When and why did you decide to become a B Corp?
We got our B Corporation certification in 2017. It just made sense, since we were founded to use our talents and resources to "give back," making a significant social impact while seeking only "reasonable profits." We want to be transparent in how we do that, and accountable for our results. We also want it to be clear to our potential and existing clients that were we're in this for them and the people they serve, not to enrich ourselves. That makes a difference in our approach, and the results we want to achieve.
How does being a B Corp fit in with your mission?
Our mission is to help organizations transform lives and communities – and the world – by making our "top-tier," global consulting perspectives, experiences, and professionalism accessible and affordable to non-profits, governments, and socially responsible businesses. We exist to make help make a greater impact on society, in alignment with our corporate values. We want what the B Corp Community strives for every day – to use our business as a force for social good - and we want to be a part of the movement.
What was your experience of the certification process?
The certification and subsequent re-certification processes were necessarily rigorous. We completed detailed reviews of our business practices and social impacts, and had follow-up interviews with B Lab representatives to clarify and expand on some of our responses. After achieving "passing" scores, we had to provide documentation to support our answers, proving we are, in fact, here for the greater good. B Lab staff was helpful and responsive throughout the process, reinforcing our desire to be a Certified B Corporation®.
Which positive practices helped you get certified?
The key things were what we do, who we serve, our philanthropic policies, and the results we seek to achieve. The vast majority of our clients provide social benefits, such as helping people in need, creating socio-economic opportunities, and promoting and protecting the dignity of human life. That's also true for recipients of our philanthropy, which benefits organizations like Aid for the Church in Need, Birthright of Loudoun, and others. We also have ethical standards and business goals driven by our founder's Catholic faith.
What does being a B Corp mean for your clients?
Being a Certified B Corporation® clearly shows our clients what we're about. We're committed to their missions and to the people and communities they serve. They can feel comfortable we're not just any consultant. We literally exist to help increase their impacts on society. With that knowledge, they can have confidence that we put results over profits, so that unlike many consultancies, the guidance and solutions we provide are for their betterment, not to increase our revenue through half-answers designed to generate "follow-on."
How does this distinguish you from other businesses?
We aren't a profit-first firm – we seek what we need to operate and to keep our people "whole." It's fair to say that most consultancies, especially the big ones, do what they do for themselves and their shareholders, and it shows in how they approach their clients and their work. Snowflake measures the success of our business by the social impacts we make. Being a Certified B Corporation®, with the responsibilities, accountabilities, and transparency it entails, also holds our "feet to the fire," ensuring we practice what we preach.
What does your B Corp certification mean for the future?
We'll stay true to our mission, while constantly seeking new ways to make a difference. We'll continue to offer up our knowledge to non-profits and other organizations, providing actionable information that helps them do better and do more. We've formalized charitable giving as well, so that we're consistently donating the "first fruits" of our income. We've also institutionalized our
Non-profit Consulting Grant program, so local community organizations that couldn't get help previously now can. And we have much more in store.
