By JOAN GEARY
Contributing Writer Keene Sentinel
HIGHLIGHT: Keene resident Steve Ryder owns and operates TrueNorth Networks, which provides managed network support to small businesses. Besides writing many checks to local nonprofit groups, he serves on the leadership boards of several organizations, including Stonewall Farm, Hannah Grimes and Elm City Rotary Club.
October 10, 2008 - Anyone who runs a small (or even large) business has likely spent a lot of time responding to the never-ending stream of requests for donations. From youth sports to major nonprofit groups, there are a lot of worthwhile causes out there, and it can be cumbersome dealing with making countless small, cash donations to so many charitable organizations.
Instead of dealing with the requests in the usual way, three Monadnock Region business owners have designed creative ways to make significant community contributions beyond just writing checks or handing out cash.
Peterborough small businessman Tom Strickland owns and operates Sequoya Technologies Group LLC, a managed information technology services company. Like most small business owners, he operates within budgetary restraints but wanted to increase his charitable giving. So he devised a plan.
“In a small business, there are a couple of challenges in making donations to nonprofit (agencies),” he said. “You’re working with a small budget so the size of the checks you can write is limited. The phone constantly rings. It’s always someone with a good cause. They’re always good causes.”
It’s very difficult to say no. I can’t,” he said. “I wanted to turn it around, to be more proactive. Now I can say, ‘I can’t just write you a check, but here’s what I can do for you.’ ”
Strickland created a program to equally benefit nonprofit organizations, participating clients and his business. He notified each Sequoya client he would make a donation equal to 5 percent of their monthly invoice to the local nonprofit group of their choice. He then set up a company account for each designated charity, into which he deposits monthly donation credits. Credits can be used to purchase any Sequoya product or service, and can accrue for up to one year.
Client bills don’t change. It costs them nothing to participate. Any number of clients can sponsor the same nonprofit organization which, in turn, can use its credits immediately, or accumulate credits to buy ongoing support services or a new computer — for the organization or to sell to raise money.
The program, which started last fall, has already benefited several Monadnock Region nonprofit groups. They include the Monadnock Humane Society, which traded credits for new graphic software, and Rindge’s Ingalls Library, which received a new computer.
“We focused on a part of the business we wanted to grow,” said Strickland. “We allowed our customers to make the choice. They get excited in the process. They’re engaged. That builds loyalty. It’s a win for the customer. It’s a win for the nonprofits, and I think it’s a win for us.”
Smaller clients can designate an organization to receive a one-time annual $25 donation. The company has also donated simple Web sites to nonprofit groups lacking an online presence. Participating clients and sponsored nonprofit organizations are listed on Sequoya’s Web site: www.sequoyatech.com
Among them is Monadnock Area Food Bank in Peterborough.
“We’re building our points, and eventually Sequoya will give us a laptop computer that we plan to raffle to raise money,” said Director Meredith White. “It won’t just be a laptop, but Sequoya will custom program it for whoever wins it in the raffle. I think we’re going to make a lot of money.”
“If a nonprofit (agency) has a need for a computer or computer services and can’t afford them, it’s a wonderful program,” she said.
In just one year, Strickland has already increased his charitable giving by $4,000.
“We’re hoping this is somewhat viral. I’d be thrilled if other small businesses followed suit. There’s room for others to do the same,” he said. “Just identify how you want your business to grow and attach the donation to that piece of your business. Let your customers choose. That’s the key.”
“It’s a way for small businesses to have an impact in the community, to reach beyond what we could normally do. It lets us do far more,” he said. “We’re all pinching pennies. The idea of increasing your giving while we’re all worried about paying for our heating oil — this is a way.”
Jeffrey Dixon prefers to give directly to the community. The Keene orthodontist relocated to the Monadnock Region from Massachusetts just a few years ago; and designed a spin-off of a charitable program of the Massachusetts Dental Society. During the past three years, he’s already donated 500 custom-fit mouth guards to local children ages 7-17. The majority aren’t regular patients in his practice; but do have financial need.
Dixon, who also maintains a practice in Greenfield, Mass., isn’t just contributing dental equipment, but also his expertise and time. Each procedure requires a couple of appointments. With staff assistance, he creates a mold of the teeth, then manufactures and custom fits the dental gear. Beyond that, he estimates he’s also contributed more than $25,000 of free dental care to area youth, and he still writes checks to local nonprofit groups.
He’s built his charitable giving around his business, in large part, to spend his free time with his own two children.
