Jerry Howell, founder and president of the Midwest Business Exchange
in Kalamazoo ( MI), has just completed another non-profit project
which illustrates how an exchange (and barter) can positively assist
people and a community.
Bartering With Non-Profit Agencies Provides Benefits To Many
By Jerry Howell
A
deserving eighteen year-old homeless male, named Brandon, was
attempting to find a way to go to the local community college. Our
exchange (MBE) found 12 members that each pledged one month of rent
in trade dollars to a member local relief agency. On behalf of
Brandon, the agency paid the trade-dollar rent to an apartment
complex, which was another MBE member.
Here�s what was accomplished through barter:
The donors enjoyed being good Samaritans as well as the resulting
tax deductions, while the relief agency furthered its mission. The
apartment complex rented a unit that otherwise would have been
empty; it may now use those trade dollars for anything from snow
plowing to printing. Moreover MBE did over $15,000.00 of barter
business, and enjoyed favorable coverage in the local newspaper.
There is nothing magical about trading with non-profits ... it�s
just a matter of putting ideas and people together.
For more information on MBE
click here.