“Underlying the philosophy of “Purpose, People & Planet” as well as “Do No Harm & Do Know Harm”
All decisions of the organization are made in the context of the social, environmental and economic awareness and impact. We do no harm & do know harm. Where possible, our acts should serve to decrease the problem. Our activities in this area will be under constant evaluation and reassessment as we seek constant improvement.
Maximum attention is given to product and service quality, as defined by durability, minimum use of natural resources (including materials, raw energy, and transport), multi-functionalism, non-obsolescence, commonality and the simplistic beauty that emerges from absolute suitability to task through form and function.
The board and management recognize that successful communities are part of a sustainable environment. We consider ourselves to be an integral part of communities that also include our employees, the communities in which we live and work, our donors, suppliers, alliance partners, co-developers, and their employees. We recognize our responsibilities to all of these relationships and make our decisions with their general benefit in mind. It is our policy to employ people who share the fundamental values of this organization while representing cultural, social and ethnic diversity. To help mitigate any negative social or environmental consequences of our business activity, we promote a Corporate Social & Environmental Responsibly Pledge whenever possible; to engage, partner, purchase from and provide goods & services to companies, organizations and communities that understand and adhere to a social and environmental code of ethics to promote and foster sustainability locally as well as globally.
The Foundation, at all levels of operation, board, management, and staff encourages pro-active stances that reflect our values and principles. These include activities that influence the larger global community to also adjust its values, principles and behavior, and that support, through activism and financial, local and national campaigns to solve the current social, environmental and economic crisis.
The Foundation’s internal operations and management will work as a cohesive group respecting opinions and decisions throughout the organization. This includes an openness that enables employees easy access to decisions and reportable financials of the foundation within normal boundaries of personal and corporate privacy and foundation “trade secrecy”. At all levels of foundation activity, we encourage open communications, a collaborative atmosphere and maximum simplicity, while striving for innovation and mastery within the industries we enter.
Without giving its achievements primacy, we seek to prosper from our Foundation activities through the management methodology, principles and Triple Bottom Line policy of “Purpose, People, & Planet.” However, as controlled growth and sustained expansion are key values to this Foundation, we pledge to do so in a responsible and respectful manner taking into consideration, local cultural, social and environmental elements during the process. We seek to expand, but not at the expense or exploitation of people or the planet.
As we are inspired by the Knights Hospitallers to charge in and care for those in need, we take that approach to everything we do. Where it seems impossible to fight the status quo, we prove why. Where mechanics limit results, we re-engineer. Where it is easier to retreat, we ignore the odds and prevail. From saving people and property to our planet, we find a way. We respond where and when others do not.
~ Inspired by the writings of Yvon Chouinard, Founder and Chairman of Patagonia