What do you get the dog who has everything?

Robin Eichert, owner of PeopleSense Consulting, has harnessed the power of the internet for a good cause.

At the beginning of October, Eichert launched a virtual birthday party for her 23 pound, mix breed dog, Grace. In lieu of gifts, she asked people to donate to their favorite non-profit organization.

The idea came about after Eichert started volunteering at the Monadnock Humane Society. She said young kids would host their birthday parties at the center and instead of accepting gifts they would donate to the shelter.

“I thought what a selfless and generous idea,” Eichert said.

She said those kids taught her that “there is more that I can be doing.”

Seeing an opportunity with her dog’s 12th birthday approaching, she decided to take action in an event she named “Graceful Giving Birthday Party.”

“Non profits do such great work for our communities,” Eichert said. “They fight for every dollar.”

The event is hosted on the PeopleSense Facebook page and will run through the end of October.

A grand-prize winner will be selected at the end of the month, which will include a half-day team building workshop called “Graceful Leadership: Building Respectful Relationships” for up to six people.

Eichert said the prize is worth $1,500, funds that generally exclude non profit organizations from taking part in such training courses.

The winner will be identified as the non-profit organization that generates the highest number of comments and donations on the pinned post on Facebook.

Carol Laughner, director of marketing for The Monadnock Humane Society, said that Eichert has been a volunteer at the society for several years and comes in at least once a week to provide care for animals who are looking for their forever home.

She said the fundraising campaign that Eichert has taken on is just one more example of her commitment to the humane society, and other non profits in the region.

“It is pretty unique to have someone in the community taking a leadership role like this,” Laughner said. “She (Eichert) has stepped up and taken this on by herself. She has come up with an incredibly unique way to fundraise and has the commitment to see it through.”

In general, she said, non profits are overworked and underfunded.

“To have someone out their championing for us; it’s precious to us,” she said.

Eichert said about a dozen people have donated to various non profits since the campaign began, and although it’s a good start, she said she would like to see as many people participate as possible.

She said she is optimistic that if the project doesn’t take off this year that it will be successful in the years to come.

“For me it’s just one more example of how Grace has changed my life,” Eichert said. “She gives me such inspiration that I wouldn’t have thought of without her. Everyone has someone or something that inspires me; for me, that’s Grace.”

Abby Kessler can be reached at 924-7172, ext. 234 or akessler@ledgertranscript.com. Follow her on Twitter @akesslerMLT.