Yvon Chouinard, founder of Patagonia, has decided to give his share of the company (majority ownership) to a nonprofit organization trust. 🤯
As grant writers, what does this mean for funders? What could this mean in the future as a trend? 🤔
Curious how you could get into grant writing and build a career in it? Here is a free training on how to do that without volunteering or having prior experience: https://www.learngrantwriting.org/webinar-videos/discover-grant-writing
Yvon Chouinard is the ultimate role model in terms of putting money where their mouth is. This is a legacy of leadership and an experiment in responsible business. 🌿
Patagonia is a pioneer leader in business:
🌱 Cofounding 1% for the Planet
🌱 Organic cotton
🌱 Flex time for employees
🌱 Company daycare
🌱 Supporting local grassroots activity & small businesses
🌱 Protecting Bristol Bay
The big question: will other companies follow suit? We think so! ✨
➡️ If you’re an organization doing any sort of climate change work, see how you already align to the giving history of Patagonia today to understand where their donations will go in the future.
If you’re not doing climate change work, there are still lessons to be learned:
1️⃣ Do you feel at peace and in alignment with your values?
2️⃣ Does this challenge your beliefs about business and profits being bad?
3️⃣ How can you focus on what’s “strong” versus what’s “wrong” in your narrative writing?
What was your takeaway from learning and reading about Yvon’s decision? Let us know in the comments!
Resources and links:
🔸 “Let My People Go Surfing: The Education of a Reluctant Businessman” by Yvon Chouinard: https://app.thestorygraph.com/books/46958f0b-1749-4daf-808c-7d5aff9c5ce3
🔸 Patagonia reinvents itself again: ‘We’re making Earth our only shareholder’:
https://www.fastcompany.com/90789599/patagonia-reinvents-itself-again-were-making-earth-our-only-shareholder
🔸 NY Times: Billionaire No More: Patagonia Founder Gives Away the Company: https://www.nytimes.com/2022/09/14/climate/patagonia-climate-philanthropy-chouinard.html
🔸 Patagonia Workwear & Keree Smith: https://www.instagram.com/p/Ccn_l7uvrY0/
🔸 Everything Old Is New Again: Bristol Bay and the Pebble Mine:
https://www.patagonia.com/stories/everything-old-is-new-again-bristol-bay-and-the-pebble-mine/story-33103.html
🔸 United Tribes of Bristol Bay: https://www.patagonia.com/actionworks/grantees/united-tribes-of-bristol-bay/
🔸 “The Antiracist Business Book: An Equity Centered Approach to Work, Wealth, and Leadership” by Trudi Lebrón: https://app.thestorygraph.com/books/a2f7341e-d3be-438e-845f-851036960a1a
🔸 What is Deficit-Based (Wrong) Versus Strength-Based (Strong) Writing? blog post: https://www.learngrantwriting.org/blog/deficit-v-strength-based-writing/
🔸 Strength vs. Deficit Based Writing 🔥 How to Write a Compelling Grant That Doesn’t Victimize video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ts7a5rTBmD0
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🧡 The Team at Learn Grant Writing
Timestamps
00:00 Intro
00:55 Big News!
01:24 What This Means For Grant Applicants
02:33 Patagonia: A Pioneer Leader In Business
04:03 Mission To Save The Planet
06:00 Keree Smith: Bristol Bay Fisherwoman
07:05 Protecting Bristol Bay
08:30 #1 Action Step For Climate Change Work Organizations
09:20 Lessons To Be Learned
13:18 Recap