Hire Ex-Felons

Q: What is the purpose of the Campaign?

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A: The purpose of this self-funding grass-roots campaign is to:

 

• Build a national community and platform to raise awareness, through media and word-of-mouth, that ex-felons who can’t find a job might return to crime to support themselves. Also educate employers, in a helpful and preventative way, that they might be violating employment laws by discriminating against ex-felons.

 

• Educate ex-felons, employers, hiring managers, and organizations on the free protections, resources, and benefits of hiring ex-felons through conversations & the “Ten Benefits of Hiring Ex- Felons” brochure, or other material that our partners may share.

 

• Encourage employers to hire ex-felons, either for the bottom-line benefits and/or to help impact crime, recidivism, and our society.

• Encourage the free use of the HXF Campaign Logo  to build awareness and brand recognition.

 

• Build and maintain a list of felon-friendly employers, and Recognize and Reward them with praise and preference in patronizing their businesses.

 

• Help make ex-felons better job applicants and employees through additional resources we will provide and promote.

 

• Let people know if they still can’t find a job they should read, and use, the book “Illegal to Legal,” as starting a business is far better than returning to crime or going back to prison. Hopefully they will also hire ex-felons

 

Q: Are you trying to get all ex-felons a job? 

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A: Not everyone deserves a second chance, but some do, and this Campaign is about providing opportunity for those ex-felons who are ready to become productive members of society. When hiring an ex-offender of course use common sense and don’t place them in a job related to their criminal offense or where they might be tempted to re-offend. 

 

 

Q: If I support the Campaign would I be asked or required to hire any ex-felons?

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A: The Campaign doesn’t require you to do anything but hopefully be open to possibly hiring a great potential employee, even if they have a criminal background. 

 

 

Q: Is the Campaign a “non-profit” entity or venture?

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A: The campaign is a private initiative with a public purpose, and will implement unique methodology. We are not a non-profit group & will not solicit donations. We will have a national crowdfunding inititiave only to raise money for promotion & to provide resources to groups that cannot afford it. Our crowdfunding will not compete with any local fund raising efforts.

 

 

Q: Can I support your crowdfunding initiative?

 

A: Yes, you may do so at this link but please be advised any funds contributed to the crowdfunding efforts are not tax-deductible but will be used for the promotion of the National Hire Ex-Felons Campaign and to provide resources to groups that cannot afford it. 

 

 

Q: What if I wish to make a charitable contribution in support of the Campaign?

 

A: If you wish to give charitable contributions, please support one of our Community Coordinator, available at this link.   Each Coordinator is a non-profit entity that can receive charitable contributions. All funds raised locally will stay in local communities. We will never ask any Coordinators, Sponsors or Supporters (our “partners”) to make any financial contributions or “splits” with us.  We want all local donations to go to our local Coordinators to help their communities. We do accept offers to help, such as printing services, help with PSAs, or other help as long as everyone is clear we cannot provide a charitable contributions receipt for whatever help you may be providing. 

 

 

Q: How is the Campaign financially supported?

 

A: The Campaign will be funded by the sale of books, brochures, other resources, as well as any workshops or public speaking we do. The brochures’ content will also be available for free at our website for those who cannot afford to purchase them. We ask that someone registers at the website in order to download the material.  They can register as a guest if they choose. 

 

 

Q: Why do I have to “register” to receive the free downloaded material, and what will you do with my information once I register?

 

A: Since we are building a national conversation and raising awareness of critically important issues, we ask anyone using the free resources to register so we can document the growth and momentum of the Campaign, which is important to continue to influence change and progress. We maintain strict confidentiality of the contact information of Coordinators, Sponsors, and Supporters (our “partners”). We will not solicit partners or ever sell or share the list. We will periodically share progress with partners, but be sensitive to not “blast” partners so we can retain and grow our list of partners. Due to local relationships and presence Coordinators will be the primary voices of the Campaign. You can register as a guest if desired. 

 

 

Q: If we become involved in the Campaign are we required to use your materials?

 

A: Partners are encouraged, but not required, to use our materials and resources. Partners can freely use their own materials or resources for the Campaign, but we ask they affix the Campaign logo to their material as soon as they can so we all can benefit from brand recognition and community. 

 

 

Q: What does a Campaign Coordinator do? 

 

A: To execute the Campaign we seek to partner with a small, select group of high-profile, well-respected local, regional, and national non-profit organizations to serve as Coordinators of the Campaign. Coordinators will be the lead local workhorses, points of contact, and recipients of any and all local fund-raising efforts. Coordinators will do an impactful press conference, hopefully with major local Sponsors, to launch their Local Campaign. Coordinators are responsible to be the local representatives of the Campaign, to garner as much media exposure as possible, and to recruit other Sponsors and Supporters of the Campaign. Coordinators will also perform the same tasks as Sponsors, and help train Sponsors and volunteers on implementing those tasks. Coordinators shall have full autonomy as to whether or not they will raise funds for their part of the Campaign, and how the funds are used. 

