Advocate for environmental justice and equity

Environmental justice aims to reduce the unfair burdens of climate change on marginalized poor communities. Whether the danger comes from rising sea levels, unhealthy air quality, heat waves, or unprecedented natural disasters that destroy housing and create food and water instability, people without necessary resources are bearing the brunt of our climate crisis. Environmental justice prompts nonprofits to think about what we can do now to minimize and mitigate these awful impacts. 

Environmental equity is also important, ensuring that underserved community members have equal access to emerging green jobs and get the chance to develop in-demand green skills. Nonprofits exist to serve people and can be strong advocates for both justice and equity. Through policy changes, education, and service, it’s vital to elevate the voices of marginalized people every step of the way. Education is key. That’s why environmental literacy and a focus on environmental intersectionality should be core elements of every nonprofit’s sustainability initiative.

Build resiliency into nonprofit programming

A key opportunity area for nonprofit leadership is helping communities build resilience (physical, financial, and emotional) to adapt and thrive in this changing environment. Climate change events will continue to grow in number and severity, urging us to be intentional about the steps we’re taking. For nonprofits that work in conservation, wildfires are becoming a key consideration, while those orgs invested in human health programs will want to factor in the impacts of heatwaves, catastrophic storms, and flooding, and a wider scope of vector-borne diseases. Nonprofits involved in workforce development can support the transition of fossil-fuel workers into other jobs as the world economy moves to renewables. 

It’s also crucial to promote green opportunities for those who face extensive barriers based on gender, race, or socioeconomic status. Diverse perspectives lead to the most innovative solutions, as people with various worldviews, backgrounds, and capabilities have valuable perspectives to contribute. 

Provide educational opportunities

Give people opportunities to build their green skills through targeted training, workshops, and mentorship. Organizations like Greenbiz provide global sustainability resources, webinars, events, and newsletters. Also, check out these 10 powerful free resources specifically targeted for nonprofits to build their sustainability capabilities. Whether it’s in leadership, fundraising, or subject matter expertise, there will always be an area of growth that employees will want to tackle. They’ll be grateful for your efforts to partner with them in their educational and career-related growth. 

Supporting your organization’s employees will always end up benefiting your cause. When spearheading sustainability initiatives, encourage ongoing education on sustainability and effective solutions. For instance, investing in LinkedIn’s educational resources, Employee’s Guide to Sustainability and Sustainability Strategies, is another way to encourage a culture of learning around sustainability. There will always be more to learn—and fostering a growth mindset will help everyone become more well-versed in the issues that your nonprofit stands for. 

You could also help employees and partners by connecting them to other like-minded peers who share the same vision, allowing them to branch out their network with different groups. 

Ask the right questions

When launching or co-sponsoring environmental sustainability initiatives, begin by applying a materiality lens and asking yourself the following questions.

• Does this initiative link to our organization’s most material environmental impacts? 

• Does the initiative align with and tie into our organization’s core mission?

• Does the initiative take advantage of our key assets and unique value proposition? 

• Are we considering climate resiliency in our plans?

It’s also worth considering who the stakeholders are in this particular project and how they will own their goals and contribute to desired outcomes. Taking an inclusive approach here will be crucial. The inclusion of diverse and relevant voices from community leaders and members of underrepresented groups will clarify the problem to be solved and help identify the best options and opportunities. Ask yourself how your vision of success matches up with theirs. Is this work empowering and benefiting them?

Envision what success looks like, and how you will measure it. Also take time to consider possible unintended negative consequences, and how you could avoid or mitigate them. Furthermore, do you have the resources and buy-in from your leadership to achieve success?

If you are partnering with a person or organization for this initiative, ensure they also align with your values. What is their track record? 

Share your resources

Tracking sustainability KPIs, such as carbon emissions reduction or diversity and inclusion metrics, is a vital part of securing the success of sustainability programs. However, measurement can be costly. Fortunately, there are a myriad of resources available for organizations that want to improve tracking in a cost-efficient manner. 

