Helping Children in Turkey to Start Learning Again

March 29, 2023
BNIF worldwide, News, School Projects, Uncategorized

The BNI Foundation is Helping Children in Turkey to Start Learning Again

On 6 February, 2023 at 04:17 local time, southern and central Turkey and northern Syria were hit by the strongest earthquake in modern times. As of 10 March, 55,000 people are reported to have died, 2.4 million have been displaced, up to 24 million affected and over 200,000 buildings have been destroyed in an area the size of Germany.

Whenever such horrendous natural disasters occur, BNI members around the world, and understandably in particular those from the areas worst affected, turn to us and ask “what is the BNI Foundation doing to help?” Normally our answer is simple:

• The BNI Foundation is focused on Children & Education.
• We are not a disaster relief organization, not because we don’t want to help, but simply because we don’t have the resources to make an impact when faced with damage and suffering of such magnitude.
• At these times, well-known international aid organizations such as ICRC (The Red Cross) and UNICEF do an excellent job and have the financial and logistical resources to make a difference in the dramatic first days and weeks. Yes, part of their donation income is used to cover administrative costs, but donations to them really do make their work possible.
• If there is a Rotary, Lions, or other service club near to you, reach out to them and ask what they are doing. They have values which are well-aligned with those of the BNI Foundation and often work directly with other clubs in the affected areas to provide prompt and direct support.

After the initial intense media coverage has died down and the story is no longer in the headline news, the immediate flow of donations subsides. As the rebuilding process begins while much of the world turns its attention to other matters, the time comes when the BNI Foundation can have an impact on children and their education in schools which have been damaged or destroyed.

BUT for Turkey we are fortunate to already have our own BNI option! – Yardım – Herkesin bir gün yardıma ihtiyacı olabilir (bnisupportforturkiye.com).

BNI Turkey National Director Ayşe Aslan has launched an appeal to provide 100 families in the worst affected areas with a container to live in until they can return to permanent accommodation. In addition to the many homes lost, families are understandably afraid of returning to damaged properties for fear of further aftershocks. Being housed in a container will provide them with safe shelter as they attempt to pick up the pieces of their shattered lives. It will also enable children to feel more secure and slowly return to their school studies, something which is at the heart of everything that the BNI Foundation stands for.

Containers cost approx. TL45,000 or USD 2,500 each and the BNI Foundation in both Germany & Austria, where many of our Members have relatives in Turkey severely impacted by the earthquake, have donated to the BNI Support for Turkey appeal to purchase one container in the name of each country. BNI HQ has also donated $5,000 to accommodate two more families and we invite BNI Teams and regions around the world to do the same. Account details for international bank transfers are available via the link above, but the credit card option seems only to be available within Turkey. If an international transfer is not possible, please donate via the “Donate Now” button on www.bnifoundation.org, adding “Support for Turkey” and your name or that of your Chapter or Region in the text field. We will ensure that your donation is forwarded to Turkey promptly.

This is a unique way for the many BNI Members and Chapters around the world who would like to help directly if only they know how to make a difference in the lives of children in Turkey whose life changed so dramatically only a few weeks ago.

Thank you for whatever support you feel able to give!

Kevin Barber, March 17, 2023

There Is Still Good Reason To Smile!

March 28, 2023
, , , , Blog, Fundraising, News

There Is Still Good Reason To Smile!

The announcement in January by Amazon that it would be discontinuing its AmazonSmile program came as a surprise and disappointment to many. For customers signed up for the Smile program, Amazon had – since 2013 – donated 0.5% of the transaction value to a registered charity of that customer’s choice.

Amazon justified its decision by arguing that with one million registered non-profit recipients around the world, its impact had remained behind the organization’s expectations. Another explanation could, of course, be that after AmazonSmile attracted so many new customers, they have now decided to simply cut costs and increase margins by a further 0,5%. Whatever the real reason, the program ended on 20 February 2023.

I was never a big fan of the BNI Foundation promoting AmazonSmile to raise funds for us, because I truly believe that BNI members should be buying whatever they need from other BNI members, even if it ends up costing a bit more. After all, BNI is all about investing in relationships and we are not likely to build a relationship with a Member from Amazon anywhere in the world any time soon.

Having said that, most of us resort to buying from them from time to time, because they are quick and (normally) reliable. And knowing that every time we spend money with them a small part went to – in my case – the BNI Foundation made giving them our business feel just a little bit more acceptable.

Of course, realistically speaking, the benefit was actually very small. To raise $100 dollars in donation income, BNI members needed to spend $20.000 AND remember to purchase through the Smile.Amazon portal, not through Amazon itself! In 2022, we received a grand total of $550, so maybe Amazon was right about the impact not living up to expectations!

