Sustainable Business Innovation Cohort

Strengthening Infrastructure to Support Small Businesses Creating Social and Environmental Impact

The Erb Family Foundation seeks to support the nonprofit organizations that provide expertise and money to small businesses so they can become more prosperous while, or perhaps because, they care about their neighbors, their employees, and the environment.

Timeline

Applications Open: May 1

Informational Webinar: May 4, 1 P.M. EST. Register here.

Applications Close: June 18

Decisions Announced: Early August

What are the goals of the Sustainable Business Innovation Cohort?

• Grow — Increase the accessibility and availability of resources for small businesses that strive to be good for people and the planet, while being profitable.
• Experiment — Provide flexibility and support to organizations so they can respond to the diverse and ever-changing needs and opportunities facing small businesses.
• Connect — Strengthen the network of organizations providing services so that they can reach and better serve more small businesses.

What do we mean by “Sustainable Business”?

Businesses who believe that they can have a positive impact on people and the planet while being profitable.

What support will the Erb Family Foundation provide?

• Funding — Up to $125,000 per year for three years. This is an opportunity to try something new that builds on what you are already doing.
• Coaching — 1:1 and group coaching to develop and implement a learning plan.
• Peers — A group of peer organizations who are also working with small businesses and believe that businesses can care about people, planet and profits.

What commitment is expected from participants?

• Show up — Attend three in-person cohort meetings per year during the three years of the grant.
• Learn — Approach the work with a learning mindset and be open to adapting in response to what you learn.
• Share — Be open with what you are learning so that others can learn with and from you.

Who Can Apply?

• 501(c)3 nonprofit — We are open to joint applications from more than one organization; however, the main applicant must be a 501(c)3. We are also open to applicants that use a fiscal sponsor.
• Serves small businesses
• Based in Southeast Michigan — Applicants must already work in Southeast Michigan or apply jointly with an organization that is based in the region.
• Helps businesses be better for people or the planet — We are open to applicants who might be new to triple-bottom-line (i.e. people, planet, profit) work but can show how it fits with their existing work with small businesses.

Questions? Reach out to us at Sbcohort@erbff.org

Businesses creating value by living their values: Erb Lumber

After returning from World War II and graduating from college, Fred Erb joined his uncle at The Erb-Kidder Company, later to become Erb Lumber. When he walked in the door, his uncle informed him that he would now be “running the company.” The Company had one store, eight employees, and $170,000 in sales. When Fred sold the company in 1993, sales had grown to $300 million.

Fred understood that Erb Lumber’s success was in part thanks to the many talented and hardworking employees that built the company alongside him. He invested in them as both professionals and individuals. Erb Lumber began profit sharing with employees in 1957 — 23 years before 401Ks were established. Fred loved to teach and each year he sat down with managers across the Company to explain how their efforts contributed to that year’s profits and how each employee’s share of the profit was being reinvested. He also cared about the health of his employees. In the 60’s, employees had access to smoking cessation resources and flu vaccine clinic were held on site.

“My best business advice: Hire people and train them.” – Fred Erb

After Fred sold Erb Lumber, he and his wife, Barbara Erb made a gift to establish a joint program between the University of Michigan Business School and the School of Natural Resources and Environment. They believed that businesses had an important role, and responsibility, for protecting the natural environment. Thirty years later, there are over 900 alumni of the Frederick A. and Barbara M. Erb Institute.

“If we can raise the next generation of business leaders to think about environmental protection as an essential long-term investment and not a cost to be avoided and show how to do it in ways that make business sense, we’ll have taken a major step forward.” – Fred Erb