Endangered Species Chocolate, an Indianapolis-based company, donates 10 percent of its net profits to partner organizations that promote species conservation, habitat preservation and humanitarian efforts. As of this week, the company has donated around $1.1 million to species preservation through programs like the African Wildlife ?Foundation, the Xerces Society and SEE Turtles.
“Endangered Species Chocolate has been a critical partner of SEE Turtles since our launch,” said Brad Nahill, the nonprofit’s founder and director. “With their support, we have helped to save more than 250,000 turtle hatchlings, connected hundreds of volunteers with conservation projects and educated thousands of students about ?sea turtles.”
Endangered Species Chocolate products have been sold at IU convenience stores and at Union Street Market since 2012.
“I have actually had the opportunity to tour their facilities and learn more about their mission statement, as well,” said Pamela Spencer, the territory sales manager for KeHe, the company that is the distributor for IU dining. “They are a very well-respected chocolate ?company leader in the organic industry and a key vendor for KeHe.”
The chocolate company, which was started in 1993, enters into three-year ?partnerships with what they call their “10 percent GiveBack partners.” Their current cycle of partnerships is coming to a close this year, and they will begin accepting applications for new ?partners in May.
“Any nonprofit can apply to be our partner,” said Kelly Meinken, the director of marketing for Endangered Species Chocolate. “We’re very laid back about how our funds are used as long as the recipients touch on all three of our focuses: species, habitat and humanity.”
The donations are not the only way the company strives to encourage sustainability. The company was the first American-made chocolate brand that sold cocoa that was both fair trade and completely traceable back to the farmers who produced it in West Africa. Their facility in Indianapolis runs completely on wind power.
Meinken said she believes the company is proof it is possible for a business to be both profitable and conscientious of environmental and humanitarian needs.
“It’s taken us awhile to get there, I’m not gonna lie,” she said. “When the economy took a hit, we had to buckle down and be really careful. We have a minimum guarantee to give $10,000 to our partners even when we aren’t profitable.”
She reported that in recent years the company has largely exceeded that minimum ?contribution.
