This Social Business top list of innovative CICs reflect the passing of the United Kingdom government's Companies (Audit, Investigations and Community Enterprise) Act in 2004. The community interest company (CIC) designation is for companies that have a social goal and use their business -- profits and assets -- in order to achieve that goal.
From mental health social enterprises and life-enhancing senior enterprises to bike-promoting community companies and non-profit coffee shops, these innovative CICs have made the new legal definition work for them. Other countries have similar organizational law models such as the Untied States' benefit corporation (or B Corp). The goal is to allow for greater flexibility than a non-profit would have while at the same time maintaining and promoting public good.
21 Innovative CICs
21
Alternative Education Enterprises
KO2 is a Community Interest Company with a Love for Dirtbiking
20
Bike-Promoting Community Companies
'Get Cycling' is a Social Enterprise Promoting a Healthy Life
19
Nonprofit Coffee Shops
Strawberry Line Cafe Employs Adults with Learning Disabilities
18
Motivated Media Brands
'One&Other' Aims to Put the Social Purpose Back into Local Reporting
17
Youthful Entrepreneur Projects
'Social Enterprise Africa' Trains Ethical Changemakers
16
Social Exclusion Enterprises
The United Kingdom's 'Destiny Support' Seeks Out Engagement
15
Work-Based Catering Academies
Create Foundation Works with Marginalized Communities
14
Charity-Funding Carnivals
Community Interest Company Circus Starr Uses Its Donated Ticket Schemes
13
Innovative Training Centers
Striding Out Supports Young Social Entrepreneurs
12
Community Craft Ciders
Brew On is a Social Enterprise Based in the United Kingdom
11
Life-Enhancing Senior Enterprises
'Action For Elders' is a CIC Tackling the Challenges of Old Age
10
Waste-Reverting Social Enterprises
Wombling CIC Recycles Goods Headed for the Landfill
9
Mental Health Social Enterprises
Mentis Tree CIC is a Not for Profit for Psychological Therapy
8
Spanish-Supporting Social Enterprises
'Movimiento Idun' is a Language-Based CIC in Spain
7
Culture-Based Clinics
'My Time' Helps Fight Depression Through Person-Centered Approaches
6
Imaginative Care Supporters
Community Catalysts Develops Radical Solutions to Social Issues
5
Veteran Support CICs
'About Turn' is a Community Interest Company Assisting Armed Service Members
4
Empowering Social Services
All Inclusive Disability Consultants CIC Promotes Unbiased Employment
3
Affordable Natural Health Centers
The Healing Clinic is an Accessible Community Interest Company
2
Technological Literacy Programs
‘121 Women and Computers' Teaches Valuable Employment
1
Anti-Stigma Food Companies
The Healthy Hub Creates Jobs for People with Mental Illnesses
Related Ideas
Youthful Leaders
Natalie Warne Demonstrates How Anyone Can Achieve Success at a Young Age
Fair Trade Ugandan Goods
One Mango Tree's Clothing and Accessories Have a Beautiful Story
19 Food-Focused Social Enterprises
From Well-Wasted Cuisine to Ethical Gastropubs
10 Community Interest Companies
From Technological Literacy Programs to Craft Ciders
Stripped-Down SUVs
The Mobius One Vehicle Offers Economic Mobility for African Countries
Well-Wasted Cuisine
FoodCycle Uses Surplus to Feed Local Communities
Sustainable Conference Companies
15Hatfields is a Social Enterprise That Offers Spaces Big & Small
Alternative Food Networks
The People's Supermarket Focuses on Community Development
Majority World Tech Incubators
D-Rev Designs Solution-Driven Products for Low-Income Customers
Alternative Education Enterprises
KO2 is a Community Interest Company with a Love for Dirtbiking
Social Business Sweets
Eat My Words Dedicates Funds to the Stephen Lewis Foundation
Community-Made Handicrafts
Rag Tag 'n' Textile Supports Those Recovering from Mental Health Issues
Disabled Driver Ads
The Handicap Car Campaign Shows That Disabilities Don't Have to Impede Freedom
Wacky Wellness Organizations
Smoothie Bike Hire Takes a Pedal-Powered Approach to Positive Change
Humanitarian Fashion Lines
David Peck Takes Inspiration from and Gives Back to Ugandan Villagers
Leadership Learning Institutes
The Social Enterprise Academy in Scotland Delivers the Goods
Cost-Conscious Bamboo Bikes
