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“IMPULSE GIVING”
“Impulse Giving” is a program of the Moscow Food Co-op [MFC]. At each MFC
cash register, there is an information sheet listing each participating organization.
Customers can choose to which organization(s) they would like to make a donation of an
amount of their choosing. The cashier keys in the organization and the donation amount.
100 percent of the donations collected will be paid out to the organization on a monthly
basis. Impulse Giving Amounts
January 2010
Sojourners Alliance $31.10
Humane Society of the Palouse $50.54
Backyard Harvest $31.65
Impulse Giving amounts that are less than $25 for a given recipient will be carried over until the amount reaches that threshold.
Read more about Impulse Giving program and download the application here [pdf]. COMMUNITY CONTRIBUTIONS GUIDELINES
The Moscow Food Co-op is pleased to be able to offer modest donations to a variety of community nonprofit organizations. Most of our support is provided in the form of Co-op gift cards, which may be used as door prizes or silent auction items. Gift cards are redeemable at the Moscow Food Co-op. We can sometimes offer a discount for merchandise purchased at the Co-op for special events, such as food and non-alcoholic beverages. Occasionally, we are also able to donate store merchandise.
We encourage community non-profit organizations to apply for our Dime in Time grant program , and our Impulse Giving program, (see above) which allows Co-op customers to donate any amount of money to participating organizations at the Co-op cash register. Any organization awarded a Dime in Time Grant will be automatically added to the Impulse Giving program. For information on how to apply for these programs, or contact Carol Spurling at
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.
Our community contributions budget is limited, so we advise you to apply, in writing or via email, a minimum of six weeks in advance of your event or the date by which you need the donation, whichever is earlier. In order to best use our staff time and to fairly consider each request, we will not consider donation requests made over the phone or in person, or received less than 30 days in advance of the event or the date by which you need the donation. Requests will be responded to in writing or via email, not over the phone or in person.
In order to qualify for a cash or in-kind charitable contribution, organizations must: - Be nonprofit (that is, a public library, public school, or charitable organization as described in IRS Section 501(c)(3)) and nonpartisan (that is, not affiliated with or promoting any specific political party or candidate);
- Be non-discriminatory on the basis of any legally recognized category including but not limited to race, creed, gender, national origin, age, sexual orientation, or physical disability; and
- Not be using the contribution to advance a particular religious belief (religiously affiliated schools are not disqualified so long as they are located in the area and the contribution supports the school in general and not the church/synagogue/mosque or religion in particular).
- Use the contribution for specific projects or events rather than promotions or operations.
Priority is given to local organizations and events that are aligned with Moscow Food Co-op’s Ends Policies, which are:
POLICY A1: COMMUNITY/SERVICES
The Moscow Food Co-op will be a catalyst to building a diversified community concerned with sustainability.
To this end we will:
1 Conduct our business in a way that is compatible with our mission and provides services that reflect the needs and desires of the community.
2 Have an ongoing relationship with other organizations and businesses and in our community and collaborate on neighborhood events.
3 Provide an atmosphere that encourages communication and discourse.
This policy will be monitored annually by internal report.
POLICY A2: FOOD
The Moscow Food Co-op will focus on foods and other products that are environmentally sound and socially responsible and which promote the health and sustainability of the individual and the planet.
To this end we will:
1 Provide a product line that ranges from bulk to gourmet foods, and is flexible enough to include foods that reflect the needs of the community we serve.
2 Remain committed to providing fresh, local and organic choices and promoting sustainable agriculture.
3 Provide information that will help people make sound decisions regarding their food choices as well as other products we sell.
4 Provide resources to help people learn how to prepare the foods that we sell.
This policy will be monitored annually by internal report.
Approved by the Board of Directors, on July 5, 2008
POLICY A3: IMAGE AND IDENTITY
The Moscow Food Co-op will be recognized as a vibrant focal point of the Palouse, embedded in our community and linking it with the broader co-operative movement.
To this end we will:
1 Purposefully give preference to spending our financial resources within both our geographic and cooperative community.
2 Maintain a friendly welcoming ambiance.
3 Celebrate and communicate our rich history, recognizing the linkages of this history as we plan for our future.
4 Initiate and collaborate with other organizations in events that promote the values and the uniqueness of Moscow Food Co-op in the community.
