence, but they really need it – both for their own efficiencies and for the clients who increasingly turn to the Web to find them. Evergreen can help them better utilize the Web to market their services, promote their cause, promote themselves, communicate with their target audiences, raise awareness, and increase support.”
Evergreen Web Solutions is a full-service Web development company offering Paradigm clients:
- Strategy: From strategy to hosting, Evergreen can help identify what you need, what you don’t need, and the best route to get there.
- Full Service: Evergreen has expertise in both front-end design and communications as well as interactive application development
- Professional Expertise: Evergreen’s team includes specialized professionals who stay on top of the latest trends and technologies and meet or exceed project goals and deadlines.
- Affordable: Evergreen combines “Big Agency” professional expertise with small agency personal service – at a fraction of the cost.
- Nonprofit Discount of 10%.
- Free One-Hour Consultation: mention Paradigm Shift Studio when you call or email!
Kim helped me update and revamp my website. In today’s world, Web sites are a critical means to market yourself. When I found out that clients were discovering me through the Web, I was aghast because my original site was outdated and did not express who I am and what I do. Kim and her designer worked with me to create a very informative and professional looking Web site that gives a prospective client information – both visually and written – about how I can meet their needs. p.s. I have had many compliments on the Web site! Now I am not embarrassed to send customers there to find out more about me. Thanks again.
Chuck Lennox, Principal
Cascade Interpretive Consulting
Building Blocks For Success
SnapShot for Success
The SnapShot for Success program is a results-oriented, step-by-step program that assesses organizational strengths and opportunities, engages donors, and provides your organization with a customized “next steps” strategy report. Learn more….
Organizational/Fundraising Assessments
Paradigm Shift Studio’s in-depth assessments provide insight on improving your ability to raise funds, maximize staff and volunteer effectiveness, and create long-term organizational stability. Learn more….
Visioning and Strategic Planning
The right vision and planning empowers funders and nonprofits to SOAR to new levels of success. Believing that an energetic and positive approach creates new opportunities for engagement and solutions, Paradigm Shift Studio uses a unique approach to Visioning and Strategic Planning that identifies (S)trengths, (O)pportunities, (A)spirations and (R)esults. Learn more….
Revenue Enhancement Programs
Paradigm Shift Studio helps you quickly analyze the areas that hold the greatest potential for revenue success and build custom programs to ensure donor engagement and loyalty. Learn more….
Leadership Development
Paradigm Shift Studio helps board members and staff members discover individual and collective strengths, explore spheres of influence, and create their individual toolkits for overall organizational success. Working as a cohesive team you will be able to reach new levels of success and more effectively serve your constituents. Learn more….
Community Partnerships
Understanding how to create the community partnerships some funders require may be overwhelming, but it is also the key securing additional resources and maximizing your impact. Paradigm Shift Studio, llc helps your organization identify strategic partners and create a plan for win-win relationships. Learn more….
Workshops
Paradigm Shift Studios offers a variety of workshop experiences filled with best practices and working models for your organization. Continuing education credits as a Certified Fundraising Executive are available for Paradigm Shift Studios workshops. Learn more….
Fundraising 101
You've bought the books, attended the conferences ... now what? Paradigm Shift Studio is partnering with Ashley Gray to offer you you and your board hands on training. Modules include: Fundraising, Solicitation, Prospecting, Donor Communications, Campaigns, Special Events, Planned Giving, Grants and the Roles of the Board, Committees and Development Office. Learn more….
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