Lush's Helping Hands Program Supports Grassroots Groups Driving Community Change

The Origins of Lush's Helping Hands Program

Lush Cosmetics, known for its ethically-sourced bath bombs, soaps, and skincare products, launched its Helping Hands program in 2007. The program was created as a way for Lush to give back to the communities where its products are made and sold.

The Helping Hands program provides funding and support to small grassroots organizations around the world that align with Lush's ethics and values. These small groups often struggle to get financial support from larger charities or government organizations.

How the Helping Hands Program Works

The Lush Helping Hands program operates via a charitable fund. Each year Lush sets aside money to support community organizations doing good work globally. The focus areas for funding include:

• Environmental conservation and sustainability
• Animal welfare and rights
• Human rights and fair trade
• Poverty relief
• Peace and disarmament
• Literacy and education
• Support for migrants, refugees, and asylum seekers
• Projects empowering youth, women, the LGBTQ community, and other minorities

Applying for a Lush Helping Hands Grant

To be eligible to receive a Lush Helping Hands grant, an organization must:

• Be a small, grassroots group with little access to larger scale funding
• Have an annual operating budget under $100k
• Work locally with direct impact in their community
• Align with one or more of Lush's key funding areas

Groups can apply via an online application form available on the Lush website. Lush reviews all applications and determines grant winners based on need, potential community impact, and how well the organization's mission aligns with Lush ethics.

Grant amounts vary but often fall in the range of $1,000-$10,000. In some cases, larger grants up to $45,000 have been awarded. The funding can be used flexibly by recipient organizations to advance their work.

The Impact of the Lush Helping Hands Program

Since launching in 2007, the Lush Helping Hands program has provided over $17 million in grants to more than 1500 organizations worldwide. On average, Lush supports over 100 community groups with grants each year.

Grants in Action Around the World

Helping Hands grants have made many positive community impacts globally. Here are a few examples of grants given to organizations supporting important causes:

• Kenya - $4,800 to Wildlife Works to support forest wildlife conservation

• India - $7,500 to Pravah to run youth workshops countering communalism and hate politics

• USA - $8,000 to Rainforest Action Network's water defense program protecting local drinking water from fossil fuel projects

• UK - $3,450 to Inquest for legal advocacy to prevent deaths in custody

• Brazil - $10,000 to Yvendrupi to preserve and teach traditional skills of indigenous tribes

This small sample illustrates the diversity of groups aided by Lush's Helping Hands grants globally.

Funding Priorities Reflect Lush Values

The Helping Hands program allows Lush to put money behind causes that reflect the company's core values around ethical business, human rights, and environmental sustainability. Rather than just talk about doing good in the world, Lush actively contributes funding to empower others promoting meaningful change.

Over 80% of Lush products are vegetarian and 70% are vegan. The company uses its grants funding to support animal causes accordingly through organizations like PETA and Mercy for Animals.

Having taken a public stand against animal testing, Lush has funded groups like Cruelty Free International who lobby governments globally to end cosmetics testing on animals.

Issues like refugee aid, prison reform, indigenous land rights and more also receive grant funding from Lush Helping Hands. This enables positive change led by local community groups closer to the issues being addressed.

Getting Involved with Lush Helping Hands

Both charitable organizations and individual activists can get involved with the Lush Helping Hands program in a few key ways:

Apply for a Grant

If you're part of a small NGO or grassroots group doing good work in one of Lush's key funding areas, you can apply online for a Helping Hands grant. Grants awarded vary from around $1k up to $45k for exceptional organizations making an outsized community impact.

Shop Lush Products

When customers purchase Lush products, part of that sale goes towards funding future grants. So by supporting Lush with your wallet, you also end up supporting all sorts of great community causes championed by Helping Hands grant recipients.

Promote the Program

Activists interested in drawing more attention and funds to important causes can help promote the Lush Helping Hands program itself. Getting the word out about this innovative charitable initiative helps drive more applications from deserving grassroots groups.

With more great applications, Lush can distribute bigger grants yearly. Over 1500 groups globally have already benefitted, but there's more good work to be done. Helping promote the program brings that dream closer to reality.

Start Your Own Fundraiser

Passionate advocates for a specific cause can also organize their own Lush charity pot program fundraiser. This involves activating your social networks to raise funds by selling fresh handmade products from Lush.

Lush provides the materials, and the organizer gets to keep some of the profits while donating the rest towards important causes like animal rescue, homelessness support, environmental projects, and more.

Not only does this allow activists to tangibly make a difference for the causes they care about, it also helps further publicize ethical companies like Lush in the process.

The Future of Lush's Helping Hands

The Lush Helping Hands program started out 15 years ago as a small charitable initiative seeded by the company. It has since grown into a substantial force empowering grassroots change across the globe.

Over $17 million granted already shows the potential impact of this program. And as Lush continues expanding as a business, even bigger grants will be possible in future years.

But it’s about more than just the money. The Helping Hands program enables urgent causes often overlooked by larger charities and funders. The grants give passionate local leaders the fuel they need to drive real progress through community action.

Expect the footprint of Helping Hands to keep growing. Lush plans to expand the program providing grants in more countries each year. The company also wants to engage even more staff and customers in grassroots charitable efforts globally.

So for activists and ethical businesses alike, Lush Helping Hands stands as an inspiring example of using business success as a force for good in the world.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult with a healthcare professional before starting any new treatment regimen.