How a 1% giving commitment should be reported, and what Klense pledges

A percentage claim needs a definition

"We give 1%" is a simple message and an incomplete one. One per cent of what, over what period, to whom, and how would anyone know it happened? Buyers increasingly review the social claims of the suppliers they work with, partly because those claims can end up in their own reporting or marketing. A giving commitment is only as useful as the clarity with which it is defined and reported.

This article sets out Klense Supply's own pledge in plain terms, and then describes what credible reporting of any percentage-based giving commitment should contain. It is intended to help buyers ask good questions of every supplier, including us.

What Klense pledges

Klense pledges 1% of every sale to Indira Cancer Trust, which supports cancer patients and their families in Sri Lanka. The pledge is made by the company. It is not a separate donation by the buyer, it is not added to the buyer's invoice as a charitable contribution, and it does not give the buyer a tax-deductible receipt. Buyers should not describe purchases from Klense as donations made by them.

Klense states its pledge clearly so buyers know exactly what it is. We have not published reporting figures, and this article does not present any amounts, dates or outcomes. What follows is a description of what good reporting should include, which is the standard buyers can reasonably apply to any supplier's giving claim.

What credible reporting contains

A good report on a percentage-based commitment lets a reader reproduce the logic, even without seeing every transaction. At a minimum it should state:

• The reporting period, with start and end dates.
• The calculation basis: whether the percentage applies to gross sales, net sales after returns, or another defined figure, and whether freight, taxes or samples are included or excluded.
• Any exclusions, stated explicitly rather than implied.
• The amount pledged for the period, calculated on that basis.
• The amount actually paid to the recipient in the period, which may differ from the amount pledged because of timing.
• Any balance carried forward, and when it is expected to be paid.
• The recipient's name and a confirmation from the recipient that funds were received.
• Who prepared the report and whether anyone outside the business reviewed it.

Pledged versus paid

The difference between pledged and paid is the most common source of confusion. A business may calculate its pledge monthly or quarterly but transfer funds less often. Neither approach is wrong, but a report that shows only one figure leaves the reader guessing. Showing both, with a reconciliation, is what makes the claim transparent. Recipient confirmation closes the loop: it is the recipient, not the donor, who can best confirm that money arrived.

Talking about impact responsibly

Moving from sales to community support invites stories about outcomes, and those stories should be handled with care. An outcome belongs to the recipient organisation, which designs and delivers its own programmes. A supplier can fairly report what it pledged and paid; claims about what that money achieved should come from, or be confirmed by, the recipient. Buyers who reference a supplier's giving in their own communications should use the supplier's exact wording and avoid adding outcomes or figures that have not been published.

Questions buyers can ask any supplier

• Who is the recipient, and what does it do?
• What is the percentage calculated on, and what is excluded?
• Is the commitment made by the company, or is the buyer being asked to contribute?
• How often is the pledge calculated, and how often is it paid?
• Will you publish or share a report, and what will it contain?

Frequently asked questions

Can a buyer claim the 1% as its own donation?

No. The pledge is made by Klense as a company. It is not a separate tax-deductible donation by the buyer and should not be presented as one.

Does the pledge change the price a buyer pays?

The pledge is a company commitment rather than a separate charge. Pricing is set out in the proposal for each order.

How can a buyer describe the pledge in its own materials?

Use the plain statement: Klense pledges 1% of every sale to Indira Cancer Trust, supporting cancer patients and families in Sri Lanka. Avoid adding figures or outcomes that have not been published.

Discuss your supply requirements

If responsible business commitments form part of your supplier review, we are happy to explain our pledge and how it is described. Send an enquiry with your requirements, or request a discovery call to discuss your supply plans.