If you've been reading this blog for awhile, you've read the letters BNI quite a few times. It stands for Business Network International, the world's largest, oldest and most successful referral organization. Ivan Misner started this company over 20 years ago, when he needed to add to his client base. And the rest is history.
About nine years ago, Ivan and his wife, Beth (second from right in photo at the right), decided that they wanted to share some of their success. They formed the Misner Foundation, which supplies grants to schools and programs that benefit children and education.
What's really neat about this foundation is that it is right in line with BNI's referral philosophy. A grant application can only be submitted if it is referred by a BNI member. Now, if there is an organization that surfaces through some other way, Beth will put them in touch with a BNI member in their area, so that a relationship might develop that will lead to a referral.
The grants are $1000 each and Beth's goal is to give as much of the money away as possible. If you'd like to hear more about this you can listen to a podcast here.
If you would develop a foundation, what cause would it support?
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