CORPORATE PARTNERSHIPS:
Plant-It 2020 has a long and successful history of partnering with businesses desiring to engage in tree-planting events. Companies generally want to know the following:
What types of programs are available on the company-side?
The first approach relates to product sales. Plant-It 2020 plants a tree for every item sold or leased. Depending upon margins, one can limit the promotion to certain items or more-than-one tree for high-margin items. This can be with the sale or as an after-the-sale 'thank you.' Cost is $1 per tree. High PR value.
The second approach relates to thanking employees. 'X' number of trees are planted as a thank you to a division or group of employees. Cost is $1 per tree. High morale value but low PR value.
The third approach is for a company to 'give back to its community' where they sponsor an urban tree-planting event. This generally maxes-out at $5,000 but can be as low as $3,500 or as high as $7,500. In this scenario, large street trees are planted in a city at a location where many different groups within the city may participate in the tree-planting: schoolkids, parents, community groups, youths-at-risk, politicians, etc. Depending upon the event, this could provide anywhere from a medium to an exceptionally high PR value.
The fourth approach is for the company as a whole to 'Go Green' by planting trees... perhaps for carbon sequestration and/or for other goals. In this case, the trees are not tied-in to sales or employees but it is simply a write-off to do good in the world. This can be at $1 per tree, one or more urban events or a mixture of both. The PR value on this approach ranges from high to exceptionally high.
Thus, companies have incredible flexibility with Plant-It 2020 in designing and choosing a program that works for them!
What types of programs and events does Plant-It 2020 offer?
We were the first organization to offer the 'dollar-per-tree' program where we plant an indigenous tree for every dollar we receive. The contributor selects where from our list of worldwide locations. In addition, we sometimes are able to provide customized city tree-planting events. In many cases, these can involve the participation of many community groups.
What are the public relations and other benefits to my company by doing this?
First, company contributions to Plant-It 2020 are tax-deductible. This means zero or near-zero hard cost. Soft costs include the time spent investigating Plant-It 2020, writing a letter of intent and any promotional activities the company may choose to engage in. Second, the company creates or increases its 'green image,' which is increasingly becoming a corporate necessity and competitive advantage. Third, our programs generate 'good will' from customers, employees, community or whoever the the tree-planting is tied-into. Fourth, our project partners have discovered that it is easy to receive positive media attention from these types of partnerships. Fifth, while difficult to quantify, past partners have stated that there appears to be a small sales increase due to these promotions.
Why would my company benfit by choosing Plant-It 2020 over other reforestation companies?
- Most reforestation organizations operate locally. A very few operate nationally (within the US only or within only one other country) and fewer still operate internationally. Plant-It 2020 not only operates internationally but as far as we can determine, we plant trees in many more locations than any other similar organization. This means that our clients have more location choices than with other reforestation groups.
- Other reforestation organizations providing the 'dollar-per-tree' approach in the United States plant trees in harvest areas. Not only does this mean that timber companies benefit at the expense of our public lands but it usually also means that funds previously allocated towards reforestation in those areas by the group in charge of these public lands then get directed towards administration or other areas - so there is usually no net increase in trees going in the ground. These are two things that could generate a negative backlash from environmental groups and the public at large.
- Our reputation is sterling. Two out of the three large, US-focused, reforestation organizations have a terrible reputation in regards to how they treat their clients along with their tree-planting programs in general.
- In order to perform a proper US tree-planting, certain requirements need to be met. The trees must be indigenous. If grown from seed, the seeds should come from as close as possible to the tree-planting location. The seed should be grown into a seedling and ideally, it will be several years old before transplanted into its final location. The location needs to provide an environment where these seedlings will flourish and grow (good soil, available water, not get eaten by deer, etc.). If maintenance is needed, it is budgeted and planned-out in advance. The trees will not get harvested as this strongly decreases its lifespan. Seedlings will not get passed-out to homeowners to plant. Each of these elements (and others) ensure a high survival rate and a quality reforestation project. For each of these elements that a company does not do, there is the potential for a 'backlash' by environmentalists.
- Some reforestation groups are 'tied-in' or strongly connected to other groups. Some serve a religion, others serve government or political groups. Plant-It 2020 is proud to always be completely disconnected from all other groups. Our goal is to serve your interests rather than someone elses.
How do payment issues work?
For the dollar-per-tree program, your company determines a schedule for contributing to us. Every three of four months is optimal but some companies prefer monthly. For a city tree-planting event, there needs to be a deadline, communicated in advance, for Plant-It 2020 to physically have the check. We also take credit cards through PayPal and PayPal directly via our old name: 'plant-It 2000'.
How do we get started?
Simply contact Michael Thau at Plant-It 2020 and discuss what types of programs you are interested in and ask the questions you need to ask. We can send you out a 'Media Highlights' at that point that has our letters of recommendation, past accomplishments, etc. When you are ready to take the next step, simply present us a 'Letter of Intent' and when signed by both parties, the partnership is in place.
Thank you for considering partnering with Plant-It 2020. Our goal is to serve your needs better than any other reforestation foundation ever could. Please feel free to discuss how we can move forward.
