Guest post by Jeanne Reslan of EcoLabel Fundraising

I met Jeanne Reslan, Founder and President of EcoLabel Fundraising via Twitter when I posted about eco-friendly paints. (Both she and my painter agreed that Sherwin-Williams was the way to go since both of them used it to paint their homes.)

After reading about Eco-mompreneurs in the April 2009 issue of Working Mother, I was curious why she started her green company, so I asked her to do a guest post about it.

I hope it will inspire you to turn your passion for green living into something more.

Jeanne Reslan of EcoLabel Fundraising

I try to share my story with all schools and non-profits we work with across the country.  I think it is important for them to understand where my passion from helping them was born.

There are many fundraising companies out there seeking to make a “quick buck” off the children in our schools. Our mission is much different.  We are seeking to better their lives by giving back 95% of the profits we help generate. The other five percent is put back into our program to grow it so that we may extend our reach to as many schools around the nation as possible. We price our products at fair-market value which is a refreshing change for parents. Making our program ethical in every way is our focus and has become a big part of our company culture.

Becoming a mom

In 2007, I gave birth to my first child. Her arrival made me look at the world in an entirely different way, as it does for most people. After much internal turmoil, I came to the conclusion that I wasn't waking up anymore with a good feeling about how I was contributing to the world which I would leave behind for my children.

At the time, I was selling petroleum-based chemicals and oil. I made a very healthy living surging to the top sales position in the company. I worked with mostly men over the age of 55 in a very big, good 'ol boys network. I could keep up with them without a problem, since I was raised in rural Iowa. My understanding this sort of environment made me a fast success in that industry. So, for me, it was fast-paced, fun and came naturally.  The problem was that I was raised in middle America, which also gave me a sense of “doing the right thing” at all times that I may not have otherwise had.

I was paid six figures for being on maternity leave, since they wanted to make coming back to my job very attractive to me. They were very good to me, but my maternal pull was stronger than anything. Shortly after returning to work, my husband and I made the decision that I would leave. 

Pursuing a passion

I left it all to pursue a “bigger purpose.” I knew I was good at raising money, since I had raised millions for the non-profits and schools I had worked for in my 20s. The fundraising experience working for those organizations is what led me into sales to begin with. I figured, why not turn my skill set into a passion of mine? 

I did understand that others did not have the diverse sales, marketing and fundraising skills that I was lucky enough to acquire over the years, so I figured I would share it with as many non-profits and schools as I could across the nation. Really, I suppose some of it was intrinsic talent I was born with, but mostly I believe it was good people that shared with me what they had learned over the years.  So, I needed to do the same.

In early 2008, I officially founded EcoLabel Fundraising with the intention of making a major change in my personal life, as well as my career. I made a firm decision from the very beginning that if I was going to put my energy into this passion, then I was going to do it right.  EcoLabel Fundraising sells only Fair-Trade, Eco-Friendly or Organic Products.  When creating the vision for the programs we administer, I really tried to think about what I would want to see come into my home as a parent. What lessons could we teach children about leaving a good impact on our Earth and help raise funds at the same time? 

Making a difference

Today, I wake up knowing that every time a child takes one of EcoLabel Fundraising's catalogs home to their parents, one more conversation about the environment is likely to transpire in their household.  Just maybe, a teacher will have one more conversation with his/her students about the environment when talking about EcoLabel Fundraising's program. The best part about it all is that we have been able to help so many schools raise much needed funds in a very tough economy. Children remember those conversations and they make a lasting impact in their minds well into adulthood. Children also remember all the programs they were able to enjoy since their school was able to raise the funds to provide extra programs.

More about EcoLabel Fundraising

The response to our programs and passion has been overwhelming. We are so thrilled to be helping so many in a really healthy way. In helping schools raise funds, we offer three types of programs including our Traditional Paper Catalog and Web-Catalog program, Seed and Bulb Fundraising Program, and Customized,Reusable Water Bottle Program. Sign-up and support for our programs are 100% free. 

It is happy work, so I'm really glad to have made the change.

Help EcoLabel Fundraising spread the word about their good works by becoming their fan on Facebook, follow them on Twitter @EcolabelFund, or visit ecolabelfundraising.com to order a free catalog.

Anne-Marie Nichols is Mom Central Goes Green’s Managing Editor.

Comments

[Green Fundraising]

Ecolabel looks like a really great company. There is another green fundraising company that has some more main stream programs that our kids really liked. It is called Go Green Fundraising. Just a heads up for any one looking for some options.