So why is there still good reason to smile? Because generating that income required purchases of $110.000 and there are a lot cheaper, simpler, and more effective ways of helping the BNI Foundation to support children and education than that. A monthly donation of $50 or $100 dollars or more will get you recognition on our website and there are also three levels of contribution to the Misner Endowment Fund, which mean you will be helping children for ever!

Any amount of money means that we can fund more projects than would otherwise be possible, but in the spirit of Givers Gain®, it doesn’t even have to be money! Through Business Voices™ there are multiple ways for you to help children in your local community get a better start in life, not least Future Leaders Week, which takes place from 15 – 21 October 2023. For further information, or just to talk to us about the BNI Foundation and how we can help you to grow your business, your chapter and your region, please contact us on info@bnifoundation.org.

Thank you, yours still smiling 😊

Kevin Barber, March 17, 2023

Spring 2023 Givers Gain Grant Cycle

February 28, 2023
All Posts, Blog, Featured Posts, Grants, News, Uncategorized

Spring 2023 Givers Gain Grant Cycle

Each year the BNI Foundation opens our Givers Gain Grant Cycle for one month in the Spring and Fall. We are excited to announce the Spring 2023 Grants Cycle which is open from March 1 – 31, 2023.

Givers Gain Grants are one of the important “Pillars of Success”, which is the moniker given to the 3 programs of the BNI Foundation. Over the last 25 years that the BNI Foundation has been providing monetary assistance to schools, educational organizations, and other student-focused programs around the world. Together, we have fundraised over $3.5 Million USD to help improve the educational circumstances facing financial instability that negatively affect educational opportunities. Our grants aim to help the most students as possible, leading to our grants funding programs and supplies that benefit 100s or 1,000s of students each cycle.

 

For Those Interested in Applying

We encourage all eligible organizations to apply for a Givers Gain Grant but we know that the process can often times be a daunting task. When preparing to apply for BNI Foundation’s Givers Gain Grants, follow these tips to make sure you’re providing the best information possible about your organization and programs.

  1. Be specific. Organizations that provide specific projected impact numbers or details about how the grant will be used have a higher likelihood of being awarded a grant.
  2. Don’t be afraid to ask. If you’re unsure about the grant process or have a question, please email us at info@bnifoundation.org and someone from our team would be happy to answer any questions!
  3. Have a relationship with someone in BNI. Although we want to help as many students as possible, the BNI Foundation is still growing and are only accepting applications from those that have a relationship with a BNI Member, Director, Chapter, or Global Support Team.

 

More Information about Eligibility

The BNI Foundation awards grants by referral only. A school or educational organization must have a relationship with a BNI Chapter, Member or Business Voices Team in order to be eligible for a grant. If you know of an organization which would benefit from a grant but does not yet fulfil this criteria, this may be an excellent opportunity to build a relationship with their nearest chapter. Please contact us for guidance if required.

The grant monies should fund projects which:

  • Benefit the largest possible number of children (i.e., do not primarily provide items which will become the property of students)
  • Enhance the classroom and learning environment
  • Support, where possible, multiple classrooms, teachers or instructors

Grants are awarded in Spring and Fall after a 4-week open-application cycle. Recipients may only apply for a grant once within a rolling 12-month period. The number of grants awarded is dependent upon the number of applications received and the amount of available funds at the time of the funding cycle and is subject to change.

We look forward to receiving applications from organizations with a primary focus on children’s education and, if successful, to building relationships with these organizations for years to come.

Announcing the New Partnership: NFL Alumni Association and BNI Foundation

February 14, 2023
All Posts, Blog, Featured Posts, News, Uncategorized

NFL Alumni Association x BNI Foundation Partnership

 

The BNI Foundation and NFL Alumni are announcing a major collaboration to raise money for children throughout the United States. This partnership brings together two of America’s most well-known and respected organizations with a shared goal of making a positive impact on the lives of our nation’s youth and communities. 

The BNI Foundation’s mission is to lead a global movement of businesspeople who fund educational programs and volunteer time to prepare children for a promising future. We have established partnerships with local community programs to help empower and equip students with the skills necessary for a better future. The NFL Alumni is the oldest, most well-known and well-respected retired player organization in professional sports. The NFL Alumni focuses on their Caring for Kids Program, which provides services to underprivileged youth.  Together, we will work to fight childhood hunger, improve access to mental health services, support education and promote physical fitness for young people. 

