On October 30, 2024, three mission-driven organizations — Bethlehem Inn, Sensiba, and Purpose In Expenses (PIE) — came together to announce a $5,300 recurring donation to support the essential work of Bethlehem Inn, a nonprofit providing critical shelter and resources for the homeless in Bend and Redmond. This partnership not only demonstrates the power of community-driven corporate engagement but also showcases a collaborative approach to philanthropy, amplifying corporate resources for community impact.
Bethlehem Inn serves as a beacon of hope in Central Oregon, offering housing, food, and resources to individuals and families experiencing homelessness. By providing comprehensive support, including employment assistance and stability programs, Bethlehem Inn empowers residents to rebuild their lives and work toward independence. With support from community-focused organizations like Sensiba and PIE, Bethlehem Inn can continue expanding its programs and sustaining its long-term impact.
A Shared Commitment to Purpose-Driven Work
Sensiba, a purpose-driven accounting and advisory firm with a strong presence in Bend, recognized the potential for its routine operating expenses to make a difference in the communities it serves. Partnering with PIE, Sensiba identified an opportunity to optimize its Microsoft 365 license expenditures, transforming this everyday business expense into a recurring community contribution. By leveraging PIE’s Purpose-Powered Microsoft service, Sensiba’s Bend office will be redirecting a portion of its annual Microsoft budget to generate a reliable stream of financial support for Bethlehem Inn, helping reduce their annual capital campaign efforts to enable the team to enhance their efficiency to better serve the community.
Igor Zaika, Sensiba’s Chief Technology Officer, reflected on the initiative: “Until now, my department has never had the opportunity to directly generate impact metrics. PIE’s Microsoft team was knowledgeable, professional, and a pleasure to work with. Our IT team is delighted to have found a simple yet powerful way to optimize our budget and actively participate in our mission to use business as a force for good.”
Transforming Business Expenses into Community Support
Purpose In Expenses (PIE), a pioneering Bend-based social venture specializing in socially responsible expense management, empowers companies to transform standard operating costs into community donations. PIE’s innovative and mission-driven business services brokerage has helped companies like Subaru of Bend, Beaver Coach, Tower Theater, and Sensiba to transform expenses like phone, internet, Microsoft, and payment processing into recurring financial support of impactful nonprofits. The partnership with Sensiba is one of several initiatives by PIE aimed at creating sustainable funding channels for nonprofits like Bethlehem Inn.
“Corporate partnerships, like the one between PIE, Sensiba, and Bethlehem Inn, are transformative,” said Gwenn Wysling, director of Bethlehem Inn. “This collaboration goes beyond financial support; it is about creating lasting change by utilizing existing community resources. Together, we’re able to initiate meaningful efforts that benefit everyone involved, marking the beginning of something truly impactful for our community.”
A Collaborative Model for Lasting Impact
The $5,300 donation — generated from Sensiba’s Microsoft 365 license optimization — marks the first installment in an ongoing series of annual contributions, ensuring that Bethlehem Inn can rely on consistent annual support to drive its mission forward. As PIE, Sensiba, and Bethlehem Inn work together, this partnership underscores the potential for businesses to create lasting social impact by reimagining traditional corporate expenses.
PIE’s first donation to Bethlehem Inn is scheduled for October 30th between 1-2PM at their 25th anniversary open house event at 20363 Mervin Sampels Road in Bend. The collaboration between these three organizations aims to inspire other businesses and nonprofits to explore similar innovative partnerships. By transforming routine expenses into community support, this partnership serves as a model for impactful, purpose-driven business practices that benefit local communities.
