Innovation

The inception of Gifts for Good can be traced back to the professional backgrounds of the co-founders, Laura Hertz (Chief Executive Officer) and Jerry Eisenberg (Chief Financial Officer), the latter working in real estate prior to the company’s founding. The initial idea was created in a USC Marshall Social Entrepreneurship Master’s Program business class by Laura Hertz, which she eventually turned into a real company. It began as a way to connect Gifts for Good with real estate brokers to curate gifts for home buyers, potentially adding a personal and meaningful touch to the home-buying experience. However, as the concept evolved through trial and error, a key realization occurred: many corporations already had budget allocations for gifting, but the gifting budgets in these companies were typically used for generic, often frivolous gifts that may not have a lasting impact, which is where Gifts for Good saw opportunity for change and positive impact.

Gifts for Good has four rooms that reflect the central values of their company. First, they have the “Quality Room” to ensure they are a premium brand and to focus on their customer service. They are very particular about the way in which they bring on new clients and recipients to keep their mission as authentic as possible. Next, they have the “Innovation Room” because they are always striving to improve their innovations and make it as easy as possible for clients. Next, they have the “Business for Good” room where they monitor and decide which specific nonprofit organization to donate to each quarter. Lastly, they have the “Empathy” room because they prioritize the effect and good outcome of their business rather than solely striving for profit and expansion. Each and every aspect of Gifts for Good aims to help communities throughout the world and the planet through authenticity, transparency, and empathy.

Inspiration

Laura and Jerry recognized the immense potential in redirecting these corporate gifting budgets towards more socially responsible and purposeful causes, with an added benefit of more personal and meaningful gifts. When Janice Steverding, Chief Impact Officer, joined the team, she brought with her an extensive network in the social impact sector, developed during her time at TOMS, which was instrumental in establishing partnerships with nonprofits and social enterprises that “do good.” Combined with Laura's critical thinking skills and Jerry’s expertise in securing funding, the team was able to navigate complexities and adapt its business model to advance its impactful vision. Together, their diverse talents and experiences propelled Gifts for Good to redefine corporate gifting. This company has always been motivated to help the world, as our interviewee, Samii Willeford said, “there are endless opportunities to give back," from planting trees to funding job training for people with barriers. Samii Willeford also explained that people at the company constantly feel inspired because “everyone believes in our mission to empower the world to help people and the planet”. Through Gifts for Good, small businesses and important causes are being supported, and people who were buying and receiving the gifts felt like they were making an impact with meaningful products.

Overall impact

Gifts for Good’s innovation accurately reflects their company’s purpose and overall mission of doing great things to help those in need one gift at a time. Sustainable corporate gifting has become especially important in a world where companies increasingly champion corporate social responsibility. By reallocating resources that were already earmarked for gifting, Gifts for Good ensured that the money was being spent in a more beneficial way, effectively transforming a commonplace practice into a powerful tool for positive change. They outline six primary areas of aid and each gift falls into one, if not multiple, of these areas: economic development, children in need, animal welfare, the environment, health, and women at risk. They also aim to have each gift be created by someone struggling through unemployment to maximize their reach of support and aid for both the recipient and the creator. Gifts for Good has not only started to redefine corporate gifting but has also inspired a new generation of socially conscious businesses and consumers who see gifting as a means of making a meaningful impact on the world.

Gifts for Good has revolutionized the corporate gifting industry by seamlessly integrating corporate social responsibility (CSR) into gifting practices. In the short term, their innovative approach has transformed routine corporate spending into socially responsible actions, supporting various nonprofits and social enterprises. In an effort to actively align their holiday gift giving with their CSR, National Geographic has partnered with Gifts for Good to take a proactive approach to this practice. As a representative of Gifts for Goods expresses, “they were keen to more closely align their gifting with their corporate social responsibility initiatives. We stepped in to curate custom gifts that connected with National Geographic’s focus on global plastics initiatives, and sent 3,000 custom handmade gifts in just 4 weeks.” 'Gift Forward,' introduced during the pandemic, provided innovative and sustainable gifting solutions. The company collaborates with different organizations to support causes globally, with each product sold contributing to a charitable organization: “even our gift boxes carry an impact, whether it’s planting trees or supporting the work of artisans in India, your gifts will arrive in style while doing good.”

