Ethical accreditation available to US social enterprises

‘We need transparent and trusted social enterprise sellers that can have greater impact in our communities’

Social Enterprise Mark CIC, the international social enterprise accreditation authority, has expanded its reach by introducing the Social Enterprise Mark in the USA.

The organisation awards accreditations based on a robust assessment process – to ensure the social enterprise business model remains ethical, credible and commercial. Its goal is to build the capabilities of social enterprises as competitive, sustainable businesses, dedicated to maximising social impact above shareholder profit.

The expansion into America sees Social Enterprise Mark agree its first ever franchise by granting Society Profits an exclusive licence to award the Social Enterprise Mark in the USA. Society Profits is a social enterprise with a mission to scale other social enterprises and create social impact across the country. 

The franchise agreement will enable social enterprises within the USA to gain international recognition that they are operating as a genuine social enterprise, with a core motivation of creating social impact.

Lucy Findlay, managing director of Social Enterprise Mark CIC, said: “We are delighted to work with Society Profits and its CEO Rebecca Dray on this new adventure for the Social Enterprise Mark CIC.

“We hope that we can test and refine how our mark works overseas, to provide a model for the future. Rebecca really understands the benefits that accreditation can bring to social enterprises and we look forward to a fruitful partnership.”

Rebecca Dray, CEO of Society Profits, said “I have known and admired the work of Social Enterprise Mark CIC for many years and I am excited to be bringing such a trusted name to the US social enterprise sector.

“We need transparent and trusted social enterprise sellers that can have greater impact in our communities to support those most in need. The Social Enterprise Mark will give us this strong foundation on which we can build supply chains for social minded corporations and individuals to buy with confidence.”