“There was always just so much taking that these businesses do from the region,” Pryor said. “Seeing some of the harm that's done from those larger corporations taking so much, we thought it might be beneficial to have them reinvest some of that money.”

Pryor grew up in Ann Arbor and spent many summers in northern parts of Michigan’s lower peninsula. Fishing, sailing and spending time outdoors grew his passion for the Great Lakes. 

“I think that that’s a shared passion among people in that region, and also all around,” Pryor said “A lot of different states touch the lakes and share that passion for them.”

Underpinning Pryor’s environmental mission is the mind of an entrepreneur. He did not graduate with an environmentally-focused degree — something that he said he has been asked about multiple times. Rather, Pryor graduated with a bachelor's degree in advertising management. He mostly handles the marketing side of the operation, while his friend and business partner Cole Larance handles the environmental side.

Before 1% for the Great Lakes, Pryor and Larance previously started Polygon, an initiative focused on encouraging businesses to donate a portion of their profits to groups working to remove plastic from the ocean in coastal communities.

“We would market them and help them show this giving that they're doing,”Pryor said. “Consumers are more likely to purchase from a company that has some sort of internal sustainability program or donates back some of their money to programs like that.”

Eventually, Pryor and Larance wanted to do something a bit closer to home. They founded 1% for the Great Lakes in 2021.

The nonprofit takes inspiration from Bob Sutherland, founder and president of Cherry Republic. Sutherland, Pryor said, donates 1% of gross sales from his Michigan-based cherry product retailer.

“The 1% pitch for me, from a marketing standpoint, is very, very tangible, and it's very easy for businesses and individuals to wrap their heads around,” Pryor said. “It's more than you think, as well. When you're a larger corporation, who does millions of dollars in gross sales every year, 1% can really go a long way.”

1% for the Great Lakes revolves around businesses investing in six main focus areas: air, community education and engagement, energy and infrastructure, land, water and wildlife. Businesses can choose to spend the money on internal improvements, as well, such as implementing electric vehicles within the company, but a minimum of 60% of a donation must be donated to an external nonprofit. 

Pryor said that businesses are also able to choose the nonprofit that they would like to donate to, as long as the donation meets one of the six focus areas.

“At the end of the year, we'll go through all their financials to ensure that they actually have given the money. Once they have proven to us through their tax documents and things of that nature, we will go ahead and approve them,” Pryor said. “They’ll be a member, they'll receive all the logos and badges that go along with being a member. They'll be placed on our spot on our marketplace on our website, and will receive additional social media exposure on Facebook (and) Instagram as well.”

Pryor said that another major motivation for focusing on the Great Lakes region was because of the region’s economic influence. 

“It's a multi-trillion-dollar economy—it's the third greatest economy in the world,” he said. “There are studies that show that even just a one-dollar investment into the Great Lakes region can provide upwards of like a dollar and a half of return. And so, there’s this idea of reinvesting that is really what’s driving us towards focusing on the Great Lakes region.”

The 1% for the Great Lakes team is in the process of reaching out to businesses that may want to participate in the initiative. Pryor said that they have an upcoming meeting with the Michigan Chamber of Commerce. Additionally, he said that they are speaking to the Great Lakes Business Network, or GLBN, about a potential partnership. GLBN is a division of the National Wildlife Foundation that acts as a network of businesses “committed to protecting the Great Lakes region from threats to the natural environment,” according to their website.

“We’re mostly just looking to get as many businesses on board before March 3,” Pryor said.

March 3, Great Lakes Day, is the date of the nonprofit’s public launch.

Pryor said that he is also hoping to expand the team, as he and Larance are the only executives.

More information can be found on the nonprofit organization's website.