𝗖𝗼𝗿𝗽𝗼𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗗𝗼𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗚𝗼𝗼𝗱, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗗𝗼𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗪𝗲𝗹𝗹

Summary: There are incredibly successful companies that make the world better while also achieving major financial goals. This post looks at nine for-profit companies across three categories: Employees as Partners, Local and Domestic Impact, and Global Mission. These examples show that you can embed impact into your business model.

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At Columbia, I studied administration at the School of Social Work (with a goal of non-profit management) and minored in the School of Business. To me, both schools offered tools for creating socially impactful and financially sustainable organizations.

I realized quickly that most people believe these are opposing paths: either you make money, or you do good.

However, I found many non-profits with earned-income venture, or businesses within the non-profit that support its mission. For instance, the YMCA sells gym memberships to fund free camps, and Housing Works runs a used-goods shop to raise money for programs.

I also saw many partnerships between corporations and non-profits, like AmEx's "Lady Liberty" campaign. AmEx pledged to donate $1 for every new card issued and 1 cent for every transaction to the Restoration Fund. The campaign raised $1.7 million for the Statue of Liberty, increased card use by 27%, and boosted card applications by 45% (sparking the modern trend of cause-related marketing).

These are versions of win-win efforts. For startup founders who want to apply their intelligence, motivation, and innovation toward making the world better while hitting financial goals, I want to show it’s possible.

I’ll walk through nine for-profit companies split into three categories of companies: places where employees are treated well and as partners, places with strong local or domestic impact, and places with global impact.

As you're building and scaling your startup, these examples show you can develop both impact and profit.

1) Employees as Partners

Some companies build impact from the inside out. They treat employees not as costs but as partners through ownership, fair pay, and long-term career paths. These businesses prove that when workers share in success, companies scale faster and more sustainably.

Dr. Bronner’s

Dr. Bronner’s began in the 1940s when Emanuel Bronner, a Greek immigrant and self-described “cosmic chemist,” made pharma-grade alpha hydrosoap and sold it to California health stores and beach vendors.

The company treats employees like family: permanent workers start at $27.28/hour, executives are capped at a 5:1 pay ratio, and all employees receive 10% retirement/profit-sharing, full PPO health insurance with no deductibles, up to $7,500 childcare assistance, and free daily organic vegan lunch. Approximately 40% of profits (millions annually) go to philanthropic and activist causes worldwide.

Revenue grew from $4 million in 1998 to $209 million in 2024, a 52-fold increase.

Land O’Lakes

Land O’Lakes was founded in 1921 by 320 dairy farmers in Minnesota as a member-owned agricultural cooperative.

In 2024, Land O’Lakes had 2,580 member-owners who participated in governance and benefited as partners, with revenue returning to members. It has grown over a century to include Purina (animal feeds), WinField (seed and agronomic services), and TruTerra (sustainability services), making it one of the largest cooperatives in the country.

The company generated $16 billion in revenue in 2024, with profits of $260 million—up 9% from 2023.

Costco Wholesale

Costco traces its origins to Solomon “Sol” Price, who pioneered the warehouse retail concept with Price Club in 1954. Costco began in Seattle in 1983 as a no-frills warehouse club, and in 1993, Price Club merged with Costco to form PriceCostco. The business model sells a narrow selection of high-quality goods at very low margins, leveraging paid memberships for cash flow and rapid scaling.

Costco treats employees as long-term partners. The average worker earns $29 per hour in 2026, with full health benefits, 401(k) matching, and competitive wages that lead to high satisfaction and low turnover.

Costco’s financial growth is dramatic: $100 million in sales across three locations in 1984, reaching $270 billion in net sales by fiscal year 2025.

2) Local and Domestic Impact

Some companies strengthen local economies and support domestic social causes, proving that impact can be deeply local and still financially profitable.

Ben & Jerry’s

Ben & Jerry’s began in 1978 when Ben Cohen and Jerry Rosenberg opened their first ice cream shop in a renovated gas station in Burlington, Vermont, after taking a $5 correspondence course in ice cream making. They expanded rapidly, opening their first factory in 1980 and going public in 1984.