This new collaboration between our two organizations will help expand our reach even further – enabling us to assist more children in need than we would ever have been able to assist before. Thanks to this partnership, the BNI Foundation and the NFL Alumni will be able to increase our fundraising efforts greatly; allowing us to expand our reach into more areas of the country where there is an immediate need to help students.  

This groundbreaking partnership will allow our two organizations to pool resources, aiding and supporting students, educators, and communities. Our ability to draw upon key resources from every corner of the country will create a vast network that can provide lasting relief.  

 

Both the BNI Foundation and NFL Alumni are committed to making a real difference in the lives of children and families. Our collaboration will create a powerful force for good that will benefit not only those currently receiving assistance, but also future generations who may find themselves in similar situations.   

 “We are always looking for companies and individuals who are willing to partner with us in our mission. If you are interested in joining forces with us, please reach out to me so we can discuss potential collaboration opportunities. Our commitment to helping vulnerable children is unwavering, and we strive to create enduring relationships with like-minded individuals and organizations to further support this cause. Our hope is that together we can help children in need get access to the essential services they require for their education and well-being.”

             – David Kauffman, BNI Foundation Vice-Chair – DavidK@bnifoundation.org

Clear Goals to Propel Your Nonprofit

January 31, 2023
All Posts, Blog, BNIF worldwide, Featured Posts, News

Clear Goals to Propel Your Nonprofit

Is your nonprofit organization moving towards its missions? If not, it may be due to a lack of clear and specific goals. The mission statement should act as a beacon. Look at it as the as the ultimate goal that everyone is always working toward. However, mission statements are often far-reaching by design and meant to encompass a broad set of goals and objectives. The goals that get you to your mission should be much more specific and measurable. They include the projects that staff and volunteers will work on throughout the year. Clearly stated goals can motivate staff, donors and volunteers.

Evaluation

Before setting goals, the first step is to evaluate where your nonprofit currently stands in terms of finances, donors, staff and volunteer engagement. You may want to focus on one or more of these when setting future goals. This is also the time to look at past and current goals. How effectively are those goals being pursued? Do the goals serve the mission? Determine where the organization is succeeding and what issues are outstanding. Goal setting should involve staff from all departments. Keep communication open and the process transparent.

Examine the forces outside of your organization that will affect your work. Developing trends, changing community needs and donor and volunteer motivations could all suggest directions for goal setting. An understanding of where your nonprofit stands on these issues should give you an idea of weaknesses to improve and strengths to bolster. Keep your mission statement in mind as you determine your short and long term goals.

SMART Goals

Having determined your nonprofit’s standing, it’s time to set the goals that will guide your future actions. SMART is a long-standing goal setting system used by organizations around the world. SMART stands for specific, measurable, attainable, relevant and time-based. Each of these aspects works to create goals that are clear and motivating to your staff and volunteers.

Specific:  Goals are specific as possible to provide focus and clarity. 

Measurable:  Goals must have objectives and milestones that can be measured. These will serve to mark progress.

Attainable:  Goals are realistic. Set ambitious goals that you have the resources to accomplish.

Relevant:  Your goals fit the big picture. Goals are relevant to the organization’s mission.

Time-based:  Deadlines can bolster motivation. Use multiple shorter deadlines.

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SMART Examples

The following are examples of specific goals that will nonetheless apply to many nonprofit organizations. Each one can serve as a starting point for formulating your own goals.

Raise Funds

Fund raising is certainly one of the most important goals that many nonprofits share. Some specifics of fund raising are how, how much, and by when. Sources include social media calls to action, fund raising events that can raise awareness and direct appeals to existing donors and volunteers.

Increase Awareness

Exposure and increased awareness will often help facilitate other goals, and a clear and specific mission and goals can make your audience more receptive. Concentrate on the communication channels you have in place that are most effective and new strategies you can introduce to increase your reach. Monitoring and measuring your impact is now easier than ever with online analytic tools.

Recruit

Recruit both volunteers and donors to maintain the effectiveness of your organization. Some will become both volunteers and donors so appeal to both altruistic impulses. A good place to start is by expanding your existing network and securing regular, ongoing donations. Increase donation channels to make it easy for your donors.

The new year can be a great time to reorganize and set upcoming priorities and goals for your nonprofit organization. Short and long-term goals should provide achievable and measurable steps to achieve the organization’s mission. Ensure that goals motivate your staff, volunteers and donors to action. With these points in mind, your nonprofit’s goals will help propel it to success.

The Easiest New Year’s Resolution to Keep!

January 13, 2023
All Posts, Blog, Featured Posts, News

The Easiest New Year’s Resolution to Keep!

