socent

Leading equity investor in the market at the base of the economic pyramid.

"Washington Community Alliance for Self-Help (CASH) provides the business training, supportive community and capital to help enterprising individuals with limited financial resources gain self-sufficiency through small business ownership."

Goodzuma hosts 'challenges' by organizations and allows persons to 'pitch' solutions.

Rally the Cause is a blog on social entrepreneurship.

"The farm is located on 410 acres of fertile land on the Bolaven Plateau of southern Laos, bordered by mountain streams on the north and southwest. About 100 acres are devoted to grasses and legumes to restore nitrogen to the soil and provide fodder for livestock. The remainder is devoted to coffee growing. Bolaven-grown coffee beans are hand-sorted to ensure quality before they are roasted, packaged and shipped. Bolaven Farms is "a for-profit business with the mandate to act justly, to love kindness and to walk humbly with God," Say explained. He also has created a companion nonprofit organization-Just Grounds-that relates directly to churches and recruits short-term missions volunteers and prayer partners. "

"We encourage rigorous researchers to tackle the questions of enterprise solutions to poverty, and find the role models and artists that embody the experience of innovation in the world's poorest countries."

ELC Clients - Social Entrepreneurs & Non-Profits Individuals or groups who wish to build a non-profit business or charitable services organization, as well as those pursuing social entrepreneurship objectives, fit into this category. Most of these ventures will be generally eligible for ELC services. Well established non-profits with substantial endowments, as well as private foundations, will likely not be eligible for ELC services. Because of the emerging trend in social entrepreneurship for new ventures to demonstrate both low cost access strategies and profitable market strategies, ELC will consider providing services to founders who are not exclusively committed to forming a non-profit. In fact, ELC can help such founders think through the pros and cons of establishing non-profit vs. for profit organizations. Accepted clients will be assigned a team tailored to the needs of the proposed venture. In some cases this will be a full team consisting of different students and attorneys for review of: business planning, structure, and governance; intellectual property, particularly trademarks, trade secrets, copyright, and, if applicable, patents; employment law; business licensing; and tax planning and compliance. In other cases, a non-profit or social entrepreneurship venture will be assigned a team with a single student and supervising attorney. For example, a small co-op that needs to focus solely on governance and co-op organization law, or obtaining tax exempt status can benefit from the efficiencies of a single business and tax law trained student and supervising attorney team. The initial confidential legal and business audit report will assess the following areas, as applicable; additional legal services in these areas may also be offered upon mutual written agreement of the venture and ELC: * Business planning * Entity selection and registration * Differences between non-profit governance (including co-ops) and for profit governanc

"At Full Circle Farm, we grow, source, and deliver the freshest and most flavorful organic produce and artisan goods, and make them a convenient choice for your table. Sustainable practices have always been the cornerstone of our operation. We believe in the value of nurturing the land and community that are so essential in cultivating a healthy food system. Read more about our story and how we bring the farm to you."

The Utilikilts Company is committed to pioneering a comfortable alternative to trousers by producing "Men's Unbifurcated Garments" (MUG's). The Utilikilt has become a growing social phenomenon, inspired debate, consistently challenged the media, changed lives, and created a common symbolism among its wearers. With customers all over the world, the Utilikilts Co. continues to both pioneer and to follow the best examples it can find, in every area of running a socially responsible business. We became a B Corp because Utilikilitarians are evangelists. We want to have an impact on public policy in this country. Our politicians aren't doing what we need them to do and hopefully a community of businesses like this can become a constituency for change. The Utilikilts Company, established April 2000, was originally founded in order to fund a global arts project that would travel the world putting on an interactive road show of music, dance, video art, and drama and leaving change in its wake. The Utilikilt was one of several designs implemented by Form Follows Function, an original design company, in order to raise money for this Arts project. The Utilikilt spawned the Utilikilts Company, and right before our eyes, this unique garment began to accomplish the goals that Form Follows Function had originally set out to promote. The Change We Seek™ Utilikilts seeks to set a global example, defining "business with a conscience", driving a worldwide paradigm shift toward a more conscientious form of capitalism, and channeling company gains and resources back into the community. * Our mission statement explicity states that the management of the company will not exploit cultures, peoples or environments to achieve capital gains. * We strive to be socially, environmentally, and economically responsible and make a vigilant effort to construct a profitable, sustainable, and transparent business class or corporation type having 7th generation values that will

