Causes: Give Something Back

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Give Something Back has a staff of 90 people, including Hannigan and Mark, who both draw salaries as president and CEO, respectively. What makes Give Something Back's commitment to charity all the more unique is that customers and employees vote for the charities that are to receive financial support. At the end of the year, the profits are divided among the top vote-getters.

"It's purely democratic," says Hannigan. "In corporations, the powerful interests decide who the money goes to. We believe our customers and employees are more broadly connected to the world."

But despite the accolades and the recognition, philanthropic appeal can only take you so far.

"Our customers are businesspeople; they don't have the luxury of choosing us because they feel good about it," says Hannigan.

Instead, Give Something Back's success is based on the ability to go toe to toe with the likes of Staples and Office Depot. Controlled, incremental growth has been the company's credo.

And don't think the only ones willing to work for the company are a bunch of starry-eyed college graduates.

"In order for us to stay in the game, we have to attract the top talent," says Jonathan Carlson, manager of Give Something Back's Sacramento office.

While the idea of giving away profits may sound somewhat anti-capitalistic, the practice is catching on. Take the example of Ethos water, says Hannigan. That company, purchased by Starbucks in 2005, donates a nickel for every bottle sold to help groups working to supply clean drinking water to people globally.

And if you are doing the math, the 22 percent of Give Something Back profits that haven't gone to charity have been used for business operations, explains Hannigan. The founders say they are committed to passing the difference on to charity when the company is in a position to do so.

Sierra Adoption Services' adoptive family Dan and Suzy Root with their three daughters Mikayla, Jasmine and Amanda at Disneyland.

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