If my own personal experience is anything to go by, at this point in January it could just be that some New Year’s resolutions – especially those of the “I am not going to do, eat, or drink that any more” or the “I am going to do this, that or the other every day” variety, have already been consigned to history. Disappointing as that might be, for those of you who followed this suggestion….

“In 2023 I am going to give a few minutes of my time to learn more about just how easy it is to get more involved with BNI Foundation activities in my region and why that could be important for me, my BNI team and my own business”

……you are still very much on track – at least with this one!

And the quickest and easiest way to get started is to put the date of this year’s 2nd Business Voices Future Leaders (BVFL) Week in your diary NOW – October 15 – 21, 2023. This is the week in which we invite BNI Chapters to hold their weekly meeting in a nearby school. If the week itself is not convenient, any time in October is fine too.

At the end of the weekly meeting, in which 15- to 18-year-old students have the chance to experience how modern business owners work together to help each other become more successful, selected Team Members go to or remain in the school to provide career orientation sessions, talking about their own professions to young people facing complex career decisions. The students’ homework assignment then gets them talking to their parents/guardians about their own jobs and careers and the experiences they have drawn from them.

Business Voices Future Leaders Week took place for the first time in October 2022, when 770 BNI Members from 65 Chapters gave practical career orientation advice to over 6500 students in 11 countries! And now for the really exciting part:

· After one meeting, 4 students went home and told their parents “Mom/Dad, school was so cool today, please can you join BNI?!

· An electrical contractor was approached after his weekly presentation by a 16-year-old boy who offered to connect him with his father who was building a factory. The last time we heard, negotiations had already commenced!

· Within four weeks of BVFL 2022 closing, it had already resulted in one Thank You for Closed Business for $243,000!

BNI Members who took part last year got so much out of the event themselves that they are already looking forward to returning in 2023 and a number of schools have asked if we can establish BVFL as a permanent fixture in the school calendar. If you would like to know more about how your chapter can take part, please register your interest via this link Business Voices Future Leaders Week – BNI Foundation to receive a detailed information package.

And if you simply have questions about what we do at the BNI Foundation and why we do it, please contact us on info@bnifoundation.org and one of our team members will be in touch to set up a call. We look forward to hearing from you soon!

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David Kauffman, January 2023

What Comes After The Holidays?

December 31, 2022
All Posts, Blog, Featured Posts, News

What Comes After The Holidays?

Christmas is a time of giving, which should be easy enough for BNI people to whom Givers Gain® is second nature. I remember a speaker at a Global Convention many years ago saying “Dr. Misner, I am sorry, but with all due respect “Givers Gain” is wrong, it should be “Givers Give,” because that is what Givers do, they Give – out of conviction that Giving is the right thing to do, not because they expect something in return”. Of course, in the end, they gain too, but this is not their intention, it just happens!

More BNI Members and Directors than ever have Given to the BNI Foundation in the past year – and for this, we want to say to all of you who have helped us in our mission to support Children and Education – THANK YOU! Some of you have Given money and, of course, money always helps, but many more have Given your time, your talent, and your experience. Today we have Foundation activities in more countries than ever before and our first Business Voices Future Leaders (BVFL) Week in October saw 770 BNI members from 65 chapters in 11 countries provide hands-on, professional career orientation advice to over 6500 students facing complex choices about their future careers.

Of course, this is also the time of year when people around the world decide on their New Year Resolutions and to make this easier to keep than usual, here is one suggestion from us:

“In 2023 I am going to GIVE a few minutes of my time to learn more about just how easy it is to get more involved with BNI Foundation activities in my region and why that could be important for me, my BNI team, and my own business”.

Whether you wish to 1) help us give more Givers Gain Grants by supporting us financially via the “Donate Now” button on our homepage www.bnifoundation.org or 2) launch a Business Voices team in your region or 3) find out more about how your chapter can participate in BVFL Week or 4) you are just learning about us for the first time and simply have questions about what we do and why we do it, please contact us on info@bnifoundation.org and one of our team will be in touch to set up a call.

Wherever you are in the world, we look forward to hearing from you and to learning – in the spirit of Givers Gain – how we can help you!

Happy New Year!!

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Kevin Barber, December 2022

Speak Up For Service Day Celebrates Community Involvement of Youth

October 27, 2022
All Posts, Blog, Featured Posts, News

Speak Up For Service Day Celebrates Community Involvement of Youth

Too often, the community involvement of young people is overlooked. On Speak Up For Service Day, October 30th, we recognize the impact of the young people who are actively engaged in community service. Speak Up For Service Day shines a light on their contributions.

