I recently returned from the B Corp Champion’s Retreat. About 300 leaders from all over the world gathered in Boulder, CO to reflect on how business can be a force for good. Companies such as Etsy, Patagonia, Klean Kanteen, Dansko, Ben & Jerry’s, Seventh Generation, Preserve, Cabot and many more are all a part of this movement to transform the business world into a powerful engine of impact. We certified in 2009 and haven’t looked back.

What is a B Corp? (You might ask.) It’s a movement of for profit companies that are using the power of business to make a positive social and environmental impact. There are currently three main initiatives that define the movement:

B Corp Certification
The certification program evaluates and rates businesses, similar to the way that LEED certification is used for buildings or Fair Trade is used for coffee and chocolate. There’s an assessment that’s used to analyze a company’s social and environmental impact in great detail and benchmark it against the work of other companies. It helps to differentiate companies that are greenwashing from those that are actually walking the walk and living their mission through their practices. The assessment addresses issues such as how a company treats its employees, the value of their philanthropy programs, the ethics behind their governance, the sustainability of their supply chains and their energy footprint. The scores are transparent and you can view Singlebrook’s score on our impact report.

Benefit Corp Legislation
There is a new legal structure called a “Benefit Corp” that has been recognized in 20 states so far, including New York, California and Delaware. Benefit Corps need to have a stated public benefit, which they report to the state on each year. Traditional corporations have increasing shareholder profit as their primary purpose, but Benefit Corps are different in that they take into account other stakeholders besides shareholders, such as employees, vendors, clients and the larger community in their decisions. Benefit Corps also need to be certified by a third party. The B Corp certification is one way to meet this requirement, but there are other certifying agencies as well. Singlebrook was among the first group of companies to register as Benefit Corps in NY State when the legislation passed in 2012.

GIIRS and B Analytics
The Global Impact Investment Rating System (GIIRS) and B Analytics are tools for investors and fund managers that allow them to assess the social and environmental impact of their investments, in addition to the financial metrics. These tools are based on the B Corp assessment program.

What does being a B Corp mean to us as a custom web and mobile software firm? We live our mission of Technology for Change (T4C) in several ways. Here are just a few:

• We have the honor of using technology to help many social enterprises realize their mission and scale their impact. Some of our projects include creating a web-based carbon calculator for the Environmental Defense Fund or helping DC startup, Compost Cab, to create a smarter web and mobile logistics platform that helps them efficiently transport compost from residences and businesses to urban gardening projects.
• Through our T4C program, we give our team paid time to do community service projects such as our upcoming Habitat for Humanity Build and our free Drupal training workshop for South Side Community Center.
• We do large scale probono projects such as TechSpring in which we helped SolWorks with the technology infrastructure for their business, which creates affordable solar powered hot water heaters for the developing world.
• We donate a percentage of our profits to community organizations such as the United Way of Tompkins County.
• We offer excellent benefits and pay a living wage or better to all of our employees.

It was truly inspiring to gather together with other business leaders who are each using their companies in unique ways to make beautiful things happen in their communities.