This NGO is out for profit

This ‘talk’ may come across as if ET has abandoned the sponsorship (or grant funding) model. We haven’t, we’re just preparing for the time when it becomes unsustainable. After two decades plus of working as volunteers in a sector that is almost 100% fuelled by donations, this NGO understands more than ever earned income is a (by far) more reliable source of income.

So decades after the civilised world has gone there, Environment Tobago is itself moving into social enterprise. In hindsight, we were lucky, but foresight dictates we need to make money to remain in that place to continue the mission of protecting the natural space. Agreed, social entrepreneurship is a very different undertaking for us here, but bear with us a bit.

While ET may come across as a pedigreed NGO - which is true, its members embody a plethora of skills. Indeed as we embrace triple bottomline projectsand programmes, we count on our entire team to contribute talent in business management, entrepreneurial savvy and not least, innovativeness.

These three terms warrant an explanation as to our usage. So let’s do that in the order they break.

Innovativeness: We wanted to do something new, though not insanely divergent from what ET knows.

Entrepreneurial opportunism: We realised pretty quickly our past works (with nature) presents possibilities for monetisation, moreso Tobago (and Trinidad’s) is on major thrust to build up ecotourism.

Business management: We knew the importance of keeping our fuddy-duddy bunch of ET non-profit stewards away from the cut and thrust world of the true business class. Also, it was argued, anyone with the inclination and wherewithal to invest in our little enterprise, deserved to be in a position to call the shots. In the end a workable compromise was reached; a professional manager will do the bidding of the new enterprise’s board. ET will retain input in how the destinations (the resources) are accessed.

We’ll skirt around the actual idea of where we’re heading and chat for now about this new enterprise chances of survival in the world of ‘real’ business. That in mind, we essentially divorced the entity from our NGO. Its functions however , shall support the ET mission by virtue of profit-share, even as its investors manage the day-to-day.

The NGO experience still counts in social enterprise however. In the twenty-three years of our existence, ET has learnt hard lessons about holding focus on what matters. We kept the programs that floated us and which, at the same time furthered our mission. This ‘new’ venture must in the same vein, produce, perform (and this is the non-intuitive part), continue to protect T&T’s nature.

A few words on triple bottom line endeavours

Get In Touch tours - there, we’ve shown our hand, is a one-stop-shop for Tobago (and Trinidad) ecotourism. As triple bottom line ideas go it’s a pretty standard deal. We want to make some money. We want to continue to protect the nature while we and others use it to make money and, we want to be in a position where government, under its special dispensation as ‘owner’ of the environment, use it responsibly.

What’s next then? \ During the month of August 2019 Environment Tobago is putting together the Get In Touch package. We’ll be looking to identify bus drivers and key tour personel for making our enterprise a truly world class provider. We are also encouraging investment in the business. Interested parties should first have a look at our prospectus, then of course, Get In Touch.