I work at http://givelively.org for the same reasons. I want my work to be about more than making someone profit, so I work at a place that doesn't make profit. For what it's worth, the fact that the mission of your organization would be aligned with ours would certainly be very attractive to me as a hiring manager. I would furthermore be encouraged by the idea that your pool of candidates may also be of a similar mindset. Of course I am an exception. Most hiring managers may not see things the way I do. But nonetheless, I want to share my words of encouragement and I hope you'll reach out to me if you end up moving forward.
Ask HN: Start a charity-driven staffing firm?
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Re: Ask HN: Start a charity-driven staffing firm?
#12I like your question very much. IMHO, every entreprise is a social entreprise. No matter what it does, it affects society, does it not? So, giving away a % of the revenues shouldn't be necessary, as long as the business does something meaningful for society. Looks like you would help people make a living, while helping companies find talent. That seems more-than-enough meaningful. And if you'd like to be even more me…
Others have downvoted you, so I want to add some ideas why you may not be right here.
From an economist's view, it is clear that such "market behavior" may be efficient in allocation of ressources, but not morally or ethically efficient. There are many "pareto efficient" equilibria, for example, but the subset of those which are socially desireable is small. Since we are not aware of a good regulatory mechanism that ensures both allocative and distributive efficiency, it is certainly commendable for individuals with wealth to throw their weight into making society better for more people. Another sense of how this may be desirable is that the more we look toward the long term, the more important social incentives should become - while we as humans often think very myopically. This is a view of efficiency.
From a sociologist's perspective, one may say that social norms - for example how much we can and should help other people - are driven by both the behavior around us, and what we observed in the past. So, being able to help people and improve society is something that can move us, collectively, to a better path. And not doing so, may cement a system that is not really desirable, yet binding for individuals.
So indeed, doing things like this may not only feel meaningful, but they are meaningful. And meaning in our actions is important for personal happiness.
Re: Ask HN: Start a charity-driven staffing firm?
#13Can you really hire NYC area devs for so little pay? Even with the mission to help win candidates over, that seems incredibly low. I would normally be more worried about finding contracts (unless you have contacts you haven't mentioned), but I don't think that's going to be the primary problem in your plan.
Re: Ask HN: Start a charity-driven staffing firm?
#14Have you seen the movie Dave from the 1990s about a guy who looks like the President and ends up being the stand-in for the President when he has a stroke? He runs a staffing agency who helps people down on their luck get jobs. Anyways, your thread title made me think of that.
I would say instead of just giving away the $$ to charity, why don't you put it towards helping low-income people have career advancement, or training homeless vets, or ex-cons?
Re: Ask HN: Start a charity-driven staffing firm?
#15Can you really hire NYC area devs for so little pay? Even with the mission to help win candidates over, that seems incredibly low. I would normally be more worried about finding contracts (unless you have contacts you haven't mentioned), but I don't think that's going to be the primary problem in your plan.
I think he means paying himself and his wife $75k each. The placements would presumably be at market rates.
Re: Ask HN: Start a charity-driven staffing firm?
#16I hope you have a long and healthy future. But if the staffing work is draining to you, how will this free you for "work that matters?"
It seems like the changes you're proposing are (1) cutting your own spending, and (2) publicizing your charity goals. But neither (1) nor (2) alters your work or gives money to your clients. Are you hoping (2) will bring you clients you admire, because they like your charitable goals?
It could work, in the sense that NYC IT staffing had better spin off >$75k/per employee in profit. But it doesn't seem to optimize for gains to charities or your personal pleasure.
Re: Ask HN: Start a charity-driven staffing firm?
#17You are crazy and this could work. However, if you’re going to run a staffing agency there are multiple ways you can do good with it. There’s only so much money to go round and your customers are not going to pay you more money because you donate a lot of money to charity though it may help with marketing and sales. Ultimately the money is either going to come from you or your employees. You’ve decided it’s going to come from you, which is greasy. You do what you want with your money. Staff are not going to work at below market rates for a company just because the owners donate a lot of money.
There is absolutely no way you will be able to skimp on sales and focus on service. Real businesses pay people large sums because they think they’re worth the price, not out of the kindness of their hearts. If you want to donate a lot of money you’re going to be doing the same kind of work as now and donating more money. Services don’t sell themselves.
If running a staffing agency and donating money doesn’t sound super rewarding all by itself consider taking on people who need a break, training them and sending them out into the working world until they move on.
Look at what Lambda School and Jessica Livingston are doing. http://foundersatwork.posthaven.com/women-learn-to-program-t...
Could you sponsor one person a quarter to do this, to come to your office while doing it and get paid, and then work for you for nine months after?
Or you could work for a company or organisation you actually thought was making a positive difference in the world. I think Lambda School is awesome because they’re trying to make a Lin education that leads to a good job available everywhere. I’m sure you can think of some company you admire.
Or look at the 80,000 hours job board, the product of some smart people looking for jobs that they think will make a big positive impact.
Re: Ask HN: Start a charity-driven staffing firm?
#18So where should I send my resume to work for you? I used to work for a boutique staffing firm; I'd love to help.
Re: Ask HN: Start a charity-driven staffing firm?
#19I mean, if you don't want to operate your business for profit, then don't. However, personally, I find it odd when business makes donations to charity. I would just take it as salary and donate it yourself. That shouldn't have any tax implications if you set the business up as a pass through entity.
Re: Ask HN: Start a charity-driven staffing firm?
#20Some comments have suggested that the money needs to come from somewhere / business/staffing is still business, and/or that donating could be done in several ways.
Could you turn these two threads into two birds to kill with one stone? I'm thinking perhaps instead of donating to a 3rd party charity, are you able to perhaps do something like a training and internship program for disadvantaged candidates, be them career switchers, vets, non-college graduates, basically people that slip through HR-nets, with your clients where to get the clients on-board your people into post-training junior experience-building roles for a few months (no or minimal fee for client, you pay a retainer salary to your people) then after 3 or 6 or 9 months if the client wants to retain them you get a lump-fee (and perhaps they stay on your books as an agency too).
Sorry, just thinking aloud. But something like the above seems not only to be a one-off killing two birds with one stone, but might be a sustainable model depending on how you get client buy-in.