Daniel O’Flaherty, Live to Serve relationship manager (left) and Rob Courain, president. Photos by Michael Thompson.
After some musical soul-searching in Nashville, Tenn., a former biodiesel salesman is back in Richmond looking to help nonprofits make it big.
In August, Rob Courain launched Live to Serve, a website that helps nonprofits raise money. Instead of asking for donations from individuals, Live to Serve sells vouchers for local businesses, and part of the price goes to nonprofits.
“No one is making a donation through this site,” Courain said. “The merchant is forgoing revenue for a cause.”
Courain, 31, got started in nonprofit work after struggling to support his own dream.
In 2009, he quit his job at Reco Biodiesel and moved to Nashville to become a songwriter.
“I was thinking I was going to have a publishing deal in the first six months,” Courain said. “That didn’t happen.”
“It’s an ego crusher,” he said.
As he floundered in Music City, Courain started volunteering with his church, the food bank, the Special Olympics and a local boy’s lacrosse team.
In 2011, he moved back to Richmond and eventually helped launch RVA United, a nonprofit Christian ministry for 20- and 30-year-olds.
Courain said the process of starting a nonprofit showed him the challenges that come with trying to raise money and motivated him to launch Live to Serve to make it easier for nonprofits.
“They can raise money for their cause without asking for a donation,” Courain said. “It’s a much simpler ask for them.”
A percentage of the cost of the Live to Serve vouchers goes to the nonprofit, typically around 50 percent. After Live to Serve takes a cut, the business gets the remaining funds.
A visitor to the Live to Serve site first selects a cause, then a business voucher. For example, a customer could choose to support the Richmond SPCA, buy a $30 voucher to Julep’s, and $15 would go to the SPCA.
Unlike sites like Groupon, the businesses don’t offer discounts or special packages. Courain said that way, Live to Serve doesn’t attract one-time bargain hunters.
Nonprofits advertise fundraising goals, and they receive their money whether they reach their goals or not. Live to Serve has 12 ongoing campaigns on its website.
Courain pitches Live to Serve to local merchants as inexpensive advertising, and there aren’t any up-front costs for participating businesses.
There are about 30 companies offering different vouchers on Live to Serve, including Mexico Restaurant, Hand and Stone Massage and Julep’s. The company has raised about $6,000 for nonprofits.
In May, the company moved to a 1,000-square-foot office at 2101 Maywill St. in the Near West End. Live to Serve has one full-time and two part-time employees. Richmond-based INM United developed the Live to Serve website.
Courain’s songwriting days may be behind him, but he said he’s glad he tried his luck in Nashville before starting his own company.
“It was fun being down there for a couple years,” Courain said. “I don’t look back with regret.”
Daniel O’Flaherty, Live to Serve relationship manager (left) and Rob Courain, president. Photos by Michael Thompson.
After some musical soul-searching in Nashville, Tenn., a former biodiesel salesman is back in Richmond looking to help nonprofits make it big.
In August, Rob Courain launched Live to Serve, a website that helps nonprofits raise money. Instead of asking for donations from individuals, Live to Serve sells vouchers for local businesses, and part of the price goes to nonprofits.
“No one is making a donation through this site,” Courain said. “The merchant is forgoing revenue for a cause.”
Courain, 31, got started in nonprofit work after struggling to support his own dream.
In 2009, he quit his job at Reco Biodiesel and moved to Nashville to become a songwriter.
“I was thinking I was going to have a publishing deal in the first six months,” Courain said. “That didn’t happen.”
“It’s an ego crusher,” he said.
As he floundered in Music City, Courain started volunteering with his church, the food bank, the Special Olympics and a local boy’s lacrosse team.
In 2011, he moved back to Richmond and eventually helped launch RVA United, a nonprofit Christian ministry for 20- and 30-year-olds.
Courain said the process of starting a nonprofit showed him the challenges that come with trying to raise money and motivated him to launch Live to Serve to make it easier for nonprofits.
“They can raise money for their cause without asking for a donation,” Courain said. “It’s a much simpler ask for them.”
A percentage of the cost of the Live to Serve vouchers goes to the nonprofit, typically around 50 percent. After Live to Serve takes a cut, the business gets the remaining funds.
A visitor to the Live to Serve site first selects a cause, then a business voucher. For example, a customer could choose to support the Richmond SPCA, buy a $30 voucher to Julep’s, and $15 would go to the SPCA.
Unlike sites like Groupon, the businesses don’t offer discounts or special packages. Courain said that way, Live to Serve doesn’t attract one-time bargain hunters.
Nonprofits advertise fundraising goals, and they receive their money whether they reach their goals or not. Live to Serve has 12 ongoing campaigns on its website.
Courain pitches Live to Serve to local merchants as inexpensive advertising, and there aren’t any up-front costs for participating businesses.
There are about 30 companies offering different vouchers on Live to Serve, including Mexico Restaurant, Hand and Stone Massage and Julep’s. The company has raised about $6,000 for nonprofits.
In May, the company moved to a 1,000-square-foot office at 2101 Maywill St. in the Near West End. Live to Serve has one full-time and two part-time employees. Richmond-based INM United developed the Live to Serve website.
Courain’s songwriting days may be behind him, but he said he’s glad he tried his luck in Nashville before starting his own company.
“It was fun being down there for a couple years,” Courain said. “I don’t look back with regret.”