Give Something Back - In the News

"...the Sierra Club, which has 550 employees based mostly in San Francisco and Washington, buys its office supplies from Give Something Back... 'We were sold on the environmental quality of their products, which have a high recycled content, and how they distribute their profits,' Mr. Barnes said."
—The New York Times, Barnaby J. Feder, "Selling to Nonprofits Proves Not That Easy"

"By almost any standard Give Something Back is a thriving business. Launched in 1991 with $40,000 from two founders, the office products company generated $25 million in sales in 2006."
—Inc. Magazine, Hannah Clark, "A New Kind of Company"

"Don't let the idealist name fool you — this is no nonprofit...Give Something Back has managed to survive the onslaught of [superstores that have put more than half of office suppliers out of business]. Give Something Back's approach has also helped it amass a sales staff of 42 in a rough labor market. There is a cult-like devotion by employees, who spend their lunch breaks sitting on committees that oversee the philanthropic process."
—Forbes Magazine, Nathan Vardi, "The Profit Givers"

"Give Something Back is...an unsung hero. In February the company donated $408,000 — 92% of its after tax profit — to dozens of Bay Area nonprofit organizations...All that and Give Something Back still offers as much as 80 percent discount on paper clips, rubber bands, and whatnot."
—San Francisco Chronicle, David Lazarus, "Helping Can Be Healing"

"'We got involved with [Give Something Back] not intending to get a grant, but because they provided a competitive price,' said Jose Montes de Oca, executive director of Alum Rock Counseling Center. His agency received a $3,150 grant from the company last year. 'It was quite amazing to us,' he said..."
—San Jose Mercury News, John Boudreau, "Pouring Profits Into Non-Profits"

[Says Give Something Back,] "We can keep our costs low because the company doesn't pay dividends, the owners have set salaries, and no bonuses and having no retail stores means practically no overhead... GSB, which sells everything from paper clips and envelopes to office furniture and copiers uses a... sales staff to get its name in front of those making buying decisions."
—Sacramento Bee, Jack Sirard, "Up Front"

"Give Something Back is being recognized nationally as philanthropists extraordinaire... The Oakland office products company...is a finalist for the $250,000 Newman's Own/George Award for corporate philanthropy. 'We're fortunate to be able to reinforce on a regular basis how wonderful this company's philosophy is,' [GSB co-founder Sean Marx] said. 'This is another example. It validates why we do what we do.' "
—San Francisco Chronicle, Chip Johnson, "Awarding the Joy of Giving"

"Doing well by doing good is a staple of Give Something Back, which gave money to groups including the Greenbelt Alliance, the Homeless Prenatal Program and the Women's Cancer Resource Center in an event at Oakland's Rotunda Building attended by more than 400 people, including Mayor Ron Dellums. 'This (Give Something Back) is an exemplary organization with an extraordinary sense of community, a model for businesses and public-private partnerships,' said Dellums."
—The Oakland Tribune, Janis Mara, "Supply company gives back to area"

"So how can a business continue to grow and pay respectable wages when it goes away the majority of its profits? The answer, Hannigan insists, is that business is good with double-digit sales growth each year and the company donates as much as it can afford to give... 'We use them because they give back to the community, but they also provide outstanding service,' said Pat Whitlock, of Firm Solutions. 'They do installation, they do next-day service for free. The prices are reasonable, and they don't have a high turn-over rate. So you're always working with the same people.' "
—Contra Costa Times, Teena Massingill, "Give Something Back Does"

"Give Something Back is on the edge of socially responsible businesses, showing that companies can make money and be good corporate citizens... and it's building from the ground up at leading business schools such as Stanford and the University of California Berkeley which last year launched the Center for Responsible Business."
—The Oakland Tribune, Alec Rosenberg, "Company Knows It's Better to Give"

"Give Something Back competes with national superstores like Staples and Office Depot by not operating retail stores, reducing the need to warehouse stock...Give Something Back actually charges less than stores like Office Depot. 'Donating our profits is great,' says [GSB co-founder Sean Marx], 'but this is a business. If we aren't focused on our customers, there is no profit.' "
—Stanford Social Innovation Review, Michael Fitzgerald, "Community Capitalists"

"Hannigan's office supplies, Newman's Own spaghetti sauces and Taste of the Himalayas' meals cost no more than the going rate...Hannigan longs to ramp up revenues so he can donate more. 'Our goal is to create as large an economic powerhouse business as we can. The bigger we get, the more profitable we are, the more money that's funneled to community organizations.' "
—The Monthly, Eve Kushner, "The Greater Goods"

"Lethal Weapon star Danny Glover introduced honoree Bruce Dixon at the Give Something Back/Newman's Own Community Activist Awards."
—Diablo Magazine, "Faces: Glover Gives Back"

"Unlike most other office supply businesses, GSB actively encourages customers to buy recycled paper and sells paper that's 75 percent recycled as opposed to the 25 percent recycled throughout the rest of the industry."
—San Francisco Bay Guardian, Best of the Bay, "Most Generous Fast-Growing Business"

"[Give Something Back] sells office supplies and furniture to businesses at a fraction of the normal cost and gives something back to the community — more than $3 million dollars to community organizations over the past 15 years. 'Give Something Back is the only company that goes over and beyond to get the job done...' said Rachel Matthew, program manager for Rebuilding Together Oakland."
—East Bay Business Times, Community Impact Awards

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