Their adaptability was evident with the launch of 'Gift Forward,' enhancing satisfaction and personalization during the pandemic. Gifts for Good's emphasis on sustainability is demonstrated in shipping procedures, the use of recyclable materials, and dedication to environmental stewardship. In the long term, Gifts for Good is shaping a more sustainable and socially conscious economy, influencing how businesses perceive and manage gifting. The company serves as a sales platform for smaller nonprofits and social enterprises, contributing to the expansion of the social enterprise market. Through community involvement and educational programs, Gifts for Good sets an example for environmentally conscious business practices, encouraging broader implementation across industries.

Business benefit

Gifts for Good is unlike most businesses as they bring a unique innovation to the market by redefining corporate gifting. Their innovation’s benefit to the business is centered around a socially responsible lens. The innovation encompasses a business model and service that repurposes the budget corporations allocate for gifts into meaningful contributions to charitable causes, actively contributing to SDG 8 by promoting decent work and economic growth through their innovative business model, creating employment opportunities and fostering economic sustainability within the social enterprise sector. The innovation brought forth by Gifts for Good allows the company to enhance their reputation and appeal to socially conscious clients. This innovative business model enables Gifts for Good to stand out in a crowded market, attracting businesses seeking purposeful and impactful gifts. Furthermore, the company’s emphasis on impact reports and transparent communication about their contributions allows for trust to be easily built with their clients and demonstrates a genuine commitment to social and environmental causes, aligning with SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production). In addition, they are able to use their innovations to focus on demonstrating a genuine commitment to social and environmental causes. Through these relationships the company can increase their success as a business and foster long-term relationships with clients who share similar values.

Concrete evidence supporting Gifts for Good's impact includes quantifiable metrics on client acquisition, with major clients like KPMG, and the distribution of over 40,000 gifts, showcasing immediate growth. The hiring of four new employees within a year underscores the need for expanded manpower, indicative of sustained growth. Partnership and outreach metrics, detailing the addition of social enterprises and nonprofits to the platform, highlight the company's commitment to marketplace expansion. Measurable environmental impact is evident through metrics on tree planting, eco-friendly packaging use, and sustainable practices. Customer satisfaction metrics, including feedback monitoring, offer qualitative evidence of positive long-term effects, contributing to an enhanced brand reputation and sustained success in the market.

Social and environmental benefit

Gifts for Good's innovative corporate gifting involves reallocating budgets to impactful social initiatives, creating a force for positive outcomes beyond traditional gifting. The company actively contributes to social, environmental, and economic betterment, aligning with SDGs 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth), 10 (Reduced Inequality), and 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production). Their commitment to positive social outcomes is evident in their mission to "do good, one gift at a time," fostering a culture of giving and supporting economic development, children in need, animal welfare, the environment, health, and women at risk, thereby contributing to SDG 10.

In terms of environmental benefits, Gifts for Good incorporates sustainable practices throughout their operations. This commitment is exemplified by the use of eco-friendly packaging, a clear demonstration of their dedication to reducing environmental impact. The company's initiative to support reforestation by planting 20 trees for every box used is a major contributing factor to lowering the footprint of their operations, aligning with SDGs 13 (Climate Action) and 15 (Life on Land). Furthermore, their dedication extends to the office environment, featuring compost bins, repurposed wood furniture, and exclusive use of glass straws, showcasing a comprehensive and holistic approach to environmental sustainability. Notably, Gifts for Good's impactful metrics include sending over $2.3 million to charitable causes, providing 658,238 months of clean drinking water, offering 174,998 hours of employment to those with barriers to work, planting 1,454,454 trees around the world, and supplying life-saving vitamins for one year to 1,823,705 children. These metrics underscore the tangible positive outcomes resulting from their commitment to social and environmental responsibility.

Interview

Samii Willeford, Corporate Gifting Rep