SimpleSignal's Philanthropy Shows it Has a Calling Larger than Just with Phone Systems

By Ed Silverstein, TMCnet Web Editor

SimpleSignal Inc., is perhaps best known as a leading hosted PBX and Unified Communications (News - Alert) service provider for small- and mid-sized businesses needing phone systems. But SimpleSignal is also known for its philosophy toward its employees and the outside world.

“At SimpleSignal we believe that our business can make the world we live in a better place,” CEO Dave Gilbert (News - Alert) said in a recent blog post. “Building partnerships between SimpleSignal (News - Alert) and ministries and other non-profit charities produces a more meaningful work-life balance.”

The company has adopted a model of giving that is designed to grow with the company.

The “1+1+1 model” shares a portion of the company’s financial and intellectual wealth with the world.

Here’s how it works:

1 Percent Equity: The company uses 1 percent of its profit to offer monetary assistance to those in need.

1 Percent Time: The company finds meaningful activities for SimpleSignal employees during their six paid days off a year, which are devoted to volunteerism and promoting a culture of caring.

1 Percent Product: The company facilitates the donation of communication services to non-profits, helping them increase their operational effectiveness and focus more of their resources on their core mission.

“Our staff drives our philanthropy,” Gilbert said in the posting. “As CEO, I’m proud of our people and I’m excited to share them with organizations that are bettering our world. People that donate their time have to be willing to go beyond their own comfort zone – and those are the people that have built SimpleSignal into the company it is today.”

While the economy may influence the overall amounts given to charity by US corporations, the economic downturn took its toll in the U.S. corporate philanthropy arena but the negative impact seen in 2009 may have reached its peak, according to The Conference Board.

Earlier this year, The Conference Board reported the pressure appears to be easing with fewer companies planning cuts in budgets, staff, number of grants, and grant size in 2010.

(source: http://www.tmcnet.com/channels/phone-systems/articles/99696-simplesignals-philanthropy-shows-it-has-calling-larger-than.htm)