Green is the new green

Does your organization need money? Join the club.

It seems everyone is looking for funding these days and many are complaining that it’s tough to find. Many of those same people, however, are not looking in the right places or don’t know how to make themselves sellable – and that can make all the difference.

Let’s say you’re a for-profit green company that wants financing, where do you look? For starters, are you even prepared to ask for money? Do you have a business plan? Do you have the skills and experience necessary for an investor to consider giving you capital? If you don’t, ask your friends and family first – and then get yourself ready. You could go online or buy a book about business plans or you could team up with someone that will make potential investors drool. Getting dollars for your private business is a lot like dating though, you have to have them like you before they will buy what you’re selling.

Now, let’s say you’re a nonprofit or have the potential to team up with one…now we’re talking. While most everyone is complaining that there are no public dollars left, the rest of us are looking at corporate or family foundations for relief. These aren’t the Gates or Rockefellers of the world but their cash is green all the same. All you need to do is be smart and find these smaller jewels that fund a couple million a year for philanthropic efforts. Add to it your green tint, and you’re sure to get more than a second glance.

So, if you’ve gotten this far you’re probably thinking – where do I find the money? The answer is all around you. Look at the companies you do business with: where you buy your electronics, your dinner, your cleaning products? Chances are these very same companies have a small foundation set up to fund people just like you.

And what if you want to find the family foundations? Well, the reality is that you have to spend money on some good databases or hire fools like me to find them for you. The truer answer is that family foundations stay hidden on purpose. They don’t want every schmo out there knocking on their door asking for money. They prefer to fund those that come through friends or those tenacious enough to hunt them down. But don’t fret, because once you find them, they are people just like you and I. Unless they are godless souls that just want to hold their money at a distance and laugh in our general direction - either way, it will be a fun trek.

So let’s recap. You’ve learned that if you’re in it for the money, you better be prepared or partner with a nonprofit, or simply just be very prepared. You’ve learned that nonprofits have little to gain now from government and you’ve learned that blogs sometimes tell you what you don’t want to hear.

That about sums it up. Cheers and enjoy the hunt.

Robert Ruano, LEED AP

Ecostrata Services

info@ecostratas.com

www.ecostratas.com

Investors looking again into Clean Technology

From the Financial Times

The IPO markets have opened their doors once again to the potential of viable clean-tech companies prompting

significant investor demand for 2010 and on. However, those truly in the running to gain are the more proven, more established companies leaving less room for startups and newer technologies. Investors are still smarting from the economic downturn and are still extremely risk-averse.

For more information, see the full article at the Financial Times.

How to Raise Capital For Small Green Business - Steps to Follow

By Walt Harris

Self-employment is simply a marvelous idea especially when the current situation in the job market is worsening day by day. There is one brilliant idea using which you can not only earn a great deal but also help keep the environment clean and pure. The small green business is a unique concept and is growing popular with time. It is expected that more and more people will soon take interest in developing their own green businesses which will in turn help save our planet. How to raise capital for small green business is one of the main concerns with entrepreneurs willing to enter in this field. Here are few ideas that have proven effective for many entrepreneurs:

Importance Of A Business Plan

Before you start off with your fund raising program for the small green business, you should create a foolproof business plan. This should be the top most priority - and in case you are skipping this step - you might end up in a mess. In fact the business plan is required when you are about to take a loan from any financial organization. The business plan should cover all aspects of the business proposal. The objective of the business, the profits and the risks involved and also the amount of funding initially required - these are the key features of a perfect business plan.

Sources Of Funds

Now when you are ready with the business plan, consider the sources from where you can expect the funds. The co-operative societies often readily fund independent small business projects. There are some charitable organizations as well who like to fund these sorts of projects. You can also seek help on the web. Just type “how to raise capital for small green business” in the search box and you will find a large number of organizations that fund these types of ventures. You can also look for an efficient small business funding directory where you will get all possible resources that you might need.

In fact the fundraiser websites have specific categories for the businesses. If you are planning to start a business with the home grown vegetables or other organic food stuffs like nuts, poultry items etc., there are certain organizations which specialize in funding these businesses. If you are good at cooking or know people who can help you with this, open a business for organic cooked food and chances are that you will prosper a lot. Apart from the food products, there are beauty and decorative products that are prepared organically. These make excellent salable items. Their wide array includes soaps, candles, oils and many more products. Personalized stuffs, Christmas gifts, wraps, clothes can be your products for small green businesses.

Once you know the ins and outs of the small green businesses, you can go ahead and approach any financial organization, community, charitable fund etc for financing the project. If you can impress them with your idea, then you will never have to worry about how to raise capital for small green business.

Never before has Raising Capital For Small Green Business been this quick and easy! Grab all the inside information while there’s still time at Internet Fund Raising

Investors Request High-Quality Communications on Progress

SocialFunds.com — The United Nations Global Compact consists of a set of ten principles of corporate responsibility, which address issues of human rights, labor, the environment, and anti-corruption. By joining the UN Global Compact, companies commit to producing an annual corporate responsibility report known as a Communication on Progress (COP). Read more