Dedicated To Their Mission

In-plants serving non-profit organizations are passionate about their organizations' missions.

by Cheryl Adams

What's the biggest difference between corporate in-plants and those of non-profit organizations?

Besides the obvious (lower salaries and fewer funds for new equipment), there's one very unique and powerful distinction: dedication to the mission. Corporate in-plants contribute to the bottom line of their parent companies' profitability. Non-profit in-plants contribute to the greater good of mankind.

"I want to be known as a peacemaker. I want to give someone a helping hand and give them a better chance in life. I want to build rather than destroy," declares Mike Chapman, manager of printing operations for Americus, Ga.-based Habitat for Humanity.

"I wholeheartedly believe in our mission: to eliminate poverty housing worldwide by building adequate and affordable homes for even the poorest of families," he says. "All of our words and actions, all the printed materials we produce, everything we do at the in-plant is for one purpose: to put on the hearts and minds of people that poverty housing should be eliminated from the face of the earth."

The same passion and dedication is voiced down in Irving, Texas, at the in-plant for the Boy Scouts of America.

"Training youth to be respectable adults is the Boy Scouts' mission, and it's something our in-plant staff truly believes in," says Robert Mettee, manager of BSA's Printing Solutions. "Non-profit jobs aren't the highest paying jobs around; you've got to believe in the mission. That's what brings people here. It's not how much the job pays, but the fact that the job is helping others. We're not just printers. We're messengers, printing materials that help get the word out about Boy Scouts."

Chapman agrees.

"We're the Paul Reveres of the organization," he says. "We spread the word about Habitat for Humanity and its mission in every book, manual and brochure we print."

Believing In The Cause

Domenic Vallone, manager of printing/mailing services for the Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia, says even though he's an "Italian Catholic," he still believes in his organization's mission.

"I understand what the Jewish Federation is trying to accomplish, and I believe in its cause," Vallone says. "Its mission is to build the Jewish community through education and philanthropy. As part of that team, we go the extra mile—not for the money, but for the greater good of the organization. We're not just printers. We're part of a philanthropic group."

The idea of working for the greater good of a non-profit organization is what attracts people to the job, Vallone says.

"I think that's the major difference between a regular in-plant and a non-profit," he says. "Non-profit work tends to draw individuals who are committed to the mission. They're not in it for the money, but for the success of the organization."

Still, to a certain degree, most non-profit organizations do measure success in terms of dollars and cents—donor dollars. Donations are the life blood of the non-profit; it's the in-plant's job to print the materials that solicit these contributions.

"We take donations very seriously," says Chapman. "We have a lot of grandmas sending us money, so we make the best use of every dollar. A badly run print job costs everyone, especially our homeowners."

The in-plant prints "how to" manuals: how to apply for a Habitat for Humanity home, how to build a Habitat home, how the Habitat organization works, and, most importantly, how Habitat has changed people's lives and elevated them out of poverty.

"One of the most important kinds of books we print are case profiles—stories about our homeowners and their successes," says Chapman. "They're usually paperbacks, about 400 pages, and they're used for soliciting donations. We distribute them to corporations in hopes they'll want to become involved."

All Habitat materials are printed at the organization's Americus headquarters. Eight full-time employees and two volunteers run an arsenal of equipment, including a four-color Omni Adast 745 perfecting press, a two-color Itek 975 duplicator, a Xerox DocuTech 6135, and two Ricoh 6010 color printers. The bindery has a new Horizon BQ 460 bookbinder. With its new Bell & Howell Mailstar inserter, the in-plant can send thank-you notes to donors within 24 hours.

"We believe in saying thank you as quickly as we can. That way, donors know how much we appreciate their contributions," says Chapman. "And, by showing our appreciation, we hope they'll want to continue working with us and sending us donations."

While most donations go directly into Habitat's building fund, some money pays for Habitat operations, which include the in-plant.

"All in-plants have to justify their investments," notes Chapman. "But as a non-profit, the money for investments comes from donations. We have to make the right choices and spend the money—our donors' money—wisely. We might move a bit slower in investing, but that's because we make sure we do it right the first time and that the investment is justifiable."

Printing The Boy Scout Way

To better understand this justification process, and to get an accurate picture of his own print shop's situation, BSA's Mettee attended one of the Unisource/IPMA in-plant workshops in 1999. He says he was shocked at what he learned.

"We analyzed the cost of work printed in-house vs. outside, and found that...we were costing the Boy Scouts money," exclaims Mettee. "The study showed us where our problems were and that our equipment was not being utilized properly. We sold some unneeded equipment, restructured the shop, and developed a much better workflow."

By May 2001, he says, the in-plant was securely in the black. Mettee attributes much of the increase in productivity to Printing Solutions' computer-to-plate (CTP) system, installed in 1998, one year after he took the lead position at the in-plant.