The company was built on a dual mission of producing high-quality ice cream and advancing social causes, with the founders refusing to use artificial ingredients and committing to fair trade cocoa early on.

The Ben & Jerry’s Foundation has donated millions to grassroots organizations fighting for social justice, environmental protection, and economic equality. The company advocates for climate action, racial justice, immigration reform, and LGBTQ rights, often using its brand voice to support progressive causes.

Financially, Ben & Jerry’s grew from a single Vermont shop to a national brand. In 2000, the company was sold to Unilever for $326 million, with the founders maintaining their social mission commitments.

New Belgium Brewing

New Belgium Brewing was founded in 1997 by Kim Jordan and Jeff Lebesch in Fort Moss, Kentucky, after Jeff spent years studying Belgian brewing techniques in Europe. The company opened its first brewery in 1999 and became known for authentic Belgian-style ales brewed with traditional methods.

The company became employee-owned in 2019, giving all workers a stake in the business. It operates a zero-waste facility, uses 100% renewable energy, and has donated millions to local environmental and community organizations. New Belgium emphasizes water conservation, sustainable packaging, and responsible brewing practices.

New Belgium Brewing’s financial growth is substantial: from a single Kentucky brewery in 1999 to distribution across 40+ states, annual production exceeding 1 million barrels, and revenue in the hundreds of millions.

Kickstarter

Kickstarter was founded in 2009 by Perry Chen, Yancey Strickler, and Charles Adler as a crowdfunding platform to help creative projects get funded without traditional gatekeepers. The platform launched publicly in April 2009 and quickly became the leading crowdfunding site for artists, musicians, filmmakers, designers, and entrepreneurs to raise money directly from supporters.

The platform has funded over 200,000 projects, raising more than $7 billion for creative work. Kickstarter charges a 5% fee on funded projects.

Kickstarter would generate over $50 million in annual revenue by 2020.

3) Global Mission

Some companies operate on a global scale, reaching millions while still embedding a serious social or environmental mission into their core business model.

Bombas

Bombas was founded in 2013 by brothers Dave and James Mintu after they struggled to find comfortable, high-quality socks that didn’t fall down. The company quickly grew from a single product line into a full apparel brand offering socks, hosiery, and underwear.

Bombas operates as a for-profit B Corp with a buy-one-give-one model that has donated millions of items to people facing homelessness across the United States and globally. Bombas maintains ethical manufacturing practices, uses sustainable materials, and publishes annual impact reports tracking donations and environmental footprint.

Bombas’s financial growth is remarkable: from launching in 2013 to generating over $100 million in annual revenue by 2022. The company has donated more than 50 million items to date, with distribution reaching international markets while maintaining its core U.S. market.

Patagonia

Patagonia was founded in 1972 by Yvon Chouinard, a former climber who began selling climbing gear made from recycled steel camera cables. He opened his first shop in Ventura, California, and gradually shifted to creating outdoor clothing built for durability and performance.

The company has donated over $140 million to environmental groups since 1985, committed to 100% organic cotton since 1996, and uses recycled materials in most products. In 2022, Chouinard ensured that all profits not reinvested in the business go to fighting climate change.

Patagonia has grown to over $1 billion in annual revenue by 2020, with worldwide distribution across 45+ countries.

TOMS

TOMS was founded in 2002 by Blake Mycoskie after he traveled to Argentina and saw children without shoes. He launched the company with a single product, canvas shoes, and a one-for-one giving model: for every pair sold, TOMS gives a pair to a child in need. The company quickly expanded from shoes to apparel, eyewear, and coffee.

The company has donated more than 100 million pairs of shoes to children in 70+ countries, partnered with 300+ nonprofit organizations, and expanded its giving to include vision care through eyewear donations and water access through coffee sales.

TOMS generated over $300 million in annual revenue by 2015. The company was acquired by Procter & Gamble in 2014 for $480 million. TOMS continues to operate its one-for-one model across 60+ countries today.

For startup founders building today, these examples show how you can embed impact into your business model through employee ownership, community partnerships, and giving models, while growing revenue exponentially.

What kind of company do you want to build?

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