Download Sustainable Resources Article DTE 2/4/12

Non-profit Changes Name to Reflect
Positive Efforts
SLIP Becomes Sustainable Resources INW
By Renée Sande
An educational non-profit, dedicated to building a strong sustainable future for Spokane,
recently made a change for the better.
The 2011 Catalyst Award recipient for Clean/Green Organization of the Year by Spokane
Incorporated was obviously doing everything right; however their name needed an upgrade.
Since 2006, SLIP—Sustainable Local Investment Partners—had been contributing largely to the
sustainable landscape by helping business owners understand the value of the triple bottom line
(people, planet and profit) in strengthening their market position.
However, the positive mission of the organization wasn’t exactly reflected in the name’s
acronym, said executive director and certified sustainability professional, Susanne Croft.
“It really didn’t have a positive connotation…your name should really say something about what
you do,” laughed Croft. “And no one could remember what it stood for.”
As well, the name Sustainable Local Investment Partners didn’t accurately encompass the
scope of their services, which had broadened and refocused since the idea’s inception.
Croft and a group of friends had originally met for lunch to discuss how they could put their
money to work locally, ultimately deciding on investing in green businesses as a win-win for
everyone.
“However, as time went by, we realized while there was a lot of interest, there weren’t a lot of
green businesses to invest in,” said Croft.
So in 2008, when Spokane really started taking an interest in the greener side of things, SLIP
saw an opportunity to help businesses who were interested in becoming more environmentally
friendly but either didn’t have the know-how or the resources.
They started sitting down with business owners and working with them on just where they
could improve business efficiency that would lead to sustainability.
Now called Sustainable Resources Inland Northwest, their name gets right to the heart of what
they’re all about, and where their ultimate goal lies.
“What we’re working for is a stronger community…sowing those seeds of change.”
Using SCORE (Sustainability-Competency Opportunity Rating and Evaluation), a standardized
sustainability assessment, businesses are rated on different aspects of their business and just how
efficient they are.
While most business owners may think of energy and water efficiency when it comes to
sustainability, S-CORE helps businesses look at all functional abilities of their business, such as
accounting and human resources, and how efficiency there can lead to sustainability as well.
“It’s not so much from a tree-hugger stance but from a business stance,” said Croft. “While
evaluating their business practices with a sustainability measure, we’re helping them to become
more comfortable with transparency and are preparing them for local green investors.”
Once on hold, this original aspect of the non-profit is finally coming to fruition, as the number
of sustainable businesses has increased in the past couple of years and owners are coming forward,
looking for investment capital while investors waiting to invest.
“The idea is to create a way to keep our money working locally to support local businesses,”
Croft said in an earlier interview. “You’re investing in more than just your own financial stability.
You’re also investing in the future resilience of your community, which is what sustainability is all
about.”
Once a business’ eligibility is determined, educational and funding opportunities are available
through Sustainable Resources’ INW consortium of local agencies and organizations that include
the City of Spokane, Avista, and the State Department of Ecology, financial institutions such as
Numerica and Spokane Teachers Credit Union and non-profits including SNAP (Spokane
Neighborhood Action Partners) and Community-Minded Enterprises.
Sustainable Resources also tracks a business’ progress for up to one year with an additional
sustainability planning tool called SPaRK. The tool measures performance, impacts and return on
investment, as well.
“We formed as a non-profit because we’re motivated more by outcomes than income, and we
value the power of partnerships to effect change,” said Croft.
For more info, go to http://sustainableresourcesinw.org/