In the last decade, the recognition that companies can improve the welfare of people and the planet while increasing profits has revolutionized the business world. Throughout the nation, companies that are adopting this triple-bottom-line  thinking are securing new clients, distinguishing themselves from the competition and strengthening their market positions.

Yet many entrepreneurs – especially those from low- and moderate-income backgrounds, minorities, veterans, youth, elderly, and the disabled - often lack  information about triple-bottom-line practices, nor can they access the capital to implement them.

Greater Good is a comprehensive business development program designed to bring triple-bottom-line thinking to businesses throughout the Front Range, particularly those of limited means. By connecting existing entrepreneurs with key players in economic development and sustainable business, Greater Good aims to help catalyze an economy of social and ecological responsibility, all while restoring economic vitality, reducing poverty and generating new jobs in underserved communities.

Our program is comprised of three interlocking components - Find, Train, and Fund - designed to accelerate dozens of entrepreneurs towards the triple-bottom-line model:

IDENTIFY
Participants become part of our program through our Pipeline Partners, a coalition of local business development and educational institutions. Besides hosting our informational sessions and promoting Greater Good courses and events, these partners provide valuable input into the overall structure and implementation of our program.

TRAIN
The heart of our program is the Greater Good Academy, a 30-hour, eight-week course to help entrepreneurs incorporate triple-bottom-line principles into their business operations. The curriculum will feature interactive, real-world exercises and guest lectures from the leaders of Colorado’s green business community. The Academy culminates in a public showcase, after which graduates enter into a year-long mentorship program where they will be guided by a network of successful civic-minded business leaders.

FUND
While a triple-bottom-line plan typically results in greater revenue and profit, it often necessitates an upfront investment of capital to get going. Greater Good will connect Academy graduates with the appropriate resources to finance the sustainable growth of their businesses, and we intend to develop infrastructures of our own to fund program participants. One example is the Greater Good Fund, an investor’s pool managed by the Colorado Enterprise Fund that will offer $15,000-$50,000 business loans to qualified entrepreneurs.

The time for Greater Good is now. Our mission is bold, yet focused and results-oriented. Successful small businesses are essential to a vibrant economy, and nowhere is this more true than in Colorado. We agree with visionary entrepreneur Paul Hawken in his assessment that "Business is the only mechanism on the planet today powerful enough to produce the changes necessary to reverse global environments and social degradation.”

The Greater Good Project is supported by the following organizations (partial list)