Founders’ Letter on Nonprofit & Social Investment
Greetings!
When we started Brooklyn Creative League, we set out to create a company that embodied our conviction that we’re all better off when we’re all better off. We’ve spent the past three years building an organization whose economic value was rooted in community, collaboration, and mutual benefit. Now that we’re out of the start-up phase, it’s time to start giving back to the broader community. That’s why, beginning in 2012, we will allocate 5% of BCL’s profits to nonprofits and mission-driven investing. Here are the issues we’re focusing on—and why we’ve chosen them:
Human Rights. We aspire to a world where the civil, political, and economic human rights of all people are respected and protected. Recipient organizations will likely include larger human rights organizations, but we also plan to target funds to smaller NGOs who are doing important on-the-ground work around the world.
LGBT Rights. We believe that all people should have the right to love whomever they choose, and that the rights and privileges of marriage—which have been the cornerstone of our success as business-owners and as people—should be available to all, regardless of sexual orientation. Our giving will focus on legal advocacy and public policy, and also on organizations working to ensure that young people are safe from bullying and harassment because of their sexual identity, or perceived sexual identity.
Local Nonprofits. We want to give to nonprofits that are working to improve our local community. We have a preference for service organizations (food pantries, women’s shelters), but will likely support educational, environmental, and arts organizations as well.
Social Investing. We strongly believe that patient capital and social investing can be powerful levers of change. That’s why roughly a quarter of our “charitable” allocation will be targeted towards for-profit social investments in micro-enterprise, small-business development, and entrepreneurship.
We invite you to join us. Best wishes for a healthy, happy, and prosperous 2012!
Sincerely,
Erin & Neil, Co-Founders
January 3rd, 2012
In June of 2009, Keith Hagan and Steve Karas announced the opening of their new company: SKH Music – a music publicity and management firm. Karas and Hagan have logged over 20 years each as respected PR executives in the recording industry. The mission statement of SKH is simple – super-serve a reasonable number of clients with a creative forward-thinking strategy. Upon opening, a respected roster immediately took shape with a very diverse list of clients and over the past two years, a respected array of talent from the world of rock, country, blues, and pop have enlisted the companies services. 
Dara is a consultant to The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation in Global Health Policy and Advocacy. She has both public and private sector pharma and biotech experience. Prior to taking on independent consulting clients, she was the Director of Finance and Planning at the International AIDS Vaccine Initiative (IAVI).
Matt Easton is an independent consultant conducting research, writing, and advocacy on human rights for non-profits and foundations. His main areas of focus are Southeast Asia and the protection of human rights defenders worldwide.
StoryKeep creates audio, film and multimedia portraits of individuals, families and businesses. We all have a story to keep. Let us help keep yours. 
Gowanus Canal Conservancy
Chris Hubbard
Raphael Crawford-Marks
Heather O'Donnell | Honey & Wax Booksellers
