Elevate your business with a meaningful purpose
In today's competitive landscape, businesses recognize the value of social purpose – not only to align with consumer values but also to foster loyalty, attract top talent, drive innovation, enhance overall brand reputation, ensure long-term viability, and positively impact communities. Integrating a meaningful purpose into your operations allows your business to thrive while contributing to the greater good.
What is a Social Purpose business?
A Social Purpose business:
Exists to create a better world.
Produces profitable solutions from the problems of people and planet and does not profit from creating problems.
Unlocks all its capabilities – including talent, resources, partnerships, and influence – in pursuit of its purpose.
Unlock the Power of Social Purpose for Your Business:
A complimentary 5-part virtual Series for Learning and Action
The BC Chamber of Commerce, in collaboration with the Canadian Purpose Economy Project (CPEP), and with support from Coast Capital, is proud to present this first-of-its-kind, complimentary five-session educational series valued at CAD $1,500. Designed to help businesses unlock the power of Social Purpose, this series will guide you and your company leaders through the process of defining and bringing your purpose to life. Available on-demand, it allows you to learn at your own pace and on your own schedule.
Created by national social purpose pioneers and experts, this insightful, hands-on resource includes video lessons and supporting worksheets to guide you through each step of the process. By the end of the series, you will have a clearly defined Social Purpose for your company and be equipped to integrate purpose into your operations, driving growth and impact, while transforming your business into a greater force for good.
Backed by the expertise of CPEP, the leading authority on social purpose business in Canada, this series builds on nearly a decade of proven success in helping organizations develop, implement, collaborate on, communicate and disclose a social purpose for lasting impact and business success.
"At Coast Capital we believe that social purpose is the business model the world needs to tackle the complex, systemic issues we face today. As a financial cooperative, adopting a social purpose and embedding it across our business is a natural evolution and an incredible opportunity to harness our enterprise capabilities, talents, and resources to drive impact."
- MAUREEN YOUNG, VP, SOCIAL PURPOSE
Click on each session below to start learning. Included are the video lessons, worksheets for each session, and the presentation deck to support your learning and implementation.
For those looking to define their Social Purpose: Watch Sessions 1 - 3.
If you already have a purpose in place and want to deepen its implementation: Watch Sessions 4 - 5.
Participants who have completed all 5 sessions and feel they have met the learning objectives are encouraged to download a completion certificate, click here. Certificates for this online course are issued on the honour system.
Part 1 - Develop Your Social Purpose
The first part of this series introduces you to social purpose in business and outlines the steps to developing a social purpose for your organization. Part 1, Develop Your Social Purpose, consists of three one-hour sessions after which you will have a well-defined social purpose for your business by following the outlined steps.
Why Social Purpose Drives Success and Matters for Your Business
This is the first session of the “Unlock the Power of Social Purpose for Your Business” series on defining, embedding and collaborating on a Social Purpose for your business. In this session, you’ll be introduced to the concept of purpose in business, explore real-world examples and learn about the compelling business case. This trend is accelerating, and the business case is solid. We will show you why Social Purpose in business is good for society and good for your business!
LEARN MORE AND WATCH SESSION 1 HERE ➤
Uncovering the Key Insights for Social Purpose
This session is the second of three that will help you develop your own compelling Social Purpose for your company. You will understand your unique contribution and the key issues where you can make the most difference through your core business. You will be offered tools to begin the process of unearthing your unique Social Purpose and more case studies to help you see how it's done, in real life.
LEARN MORE AND WATCH SESSION 2 HERE ➤
Crafting Your Unique Social Purpose Statement
Session three of this series is an impactful session on crafting a compelling Social Purpose statement and narrative that will generate clarity and alignment within and outside your organization, support growth, and drive significant impact in society. Bring the work you did in session 2 to inform the crafting of your new Purpose statement.
LEARN MORE AND WATCH SESSION 3 HERE ➤
Part 2 - Implement Your Social Purpose
The second part of this series outlines the steps to implement your social purpose, including integrating it into your business, collaborating with your stakeholders on it, and telling your purpose story. Part 2, Implement Your Social Purpose, consists of two one-hour sessions. By the end of these sessions, you’ll be authentically and impactfully implementing your purpose and collaborating effectively, by following the outlined steps. This will help you build trust, inspire employees, attract partners, drive innovation and position your company for growth.
Bringing Social Purpose to the Heart of Your Business
Session four is the first of two that will help you bring your Social Purpose to life through integrating it into the core of your business and collaborating with others to achieve it. You will understand how purpose can become a driver for employee engagement and innovation and bring you closer to a fully realized Social Purpose.
LEARN MORE AND WATCH SESSION HERE ➤
Building Partnerships and Amplifying Your Purpose Message and Impact
The final session in this five-part series focuses on how to collaborate with others in bringing your Purpose to life. This session will guide you through the essential steps to setting up stakeholder collaborations and reporting your Purpose progress to them.
LEARN MORE AND WATCH SESSION HERE ➤
Completion Certificate
Participants who have completed all 5 sessions and feel they have met the learning objectives are encouraged to download a completion certificate, click here. Certificates for this online course are issued on the honour system.
Maximize your impact – essential tips to get the most out of your learning experience!
- Invite colleagues: Watch the sessions together and schedule a debrief after each session to discuss implications and plan next steps.
- Work between sessions: Use the time between sessions to advance your plans at your own pace and come prepared for the next stage.
- Enhance your professional credentials: Download a Certificate of Completion for Social Purpose Business Training, upon finishing the program.
- Access resources: Check the BC Chamber of Commerce website regularly for resources, case studies and guides to support your purpose journey.
- Join the social purpose community: Sign up for updates on social purpose news and events from the Canadian Purpose Economy Project.
Business Resources and Case Studies
Dive into the resources and tools below to help you define and implement your Social Purpose and become part of a vibrant community of social purpose businesses committed to making a positive impact.
Resources
Develop your social purpose
- Definition of a Social Purpose Business
- Business Case for Social Purpose
- Social Purpose Continuum
- Criteria for Drafting a Social Purpose Statement
Implement Your Social Purpose
- Social Purpose Practices Kit
- Social Purpose Assessment Tool
- Social Purpose Strategy: Bring your Corporate Purpose to Life
- Disclosing With Purpose: Guidance for Preparers and Users of Purpose Disclosures
Join the Social Purpose Community
- Follow purpose leaders and influencers
- Learn about the Canadian Purpose Economy Project
- Learn how the Canadian Purpose Economy Project is realizing a Purpose Economy
- Sign up for the newsletter of the Canadian Purpose Economy Project
- Become a Social Purpose Professional
- Grow the Purpose Economy
Case Studies
How to develop a social purpose
- Return It: Download the PDF | Watch the Video
- LGM Financial Services: Download the PDF | Watch the Video
- Hemlock Printers: Download the PDF | Watch the Video
How to implement a social purpose
- Coast Capital: Download the PDF
- Hemlock Printers: Download the PDF
The Social Purpose Practices Toolkit
- 40 social purpose practices of 15 leading social purpose companies: Download the PDF
Questions?