About ShoreBank Pacific ShoreBank Pacific is the first commercial bank in the United States with a commitment to environmentally sustainable community development. We believe that long-term community prosperity goes hand-in-hand with a healthy environment. With that vision, ShoreBank Pacific, a Washington State chartered, FDIC insured bank, was formed in 1997 as a joint project of ShoreBank Corp., the nation's first community development bank, and Ecotrust™, an environmental non-profit. Through our lending programs, ShoreBank Pacific brings together conservation and community and economic development. We continue to create wealth in communities that wouldn't have access to banking otherwise. We've built a fantastic place to work that is founded on honesty and excellence. We became a B Corporation to support our mission and lend our credibility to a system that identifies and supports "good businesses." When you deposit your money at ShoreBank Pacific, you are helping to create sustainable companies, vibrant communities, and healthy environments by providing funds to our lending programs. Like other banks, we provide commercial loans; however, unlike other banks, we are conscientious to whom we lend, and potential customers are "scored" using a program of sustainability criteria, including conservation, community development, and economy measures. A healthy and sustainable business will translate into a healthy and sustainable community and economy. ShoreBank Pacific is wholly owned by ShoreBank Corporation, the nation's first community development and environmental banking corporation. The Change We Seek™ ShoreBank Pacific profitably assists businesses, and through them their communities, to be sustainable in economic, social, and environmental practices. * We lend money from our EcoDeposits™ program to businesses and non-profits that are committed to improving their sustainable footprint. While many of our loan customers are environmentally rel

Our mission is to help companies reach their highest potential in the context of the next paradigms in business. At shiftalliance™, we advise businesses on how to innovate their entire business model through the lens of meaningfulness, the key value driver of the 21st century. shiftalliance shows a business-any business-how to improve profitability with minimal capital investment from the companies we serve. We are experts in powerful, low-cost ways of discovering new ideas to increase the value your company generates, motivating a company's work force, inspiring its leaders and attracting new customers. Whether you're a leader seeking to revitalize the ROI of an existing business or a venture capitalist needing to optimize a business in your portfolio, shiftalliance™ can help you discover the innovation opportunities to enhance your business model and align your company with emerging shifts of the 21st century. Our singular approach comes from the combination of rigorous business analysis + design thinking + awareness mindset leadership coaching to unlock the full potential of your strategy, leaders and performance. We coach your people to lead and embed meaningfulness into your culture. We became a B Corp immediately upon discovering B Corporation. We had collected 231+ better practices in business and realized that B Lab was promoting many of these practices through their certification and legislation initiatives. We were thrilled to discover that companies could be recognized for their meaningful practices and potentially even benefit financially (through tax breaks) as a result of their commitment to socially responsibility. Most management and specialist consulting firms address business, organization development, innovation, brand or sustainability. We use the lens of meaning, the value driver of the 21c, to assess, innovate and embed all of the above into meaningful business models and unleash greater value for all stakeholders and the enter

"Pura Vida Coffee sells 100% organic, fair trade and shade grown coffee and a full line of sustainable beverages to individual and institutional customers throughout the US. We believe that companies can be both 'tough-minded and tender-hearted', integrating the discipline and rigor of a for-profit with the heart and soul of a mission-driven non-profit organization. We believe that there is a 'new sector' forming and want to be in on the ground floor! The mission of Pura Vida is to Create Good™ by using business to empower producers, motivate consumers, inspire business leaders, and, ultimately, serve the poor. By utilizing every facet of our company-capital structure, governance, employee recruitment, product sourcing, marketing and sales-to achieve social outcomes, we can demonstrate that the worlds of business and charity can not only co-exist, but can thrive on one another. Pura Vida Children The Change We Seek™ The mission of Pura Vida is to bring compassion and capitalism together in order to "Create Good™" for children living in coffee communities around the world. * Pura Vida seeks to provide all of its coffee farmers enjoy a fair wage and can support a family. To accomplish that goal, we only buy and sell 100% Fair Trade coffee, which ensures that our workers are treated fairly and that their land is preserved naturally. * We also make sure that we are active in the communities where our coffee is grown. Pura Vida operates programs for at-risk children through the sale of products and the financial support of customers and partners. We work in partnership with local non-profit agencies to provide educational opportunity and nurture physical health, confidence, character, and strength of spirit. * All of our coffee is organic and shade-grown, which means that every bean we harvest is as pure as it can possibly be. Growing our coffee in the shade preserves the nutrients and minerals found in coffee beans, and our organic status affirms

"About Hydrovolts Hydrovolts' new hydropower technology taps a plentiful but overlooked global source of renewable energy from water currents in canals and channels. Hydrovolts turbines offer an economical and easy way to generate reliable, local clean power in millions of locations around the world. The company's initial market is artificial waterways such as irrigation canals and wastewater and cooling water discharges. After initial growth in the USA, Hydrovolts will supply the huge global market for affordable local clean power from canals, dams, rivers and even tidal channels.Hydrovolts won the 2009 National Sustainability Award in the Clean Tech Open, the world's largest clean tech business plan competition. The sustainability chapter of Hydrovolts' overall business plan was judged the best out of more than 280 entrants. The sustainability is available for free download from the Hydrovolts website. Hydrovolts also won the 2009 "Best Investment Opportunity" and a $50,000 investment prize from the Zino Society Green Forum. We became a B Corp because the B Impact Assessment and corporate structure requirements are fundamental to operating as a sustainable business. B Corp has created a management metric system that is relatively simple but comprehensive and related to global standards such as the Global Reporting Inititiave and the Business Charter for Sustainable Development of the International Chamber of Commerce. We will use the B Corp resources and network to ensure our growth to a sustainable corporation is guided by the best management practices for sustainable profits and positive impacts. The Change We Seek® The change we seek is local economic and environmental sustainability. The Hydrovolts technology produces electric power at the household scale. It also can pump water and make fresh drinking water using reverse osmosis. Over a billion people have no electricity at all, and more than that have unsafe drinking water. We can help them as part of

