TargetX Launches Integrated Philanthropy Effort

College recruiting firm TargetX will contribute a portion of its profit, product and personnel to help make a difference in the communities it serves.  "It's the right thing to do," says CEO Brian Wm. Niles.

BRISTOL, Pa. – TargetX, the nation's leading interactive recruiting company, has announced a program that integrates philanthropy and business in an effort to give back to its local communities and its higher education clients.

Patterned after the highly successful 1/1/1/ integrated corporate philanthropy model created by salesforce.com, the global leader in software-as-a-service business applications, TargetX will call its initiative the "Power of X."

Each year, TargetX will contribute 1% of its profits to a local cause, 1% of its products to associations that support college recruiting, and 1% of it payroll to allow employees to work for three days with a nonprofit organization in their community.

TargetX CEO Brian Wm. Niles was first attracted to the salesforce.com philanthropic model while investigating the use of the company's Force.com platform to build new TargetX products and services for college admissions offices.

Devised in 2000 by salesforce.com chairman and CEO Marc Benioff, the unique 1/1/1 model is based on the company's philosophy of using people, technology and relationships to improve its communities.  Benioff created an internationally respected Foundation and has written two books on the topic, "The Business of Changing the World” and “Compassionate Capitalism.”

“We applaud organizations like TargetX who value the importance of taking an integrated approach to philanthropy,” said Suzanne DiBianca, executive director of the Salesforce.com Foundation. “Together we can all make a difference by giving back the power of our resources to the communities we do business in.”

"TargetX is proud to be a member of the Salesforce Foundation Power of Us partner program and to embrace its 1/1/1 model," said Niles in announcing his company's initiative.  "Like salesforce.com, we believe in integrating philanthropy into our corporate culture.  We also believe that such an approach enhances employee performance and boosts morale.  In addition to all that, it's the right thing to do."

Niles would like to see other companies embrace a similar philanthropic plan from the very beginning -- no matter how profitable.  "Don't wait until you're super successful," he advised.  "Start from day one."

Niles will involve the entire TargetX staff in deciding which worthy cause will be the recipient of its corporate contribution.  "The team will be asked for their ideas, then there will be discussion and a vote," said Niles.  "One of our primary goals is to choose an organization or neighborhood or individual that will benefit significantly and will be able to make a greater difference because of our contribution."

The company will make its interactive communications products available at no cost to associations that serve admissions and enrollment management offices at the nation's colleges and universities.  These nonprofit associations provide an enormous benefit to higher education and -- indirectly -- to the millions of students who are seeking the best academic and financial options for their college education.

Similar to the salesforce.com 1/1/1 model, TargetX has also chosen to support its employees who wish to make their time and expertise available to the causes that are most important to them in their individual communities.  The company will provide three paid days per year to each staff member so he or she can work with a nonprofit group.