Take the time to do your research, check out the SME Climate Hub for more information, and when you find the tools that propel your nonprofit forward, consider sharing them with other partnering organizations or key stakeholders to your cause. In this line of work, where we promote sustainability by also fighting for equity, unity, and inclusion, it’s crucial that you help and equip others whenever possible. 

Sustainability is our collective responsibility, and it can only be successful if we continue to act as one determined, mutually-supportive unit. Let the world’s nonprofits—steeped in hope, versed in advocacy, and empowered by engagement and intention—act as an indomitable and winning force for change. 

How can nonprofits find prospective donors on LinkedIn?

As you get started raising money on LinkedIn, you can use the search bar at the top left-hand side of the website to identify potential donors. Depending on who you’re trying to reach, you could type in a specific job title or a keyword relating to your cause. Hit enter, then select “People” from the list of options below the search bar, and use the “All filters” option to narrow down your results. 

This will generate a list of people who match your search criteria. From there, you can start reviewing their profiles to qualify them and determine the best way to engage them. 

For more advanced donor cultivation features, consider investing in LinkedIn Sales Navigator, which is available at up to a 50% discount for eligible nonprofits. This solution gives you access to advanced search filters, an easy way to map your network and identify the best path forward, and more. 

What else should be included in a LinkedIn donor cultivation plan?

Identifying potential donors is only one element of a strong donor cultivation plan. You can also leverage LinkedIn to build the relationship both before and after you first approach the prospect. After all, not every prospect will give right away, and others may not commit to a repeat gift upfront, so you’ll want to plan ahead to keep these prospects warm and maximize your efforts. 

Here are some ways you can use LinkedIn throughout the donor cultivation cycle: 

• Invite prospects to follow your nonprofit on LinkedIn. Post regularly to keep your organization on their mind. Consider creating a LinkedIn newsletter, too — everyone who follows your nonprofit’s LinkedIn Page will be prompted to subscribe, and those who do will get a notification every time you post.  

• Keep track of prospects’ activity. Check the “Activity” section of their LinkedIn profile regularly to look for signals that it’s a good time to approach or follow up. You can also hit the “Follow” button at the top of their profile (it may be under “More”) to get notifications about their activity. 

• Get prospects’ attention with personalized InMail messages. If you have LinkedIn Premium or LinkedIn Sales Navigator, you can send InMails (direct messages) to anyone on LinkedIn. Review the prospect’s LinkedIn profile before crafting your message to make it feel warm and personal. Be sure to mention any connection they have to your cause.

Elevate your donor cultivation efforts with LinkedIn

Whether you use it for identifying potential donors, researching prospects, building relationships, or all of the above, LinkedIn can be an invaluable part of any donor cultivation plan.

Take your donor cultivation efforts to the next level with LinkedIn Sales Navigator. Contact our team to learn more.

The problem has reached a breaking point: plastic production grew from 2 million tonnes in 1950 to 420 million tonnes in 2015. This development has led scientists to express alarm about the fact that we’re creating “a plastic planet”. [5]

So what can we do?

Studies like these bring the challenges our earth is facing into sharp relief. But there’s still so much we can all do to help. At adidas, we know we have a responsibility to help find solutions. That’s why we’re introducing Parley missions, our endeavor to help build awareness around the plastic waste problem and encourage participation. After the success of Parley’s Run For Our Oceans, we’ve joined forces again to engage as many people as possible in helping to heal our planet. Run For The Oceans turned a movement into a revolution, when 2.2 million joined us for a sponsored run that raised $1.5 million for the Parley Ocean Initiative for ocean health. With this in mind, we’ve designed a new series of challenges that get us all one step closer to our ultimate challenge of combating plastic waste. To prove that we truly can be the solution we need, we’re inviting you to join the cause and sign up for sustainability missions. We hope to raise more community awareness and important funding for a crisis that may ultimately end up defining our generation and what it can do. Answer the call with adidas X Parley’s mission series. 

