August 1, 2013

Fellow Business Leaders,

Today is an historic day. 

With Governor Jack Markell welcoming the first companies to register as Delaware benefit corporations, we celebrate a new freedom to build businesses with a higher purpose than maximizing profit.

We are part of a growing movement of business leaders that see this as a big market opportunity, because a large and increasing number of people want to support a better way to do business -- better for our workers, better for our communities, better for our environment.

Until recently, corporate law has not recognized the legitimacy of any corporate purpose other than maximizing profits. That old conception of the role of business in society is at best limiting, and at worst destructive.

Delaware is the 19th state (plus D.C.) to enact benefit corporation legislation, but the most important state for businesses that seek access to venture capital, private equity, and public capital markets. The path is now clear to scale business as a force for good.

By serving a higher purpose and by meeting higher standards of transparency and accountability, we build our most important asset -- trust. This trust enables us to attract the best talent and turn customers into evangelists, helping us make money and make a difference.

• Put your higher purpose into practice, and compare and improve your social and environmental performance by using a free educational tool like the B Impact Assessment.
• Bake your purpose into the legal DNA of your business and help ensure it remains central as you scale, bring in outside capital, plan succession, or even sell, by registering as a benefit corporation.
• Be recognized as a leader of this new economy by becoming a Certified B Corporation
• There are already more than 10,000 businesses certified, registered, or using this free tool. Determine the right path for your company and join us in creating a better way to do business. 

Put your purpose into practice @ bimpactassessment.net

Bake it into your DNA @ benefitcorp.net

Be recognized as a leader @ bcorporation.net

B the Change,

Singlebrook