“I try to find ways to do it within the business,” he said. “It comes back to you in other ways. The community is making me what I am. My clients are supporting my family. It feels good for me to give something back.”
Each fall, he and staff members host an annual post-Halloween event, paying area children one to two dollars per pound for candy brought to his office at an appointed time. He then forwards the candy to a Manchester company to be shipped to American troops in Iraq. Last year alone, Dixon bought 400 pounds of candy from Monadnock Region youths.
“I couldn’t do any of it without my staff,” he said. “They’re volunteering, too. All these extra things make life fun. It really is fun.”
Keene resident Steve Ryder owns and operates TrueNorth Networks, which provides managed network support to small businesses. Besides writing many checks to local nonprofit groups, he serves on the leadership boards of several organizations, including Stonewall Farm, Hannah Grimes and Elm City Rotary Club.
“I hate cold calling,” he said. “Being involved in the community is my way of marketing. Serving on a board is an hour per month. I’m more involved in the community and connected to another 10 to 20 people who might bring me new business. I don’t pass out business cards or anything like that. It just happens naturally,” he said.
Ryder, too, enjoys creative giving. Each summer, he employs an intern to provide free computer technical assistance to any area nonprofit group in need. His overhead cost in salary and employee benefits is about $6,000; the market value for the free summer service exceeds $20,000. He also donates computer equipment to several organizations, such as Stonewall Farm and MoCo Arts, and technical services to others.
“I’ve always liked being philanthropic and giving back to the community,” he said. “I like to do it in unique ways rather than just writing a check. Spiritually, I feel good. I like doing it. I really enjoy it. I’ve got to make a living, too, but somehow I can do both,” he said.
Ryder’s charitable giving extends beyond the Monadnock Region. With the Elm City Rotary Club, he travels frequently to El Salvador and Ecuador to help build homes and schools. Beyond that, he regularly refurbishes used computer equipment, both his own and client donations, to give to the schools, along with free technical support.
In his leisure time, he’s an amateur cook who recently decided to teach his 8-year-old daughter about both business and philanthropy by creating a recipe for maple-flavored almonds. In local test markets, the specialty-food item met with immediate success; and launched his second full-time business, True Nut Co. The product is now available at Stonewall Farm, Hannah Grimes and a dozen stores throughout New England.
Again, he’s shared his success with local nonprofit groups. The almonds are produced by First Course — which trains low income individuals and people with disabilities for careers in food service — while another organization handles packaging. Ryder donates 10 percent of profits to area nonprofit organizations.
“One thing I’ve discovered is that the more I give, the more I get back,” Ryder said. “I don’t know why, but every year I find that the more I give to the community, the more money I make.”
Instead of dealing with the requests in the usual way, three Monadnock Region business owners have designed creative ways to make significant community contributions beyond just writing checks or handing out cash.
Peterborough small businessman Tom Strickland owns and operates Sequoya Technologies Group LLC, a managed information technology services company. Like most small business owners, he operates within budgetary restraints but wanted to increase his charitable giving. So he devised a plan.
“In a small business, there are a couple of challenges in making donations to nonprofit (agencies),” he said. “You’re working with a small budget so the size of the checks you can write is limited. The phone constantly rings. It’s always someone with a good cause. They’re always good causes.”
It’s very difficult to say no. I can’t,” he said. “I wanted to turn it around, to be more proactive. Now I can say, ‘I can’t just write you a check, but here’s what I can do for you.’ ”
Strickland created a program to equally benefit nonprofit organizations, participating clients and his business. He notified each Sequoya client he would make a donation equal to 5 percent of their monthly invoice to the local nonprofit group of their choice. He then set up a company account for each designated charity, into which he deposits monthly donation credits. Credits can be used to purchase any Sequoya product or service, and can accrue for up to one year.
Client bills don’t change. It costs them nothing to participate. Any number of clients can sponsor the same nonprofit organization which, in turn, can use its credits immediately, or accumulate credits to buy ongoing support services or a new computer — for the organization or to sell to raise money.
The program, which started last fall, has already benefited several Monadnock Region nonprofit groups. They include the Monadnock Humane Society, which traded credits for new graphic software, and Rindge’s Ingalls Library, which received a new computer.
“We focused on a part of the business we wanted to grow,” said Strickland. “We allowed our customers to make the choice. They get excited in the process. They’re engaged. That builds loyalty. It’s a win for the customer. It’s a win for the nonprofits, and I think it’s a win for us.”
