Giving back is optional

Every few days in Israel we hear about some small startup or other making an “exit” and the founders walking away with a big pile of cash as the fruits of their hard labour are picked up and carried forward by a big company.

So this story is a little different: sometimes that cash gets spread around a little more. There is an organisation in Israel that accepts donations that may or may not be worthless. Tmura is a foundation that accepts donations of options in startup companies. These options are deposited by investors in the foundation. If the startup succeed, Tmura is left holding a valuable stake in the company and can sell this to generate money.

Tmura has donated to more than 100 non-profit organizations in Israel, focusing on those which improve and enhance the lives of children.

Just last week Tmura was able to sell a share in Intucell, an Israeli startup  bought by Cisco. They raised $400,000 and they highlighted three of the organisations they will fund with this:

• AMICHAI (www.amichai-npo.com) – an organization which aims to integrate mentally disabled individuals into the larger society;
• Krembo Wings (www.krembo.org.il) – a national youth movement for children with special needs; and
• Eliya (www.eliya.org.il) – an organization that operates unique programs for blind and visually impaired children and their families.

If you’ve got a startup, maybe you want to throw a few share options in the pot now?