The Mandan Lions Club of North Dakota, itself a community service organization, established Speak Up For Service Day in 2014, but its history goes back a little further. In 2003, the Lions club started the Student Speakers Contest for high school students in honor of Laura Christensen Espejo, a local woman who had devoted her life to improving health care availability for the less fortunate of Fargo and Peru. The contest went statewide in 2010. Today Lions Clubs throughout the North America hold public speaking contests for youths. Speakers are encouraged to share insights about current issues.

Get Involved

Speak Up For Service Day provides an opportunity to recognize the youth in your community for the projects they support and to encourage further community involvement by young people. If you are in a position to do so, create opportunities for youth to get involved. The benefits are many including confidence boosting and positive community impact. Here are some ways to observe Speak Up For Service Day:

  • Be vocal! Speak to others, especially young people, about the service initiatives available in your community.
  • Celebrate and encourage young people who get involved in their communities.
  • Raise awareness about the contributions young people make to their communities.

Starting to give of one’s time and effort at a young age can lead to a lifetime of fulfilling volunteer work and community service. Use Speak Up For Service Day as a springboard to get a young person in your life involved in community service.

Givers Gain Grant Provides Chess Sets, Coaching to Virginia Beach Students

September 16, 2022
All Posts, Blog, Featured Posts, Grants, News

Givers Gain Grant Provides Chess Sets, Coaching to Virginia Beach Students

 

Hampton Roads Chess Association in Virginia Beach, VA is a non-profit organization dedicated to bringing the life benefits of chess to people of all ages and abilities. They work closely with area schools, and other local organizations, to provide chess equipment and instruction to students throughout the region. Now, Hampton Roads Chess Association is also a Givers Gain Grant recipient.

 

“We are so grateful for your support in being able to impact children who could not otherwise afford chess programming,” said Executive Director, Tina Schweiss, “These children will learn focus, impulse control, decision-making, planning and organizing, calculation, pattern recognition, time management, and so much more through chess.”

 

The bulk of the grant was used to hire chess coaches to provide instruction to students at two elementary schools, Seatack Elementary in Virginia Beach and Lindenwood Elementary in Norfolk, VA. Hampton Roads has partnered with Connect With a Wish – a Virginia non-profit that serves children in foster care – and a portion of the grant funds were used to provide the children with chess classes, clubs and tournaments to participate in as well as personal, portable chess sets. Finally, any remaining funds supplemented the Joan H. Schlich Memorial Scholarship Fund which covers individual, need-based scholarships. “We have a scholarship fund with which we strive to turn no child away for inability to pay. The fees they would normally pay for tuition, training accounts, etc. are covered by the scholarship in whole or in part,” said Schweiss.

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The Hampton Roads Chess Association has done great work introducing and promoting the game of chess to children and adults, all the while working with a network of other non-profits and chess focused organizations to maximize their impact and reach. We at the BNI Foundation are proud to support this worthwhile organization.

Business Voices Future Leaders Week

August 16, 2022
, , All Posts, Blog, BNIF worldwide, Business VoicesTM, Events, Featured Posts, News, School Projects
What is Business Voices Future Leaders Week?

Business Voices Future Leaders Week (BVFL) is a simple way for BNI professionals to offer young people career orientation advice within their local community. During the week of October 17 – 21, 2022, we are inviting Chapters to hold their weekly Meeting in a local school, showcasing the way BNI teams work together. After the Meeting, volunteer Members will remain in the school to talk and answer questions about their chosen professions.

 

Why did the BNI Foundation create BVFL Week?

BVFL is designed to give students a real world understanding of what businesspeople do and how they got there. As BNI Members and Directors, we have unique experiences and are proud to have so many entrepreneurs who may not have a traditional educational background. At the BNI Foundation, we believe it is important for students to see that every educational and professional experience is important. Regardless of the path to your career, it is important to show students that success is achieves in many different ways. Business Voices Future Leaders Week also provides opportunities for BNI Members to give back to their communities and gives Chapters a reinvigorating experience to remind them of the importance of their networks for growing their businesses and the communities in which they live.

 

How to get involved

If your Chapter is interested in participating in BVFL, please register in advance by using the link provided below. To make the process as smooth as possible, you must register your team in advance. Once registered, a representative from our organization will email you the event packet with all of the materials needed to have a successful and fun day!

Our Goal for BVFL Week

Our goal is to provide career orientation advice to students ages 15- 18 years old as they prepare for their future careers.

 

 

Register today!

Business Voices Future Leaders Week

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