Joining Forces

FS: How do the businesses 
receiving advice pick the nonprofits they want to help?

DS: The first step we take is to determine what business objectives — whether it be branding, employee retention and morale, or business development — can be achieved through a community program. The second step is to engage employees in the decision-making process. So there is a top-down, business-oriented framework and a bottom-up, employee ownership component. When the framework is set and employees are included in the decision process, 
we find that the best 
nonprofit and business matches can occur.