Business View Magazine | Volume 8, Issue 11

82 BUSINESS VIEW MAGAZINE VOLUME 8, ISSUE 11 unrestricted dollars to good non-profits is an important way to give. The members place their trust in our vetted non-profits to be the experts in their field and unrestricted dollars will enable them to do great things.” When COVID arrived in the United States around March 2020, Williams and the rest of the team took a conservative view, assuming the giving of unrestricted dollars would decrease. Although there have been hardships and challenges over the past 19 months or so, 1% for the Planet saw an increase in membership. In fact, 2020 was a record year for new membership, which has continued into 2021, bringing more than 1000 new members in the first six months. Williams maintains that the pandemic encouraged companies to want to create positive change and helping the planet is a powerful way to accomplish that. Looking ahead three to five years, Williams is hopeful that giving one percent of business sales will just become the standard way a company operates. She shares, “You pay your bills, you invest in your staff, you pay your taxes, and you give one percent. It should just be part of what a good business does. Non-profits also play a distinct and important role. They can go where there’s no market and they can advocate for change. They serve as a bridge between business and government in crucial ways. Non-profits are beholden to their mission, not their revenues or shareholders. In the current landscape, it’s great to see that giving is no longer considered a trade-off by businesses, because it’s what their consumers want too. It’s a good thing overall. Good for the business, good for the consumer, and most importantly, good for the planet. Our main goal as 1% for the Planet, is to continue to get bigger. That’s how we drive impact. That’s how we become a core part of doing business. We’re pretty excited about that and where we’re going.”