Youngevity is Lean Foundation Thrives on Product Model

Admin   |   10 June, 2015   |   462   |   3980

Youngevity’s Be the Change Foundation collected record donations last month in response to a series of natural disasters. Launched 19 months ago, the philanthropic arm of Youngevity International said Monday that donations have topped $100,000 in the first half of 2015.

The brand’s distributors and customers support the Youngevity Be the Change Foundation (YBTC) by purchasing designated products, with all proceeds directed to the charity. In May, those purchases funded three donations, totaling $17,000, to YBTC charitable partner the American Red Cross. Along with several other direct selling companies, Youngevity supported relief efforts following the Nepal earthquake. Additional funding aided victims of tornadoes and flooding in Oklahoma and Texas.

The foundation’s other partners include the Wounded Warrior Project, Make-a-Wish Foundation and My Story Matters. California-based Youngevity has eliminated payroll expense and staffing overhead by operating the nonprofit through a team of employee and distributor volunteers.

“There is a fine balance that exists between maximizing shareholder value and being socially responsible,” said Dave Briskie, YBTC President and CFO of Youngevity International. “We believe that the incremental revenue streams that we have created to fund the Youngevity Be the Change Foundation is an ideal model to reach this balance.”