The Story of Compassion by the Book

The idea for Compassion by the Book emerged from the clutter on my bookshelves in August of 2009. I was cleaning my room, so I sold my old textbooks and I was struck that I had been wasting money for years. I suddenly realized that I was probably not the only one . My first instinct was greedy. "I bet I can sell my friends' books and make a lot of money." Something inside me obliterated that instinct mid-thought and replaced it with "No, you should actually try to get some books to raise money for something greater than yourself." I knew this was right. I gave it a go.

I didn't really have expectations, but I asked some friends and created a Facebook Event to ask for books on behalf of InterVarsity Christian Fellowship, to raise scholarship money for students to go to conferences. Eight of my friends donated books and everyone was surprised by the $1200 raised for conferences.

After those results, I had to ask, "Why limit it to InterVarsity?" Well, why limit it to Colorado School of Mines? There are students at every school that have books going unused. I realized that this idea should be shared and that it could make a huge impact in so many great causes. I talked with some other student organizations at Mines and at nearby Regis University and started textbook fundraisers on behalf of the earthquake in Haiti. All in all, we raised $13,000 between all the fundraising initiatives.

Early in 2010 I decided to start a nonprofit to share this idea and help students across the U.S. make a difference. As the fundraising efforts and successes grew, so did my confidence and my commitment to spreading this idea. Starting a nonprofit has not been easy, but if its impact so far is any indication, I think it is worth it. I know it has certainly changed my life.

Colorado School of Mines at InterVarsity's 2009 Fall Conference -
Textbook fundraising afforded at least six of these students to attend!

Thanksgiving for progress!

I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving! Last week, the Board of Directors began our first meeting and we have made great advances in finalizing the establishment of Compassion by the Book. Our goal was aggressive: to finish a preliminary draft of everything needed for our establishment. We haven't finished the meeting yet (it has been adjourned from time-to-time for the Board to work on the necessary paperwork separately).

Here's what we accomplished in last week's meeting:

Sunday, November 21: Defined CBTB's Misison, Vision, and Values
Monday, November 22: Review of Bylaws (Articles 1-3)
Tuesday, November 23: Review of Bylaws (Articles 4-6, 7-14) + submitted for review by attorney
Wednesday, November 24: Worked on IRS Form 1023

We are nearly finished with Form 1023 and we could use your help! I am looking for a couple volunteers to read our Form 1023 to make sure that it understandable to those not too familiar with the work of Compassion by the Book.

If you're not in the mood to read filings for the IRS, perhaps you'd enjoy instead reading our vision, mission, and values (below)!


Vision
Compassion by the Book is the catalyst for unlocking the untapped potential of college students to change the world-- realizing opportunities to make a difference, equipping them with tools to act, developing a lifestyle of giving, and establishing a pattern of creatively meeting the needs of others.


Mission
Compassion by the Book (CBTB) educates, empowers, and supports college students to make a positive difference in their communities and around the world. CBTB invites students and organizations at colleges and universities to participate in textbook fundraisers to financially support their favorite nonprofit causes and begin to learn a mindset of creative, resourceful giving to the world.


Values
Compassion – To care about others beyond ourselves.

Wise Giving – Not just giving to anyone who asks, but understanding and evaluating how our efforts produce the desired result.

Teamwork – Making a difference and improving the world is a team effort; together we can do more than apart.

Partner – To seek and develop relationships that enhance and expand the vision of CBTB.

Leadership – Making an impact in others‘ lives and influencing them to do good with the gifts they have.

Learning – Being open to new ideas. Seeing every opportunity to grow in compassion and make a difference.

Teaching – Opening eyes to possibilities and imparting new habits. Helping students to realize their potential and opportunities to make a difference in the world, and encouraging a lifelong pattern of giving.

Empowerment – CBTB is not a strictly transactional enterprise. It prepares groups and individuals to develop on-going efforts to improve the world.

Creativity – Problem solving, looking beyond societal norms to address problems in new ways.

Passion – Fostering an energy and enthusiasm for changing the world.



Do you think Compassion by the Book exhibits other values or contributes other things to society besides what is described in our mission or vision? Have questions about what we want to do in the world? Tell/ask us in a comment!

A Review of Yelp Helps! - A Denver Volunteer Org Display

Last week, I had the opportunity to join a special social event highlighting service opportunities in the Denver area. The event, entitled Yelp Helps!, was delivered by Yelp, a sort of social network of business reviewers. The purpose was to encourage Yelpers to get involved in their communities and to meet and greet with nonprofit organizations and other attendees. This was my first experience with Yelp and after some time to digest my thoughts, I definitely have some positive reactions to this event!

They hosted about two dozen nonprofit organizations at the Curtis Hotel, provided snacks and drinks, and created an opportunity for conversation and engagement. The nonprofits were admitted space by sending a request to the event host, Laura L., and most had decorative booths and excited representatives. The event offered a spectrum of causes and organizations (there were new and old, classic like Goodwill, trendy like Movember, and hip like The House That Rock Built). I enjoyed the enthusiasm of the reps and picking their brains about how their organizations work.

The atmosphere was a little rowdier than I expected, giving me the feeling that about one quarter of attendees were there just for the party. I definitely enjoyed one of the free drinks, but I would have limited it to one for everyone if I was Yelp. A booth with Denver firefighters signing calendars definitely felt out of place amidst the excited and passionate nonprofit reps, but I hope that the crowd that came for the party left with a new found opportunity to volunteer!

All in all, I am impressed by Yelp's coordination of the many aspects of the event - reserving a fabulous locale, providing goody bags and snacks and drinks, promoting the event to their members (and gaining new members like myself), and supporting great works being done around Denver!

Have you ever been to a special event that supported charities, volunteering, or philanthropy? What did you think of it? What is a good balance to strike between party and cause? Share your thoughts in a comment!

Step 1 to a Successful Textbook Fundraiser - Engaging Donors

In my book, a successful textbook fundraiser

• Shows students their potential to make a difference in the world, 
• Contributes financially to great causes, and
• Reduces waste/maximizes value by putting unused books in others' hands.

But, how do we achieve this? After you've committed to a cause, how do you actually run a fundraiser that accomplishes these goals?

Step 1: Engaging Donors
When all is said and done, the mission of Compassion by the Book (my nonprofit, textbook fundraising organization) is about people. You can't raise anything without donors. Clearly It all starts with sharing the idea and vision of your textbook fundraiser. Engaging donors is not a one-size-fits-all task and takes all sorts of methods, from emails to the sharing of a personal testimony to an announcement at a club meeting (personal invitations seem to be the most effective).

The most important step is sharing the vision, but you must convey three crucial pieces of information: A) the cause(s) they can support, B) how they can join, and C) how they know they can trust you (i.e. how do they know the money goes where you say it will).

Responses will vary. Some students will offer to donate before you even have the chance to ask, while others need longer to digest the information before they decide whether they can help. Start with your close friends. Your friends and your friends' friends are connected to you and trust you, so they will give you the time of day. The worst they can do is say no. My experience is that your enthusiasm and passion will rub off and as you demonstrate how easy it is to get involved and show the good a donation does!

Your invitation to donate a book shows your passion, turns unused resources into aid for good causes, and opens the eyes of another to their own potential!

What is the next step? How do you turn good intentions or interest into action? Share your ideas or experience in a comment!