Tuesday, January 1, 2019
What do Ben & Jerry’s, Eileen Fisher and Kickstarter have in common? They are benefit corporations (or B corps): for-profit companies organized to balance profitability and social purpose. Ten years ago, only a handful of states permitted B corps, but interest in this emerging structure has picked up speed. Today some 34 states and the District of Columbia have enacted legislation enabling B corps’ formation, and one city (Philadelphia) has added tax credits as further encouragement.