Socially Responsible Business Plan Competition

The William James Foundation seeks to identify, support, and reward the best new ideas in sustainable business. They primarily do this through their Socially Responsible Business Plan Competition. If you’re launching a for-profit organization that has integrated social and/or environmental sustainability into how you do business, we encourage you to enter their competition.

The William James Foundation Socially Responsible Business Plan Competition offers feedback & in-kind and cash prizes worth more than $100,000 for sustainable entrepreneurs. Entrants can be of any age or from anywhere in the world. First round deadlines are Sept 10th & Dec. 3rd, 2010. Details at www.williamjamesfoundation.org.

1. Your business or business idea must be for-profit. They accept Limited Low-Profit Corporations (L3Cs) and encourage B Corporations (and their international equivalents). They also accept social enterprise for-profits that are owned by non-profits. If you have to file and pay taxes, they consider you a for-profit.
2. Your business or business idea must have not yet launched, or be less than two years from your first revenue on the date that you submit your executive summary.
3. Your business or business idea must seek both financial viability and a defined social and/or environmental goal that is achieved through how you do business. Simply donating a percentage of revenues to charity does not count. Their baseline for financial viability is a firm where managers make at least a middle-class living, employees make at least a living wage and vendors and customers are generally satisfied with their interactions with the firm.

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When and How to send your Business Plan Summary

The next executive summary submission deadline is Friday September 10th, 2010. Plans submitted by that date should receive their first round of feedback in early October. They will also accept plans for their 2010 competition until December 3rd, 2010. December round entrants will receive their feedback in January, 2011.

As soon as you know you intend to enter the competition, please fill out the Intent to Compete form at www.williamjamesfoundation.org/intenttocompete.

To submit your executive summary, send it by email to competition@williamjamesfoundation.org. Entries must be readable by Microsoft Word 2003 or Adobe PDF reader. Hard copies are discouraged, but accepted by fax at 202/403-3402 or postal mail at:

The William James Foundation
920 U Street, NW
Washington, DC 20001 USA

For local information on siting a business in the De Pere area and to find out what taxes and incentives are available visit our website here.  If you believe your business fits the Main Street area model or are interested in physical space sustainability as well as business sustainability, visit here to learn about Main Street De Pere.