Pro Bono Australia Certified as a B Corp
13 August 2014 at 10:50 am
Pro Bono Australia has been certified as a B Corporation – a worldwide global movement highlighting companies that work for social good as well as financial outcomes.
“Pro Bono Australia is a gateway to the Social Economy. We are an online hub – where Not for Profits, philanthropists, volunteers and sustainable business all converge and work together to drive positive social change,” Pro Bono Australia Founder Karen Mahlab said as the B Corp certification was announced.
“It is an exciting development for us to be certified as a B Corp by the Not for Profit B Lab allowing us to meet the rigorous standards of social and environmental performance, accountability, and transparency.”
Today, there is a growing community of more than 1,000 Certified B Corps from 33 countries and over 60 industries working together toward 1 unifying goal: to redefine success in business.
Since impact investment company, Small Giants became the first certified Australia B Corporation in August 2012, around 16 companies in Australia and New Zealand have followed.
“It’s been a long solo journey developing Pro Bono Australia over the last 15 years and now we have a community around us who have the same values and aims in mind. We became a B Corp so that we could band together with a group of like-minded companies to change the way business operates,” Mahlab said.
“We also wanted to progress through the B Corp testing process to get a better understanding of what we were doing well and what we weren't doing so well. The certification comes at a time of great growth within Pro Bono Australia.
“With more than 45,000 subscribers and close to a million visitors, our digital footprint is globally unique and fast-growing. Through our specialist news service, events, survey, products and services, we connect, enable and provide a voice for those seeking to create positive change,” she said.
“This ranges from individuals and those working in Not for Profits to philanthropists and investors seeking to fund socially beneficial projects, government agencies exploring social innovation policy, and businesses supplying into and supporting the sector.
“A pioneering for-profit social enterprise, we’ve been at the forefront of technological innovation and social change since 1999. We employ a small and growing team, and pay for what we provide to the sector by operating as a business and generating income from advertising and commercial services to develop our portfolio in line with changing sector needs.
“We believe in the importance of a robust and engaged civil society, and work to ensure the organisations set up to do good are supported, encouraged and given public visibility.
“Pro Bono Australia was started with a passion to use new technologies to help Not for Profits deliver what they do effectively and efficiently. We also wanted to drive an increase in philanthropy and community engagement. Over time, we have done both and moved beyond,” Mahlab said.
