For the Greater Good - Volume 5, Issue 3
“Efforts and courage are not enough without purpose and direction.”
-John F. Kennedy
And so the adventure began.
Five years ago on April 1, Benefit Corporations for Good was born. It was sparked by the book Mary Anne Harmer and I wrote Putting Soul Into Business: How the Benefit Corporation is Transforming American Business for Good. And the 11 thought leaders interviewed for the book provided the fuel for our fire.
Now 77 small businesses, 8 states, and 1 Canadian province later, our mission of growing a purpose-driven community of triple bottom line companies continues.
Thanks to all of those conscientious leaders who have encouraged us, disagreed with us and bolstered us along the way as your support has not only helped us grow as a community but helped us grow as individuals. You've given us purpose and direction.
May the next 5 years continue to inspire us as much. Here's to you:
Why does a business choose to become a Benefit Corporation for Good?
5 leaders weigh in on why their business is part of our purpose-driven community.
Are you ready to become a benefit corporation and a triple bottom line business? Here are 12 simple questions to help you answer that: https://bit.ly/3H5ArYn
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Now about this issue of For the Greater Good.
First of all, you can learn about what we see as the 3 essential content pieces no purpose-driven organization can be without.
Secondly, you can discover proven advice from 11 thought leaders on the 1 simple action to take to show your commitment to social impact.
And finally, you can read about why a New Jersey solar products company chose to connect with the triple bottom line.
3 Essential Documents No Purpose-Driven Biz Can Be Without Do you know the critical information people are looking for on your website? Is it a strong value proposition? Is it a solid “about us” page? Is it social proof about your product or service claims? All are important for sure. But we’ve discovered that after working with dozens of small purpose-driven businesses over the past 5 years, three critical content pieces for stakeholders are absent from most purpose-driven small business websites. Make sure you know what those 3 essential documents are. Read Now
1 Important Action To Take and Show Your Commitment To Social Action From looking at everything with an equity lens to re-designing products with waste minimization in mind, here are 11 answers to the question, "What important actions has your business taken to show its commitment to social impact?” (1)Make Equity a Foundational and Important Action Step, (2) Be Honest About the Social Issues You're Up Against, (3) Have an Honest Conversation About Who You’re Surrounded by, (4) Invest in the Well-being of Your Team and (5) Participate in Community Initiatives to Show that Your Company Cares. For the other 6 ideas, read on. Read Now
How the 3BL Boosted a NJ Solar Products Company Creating a sustainable future by providing clean, renewable energy is the mission of Advanced Solar Products. The solar developer and EPC has been delivering on that mission for over three decades primarily in New Jersey, New York, and New England. But ASP wanted to do more. It’s why they chose to become a certified Benefit Corporation for Good. Using a third-party standard helps keep ASP not only accountable but sets an example for other companies in their region to motivate and inspire them to also adopt a triple bottom line and do good for people and planet. Read Now
HIGHLIGHTS
CERTIFIED BCFG LEADER ALICIA CHAPMAN, CEO of Willamette Technical Fabricators, and I have been working on some legislation. With help from my Oregon State House Representative Thuy Tran, we all recently presented a bill to help Oregon Benefit Companies. Stay tuned as this story continues.
RECENTLY, WE FOLLOWED UP ON IDENTIFYING UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) that we as a community and individual businesses could work on and promote. Here are a few snaps from that session with BCFG leaders with Causemic CEO Matt Scott facilitating our session..
LEARN MORE about our 8 standards for becoming a certified Benefit Corporation for Good.
EVENTS
April 11: Greet & Grow 2023: A B2B Event for Small Businesses
Info here.
April 19: Let's Talk: Small Biz Formation & Taxes
Info here.
April 24: In-Person P.O.W.E.R
Info here.
April 26: Portland Small Business Spring Mingle
Info here.
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INTERESTED IN SUPPORTING THE SMALL BIZ COMMUNITY THROUGH ADVOCACY?
The Small Business Utility Advocates is a 501c3 nonprofit organization that represents, protects, and promotes the interests of small business utility customers. Energy, water, and other utilities have a direct impact upon the success of small businesses.
As strong supporters of the work of SBUA, Benefit Corporations for Good has seen the organization in action before the Oregon Public Utility Commission and in B2B meetings using expertise and experience to push for equitable treatment for small businesses.
If you're a business leader in the Portland, OR area and want to support SBUA through work advocating for small business, you might be eligible for some compensation for your time and efforts. For details contact diane@utilityadvocates.org.
For more information about what SBUA has been doing generally and in Oregon see www.utilityadvocates.org/news-and-resources.
KNOW OTHERS WHO BELIEVE IN A BETTER BUSINESS MODEL?
Do you know other people who are interested in the Triple Bottom Line of People, Planet and Profit? Conscientious eaders and businesses who believe in doing business for the greater good? Then send them this link so they can receive our eletter free every other week devoted, of course, to the greater good!
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If you're interested in seeing the companies we've certified to date, go here.
If you're interested in learning more about our certification process, go here.
If you're interested in becoming an Oregon Benefit Company, go here.
Copyright © *2023* *Benefit Corporations for Good, LLC*, All rights reserved.
Our mailing address is:
tom@benefitcorporationsforgood.com