Comments on: A Starbucks Moment for Nonprofits?

By: LizNgonzi (Elizabeth Ngonzi)

LizNgonzi (Elizabeth Ngonzi) — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 17:04:16 +0000

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A Starbucks moment for non-profits?: [link to post]

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By: BethBaldauf (Beth Baldauf)

BethBaldauf (Beth Baldauf) — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 17:03:10 +0000

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RT @tactphil A Starbucks Moment for Nonprofits? Fantastic post by @robertegger [link to post]

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By: Lokahi (Brande Jackson)

Lokahi (Brande Jackson) — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 16:55:07 +0000

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Great blog post by @robertegger, check it: [link to post]

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By: » links for 2009-06-20 thinkingaboutmedia.com

» links for 2009-06-20 thinkingaboutmedia.com — Sat, 20 Jun 2009 15:01:25 +0000

[...] A Starbucks Moment for Nonprofits? (Robert Egger) "This could be a great moment for the nonprofit sector. If we can see this era of economic duress as an opportunity to attract new employees that can help us sell a new approach to creating a civil society, then this may be the year we finally move from selling the metaphoric empty calories of fast food, to a healthy, whole lifestyle where commerce and justice share equal seats at the table." Indeed [...]

By: Rachel

Rachel — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 16:15:54 +0000

I really like the thought process behind this article, but I’m not sure I agree with the idea of having a ‘Starbucks’ movement in the nonprofit sector. Sure, non-profits can always use more money to further their endeavors, but I wouldn’t want these organizations to morph into anything that resembles a large corporation.. For me, the appeal of nonprofit and social service work is that the people who choose to work there AREN’T there for the big 6-figure salaries, but rather simply because it is what they want to do, to help other people.

In response to Elliot, check out the new NYC Service site and Civic Corps program. Its kind of what you’re suggesting, I think, providing incentives to people who commit to service in NYC. It’s a pretty cool concept.
http://nycservice.org/nyc_civic_corps.php

By: Shana

Shana — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 19:10:39 +0000

xposted w/ Facebook. Let’s add class and race to the analysis:

Of course, I love the idea of investing in young people. But it seems like playing on Americans ideas about class was a big part of Starbucks’ growth. What are the implications of applying this metaphor to nonprofits?

I was a barista in college, and it really does not take any advanced education to do it. But having middle-class, educated, mostly white baristas did allow Starbucks (and coffehouse culture in general) to separate their brand from fast food’s low-income, mostly non-white employees. And increase the value of their product by its association with hipster, middle-class culture.

So Starbucks = cooler/smarter. Not because you actually need a college degree to make a latte, but because people will pay more for something purchased from mr. hipster dude. Do we in the nonprofit industry want to continue perpetuating the idea that upper-class/white = smarter or should we try to hire people who are brilliant but lacked the resources to get a degree? Or pay people enough that even if they’re the first person in their family to graduate from college, it’s financially feasible for them to work at a nonprofit.

By: Cheryl

Cheryl — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 17:22:58 +0000

I would love to see a Starbucks moment for nonprofits. For the quickest turn around time, I think a nonprofit giant such as the United Way, Girl Scouts, American Cancer Society, etc would embrace this model and report back very positive results across all or most markets. To say this model works well in places like NYC with very high costs of living as well as Corpus Christi which has a relatively low cost of living would exhibit its broad abilities. So who will it be? What CEO, VP or Board Chair will get hold of the concept and say “ya know what, we can do this.” Maybe the larger nonprofits aren’t willing to take the chance, but I sure hope they are.

By: Elliot Harkavy

Elliot Harkavy — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 16:54:41 +0000

Historically, many nonprofits have been staffed by the well to do who could live off their trust funds and not be concerned on the low salaries, but much of that disappeared in the 80’s when Noblesse Oblige was replaced by” Get all that you can”.

Perhaps there is a way to use Americorps and/or the President’s campaign proposal to expand the “… Read MoreTeach For America” program to other social needs, so that if a person commits to 2-4 years of community service at a bona fide nonprofit, they might have some of their college debt relieved.

By: Elliot Harkavy

Elliot Harkavy — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 16:54:04 +0000

I like the concept. Can we get Howard Schultz (Or his foundation) to bankroll it?

In all seriousness, we will need a major, major cash infusion to make this vision happen- Any thoughts on how to inspire the philanthropy to fund these new visions in nonprofit management?

By: Wednesday Highlights « ServeNext.org Blog

Wednesday Highlights « ServeNext.org Blog — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 16:44:45 +0000

[...] Open Hands makes mention of an article written by Robert Egger entitled “A Starbucks Moment for Nonprofits?” This article compares the success of the “Starbucks model,” to what could be the [...]