B Corporation

Public Benefit Business

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benefit_corporation

http://www.benefitcorp.net/state-by-state-legislative-status

A benefit corporation or B-corporation is a type of for-profit corporate entity, legislated in 28 U.S. states, that includes positive impact on society and the environment in addition to profit as its legally defined goals. B corps differ from traditional corporations in purpose, accountability, and transparency, but not in taxation.

The purpose of a benefit corporation includes creating general public benefit, which is defined as a material positive impact on society and the environment. A benefit corporation’s directors and officers operate the business with the same authority as in a traditional corporation but are required to consider the impact of their decisions not only on shareholders but also on society and the environment. In a traditional corporation, shareholders judge the company's financial performance; with a B-corporation, shareholders judge performance based on how a corporation's goals benefit society and the environment. Shareholders determine whether the corporation has made a material positive impact.

Benefit corporation laws address concerns held by entrepreneurs who wish to raise growth capital but fear losing control of the social or environmental mission of their business.

More re Business & Social Responsibility

Community interest company