BlueCross employees purchased 753 pints of Epworth Ice Cream to benefit the organization. The sales totaled $5,518 with all profits going back to support the children's home.  

Have a Pint or Two

Goodwill and the Salvation Army have been in the social enterprise field for decades. But for other organizations in the community, starting a business venture is an entirely new effort. 

“Nonprofits need a predictable and sustainable revenue stream. So in recent years, some have gravitated toward creating social enterprise opportunities to grow and diversify their income stream,” says Nkuo Johnson. “In a community where there are increasingly fewer corporate dollars available for the many nonprofit organizations that exist, developing another stream of income can be much needed.” 

Friends of Epworth knew that with changing demographics and people giving less money directly to organizations, it needed to find options to be able to continue to give to Epworth Children's Home. The home in Columbia provides residential services, an independent living program, a family care center, and a foster care and adoption program to children and families in need. 

In 2017, Friends of Epworth, an independent organization that supports the home, started working toward creating Epworth Ice Cream Company, which sells ice cream and donates 100 percent of the profits back to the Children’s Home. 

“More and more people don’t want to just write a check, but people still want to give,” says Dave Mackey, president of Epworth Ice Cream Company. “Buy this ice cream X number of times a year, and you are always contributing. Imagine what that would look like in 10 years. It is a continuous method for donation.” 

The company is still growing, now selling pints at more than 50 stores in the Midlands and the Upstate. It hopes to expand to the Lowcountry. 

The company also employs young adults from the home through internships. As the company grows, Mackey hopes the impact will grow, too, as he looks to hire a third employee. 

Mackey and his staff came to BlueCross to sell ice cream directly to company employees this month. Overall they sold 753 pints of ice cream, raising $5,518. 

“Imagine every time you shop for ice cream, you’re supporting these kids. It is not just a pint of ice cream,” Mackey says. “These kids deserve everything we can give them.” 

Doing Good

According to the Nonprofit Finance Fund’s State of the Sector survey, fewer than 25 percent of nonprofits that responded had more than six months cash in reserve. And most of the nonprofits reported they had less than three months of operating reserves on hand. This can create a chronic state of instability.

Creating a social enterprise venture can do a lot of good for nonprofits that need the cash. 

“Social enterprise is where doing good business results in doing good,” says Andrew Boozer, executive director of Senior Resources, which promotes independent living for seniors by helping them stay longer in their own homes. 

“This is about diversifying the ways we support our community organizations that do good work for individuals in need. Social enterprise is one way we can do that,” Boozer says. 

Employees supported Senior Resources on taco Tuesday by purchasing $2,037 in tacos. The funds from the event will feed one senior for a full year through the Meals on Wheels program. 

Another benefit of social enterprise work is that it allows organizations to showcase the nonprofit’s mission in a new way. 

“Throughout the year, BlueCross employees are exceptionally generous,” says Nkuo Johnson. “By introducing some nonprofits that work in the social enterprise arena, we are able to engage with employees in a different way. Enjoying some Epworth Ice Cream, buying a Senior Resources taco, and donating gently used items to Goodwill and the Salvation Army still allows employees to support the critical mission of these nonprofits.”  

As millennials increasingly outnumber Generation Xers and baby boomers in the workplace, research shows they are flocking to companies that are doing good. Doing good is a part of BlueCross’ mission in South Carolina. 

“BlueCross is a leader in the community in supporting directly, whether through employee campaigns or Foundation support or corporate sponsorship. They are able to lift up the community,” Boozer says.