Prosper for Purpose Joins the B Corp Movement

You’ve probably seen Prosper for Purpose hinting at a big announcement these past few weeks, and we’re so excited to finally share it with you. We are incredibly proud to announce that Prosper for Purpose is a Certified B Corporation. 

As of this writing, there are more than 1,400 Certified B Corporations in nearly 50 countries but only nine in Ohio. Prosper for Purpose is honored to be among those nine B Corps, and we’re incredibly proud to announce that we are the first marketing and communications agency to receive certification in Northern Ohio, and the very first certified nonprofit consulting and fundraising agency in the state.

So, what is a B Corporation, and what does this mean for Prosper? B Corporations are part of a global movement of people using business as a force for good. The ‘B’ stands for benefit. Certified B Corps meet higher standards of social and environmental performance, accountability and transparency. Think of B Corp certification as a Fair Trade certification — like LEED or USDA Organic — that’s not just for a building or product but for the business as a whole.

By receiving B Corporation certification, we join a movement of like-minded organizations that strive to not only be the best in the world but also to be the best for the world. Through this certification, we have the opportunity to set benchmarks as a business for good, and to learn how we can build and improve upon those measurements for the future.

B Corporation certification was a natural fit for Prosper. We’ve always believed that businesses should do well and do good, and that in a business world that follows a ‘zero sum game’ philosophy, we can all win through collaboration, creativity and purpose. Since our founding three years ago, we’ve made a conscientious effort to support this belief, from choosing to work with mission-driven organizations, offering pro bono services through our Prosper Project, giving back to our Cleveland community through volunteerism and regulating our office’s consumption of energy and other resources. Becoming a B Corp further demonstrates our commitment to these values.

Any organization can apply to be a B Corporation. B Lab, the company behind B Corps, has a rigorous certification process, where they survey and closely examine a company’s social and environmental impact on all its stakeholders, including its employees, vendors, community, consumers and the environment. Organizations must receive at least 80 out of a possible 200 points to receive certification, and they must be recertified every two years.

Some states have passed legislation that legally requires B Corps to consider the impact of their decisions on their employees, suppliers, community, consumers and environment as well as shareholder value. While Ohio has yet to pass such legislation, B Corp certification still allows Prosper to introduce conversations in our community about the importance of being cognizant about our social and environmental impact.

If we haven’t mentioned it yet, Prosper for Purpose is so proud to be a part of this inspiring movement. We look forward to sharing this journey with you and to continue our mission of communicating for a better world.