 

We measure the performance of our Coordinators by how many Sponsors they are recruiting, how many Supporters are engaging in the Campaign, and how much media exposure the Coordinator is able to attract for the Campaign. We do have press releases you may use, and we are available to join you in as many media and/or public speaking functions as possible. If it does not compete with or detract from a local campaign with a Coordinator(s), we do welcome assistance such as, but not limited to: advertising, printing, PSAs, and buying resources and books for others who can’t afford them.

 

Research indicates the ex-felons that can plug into communities and/or support networks have a far greater success rate than those who don’t. As such, even though this is a national campaign, our emphasis will be on local community impact and involvement. We rely on engaging local non-profits to act as Community Coordinators who will then recruit Sponsors. Coordinators & Sponsors will recruit Supporters, as explained below. 

 

 

Q: What do Sponsors do?

 

A: We ask Sponsors to lend their name, influence, and collective “mouths” to the Campaign and:

 

• Allow us to add their Organization’s name and/or an influential individual’s name to the list of Coordinators and Sponsors on our website. Private citizens can register as a “Supporter” but only their first name, last initial, and city/state will be listed on the website.

 

• Help recruit other Sponsors and Supporters, all of whom shall register at www.hireexfelons.org.

 

• Make periodic mention of your participation in this Campaign in your website, newsletter, and social media feeds. Add the Campaign Banner (Icon) to your website which links to the www.hireexfelons.org site.

 

• Ask your followers to “like” and “follow” the Campaign’s and Coordinators’ Facebook and Twitter accounts, and to ask their followers to do the same.

 

• Ask your board, your staff, your donors (if any), your vendors, your contacts, and your clients/recipients to have short personal conversations to mention the Campaign with any employers or hiring managers they know to educate them on the benefits and resources available to them, and to ask them to consider hiring an ex-felon. You can provide them with a brochure, which has space for your business card, stamp, or label.

 

• Businesses that are felon-friendly will be encouraged to freely use the HXF Campaign Logo in their job postings, website, letterhead, display it at their place of business, or other appropriate uses. Coordinators, Sponsors, and Supporters shall also be encouraged to freely use the Icon.

 

• In those conversations with businesses, let them know the Campaign will encourage customers to reward and recognize felon-friendly employers with thanks and preferred business. The brochures (yours or ours), conversations with employers, and the display/use of the HXF icon are the most important elements of the Campaign.

 

• We have other helpful brochures and resources as well. If able, please help us get these in the hands of offenders, ex-offenders, those at risk to offend, and the organizations that serve these groups.

 

• If you know of anyone or any group that can help us, we are looking for assistance in making a free (or very affordable) Public Service Announcements for the Campaign. We will launch without one though.

 

• We intend for this Campaign to be self-funding through the sale of reasonably-priced brochures, books, and other resources that may be offered, but are not required to be used. While we won’t ask Coordinators, Sponsors, or Supporters for contributions we would gladly accept funds or assistance offered for these, and possibly other, purposes provided they don’t compete with or take away from our local Coordinators:

 

Staffing or volunteers to help recruit Sponsors and Supporters; help towards making PSAs & other advertisements for the campaign; help with printing; assistance in providing the brochures and/or books for offenders, ex-offenders, and those groups or organizations that cannot afford them. 

 

 

Q: What does the Campaign provide its partners? 

 

A:  The following elements are provided to our Partners:

• Professional support and availability for questions and speaking engagements and/or appearances.

 

• Full autonomy and control of your Campaign and all funds raised, with no splits with or distribution to the National Campaign.

 

• Confidentiality of the contact information of Coordinators, Sponsors, and Supporters (our “partners”). We will not solicit partners or ever sell or share the list. We will periodically share progress with partners, but be sensitive to not “blast” partners so we can retain and grow our list of partners. Due to local relationships and presence Coordinators will be the primary voices of the Campaign.

 

• We will frequently mention each specific Coordinator and/or major Sponsors in our media appearances & social media feeds. As appropriate we will ask you to join us in these appearances.

 

• A banner/link to your organization on the Hire Ex-Felons campaign website. You can even add a descriptive paragraph to accompany your banner/link if you like.

 

• Coordinators get a 30% discount (20% for Sponsors; 10% for Supporters) on resources and products purchased from us.

 

• Our deepest appreciation and thanks, and the knowledge that you are part of an important grassroots community movement that will make a lasting impact on crime, recidivism, and societal costs of incarceration. 

 

 

Together we can impact crime, recidivism, our economy & our society.

 

THANK YOU for helping to change lives, one job at a time.