"I analyzed how long it would take to pay for the equipment, and I thought it would take three years. The system paid for itself in two years. We used to send out for stripping, and it would take a week to get the film back. With CTP, there's such a time savings. Everyone loves CTP."

BSA's 11-employee in-plant operates on a budget of nearly $1 million. While most of the work is one- and two-color, Mettee reports some products require four colors.

Producing everything from brochures to training manuals and certificates, Printing Solutions is doing its part to help accomplish the Boy Scout mission.

"We print the materials that keep people trained," says Mettee, pointing out that there are tens of thousands of volunteers in the Boy Scouts of America organization.

"We offer our customers a 'Customer [Service] Bill of Rights' that gives them the right to call us on the carpet, to demand on-time, quality performance, to know where their job is at any time, to be courteous. It outlines everything our customers should expect."

Printing Solutions presented the bill to its customers last year at an open house, which was held to show off the in-plant's newest equipment: a four-color A.B.Dick 9970 press, an upgraded RIP, a new sever and a cutter for the bindery. The open house was a hit, he says.

"People saw what we could do—things they didn't know we could do," he says. "It was such a success, other departments stared having open houses and tours, too."

Printing Solutions is part of BSA's Custom Communications division, "the publishing side of the Boy Scouts," explains Mettee. "There's a mission statement that new in-plant employees sign. It ties in with the Boy Scout mission: 'To serve the scouting movement, I will diligently apply my talents and skills in a team effort to delight our customers, by preventing errors and continually improving quality.' The 3x4-foot sign hangs in the in-plant and reminds us of our commitment to the BSA mission.

"There's a great feeling of accomplishment, knowing that everything we produce is for the purpose of helping someone—our youth," Mettee continues. "We're not just printing, we're part of a nationwide team that is dedicated to training youth to be respectable adults. That's what Boy Scouts of America is all about."

More Than Money

Working for a non-profit in-plant has the unique appeal of not only bringing home a paycheck, but benefiting a greater cause, reiterates Vallone, from the Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia.

"When employees are committed to a mission, the extra mile is for the cause, not the money or promotion. They contribute with time, attitude, dedication and inspiration. It's all for the success of the mission."

Vallone says his print shop personnel get personally involved with their work because they realize the importance of the Federation's mission. With the Middle East conflict heating up in recent months, he feels his eight-person staff is becoming increasingly aware of its critical roll.

"With each rally flyer, pledge card and fund-raising piece we produce, we know that our skills and talents in printing are helping the Federation accomplish its mission. And, we believe in that mission."

The Jewish Federation, as Vallone explains it, operates much like the United Way. It works with about 40 constituent member agencies, as well as local synagogues, Jewish schools, senior centers, etc., to raise awareness and build a strong Jewish community.

The one- and two-color in-plant handles all the printing and mailing needs of the Jewish Federation, as well as its member organizations.

"We meet with the marketing rep or designer, then print, finish and mail the piece," explains Vallone.

Vallone emphasizes that, while the in-plant saves its parent organization lots of money, justifying its "non-moneymaking existence" within the organization is an annual experience.

"We appear on the books as additional overhead, not as a money-maker, since we're not actually making money (i.e. obtaining donations) for the Federation. So, every year we have to show them how much we saved the organization by printing in-house vs. outside."

The in-plant contributes in other ways, as well. Vallone says his department not only oversees printing and mailing, but it also purchases office supplies, maintains record storage, provides messengers and handles all day-to-day mailing operations at the Federation. Additionally, he says, "it's almost an expectation" that employees volunteer at Federation events.

"Each year, we have a Super Sunday telephone fund-raiser, as well as a festival in the park. As in-plant employees, we always assist with the events," says Vallone. "This year is our centennial celebration, which marks the Federation's 100th anniversary. We're having a big festival in Fairmont Park, and many of our member agencies will have booths there. Most of the in-plant staff will be there, too—as volunteers."

This spirit of volunteerism is alive at other non-profit in-plants too. Chapman reports that he and several members of his in-plant crew recently helped build a Habitat home locally. Mettee says most of his staff is involved in Scouting, by either supporting their local troops or serving as Scout leaders.

"Working for a non-profit organization means you're helping others," says Mettee, "and there's a great sense of accomplishment in that."

"It means you're not just printing, but you're contributing to the greater good of the organization and mankind," contends Vallone.

"It means you're offering a helping hand and giving others a better chance in life. You're showing the world there's a better way than violence; you're building rather than destroying. For me, it's a chance to serve God," Chapman concludes. "It's powerful when you can use your talent and skills to help further God's mission, which, in my mind, is very simple: Love and help one another." IPG

"All the printed materials we produce, everything we do at the in-plant is for one purpose: to put on the hearts and minds of people that poverty housing should be eliminated from the face of the earth."