Change for Good

 

2020 was the first year of the Change for Good partnership, a register round-up program to benefit a monthly slate of organizations, voted on by Co-op owners, through the cumulative donations of shoppers choosing to round-up their shopping total to the nearest dollar.
 

This is a recording of an informational webinar that is sharing information on our Change for Good program, the application process, and timeline.

Our Change for Good Application deadline is ๐Ÿต:๐Ÿฌ๐Ÿฌ๐—ฝ๐—บ, ๐— ๐—ฎ๐—ฟ๐—ฐ๐—ต ๐Ÿญ๐Ÿณ๐˜๐—ต, ๐Ÿฎ๐Ÿฌ๐Ÿฎ๐Ÿญ.

The application can be found in the Change for Good section of our AFC Gives webpage

 

To learn more about AFC Gives and its funding programs, please visit ashlandfood.coop/afcgives

 

Here are some highlights from the webinar:

Organizations must:
   โ€ข Have documented tax-exempt status to be eligible
   โ€ข Have a Co-op member listed in the Organization or on the Board of Directors
   โ€ข Meet at least one of the AFC Gives priorities (detailed below)
   โ€ข Operate in Jackson or Josephine Counties

Featured Change for Good organizations will be required to:
   โ€ข Offer an info table at the Coop for two hours, twice per month (on hold until Covid distancing is lifted)
   โ€ข Provide marketing images and info for the Co-op's:
      - Weekly Sales Flyer (pending available real estate on flyer/insert)
      - Social Media posts (2)
      - E-Mail Blasts (2)
      - Printed Posters in Store (TBD)
      - Customer Displays (at each register and a larger display on the Community Monitor above the soup bar)
   โ€ข Provide a brief explanation of the organization's mission and work (for cashiers' interactions with customers)
   โ€ข Media:
      - Logo (AI or high-quality PNG)
      - 4-8 photos/videos/other content to share in marketing channels.
      - Any projects, stories or other information you'd like the Co-op to highlight.
      - An email (and optional social media postings) to your list encouraging your supporters to round-up for Change for Good during your featured month.

For 2021, we are looking for nonprofit organizations to partner monthly with the Co-op and its owners in support of five priorities:

  • ๐—˜quity, ๐——iversity, ๐—œnclusion - Support for organizations that specifically focus on increasing diversity, supporting equity and inclusion and educate the public on anti-racism.
  • ๐—•๐—ฎ๐˜€๐—ถ๐—ฐ ๐—ก๐—ฒ๐—ฒ๐—ฑ๐˜€ - Support for housing and homelessness; providing for food, shelter, and clothing; and addressing the needs of children in or on the edge of poverty.
  • ๐—–๐—น๐—ถ๐—บ๐—ฎ๐˜๐—ฒ - Support for developing climate resiliency and sustainability.
  • ๐—›๐—ฒ๐—ฎ๐—น๐˜๐—ต๐˜† ๐—™๐—ผ๐—ผ๐—ฑ - Increasing the awareness and viability of local food producers and support for sustainable agriculture.
  • ๐—–๐˜‚๐—น๐˜๐˜‚๐—ฟ๐—ฒ - Highlighting the arts and cultural programs that bring awareness to the coop principles of community, equity, and sustainability.

 

Applications will require an explanation of how the work of your organization addresses one or more of these priorities.

 

More Co-op News

October news at the Co-op

October is typically Co-op month, to highlight how differently cooperatives do business. But instead of talking about the 7 Cooperative Principles, or the ownership benefits of being part of the Co-op, we only need to look at the past four weeks to see what being a cooperative really means.

As part of the co-op family, you've helped the entire community immensely. 

Support Co-op staff to rebuild

The Ashland Food Co-op is dedicated to helping our community and our staff rebuild after the Almeda Fires in early September. 

For immediate support, the Co-op gave $1,000 to staff who lost their homes in the fires, as well as $250 for food and other household needs for anyone displaced due to a level 3 evacuation order.

Change for Good in September: Southern Oregon Land Conservancy

For the month of September, Ashland Food Co-op shoppers can round up at the register to support Southern Oregon Land Conservancy. Since 1973, SOLC has been working on multiple fronts to improve land quality and conservation for humans and nature alike. Check out some of the projects below that SOLC has been working on recently. And mark your calendar for Saturday, October 24, as SOLC hosts an Open Lands Day hike and tour on the Rogue River Preserve.

Chatting about community giving with JPR's "Jefferson Exchange"

Recently, Julie O'Dwyer, Ashland Food Co-op board vice-president, joined a panel of guests on Jefferson Public Radio's "Jefferson Exchange" to discuss how the pandemic has led to an even greater need for community giving and support of local non-profits.

JPR logo

Get to know Ashland Emergency Food Bank

The sixth cooperative principle, "Concern for Community," has become even more important since the pandemic began and economies, locally and globally, started to constrict. To address this, the Board of Directors agreed in April to release 100% of patronage dividends and designate Ashland Emergency Food Bank as a donation option for those dividends - resulting in over $20,000 in donations. And with the early launch of Change for Good register round-up, AEFB was a natural choice to receive round-up donations. 

2020 Co-op Election Results

2020 Co-op Election Results

Ashland Food Co-op owners voted for three open seats on the Board of Directors, and for ten non-profit organizations for the Change for Good register round-up program.

Click a name below to read more about that Co-op Board member.

Co-op Owners Step-Up to Support the Ashland Emergency Food Bank!

AFC and AEFB Press Release - Local Strength!

Release Date: 5-26-2020

In April, the Ashland Food Co-op Board of Directors announced to the community that the Co-op would be returning 100% of the 2019 Patronage Dividend to its owners. The 100% Patronage Dividend return to Co-op owners converted to over $628,000.

The Co-op Board felt in this time of great need it was not the right time for the Co-op to put away funds for the future, but rather to support owners fully so they may have more strength to weather these stormy times.

Free Monday Night Lectures - virtual and recorded

Thanks to the many agile and adaptable experts in the Rogue Valley, the much-loved Free Monday Night Lectures live on - even if everything is moving online.

While we miss seeing community members with a joy of learning showing up at the Co-op Classroom, we hope these recordings teach and inspire you.