About Fair Trade Sports Fair Trade Sports, Inc is the first sports equipment company in the US to launch a full line of eco-certified Fair Trade sports balls, ensuring fair wages and healthy working conditions for our adult workers. We have sports balls for soccer, football, basketball, rugby, volleyball, and more. We became a Founding B Corporation to join forces with other purpose-driven companies in our pursuit of a new, better corporate standard. We are committed to donating all profits after taxes to children's charities, both domestic and international. Sound familiar? It's a similar idea to the one behind the Newman's Own brand you see in the grocery store. Fair Trade Sports The Change We Seek™ We seek to ensure fair wages and healthy working conditions for adult (not child) workers and generate significant dollars for children's charities in the process. * How exactly do your dollars help when you buy a ball from Fair Trade Sports? A significant milestone for Fair Trade is that the producers of a product should earn enough in order to provide for themselves and their families. If adults can pay for shelter, food, clothing, medical needs, emergencies, and expenses for education, then children no longer have to contribute to family income. We at Fair Trade Sports sell only balls that have passed the standards of the Fairtrade Labeling Organization (FLO). The payments we make for these balls includes a 20% premium, which is used for improving the lives of the workers, their families and their communities. Together, workers and management form a "Talon Workers Welfare Society" and decide how to dispurse the Fair Trade Sports half of the 20% premium to benefit the group (the other half goes directly to the workers themselves). Programs include community clinics and healthcare insurance - a first in this industry - as well as micro-credit loans and more. * Until we reach profitability, we are donating $1000 annually to charities which benefit at-ris

"egg is a visionary marketing, brand development, and advertising agency for sustainable brands. We specialize in creating emotional connections between the conscious consumer and sustainable brands. Our proprietary research into and understanding of this rapidly-growing cultural movement provides us with the insights needed to create messages that inspire action and brand loyalty. As a leading visionary in the realm of marketing and brand development for economic, social, and environmental change, egg similarly believes in the need to reassess, redefine and renegotiate the corporate charter to serve a greater public need beyond solely private economic benefit. egg believes in this new effort to register "public benefit companies". Today, people expect more from brands and companies. They are searching for brands that share their values and priorities. They look behind the logo, often voting with their pocketbooks to ensure that their personal values are reflected in their spending. egg is a one-of-a-kind brand communications firm that specializes in helping these brands build lasting, meaningful connections with today's conscious consumer. The Change We Seek™ egg seeks to build brands for a better future. * Our strength is building connections between consumers and responsible brands. We understand today's conscious consumer, and we know how to communicate with them through traditional and non-traditional channels. Communicating about responsible brands requires a simple but transformational shift in thinking, both in the message and the medium. For example, responsible brands find little benefit from spin. Instead, they find success in a meaningful amplification of what they truly are - from authenticity. * We gear our brand-building toward the 7-70 consumer. 7% of the population is socially responsible to the core. And 70% are socially responsible in some way, but to a lesser extent. They are motivated by many different values and ideas, but

About Culinary Collective Culinary Collective is an import and distribution company specializing in gourmet cultural foods that embody and promote their native culture and traditions. They work with small family and community companies that take pride in producing all natural foods using methods and recipes passed down through the generations. We became a B Corp because we believe that a truly responsible business serves itself, its employees, its stakeholders, and society's best interests by promoting social equity, environmental restoration, and sustainable economic development. All products are completely natural and free of preservatives or colorants. Organic certification is pursued whenever feasible. Products and ingredients are sourced using fair sourcing criteria to ensure that farmers and producers receive a fair price and that no communities are exploited in the trade process. We select our products to promote local traditions and food cultures. The Change We Seek® Through their purchasing practices Culinary Collective aims to raise the living standards for our producers and farmers while encouraging environmental stewardship and community investment. The two internal divisions of Culinary Collective, Matiz España and Zócalo Gourmet, share the Collective social, environmental, and financial principles. Matiz España specializes in locating and importing specialty gourmet food products from small producers in Spain. Zócalo Gourmet supports agricultural communities and traditions in Latin America through the importation of traditional native gourmet food. * Provide society with services and products that add meaningful value to our lives. These products and services provide society with utility or joy without harming human or environmental health at any point in their life cycle. * Contribute to the creation of self-reliant communities by subscribing to local business principles including the local sourcing of production materials, employees,