5 Develop strategic relationships and initiatives with other co-ops to strengthen our own co-op.
This policy will be monitored annually by internal report.
Approved by the Board of Directors, on October 14, 2008
POLICY A4: BUSINESS
Moscow Food will be a strong, stable, thriving neighborhood based business that provides an economic advantage for its members and living wages for its staff.
To this end we will:
1 Operate a financially stable business providing a meaningful economic benefit to our members.
2 Build the “member owner” base in numbers, involvement and loyalty at the same time as we maintain an atmosphere where nonmembers also feel welcome.
3 Evaluate and develop services, products and physical space necessary to serve the significant needs of our members, neighborhood and market area.
4 Continue to strengthen our bonds with current business partners and explore and evaluate other business initiatives which bring further value to our members and customers.
5 Create a vital work environment for our staff built upon a foundation of sustainable values and ethics and providing meaningful compensation and professional development
6 Work with our community to ensure the continued viability of the Downtown Moscow Business District.
This policy will be monitored annually by internal report.
Approved by the Board of Directors, on May 13, 2008
If you have questions about your request or these guidelines, please contact Carol Spurling, outreach and ownership coordinator, at
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.
Download the application in pdf here . New Community Contributions Guidelines
by Carol Spurling, outreach and ownership coordinator,
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Early this year a cash crunch forced us to cut back on our charitable donations, but excellent management and the continued support of our customers and member/owners has brought the Co-op back into a solid financial position, which allows us to step up our charitable giving once again. Yay, Co-op! Most of our support is provided for special events and activities in the form of Co-op gift cards, which may be used as door prizes or silent auction items. We can sometimes offer a discount for merchandise purchased at the Co-op for special events, such as food and non-alcoholic beverages. Occasionally, we are also able to donate store merchandise. We receive so many requests we realized it was time to create a more formal application process to insure that every request is handled in the same way. Our new community contributions guidelines are posted on the bulletin board in the front of the store, available to pick up from the news rack in the back of the store by the cold drinks, and are also available on our website. We encourage community non-profit organizations to apply for our A Dime in Time grant program, and our new Impulse Giving program, which allows Co-op customers to donate any amount of money to participating organizations at the Co-op cash register. (See related story below) For information on how to apply for these programs, please visit the Community Contributions link on our website at www.moscowfood.coop or contact Carol Spurling at
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New Impulse Giving Program to Benefit Non-Profits
by Carol Spurling, Co-op outreach and ownership coordinator,
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Succumbing to the impulse to buy a little chocolate or a cookie at the Co-op cash register is something most of us do from time to time. Now, you can give in to the impulse to do something to benefit others at the cash register, too. “Impulse Giving” is a new program of the Moscow Food Co-op. At each Co-op cash register, there is a list of participating non-profit organizations. Customers can choose to which organization(s) they would like to make a donation, and they can donate any amount from less than a dollar on up. The cashier will key in the donation for the chosen organization and voilà, another good deed has been done for the day! Every penny of the donations collected will be paid out to the recipient organizations on a monthly basis. Don’t forget that our A Dime in Time program also benefits local organizations whenever you donate your 10-cent bag or cup refund. This program will continue, alongside the new Impulse Giving program, so keep remembering to bring your own reusable shopping bags or coffee cups so you can donate those dimes. People who donate small amounts on a regular basis are a huge source of support for non-profit organizations, according to a recent article in the New York Times—so we should never feel inadequate to meet big needs simply because we aren’t Bill Gates. Member-owners of co-operatives have always worked together to optimize their economic power and we can do the same with our charitable giving. The MFC Impulse Giving program is to benefit local, non-sectarian, non-profit, and non-discriminatory organizations whose goals complement or support the Ends Policies of the Co-op. For information on how to apply for this program, please visit the Community Contributions link on our website at www.moscowfood.coop, pick an Impulse Giving program application up from the news rack at the rear of the store, or contact Carol Spurling at
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. Don’t see your favorite organization on the list? Encourage them to apply for the program, or you can submit an application on their behalf.
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