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The Pachamama Alliance's programs offer huge and inspired visions with planetary implications, but have you ever wondered:
- What goes on at the office on a day-to-day basis?
- What does the staff do to create an environmentally sustainable, spiritually fulfilling and socially just presence on this planet?
- How does Pachamama “walk its talk”?
The Operations Team is so glad you asked.
We want to be the best non-profit to work for and an example for others. This means we need to do things differently than the way they've been done before.
First Step: Paperless Accounting
Last year, The Pachamama Alliance implemented an all-electronic accounting system which utilizes ACH transfer (Automated Clearing House), a key step in becoming a paperless office. All payments now happen electronically, significantly reducing payment processing time, trips to the bank for vendor payments, paper, fuel, and other costs related to check distributions.
But the most important missing link in the new system was a partnership with a local community bank committed to sustainability and The Pachamama Alliance mission.
Engaged with Sustainable Banking
Enter New Resource Bank, a FDIC chartered financial institution founded 4 years ago in San Francisco to promote sustainability.
New Resource Bank was founded with the belief that balancing the “triple bottom line” is greatly needed in our society today, and the founding stakeholders, management, employees, and Board members are likewise committed to that belief. Their goal is to become “the bank that leads the way as a trusted advisor to businesses, non-profit organizations, and consumers seeking to become more sustainable.”
In February 2011, New Resource Bank provided a competitive bid for their services, which allowed The Pachamama Alliance to establish a banking relationship and continue on our path of stronger sustainability practices in Finance and Operations.
If you have any questions regarding The Pachamama Alliance’s all electronic accounting system please contact Kristina Vigna, Finance Manager, at kristina@pachamama.org.
