Paying it Forward at Proof

By Matthew Ingram, Founder and CEO

Prior to starting Proof, my wife and I both worked at nonprofits, serving those in need in our community. It wasn’t a conscious choice; we followed our values and landed in careers that reflected them. During graduate school at Cal, where I studied health policy, I volunteered at the Haight Ashbury Free Medical Clinic. It was an incredibly challenging and rewarding role, and taught me the value of community service. I see now that I learned as much from evenings at the clinic as I did from classes over in Berkeley.

The experience propelled a lifelong commitment to myself to be involved in my community, and to help those who need it most. Even in the past several years, being a parent, and building Proof as bootstrapped, scrappy startup -- both roles demanding in their own ways -- I’ve continued to volunteer on two boards. One is COTS Petaluma, the homeless shelter and service provider. The other is the Community Foundation Sonoma County, which raises funds for critical causes. To be honest, there are days where I have to drag myself to meetings, as I feel too pressed for time and want to attend to other matters.

But as soon as I arrive, I’m reminded why it’s so important to be involved in my community. At COTS, we often have program participants present to the board. Many times, wearing a suit around a conference table at nine in the morning, I have been brought to tears by their stories and how they’ve worked to improve their lives, with the help of COTS. I feel privileged to be a part of that work.

Compliant cannabis is a tough business. From the outside, cannabis is viewed as a lucrative and exciting field. For those of us living it every day, we know how hard it is to navigate regulations, survive taxation, and build a company in a nascent and evolving space. 

Especially at Proof, where we’ve opted not to accept funds from outside investors so that we can stay fully focused on our values and mission, the past few years have felt like a rollercoaster. 

And yet, we continue to support local causes wherever possible, including being a sponsor of the COTS annual fundraising event. We view this opportunity to donate as a privilege and honor.

But we can only do this thanks to your support. Without our customers, including the retailers who choose to carry us, we wouldn’t be able to pay it forward. 

So, thank you for the privilege you allow us. With your support, we aim to become a formidable philanthropic presence in our community, and hopefully in yours, too.