The challenges we currently face in the United States can feel overwhelming, but a new path is emerging.
There are enterprises across the country that exist to solve social and environmental challenges and are choosing to prioritize people and the planet over private profit. Instead of depending on scarce and restricted donor funding, they offer products and services that generate revenue. Instead of extracting resources to be accumulated by a few, they reinvest to benefit us all.
When we choose to source from and support these enterprises, we directly contribute to social and environmental solutions. We’re also creating a new story and demonstrating what’s possible.
Together, we’re building strong local economies that put people and the planet first.
Selling
Are you part of an enterprise that puts people and the planet first? Do you have products or services to offer in the United States?
Buying
Do you want to use collective purchasing power to solve social and environmental problems and build an economy that puts people and planet first?
There are social enterprises, cooperatives, fair trade enterprises, nonprofit businesses, steward-owned companies, post-growth enterprises, regenerative businesses, benefit corporations, green businesses, and local independent businesses that put people and planet first.
It can be difficult to find these enterprises in the US because the movement has emerged bottom-up. Different terminology is used in different networks, regions, and sectors. We make it easier to find and support enterprises that put people and planet first by focusing on five standards.
Purpose
Exists to solve a social or environmental problem
Operations
Prioritizes purpose, people, and planet over profit in operational decisions
Revenue
Has a self-sustaining revenue model
Use of Surplus
Reinvests the majority of any surplus towards its purpose
Structure
Chooses legal structures & financing that protect and lock-in purpose long term
Purchase with Purpose brings together partner networks, enterprises, and supporters that are helping create the next economy. By working together, we are able to increase the visibility of the broader movement and open opportunities that no single network or organization could open on its own. We engage enterprises, buyers, and supporters across the country, share information and resources, and develop local place-based purchasing initiatives.
Partners include member organizations, certifiers, and other service providers that work with multiple enterprises in the United States, including some enterprises that meet the five standards.
We come together around five shared standards to keep verification costs low, but partners often have additional criteria for their communities and networks. They may require democratic governance, community ownership, fair trade supply chains, impact measurement, or specific regenerative practices. This diversity is recognized and celebrated.
Purchasing with Purpose is registered as a 501(c)3 not-for-profit organization and has a self-sustaining revenue model. It stewards shared resources and infrastructure and helps build strong local economies that put people and the planet first.
EIN: 93-2176814