Today, we’re talking to Lauren Dube, Director of Client and Mission Partnerships at Climate First Bank. Lauren handles our impact reporting and strategic partnerships – like the Bank’s pending B Corp Certification, Net-Zero Banking Alliance membership, and of course, our 1% For The Planet partnership!  

Climate First Bank is the only bank partnered with 1% For The Planet, which means we give 1% of our annual revenue to environmental causes. Our partnership is key to our strategic Environmental, Social, Governance (ESG) goals.  

Hi Lauren! Tell us, what do you love most about your job at Climate First Bank?

Hey! Thanks for inviting me to share. There is a lot to love about working for a purpose driven company. One of my favorite things is working with colleagues across the organization to use Climate First Bank as a force for good. There’s never a dull day in my role, and I get to turn our teams’ passions into action with the support of the bank behind us.  

I've been in values-aligned banking for almost a decade now. In that time, I’ve learnt how impactful banking can be and how important it is to make sure the impact is being channeled in the right direction, whether at an individual, institutional, community, or systemic level.  There is so much work to be done and it’s exciting to be so connected to a growing movement of individuals and companies that want to leave behind a better world for future generations.  

Tell us about 1% For The Planet.

1% For The Planet is a network of individuals, businesses, and nonprofits working together to tackle our most pressing environmental issues like climate, food, land, water, pollution, and wildlife. Businesses like Climate First Bank commit 1% of their revenues to in-network environmental nonprofit partners to support their work on the ground.  

Do you think every company should work with 1% For The Planet? (We already know the answer to this one!)

Of course, yes! 1% For The Planet was created to amplify environmental organizations by increasing the number of philanthropic dollars that support their work. The more businesses that join the movement, the more support we can provide to the organizations that work directly on the environmental issues we are all impacted by every day.  

What have 1% For The Planet and Climate First Bank achieved together?

We signed up to 1% For The Planet when Climate First Bank opened their doors in 2021, this year is the banks’ third year of certified giving to environmental causes through the partnership. We couldn’t be prouder of everything we’ve achieved in that time.  

We have supported amazing educational events with organizations like the Climate Adaptation Center and Tampa Bay Watch. We’ve worked on offsets and carbon footprint projects with We Are Neutral. We’ve also sponsored (and helped plant!) a half-acre native-forest in Sarasota that will help with carbon sequestration, diverting pollution-bearing stormwater, and become an environmental learning laboratory for elementary to college-age students.  

Can you unveil any upcoming plans?

2023 holds some exciting opportunities that I don’t want to reveal just yet!  

Our projects and partnerships are only getting more exciting as our 1% For The Planet commitment continues to grow. We’re working on creating deeper relationships with our partners and getting more creative with how we help solve the needs of our communities not only with our dollars but the other resources we have as a community bank.  

How can 1% FTP charities work with us?

There’s loads we can do to support 1% For The Planet members, or aspiring members!

• Are you an aspiring member? Get in touch with me directly if you’d like to sign on to the commitment, I can help you to work through the stages.
• We’re always on the lookout for 1% For The Planet members to support. Whether you need donations, sponsorships, or volunteer hours, we can help!  

• If you’re a 1% For The Planet member, why not consider switching your business banking relationship to Climate First Bank. As the world’s first FDIC-insured community bank founded to tackle the climate crisis, we’ll use your finances as a force for good!  

Thank you, Lauren, for telling us all about 1% For The Planet! If you’d like to get in touch with Lauren, drop her an email at lauren.dube@climatefirstbank.com.

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