The Greencycle-Eco is Designed for Less-Industrialized Countries
10 Transport-Focused Social Innovations
From Medicinal Transport Pods to Socially Savvy Decks
Bike-Promoting Community Companies
'Get Cycling' is a Social Enterprise Promoting a Healthy Life
Artist-Supporting Social Enterprises
Art Sumo Offers Paintings from All Over the World
Community-Empowering Food Systems
DC Central Kitchen is a Social Enterprise with a Long-Term Focus
Oil Drum Computers
Unicef Debuts Solar-Powered Digital Drums
Better Biking Businesses
Bikeworks is a Social Enterprise with Oodles of Responsible Initiatives
Generosity Cafes
KereKere Coffee Kiosk in Melbourne Lets Customers Pick a Cause
Rehab Restaurants
'Cafe Therapy' in Prague Helps People Overcome Drug Addictions
Crowdfunded Social Innovator Sites
‘StartSomeGood’ Grows Purpose-Driven Initiatives
Digital Therapy Apps
Buddy is a Start-Up Supporting Health Services
Nonprofit Coffee Shops
Strawberry Line Cafe Employs Adults with Learning Disabilities
Caring Handcrafted Jewelry
31 Bits Gives Ugandan Women a Safe Network of Creation
Women-Focused Eco Programs
Backpack Farm is an African-Based Entrepreneurship Supporter
Motivated Media Brands
'One&Other' Aims to Put the Social Purpose Back into Local Reporting
Deliciously Priceless Bakeries
The Panera Pay-What-You-Can Cafes are Abolishing Hunger
Austrian Innovation Hubs
Emersense Brings Together Social Entrepreneurs in Vienna
Strategists for Change
Junxion Strategy offers Social Purpose and Sustainability Management
Community Giving Sites
'A Little More Good' Helps Vancouverites Give Back to their Communities
Energy Poverty Entrepreneurs
Solar Sister Targets Women to Sell Lamps and Improve Livelihoods
Youthful Entrepreneur Projects
'Social Enterprise Africa' Trains Ethical Changemakers
Day Care Coffee Shops
Daisies Cafe is for People with Mental Illness & Learning Disabilities
Social Innovation Habitats
The Hub Network Helps to Incubate Ideas for Change Around the World
Food Desert Distributors
The Corbin Hill Road Farm Supplies Fresh Produce to Those in Need
Fresh Perspective Posts
The Social Business Visit to the FoodCycle Cambridge Hub
Creative Business Incubators
Cockpit Arts is a Social Enterprise for 'Designer-Makers'
Inclusive Nightclubs
'Star Enterprise Work and Play' is for People with Learning Disabilities
Social Entrepreneurship Filmmakers
Actuality Media Create Philanthropic Videos About Changemakers
Collaborative Creation Gigs
Good for Nothing Brings People Together for Fast-Track 'Doing'
Incubating Himalayan Innovation
'One Earth Designs' Promotes Eco and Social Entrepreneurship
Online Education Charities
Brightside Offers Mentoring and Tutoring on the Web
Social Entrepreneurship Retreats
Hollyhock SVI Supports Mission-Based Businesses and Founders
Volunteer Time Credits
Spice Innovations Engages Community in Order to Create Change
Sissy Rooney, Founder of Street Style Surgery (INTERVIEW)
UK-Based Creative Workshops for Youth
Old Cars for a Cause
GiveaCar Accepts Unwanted Vehicles, Sells them for Charity
Emissions-Free Delivery
GnewtCargo is a Logistics Organization Using an Electric Fleet of Vehicles
Social Innovation Hubs
The Schwab Foundation for Social Entrepreneurship Offers a Voice
Social Exclusion Enterprises
The United Kingdom's 'Destiny Support' Seeks Out Engagement
Skill-Sharing Social Enterprises
The Bicycle Academy Teaches You How to Make Bikes
Empowering Bakeries
The Bread Maker in the UK Employees People with Learning Disabilities
Duncan So, Founder of Phinklife (INTERVIEW)
Non-Profit Building Potential Through Community
Positive Change Media Agencies
Social Spider Rolls out Projects with Purpose
Creating Community Bonds
CSI's Tonya Surman Addresses the 2011 Social Finance Forum
Social Entrepreneur-Supporting Groups
Adsila Helps Those Who Aim to Address Universal Concerns
Charity-Funding Carnivals
Community Interest Company Circus Starr Uses Its Donated Ticket Schemes
Kind Community Catering
Potluck Cafe Offers Employment in Vancouver's Downtown Eastside
Gaming for Mental Health
The SPARX 3D Fantasy Game Helps Players Cope with Depression
One-Man Nomad Charities
The Dirty Wall Project by Kane Ryan is Absolutely Inspiring
Hubs for Changemakers
