At Civic Win, our mission is to encourage government agencies to be efficient in their delivery of community services. When we are successful, savings can be directed to conservation projects.
Here is how it works:
A group of companies, in the private sector, propose to pay for a conservation project.
In exchange for this conservation project, public sector authorities are asked to modernize a specific tax or regulation.
To promote the project, private sector sponsors may offer donations to charities, non-profits, and more--if the project goes forward.
Success occurs when the tax or regulation is updated, and the conservation project is funded.
Below is a sample project:
BEND POLLINATOR GARDEN
Home builders in Bend, Oregon are governed by permitting practices first drafted decades ago. These practices could be updated in such a way as to improve environmental and safety outcomes, reduce compliance costs for builders, and lower housing costs.
Imagine modernizing a single rule could save builders a combined $1 million over ten years. These firms might band together and propose donating $100,000 for the construction of a one-acre, urban pollinator garden . . . in exchange for the City of Bend modernizing the rule.
The builders' proposal would be made public, here, on the Civic Win website.
If permitting is updated, everyone wins: Builders get improved permitting. The city gets $100,000. Wildlife gets a new home.
CORPORATE SPONSORS
Here are four examples of how a single builder might structure support for the pollinator garden:
Pledge example 1:
Offer the project: $4,000
In this example, the builder is offering to donate $4,000 towards the pollinator garden--if the regulation is modernized.
Pledge example 2:
Offer the project: $4,000
Offer charity: $500
In this example, the builder is offering to donate an additional $500 to a local non-profit. Donating to a non-profit represents an opportunity to win publicity for the project--and also regulatory reform.
Donation example 3:
Offer the project: $4,000
Offer charity: $500
Offer beneficiaries: $500
In this example, the builder is offering to donate an additional $500 to customers (or employees, vendors, etc.) of the builder. These colleagues are called beneficiaries.
Beneficiaries share a donation ($500 in this example) from the builder. This donation may arrive as a bonus, coupon, discount, free miles, etc. Offering to donate to beneficiaries is another way to win publicity for the project and regulatory reform.
Donation example 4:
Offer the project: $4,000
Offer charity: $500
Offer beneficiaries: $500
Offer the pool: $500
In this example, the builder is offering to donate an additional $500 to the pool. Money offered to the pool is paid to all sponsors of the project, to boost their donations. Money offered to the pool magnifies the promotional efforts of all sponsors.
Ultimately, sponsors may choose to structure their donations in any manner they choose. The simple approach is to offer to fund the project alone.
If a sponsor wants to win greater publicity, that sponsor may choose to add charity, beneficiary, and/or pool donations.
The ability to employ, track, and safekeep these funding innovations, for numerous participants, represents a unique aspect of Civic Win. Our approach is designed to rally support for conservation efforts and, by extension, regulatory reform.
REGISTRATION
Corporate sponsors may register for free by clicking Register above and following the instructions.
Individuals interested in becoming a sponsor may also register for free by clicking Register above and following the instructions.
FEES
Civic Win asks sponsors for a voluntary, monthly subscription fee of $10 or more per sponsorship. There are no additional fees.
This means sponsors can support conservation efforts and promote regulatory reform at Civic Win with little upfront cost.
PARTICIPATION
Civic Win may create, pause, and close projects. Sponsors may support, pause, or cancel their support for projects. Donation recipients may accept or refuse donations. In this manner, the site serves as a platform for appraising the merit and popularity of proposals.
Civic Win operates not as a lobbyist, but as a platform for presenting proposals. For this reason, Civic Win staff are instructed to not discuss legislative matters with members of government.
CIVIC WIN 10/90 RULE
Government agencies that receive donations for a given project are expected to abide by the Civic Win 10/90 rule--10 percent of funds go to the public sector for administration. The remaining 90 percent of funds are contracted by the public sector to the private sector for completion of the project.
ADDITIONAL INFO
Every project, plege, and donation found on Civic Win is a proposal--and is not an agreement, contract, commitment, or guarantee.
All donations proposed on our site, if they are paid, are paid voluntarily outside the confines and/or control of Civic Win. No donation monies exchange hands at Civic Win.
Working with proposals--as opposed to contracts--at Civic Win offers sponsors an opportunity to be creative when structuring their contributions. Sponsors may do so without fear of being boxed in by unforeseen future developments or chained to a project that falls out of favor. In short, a sponsor can propose support for a project. If the project proceeds as hoped, then the sponsor may then donate to the project and/or chosen charities, beneficiaries, and/or pool.
The natural consequence of this approach is that every donation is accompanied by uncertainty. At Civic Win, we feel sponsors have a desire to follow through on proposed donations. That said, the future cannot be ordained and contributing factors to a project may evolve to the upside or downside. This may lead to donations being reduced, delayed, or even abandoned.
RECAP
Civic Win begins with a group of companies, in the private sector, proposing to pay for a conservation project. In exchange for this conservation project, public sector officials are asked to modernize a specific tax or regulation.
Charity, beneficiary, and pool donations are tools that help generate greater awareness around our conservation projects and regulatory reform.
Together, we can make our public sector efficient in its delivery of community services. When we succeed, significant savings are released and can be put to work funding conservation efforts.
On behalf of planet Earth with its spectacular wildlife and open spaces, thank you for joining Civic Win.
No donation monies exchange hands at Civic Win. All participation is subject to the Market Rules, available here: www.civicwin.com/info/market-rules