Online shopping this holiday season? Start shopping early and support mission-driven brands that give back. Shop ethically made, fair-trade, and sustainable gifts by looking for certifications like B Corp and Fair Trade Certified. By purchasing gifts from Certified B Corps and Social Enterprises, you’re not only giving a gift, but you’re also supporting mission-driven companies that …
Social Enterprise

Designing with empathy.
Human-centered design (HCD) is at the core of CauseLabs’ empathetic approach to creative problem solving. This methodology defines a framework that seeks to better understand the needs, wants and behaviors of the user, and to best identify a technologically feasible and economically viable solution. By focusing on the end user’s perspective, their environments and routines, …

HCD Course Resources for Virtual Collaborations
On April 14, the CauseLabs team signed up for the free Human Centered Design (HCD) course hosted as a collaboration between Acumen and IDEO.org. If you’d like to sign up for this course, it may still be open for enrollment, but if not, they host it annually and our team takes it as a refresher …

Part 5 | Working with the Mission Model Canvas
This is the last section of our 5 part guide to the Mission Model Canvas: your business plan cheat sheet. You can read our previous journals here. Previously, we stepped into the shoes of the customer and identified how we will (10) Engage and (11) Reach the customer; next, we budgeted (12) How much it …

Part 3 | Working with the Mission Model Canvas
This is part three of our guide to the Mission Model Canvas: your business plan cheat sheet. Read part one and part two in our journals. Previously, we walked through (4) Write a potential solution, (5) Identify who you will help, and answered (6) “How will this solution make an impact?” In this article, we …

Part 2 | Working with the Mission Model Canvas
Welcome to part two of our 5 part guide to the Mission Model Canvas worksheet. In part one, we gave an overview of the first three sections: (1) Start with a mission, (2) Have 3-5 core values, and (3) Define the problem your solution is aiming to solve. In this article, we will walk through …

Intro | Working with the Mission Model Canvas
In this article, we’ll explore a few more pieces of the CauseLabs Mission Model Canvas to help you fill out your own worksheet. New to the Mission Model Canvas? Read more about it and how it can help you grow positive impact here. We’ll help guide the considerations for each section, but we won’t go into …

Brands That Give Back
Vote with your dollar this holiday season by investing in companies and brands with a purpose. By purchasing gifts from Certified B Corps and Social Enterprises, you’re not only giving a gift, you’re also supporting mission-driven companies that are balancing purpose and profit by working towards sustainable, ethical, environmentally friendly business practices. We put together …

The Value of Five Dollars
I’ve recently returned from Mexico, where I attended a convening with 460 changemakers from around the world. Read this article if you want to know more about why I’ve attended for seven years. In short, Opportunity Collaboration broadens my perspective, gives me awareness of important programs that I share with others, and challenges me to …

Reflections from Opportunity Collaboration
As of October 2019, I have attended Opportunity Collaboration (OC) seven times, which means that as a company, CauseLabs has participated in this annual unconference for over a decade. It’s no surprise that new delegates often ask me, “Why do you come back each year?” I suspect there is a desired response. I suspect they …

Growing Positive Impact with the Mission Model Canvas
Think of the Mission Model Canvas as your business plan cheat sheet. This worksheet helps you to focus your ideas and validate outcomes early and efficiently.

What are Social Impact Companies and Why Do They Matter?
If you pay any attention to business news and trends, then you have probably noticed an increase in the number of companies embracing “social impact” as a core value. Consumers are taking notice, as a 2018 study found that 78% of Americans expect companies to go beyond making profits; they must also positively impact society. …
What are Social Impact Companies and Why Do They Matter? Read More »