Organizations around the world are realizing that purpose and profit can live in harmony, and the growth of mission-driven organizations in 2014 proves that this isn’t a passing trend. Mission-driven sponsorship is predicted to reach $1.84 billion by the end of the year, an increase of 3.4 percent compared to last year. New leaders continue to emerge and join a world where they base their work on their passion for a cause. As we look toward 2015, we’ll be keeping an eye out for new trends and key players in the sector.
Here are six mission-driven brands that we’ll be watching in 2015 to see where the sector will go:
This Chicago-based social enterprise has created a system that turns derelict urban properties into productive vertical green spaces. They are using their sustainable business model to help improve cities. I think this is just the beginning for them. There are cities all over the country with run down building that could be transformed into urban green spaces, and I expect to see huge growth from Urban Till in 2015.
One Village Coffee is a regional coffee roasting company based in Pennsylvania that has turned everyone’s daily need for coffee into a way to help communities locally and internationally. They are running a “Coffee with a Cause” campaign that is designed to donate 10% of their revenue to nonprofit organizations. I’m looking forward to seeing how they communicate around this 10% model and use it to build preference among discerning coffee drinkers.
“Have a pint, change the world.” Pretty enticing slogan right? Oregon Public House has turned grabbing a bite to eat, or a sipping a craft beer with friends, into a way to give back to you community. It’s a Philanthrontrophic Pub. They donate 100 percent of their net profits to a number of nonprofit organizations. While the net profits to charity has worked wonders for stalwart brands like Newman’s Own, we’ve yet to see it truly take hold in the pub and restaurant space. Maybe Oregon Public House will be the leader that makes it happen.
Big Path Capitalworks with companies, funds, and networks to create sustainable investing options. They aim to maximize both the impact and the financial return of investments to accelerate the growth of a sustainable economy. This global firm is changing the way we think about investing and connecting mission driven companies to mission-aligned investors.
Based in Cambridge, Massachusetts, this company shares their secret to healthy skin care, starting with their organic soap. LEAP Organics aim to make Mother Nature and your skin happy. A portion of their sales are donated to environmental nonprofits, and we see them as poised to push a vertical that already has lots of great cause-focused brands to the next level. Great skin and a great cause? Who can pass that up!
Give Something Back has donated over $6 million to nonprofits, all the while helping their customers save time and money on their office products purchases. They are California’s largest independent office supply company selling anything from supplies to furniture to custom printing. They have come so far over the last 23 years, it’ll be great to see them to continue to succeed and give back to our communities as they broaden their impact in 2015.
Keep your eye out for these mission-driven brands, and let us know if there are other mission-driven brands that you think will do big things in 2015. We’d love to learn from their success and find inspiration in their impact.
Photo credit: Lichtmagnet, Pixabay
