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
- Be listed on the Buy Social Canada Social Enterprise Directory
- Get expert support to grow and thrive
- Build your network
- Grow the social enterprise movement
Build your capacity
You will have access to:
- Two hours of coaching
- Buy Social Canada events as a vendor or exhibitor
- Discounted rates on Buy Social Canada trainings and events
- Regional roundtables and other networking forums
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
Verify your impact
Distinguish yourself from other businesses by demonstrating your community impact and showing that your profits are reinvested into your mission.
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.
Unlock new sales and partnership opportunities
Purchasers are increasingly putting a social value into their purchasing criteria, and certification increases your visibility for these social purchasers while providing evidence of your identity as a social enterprise and your commitment to social value.
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.
Access discounted capacity building support
Buy Social Canada offers several free resources for social enterprise. Certified Social Enterprises receive discounts on Buy Social Canada trainings and events, and are given access to Buy Social Canada hosted trade shows.
Build your network
We host three regional roundtables, for Vancouver, Winnipeg, and the Greater Toronto Area, and a national Community of Practice discussion for everyone engaged in social enterprise and social procurement. These meetings (often hosted virtually) are a powerful way to share stories, network, hear about contract opportunities, and connect with like-minded individuals.
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.
Grow the social enterprise movement
With their core purpose to create a more equitable and inclusive society on a sustainable planet, social enterprises are the business model of the future.
Become certified and share your Certified Social Enterprise Badge to grow your business and grow the movement for social enterprises that put people and the planet first.
Guidelines for certification
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 everyone for the first year!
Billing occurs each January, so you may get more than one year free.
After fees are based on your annual business revenue:
Under $500,000, $100 per year
Under $1 million, $200 per year
Above $1 million, $300 per year
Above $15 million, $2,500 per year
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