Although the fight to end plastic waste requires long-term commitments, there are countless short-term changes you can make right now. Parley’s missions series is all about bringing sustainability to life, and there are many other ways you can act sustainably every day. 

You can reduce your plastic waste footprint today by taking a few simple steps:

• Reusable water bottles and coffee cups: Plastic bottles and cups that are designed to be thrown away directly after use are known as single-use plastics, and are incredibly wasteful. Unless recycled, the plastic ends up in landfills and contributes to microplastic pollution. Instead, carry a reusable alternative and fill it up continuously. 

• Going grocery shopping with a reusable bag: Another source of single-use plastic is the bags you take home after grocery shopping. While many chains are making an effort to steer away from plastic in their bagging, they’re not all there yet. Bringing a tote or other reusable bag shopping with you could save plastic from being used and discarded. 

• Substituting food wrap with a beeswax alternative: Any time you can say no to plastic in favor of something reusable, do it! Clingfilm and other kitchen plastics are single-use, meaning they’re thrown away immediately. A beeswax alternative could be used again and again.

• Avoid products containing “microbeads”: Certain cosmetic and skincare products use tiny hard beads made of plastic for a scrubbing effect. When you rinse these down your drain they collect in our natural water sources, harming marine life and releasing toxins. If you’re looking for an exfoliator-type product try using an acid instead for the same result.

• Try refillable products: Lots of companies are trialing refillable products that allow you to bring them back to the store and be refilled. This means you don’t have to throw away the original casing and buy a newly packaged product. Any time a container can be reused, you’re saving plastic from getting out in the environment.

• Buying sustainably: When buying new clothing, you should seek to shop high quality goods that can be kept for as long as possible without replacing. It’s also important to put your money where your mouth is, and make choices that reflect your personal beliefs and goals. 

Supporting brands that are trying to make a difference is crucial in the fight to end plastic waste. In an effort to help you shop as sustainably as possible, adidas X Parley are launching their first collection of upcycled outerwear. The latest drop features clothing and shoes that are made with intercepted plastic waste, thanks to Parley’s patented circular technology. Stay on this journey with us as we get even closer to our goal of no virgin polyester in products by 2024. Let’s be the solution we need. 

More efficient ammonia cracking 

Ammonia cracking is an endothermic process, which simply means breaking the chemical bonds of an ammonia molecule requires heat—a lot of heat. How much largely depends on what catalyst is being used. This is important, because the higher the temperature needed to crack ammonia, the less efficient (and more expensive) the process becomes.  

High conversion at low temperatures 

Catalysts play a crucial role in the economic viability, effectiveness, and efficiency of ammonia cracking. They accelerate the reaction rate and lower the activation energy required for ammonia molecules to break apart. They can also help to optimize the hydrogen yield while minimizing unwanted byproducts.

Traditional ammonia cracking takes place at temperatures ranging from 700-900ºC using non-platinum group metal (PGM) catalysts. Iron-based mix metal catalysts can crack ammonia at temperatures of around 600-750 ºC. However, today’s most effective catalysts use ruthenium metal. At Amogy, we use ruthenium in our own catalysts which can be 30% more efficient than alternative options thanks to a combination of high conversion rates and low operating temperatures.

Cracking the clean energy code 

Ammonia cracking will play a critical role in the journey to Net Zero, giving our heaviest industries access to clean hydrogen fuel at scale. This, combined with the growing production of green ammonia, leaves ammonia poised to accelerate progress towards an emission-free future. 

At Amogy, we’re building technologies and products capable of making ammonia cracking more cost-effective, efficient and scalable. Our technology makes it possible to integrate an ammonia cracker, in the form of a modular ammonia-to-electrical power system, into existing power generation systems, aboard retrofit or new build vessels, and more. This year, we will be launching the world’s first ammonia-powered vessel—the NH3 Kraken.