Social Enterprise Certification
Join the growing network of Certified Social Enterprises, businesses that sell goods or services, embed a social, cultural or environmental purpose into the business, and reinvest the majority of profits into their purpose.
Why become Certified?
- Unlock new sales and partnership opportunities
- Verify your impact
- Get expert support to grow and thrive
- Connect with and grow the social enterprise movement
- Be listed on the Buy Social Canada Social Enterprise Directory
Build your capacity
You will have access to:
- Two hours of coaching
- Training and resources
- Invitations to Buy Social Canada events and networking forums
- Discounted rates on Buy Social Canada workshops, events, and courses
Connect with social enterprises across Canada.
Be part of the movement to buy and sell with impact.
Certified Social Enterprises are businesses that sell goods or services, embed a social, cultural, or environmental purpose into the business, and reinvest the majority of profits into their purpose. Social enterprises compete with traditional for-profit businesses, but use profits to invest in vibrant, healthy communities.
Purchasers are increasingly putting a social value into their purchasing criteria, and they are asking for verification. Verify your social impact with Buy Social Canada Social Enterprise Certification to show stakeholders, clients, and your team that you put your money where your mouth is and contribute to community wellbeing.
Become Certified
Why We Certify
In Canada there is no single incorporation for social enterprise. Buy Social Canada’s social enterprise certification creates a national verification standard for purchasers to have confidence that they are buying with impact, and to unify the Canadian social enterprise sector by breaking down perceived differences between incorporation types and connecting leaders across the country to share learnings and build the social enterprise movement.
We certify social enterprise for four key reasons:
- To create a national verification standard, as there is no one way to incorporate a social enterprise in Canada
- To connect purchasers with verified suppliers so they can feel confident they’re buying with impact
- To raise awareness of social enterprise as the business model that puts people and planet before profit
- To foster relationships and movement building amongst Canadian social enterprises
Although purchasers and consumers of all types are passionate about spending with social enterprises and other social value suppliers, there are still concerns about risk. As more people investigate the businesses they buy from, they are looking for certainty that they are not supporting green washing or social washing – essentially, that the money they spend will really have the impact the business says it will.
Learn more about why certification matters
Benefits of Certification
Unlock new sales and partnership opportunities
Purchasers are increasingly putting a social value into their purchasing criteria, and certification provides access to networking, promotional, and RFx opportunities.
Certified Social Enterprises are listed on the national Buy Social Canada Social Enterprise Directory, and are added to supplier lists shared quarterly with our Social Purchasing Partners and clients who are looking to add social enterprise to their supply chains. Social enterprises selling consumer products are also promoted in our annual #GiftSocial campaign for corporate and holiday gifting.
Social enterprise stories are amplified in our monthly newsletter, in blog posts, and on social media, boosting recognition for the work Certified Social Enterprises do and the value you bring.
Verify your impact
Verify that your organization is a social enterprise, irrespective of your incorporation type.
When you become certified, you receive a certificate and badge verifying that the impact you make is deeply embedded into the business’ structure and goals, rather than being an add-on or marketing tool.
Get expert support to grow and thrive
Tap into Buy Social Canada’s experience and resources to strengthen your operations, increase your impact, and plan for long-term success.
Buy Social Canada offers several free resources for social enterprise, and Certified Social Enterprises receive discounts on Buy Social Canada trainings and events.
Connect with and grow the social enterprise movement
Build your network, share data, and raise awareness about the value of social enterprises to help grow a stronger, more visible social enterprise network.
Become People and Planet First Verified
Buy Social Canada is the Canadian partner of People and Planet First, a global verification led by Social Enterprise World Forum (SEWF) which amplifies the movement for social enterprise. If you’re a Buy Social Canada Certified Social Enterprise, you’re eligible to be People and Planet First Verified. No additional payment or document review is required.
Be listed on the Buy Social Canada Social Enterprise Directory
The Buy Social Canada Social Enterprise Directory is used by leading social value purchasers across the Country.
How to Become Certified
A Social Enterprise is a business
- That generates a significant portion of its revenue through the sale of goods or services.
Verified with:
- Financial documents
It embeds a social, cultural or environmental purpose into the business
- A clear social, cultural or environmental purpose that is evident in your operations and marketing.
Verified with:
- Business’ mission defined in incorporation documents
The majority of profits are reinvested into the social, cultural or environmental purpose
- With no, or limited, distribution to shareholders and owners. Majority is 51% or more.
Verified with:
- Incorporation documents
Certification takes into account the age and impact model of your social enterprise.
Social enterprises are diverse, and our certification process considers
your mission, impact and processes rather than just your corporate status.
We work closely with you to understand your model and how our standards apply.
Certification Fee
Certification is free for all enterprises for the first year!
Billing occurs each January, so you may get more than one year free.
After the first year, fees are based on your annual business revenue:
Under $500,000 = $100
$500,000 to $1 million = $200
$1 million to $14.99 million = $300
Above $15 million = $2,500
Apply now
Other ways to integrate social value
Interested in social procurement, but don’t fit the criteria of a social enterprise?
Social Purchasing Partnerships could be the option for you to make a difference and connect with social procurement.
Explore
Find a social enterprise near you to connect with
Certified Social Enterprise Directory
