Public Benefit Corporations vs. B Certified: A New Model for Sustainable Capitalism

What is the difference between a Public Benefit Corporation and a Benefit Corporation? Are these for-profit models better for a company to make an impact in the world versus founding a nonprofit entity?
In the Bay Area and around the world, social entrepreneurs and impact investors are leading a movement to redefine success in business. The government and nonprofit sectors are necessary partners but not sufficient to address society’s greatest challenges. The people involved in this global movement believe that the power of business can solve social and environmental problems. New corporate forms like the public benefit corporation, together with the B Corporation certification, are leading the way to a new, more sustainable economy.

Learn what this means for your social impact company and how you should think about incorporating your organization to create the most change in the world. This video covers what it means to be a public benefit corporation or a certified B Corporation, and why you might want to consider one or both for your business.

Leslie Keil is a Partner at Hanson Bridgett LLP where she is Chair of the Sustainable Business and Impact Investing practice group. Her practice focuses on the social impact field, representing mission-driven venture capital funds and angel investors, as well as benefit corporations, certified B Corps, and nonprofit organizations. Leslie brings specific expertise in funds attractive to social impact investors and innovative deal structures for impact investments.She represents early- and mid-stage technology companies regarding equity and debt financing transactions, strategic patent and software license negotiation, recapitalizations, and corporate formation and governance. She counsels publicly-supported charities, trade associations and other nonprofit entities regarding tax and corporate issues unique to these organizations. Recently, Leslie was quoted in articles in The New York Times and MarketWatch regarding Etsy’s IPO. Leslie serves on the Board of Directors of San Francisco nonprofits Full Circle Fund and Urban Solutions.