McKinsey's What Matters Showcases High Impact Social Innovation
Economy-Focused Sustainability Projects
Borderstep Institute Takes a Success-Driven Approach
PR for Purpose
Swarm Communications Services for Non-Profits and Social Enterprises
Enterprising Confidence Workshops
UK-Based Street Style Surgery Runs Creative Programs for Youth
Community Culinary Schools
The Cooking Rooms is a Social Enterprise and a Social Space
Medicinal Transport Pods
'Matternet' Offers Incredible Solutions to Help the Majority World
Organic Shade-Grown Coffee
Ethical Bean Sells Fair Trade and Socially-Responsible Products
Healthy Community Sales
'A Moveable Feast' Focuses on Arabs & Bangladeshis Who Live in SW1, London
Cause Mentorship
The Canadian Social Entrepreneurship Foundation Invests in Innovation
Alternative Sanitary Products
Mooncup Ltd. is an Award-Winning Ethical Business
Cost-Efficient Solar Kits
Learning Lights Produces Eco-Friendly Power Solutions for Countries
Sign Language Translators
MyVoice Will Help the Hearing-Impaired Communicate
H2O-Supporting Coffee Companies
Three Avocados Helps to Provide Clean Water in Uganda
Senior-Focused Social Campaigns
Team v Battles Loneliness & Isolation Among the Elderly
Social Enterprise Financing
'Big Issue Invest' is a Social Business that Invests in Others
Stigma-Ending Bistros
'Out of This World Cafe' in Toronto Engages the Psychiatric Recovery Communi
Relationship-Based Baking Businesses
King Arthur Flour Company is Employee-Owned
Artisan-Empowering Training Centers
Afghan Action Teaches Young Men and Women Weaving and Sewing
Low-Income Assisted Care
Mia Senior Living Solutions Offers Affordable Services
Innovative Training Centers
Striding Out Supports Young Social Entrepreneurs
Community Craft Ciders
Brew On is a Social Enterprise Based in the United Kingdom
Health Service Social Enterprises
The SCA Group Offers Community Care in the United Kingdom
Social Purpose Gardens
'Landscaping With Heart' Employs People with Mental Illnesses in Vancouver
Empowering Childcare Networks
Cool2Care Matches Personal Assistants with Disabled Children
Altruistic Eye Surgeries
Aurolab is Eliminating Needless Blindness via Affordable Cataract Surgery
Life-Enhancing Senior Enterprises
'Action For Elders' is a CIC Tackling the Challenges of Old Age
Fair Trade Vino
Fairhills Wines is an Empowerment Project Started in South Africa
Socially Savvy Decks
Comet Skateboards is a Certified B Corporation Building Boards for a Cause
Positive Impact Promo Products
Ad Spice Promotional Marketing Uses Earth-Friendlier Products
Waste-Reverting Social Enterprises
Wombling CIC Recycles Goods Headed for the Landfill
Business-Building Education Programs
The Global Social Benefit Incubator at Santa Clara University
Soup Kitchen Fundraisers
Detroit Soup Helps Creatives Seek Funding from Their Community
Crowdfunded Social Enterprises
OC Theory Makes a Difference by Funding Small Businesses
Rehabilitating Social Enterprises
Aspire Ensures That Those with Spinal Injuries are Not Forgotten
Imaginative Care Supporters
Community Catalysts Develops Radical Solutions to Social Issues
Veteran Support CICs
'About Turn' is a Community Interest Company Assisting Armed Service Members
Affordable Natural Health Centers
The Healing Clinic is an Accessible Community Interest Company
Technological Literacy Programs
‘121 Women and Computers' Teaches Valuable Employment
Change-Making Communities
Ashoka's Youth Venture Empowers Young People to Promote Positivity
Campus-Based Social Action Facilities
Student Hubs Helps Pupils Connect with Meaningful Causes
Social Production Initiatives
The Middle Class Financial Empowerment Project Focuses on Wealth
Female-Focused Enterprises
Women's Bean Project Creates Jobs with Jewelry & Gourmet Food
Gourmet Do-Good Brownies
Greyston Bakery is a Social Enterprise
Social Entrepreneurship Publications
SEE Change Magazine is a First for Canada
Charitable Watering Holes
Australia's Shebeen Bar Helps Build Developing Countries Through Booze
Life-Engaging Support Services
The Avenues Trust Group Helps Those with Learning Disabilities
Anti-Stigma Food Companies
The Healthy Hub Creates Jobs for People with Mental Illnesses
Eco-Certified Athletic Balls
Fair Trade Sports is a North American Purpose-Driven Company