Smaller clients can designate an organization to receive a one-time annual $25 donation. The company has also donated simple Web sites to nonprofit groups lacking an online presence. Participating clients and sponsored nonprofit organizations are listed on Sequoya’s Web site: www.sequoyatech.com
Among them is Monadnock Area Food Bank in Peterborough.
“We’re building our points, and eventually Sequoya will give us a laptop computer that we plan to raffle to raise money,” said Director Meredith White. “It won’t just be a laptop, but Sequoya will custom program it for whoever wins it in the raffle. I think we’re going to make a lot of money.”
“If a nonprofit (agency) has a need for a computer or computer services and can’t afford them, it’s a wonderful program,” she said.
In just one year, Strickland has already increased his charitable giving by $4,000.
“We’re hoping this is somewhat viral. I’d be thrilled if other small businesses followed suit. There’s room for others to do the same,” he said. “Just identify how you want your business to grow and attach the donation to that piece of your business. Let your customers choose. That’s the key.”
“It’s a way for small businesses to have an impact in the community, to reach beyond what we could normally do. It lets us do far more,” he said. “We’re all pinching pennies. The idea of increasing your giving while we’re all worried about paying for our heating oil — this is a way.”
Jeffrey Dixon prefers to give directly to the community. The Keene orthodontist relocated to the Monadnock Region from Massachusetts just a few years ago; and designed a spin-off of a charitable program of the Massachusetts Dental Society. During the past three years, he’s already donated 500 custom-fit mouth guards to local children ages 7-17. The majority aren’t regular patients in his practice; but do have financial need.
Dixon, who also maintains a practice in Greenfield, Mass., isn’t just contributing dental equipment, but also his expertise and time. Each procedure requires a couple of appointments. With staff assistance, he creates a mold of the teeth, then manufactures and custom fits the dental gear. Beyond that, he estimates he’s also contributed more than $25,000 of free dental care to area youth, and he still writes checks to local nonprofit groups.
He’s built his charitable giving around his business, in large part, to spend his free time with his own two children.
“I try to find ways to do it within the business,” he said. “It comes back to you in other ways. The community is making me what I am. My clients are supporting my family. It feels good for me to give something back.”
Each fall, he and staff members host an annual post-Halloween event, paying area children one to two dollars per pound for candy brought to his office at an appointed time. He then forwards the candy to a Manchester company to be shipped to American troops in Iraq. Last year alone, Dixon bought 400 pounds of candy from Monadnock Region youths.
“I couldn’t do any of it without my staff,” he said. “They’re volunteering, too. All these extra things make life fun. It really is fun.”
Keene resident Steve Ryder owns and operates TrueNorth Networks, which provides managed network support to small businesses. Besides writing many checks to local nonprofit groups, he serves on the leadership boards of several organizations, including Stonewall Farm, Hannah Grimes and Elm City Rotary Club.
“I hate cold calling,” he said. “Being involved in the community is my way of marketing. Serving on a board is an hour per month. I’m more involved in the community and connected to another 10 to 20 people who might bring me new business. I don’t pass out business cards or anything like that. It just happens naturally,” he said.
Ryder, too, enjoys creative giving. Each summer, he employs an intern to provide free computer technical assistance to any area nonprofit group in need. His overhead cost in salary and employee benefits is about $6,000; the market value for the free summer service exceeds $20,000. He also donates computer equipment to several organizations, such as Stonewall Farm and MoCo Arts, and technical services to others.
“I’ve always liked being philanthropic and giving back to the community,” he said. “I like to do it in unique ways rather than just writing a check. Spiritually, I feel good. I like doing it. I really enjoy it. I’ve got to make a living, too, but somehow I can do both,” he said.
Ryder’s charitable giving extends beyond the Monadnock Region. With the Elm City Rotary Club, he travels frequently to El Salvador and Ecuador to help build homes and schools. Beyond that, he regularly refurbishes used computer equipment, both his own and client donations, to give to the schools, along with free technical support.
In his leisure time, he’s an amateur cook who recently decided to teach his 8-year-old daughter about both business and philanthropy by creating a recipe for maple-flavored almonds. In local test markets, the specialty-food item met with immediate success; and launched his second full-time business, True Nut Co. The product is now available at Stonewall Farm, Hannah Grimes and a dozen stores throughout New England.
Again, he’s shared his success with local nonprofit groups. The almonds are produced by First Course — which trains low income individuals and people with disabilities for careers in food service — while another organization handles packaging. Ryder donates 10 percent of profits to area nonprofit organizations.
“One thing I’ve discovered is that the more I give, the more I get back,” Ryder said. “I don’t know why, but every year I find that the more I give to the community, the more money I make.”
