Businesses are inextricably linked to the communities in which they operate, hire, and have an impact. For Certified B Corporations — which consider these communities as valued stakeholders in their organizations who impact business decisions and operations — finding ways to give back is just part of doing business better.

This week, as B Corp Month continues, we share stories of B Corps giving paid time off for volunteer experiences, investing for broader impact, and taking a stand against racism.

In community,

B The Change  

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As the pandemic continues and its ripple effects expand, many communities are seeing continued or growing needs for assistance. To learn how B Corps are stepping up to fill gaps in their communities, B The Change reached out to companies on the B Hive, an online communications site for B Corps. Here’s a sampling of how B Corps are helping others around them — and how other businesses can do the same.
 

By relying on its B Corp values, The Builders Fund sets baseline standards of visibility and accountability around key metrics for its investments — and helps each of the companies in its portfolio do the same. On B The Change, Tripp Baird of The Builders Fund highlights how its B Corp portfolio companies are contributing to the well-being of people and the planet and to the shift toward stakeholder capitalism.
 

B Lab and other partners are presenting Shift 2021, a virtual event April 14-16 featuring impact leaders and action-oriented workshops. This new collaborative event will feature some of the most passionate players in the social and environmental impact space rallying to make business a force for positive change.
 

“As we work toward a more equitable and anti-racist era, the journey to undoing existing oppressive systems requires all of us to get more uncomfortable, and call leaders in when they failed to show up for their team, their community, and the values of social justice,” writes Ivy Teng Lei of B Corp Exygy. Read about Lei’s experience and find resources you can help amplify to stand against anti-Asian hate.
 

Here’s your chance to catch up on recent articles:

• B Corps Doing Business Better: Building Community and Camaraderie Through Employee Volunteer Days: By Providing Paid Time Off for Volunteering and Workplace Opportunities to Donate, B Corps Give Back to Their Communities

• Driving Real Impact and Game-Changing Solutions Requires Engaging Stakeholder Networks: B Corp SecondMuse Fosters Problem-Solving on Social and Environmental Issues

• Leaning into the Real Work of a Better Business Model: B Corp Certification Helps Define and Challenge Businesses’ Positive Impact

• Dear America: Asian Americans Are Not Your Model Minority: Company Statements or Tweets Pale in Comparison to Action We Can Take as a Group

• A 2021 Investing Imperative: Measuring and Managing Impact Across Your Portfolio: The Builders Fund and Its Portfolio Companies Use the B Impact Assessment and B Corp Structure to Review and Improve

• How a Focus on Purpose Can Make Meetings More Efficient and Effective: Identify Moments to Connect and Provide a Sense of Belonging

• How B Corps Do Business Better: Narrowing the Income Gap By Reducing Pay Ratios and Uplifting Workers: By Capping CEO Pay and Advocating for Lowest-Wage Employees, These Companies Seek a More Equitable Economy That Works for All