Publication Date

Spring 4-29-2023

Document Type

Student Project

First Advisor

Schatteman, Alicia

Degree Name

B.S. (Bachelor of Science)

Department

Center for Nonprofit and NGO Studies

Abstract

This qualitative and quantitative study will examine and analyze the practices of fourth-sector businesses and how they interact with and compare to our decades old three-sector economy model. Fourth-sector organizations, also called “B-Corporations” or “For-Benefits” are businesses that have decided to get a certification that allows them to benefit from a social cause. This creates a hybrid model business that takes the consumer aspect of business and combines with the social change aspect of nonprofits to create a new business model in our economy. This study will focus on a well-known B-Corporation, TOMS, and how their business model and success has changed and improved since becoming a certified For-Benefit business. Researchers conclude that the best approach to studying B-Corporations is to focus on impact and annual reports to see if profits increased and how much more consumers are willing to invest and interact with corporations with a cause rather than a business or traditional nonprofit.

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