“When you were born, you cried, and the world rejoiced. Live your life so that when you die, the world cries, and you rejoice.”  
-Cherokee Saying

As this holiday season enters and 2022 winds down, I carry with me one dominating thought. It's not tied to politics, economics or sports. 

Rather it's all about service. Make that "being of service."

You see, helping others by volunteering, mentoring or simply listening without judgment provides the greatest joy I receive in life. It's priceless to give something with nothing expected in return.

And I think that the majority of people reading this newletter would agree with me. Certainly that is the case with the business leaders I know and love in our BCFG community.

So on this day of winter solstice and shortest day of the year, I celebrate not just the changing of the earth's tilt toward the sun. I applaud all of you who are helping and serving others. You're bringing a gift that is not only what the world needs now. It's what the world needs every day.

Happy Holidays!

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Are you a BIPOC business? Helping create an inclusive and welcoming community, embracing all, is the highest priority for us. To do so, we are now offering 15% off our certification fee to all BIPOC businesses that choose to become a Benefit Corporation for Good. Just reach out to us.

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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

Now about this issue of The Greater Good:
First of all, you can see our third video of a BCFG campaign putting the spotlight on purpose-driven leaders and why they chose to become a certified Benefit Corporation for Good.

Secondly, you can learn 11 tips on how a small business can demonstrate its commitment to sustainabilty.

And finally,  you can discover 5 important reasons to show your stakeholders what your purpose-driven business stands up for.

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Why Did Your Community Bank Become a Certified BCFG? Many people have asked us what is a certified Benefit Corporation for Good? To help answer that, a video series has been created with responses from the leaders of our growing purpose-driven community. Here's the second in our series featuring Lisa Fajardo Faust, senior VP, chief deposit officer of Pacific West Bank.  Watch Now

11 Tips to Show Your Small Business's Commitment to Sustainability From focusing on restorative actions to partnering with other local businesses, here are 11 answers to the question, "What advice do you have that shows how your small business is committed to sustainability?" (1) Focus on Restorative Actions, (2) Switch to Energy-Saving Technology, and (3) Make Recycling Accessible. For the other 8 tips, read on: Read Now

5 Important Reasons to Get Certified as a Triple Bottom Line Business You are an entrepreneur or a small business doing all the right things.You believe in giving back but you also want to make a profit. And you care about the environment. For your kids and grandkids, for your community, for the world. In sum, you believe in the triple bottom line of people, planet profit. Here's how to tell your customers and your vendors that you practice what you preach Read Now

HIGHLIGHTS

THANKS TO OUR PR FIRM at Allen Hall PR, we've developed a couple of new posts to go along with our video campaign. It's all about the "why" for becoming a certified BCFG from a leader's perspective.

NO COST WORKSHOP if you're interested in learning more about the "why" and "how" for the benefit corporation. We're happy to put on a "no cost" workshop for groups of 3 or more. Either in-person or via Zoom. Just email me at tom@benefitcorporationsforgood.com
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LEARN MORE about our 8 standards for becoming a certified Benefit Corporation for Good.

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EVENTS

Janaury 11: Jumpstart Your Brand in 2023
Info here.

January 19: "Happy Hour for Good" Meet-Up with BCFG
Free, Email for RSVP: tom@benefitcorporationsforgood

January 27: Karoke Coat and Sock Drive
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.