40 Social Businesses That Provide Education

From Shirts that Buy School Supplies to 1 for 1 Bags

— February 14, 2012 — Social Good
We're constantly profiling social businesses that sell products to help further a cause, whether that's through a buy one, give one model, or a company that uses a portion of its product sales to help support a nonprofit.

In the slideshow, we've highlighted a collection of social businesses that provide opportunities for education. For some, that involves reaching children (or adults) at a local level, and for others, it involves supporting those in other countries by contributing to tuition, books and school supplies.

We've included everything from sandals made by young women in Uganda who are working for the few months between high school and university to earn enough money for their tuition, to one-for-one backpacks that help support children in California who can't afford the luxury of a new school bag, to t-shirts whose sales help educate children in the rainforest.
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Popularity
Activity
Freshness
39
Laptop Recycling Programs
Laptop Recycling Programs
2012 CES Exhibitor 'Labdoo' Sends Laptops to Education-Starved Children
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38
Charitable Watering Holes
Charitable Watering Holes
Australia's Shebeen Bar Helps Build Developing Countries Through Booze
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37
Education-Giving T-Shirts
Education-Giving T-Shirts
GeboMana Sends a Child to School for 2 Months for Every Shirt Sold
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36
Daily Deals with Heart
Daily Deals with Heart
Get Discounts on 'Karma Exchange' While Changing the World
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35
Enterprising Confidence Workshops
Enterprising Confidence Workshops
UK-Based Street Style Surgery Runs Creative Programs for Youth
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34
Plaid for Social Good
Plaid for Social Good
Seer Clothing Gives Multi-Purpose New Meaning, Supports Causes
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33
Flashy Fair Trade Accessories
Flashy Fair Trade Accessories
Cambodian Threads Designs Vibrant Colored Ties, Bags and Wallets
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32
Sustainable, Empowering Rugs
Sustainable, Empowering Rugs
'Arzu Studio Hope' Offers Employment to Women in Afghanistan
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31
Sustaining Rural Development
Sustaining Rural Development
Barefoot College Supports Professionals in the Majority World
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30
Education Springboards
Education Springboards
Juma Ventures Helps Youth in California Enter College
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29
Non-Profit-Supporting Consumerists
Non-Profit-Supporting Consumerists
'No One Without' is a For-Purpose Fashion Brand
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28
African-Made Soccer Balls
African-Made Soccer Balls
Alive and Kicking Creates Jobs in Zambia and Kenya
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27
Socially-Conscious Online Bookstores
Socially-Conscious Online Bookstores
Better World Books Aims to Alleviate Poverty Through Literacy
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26
Eco-Conscious Yoga Accessories
Eco-Conscious Yoga Accessories
JadeYoga Creates a Mat That is Good for You and the Environment
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25
Organic Shade-Grown Coffee
Organic Shade-Grown Coffee
Ethical Bean Sells Fair Trade and Socially-Responsible Products
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24
Fairtrade Chic Drinks
Fairtrade Chic Drinks
Lemonaid Beverages and ChariTea Look Cool, Pay Farmers Fairly
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23
Fashion to End Violence
Fashion to End Violence
My Sister's Closet in Vancouver Sells Vintage Clothes for Good
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22
Corporate Gifting for Good
Corporate Gifting for Good
Handcrafted Gifts from Zoe Alliance Offer Ethical Employment
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21
Caring Handcrafted Jewelry
Caring Handcrafted Jewelry
31 Bits Gives Ugandan Women a Safe Network of Creation
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20
Opportunity-Generating Accessories
Opportunity-Generating Accessories
'Hands Up Not Handouts' Uses Business for Positive Change
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19
School Bags for Good
School Bags for Good
The Ark Collective Backpacks Help with a 'Get to Give' Model
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18
Discarded Designer Duds
Discarded Designer Duds
Rags2Riches is a Social Business That Creates Handbags Out of Scraps
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17
Kindaholic Nutrition Bars
Kindaholic Nutrition Bars
KIND Spreads Good Health and Positive Social Change Through Snacking
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16
Antislavery Pants
Antislavery Pants
Punjammies by Women Who Have Escaped Prostitution in India
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15
Trade-Enabling Fashion
Trade-Enabling Fashion
'Edun' by Ali Hewson Helps Support Manufacturing in Africa
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14
Socially Responsible Neckwear
Socially Responsible Neckwear
FIGS Ties Combines Luxe Materials and a One-for-One Model
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13
Community-Made Handicrafts
Community-Made Handicrafts
Rag Tag 'n' Textile Supports Those Recovering from Mental Health Issues
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12
Soulful Wedding Sandals
Soulful Wedding Sandals
Sseko Designs Help Women in Uganda Earn Money for University
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11
Social Mission Totes
Social Mission Totes
Cause Boutique Promotes a Variety of Worthy Causes
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10
One-for-One Tees
One-for-One Tees
Out of Print Marries Lost Literary Covers with Book Donations
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9
Hip Handwoven Attire
Hip Handwoven Attire
Bhalo Employs Rural Bangladeshi Women to Produce Fair Trade Fashion
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8
Reforestation Fashion
Reforestation Fashion
Rain Tees Have Illustrations from Kids in Endangered Rainforests
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7
Repurposed Clothing Castoffs
Repurposed Clothing Castoffs
Re-Jiggered Children's Clothes Upcycles by Downsizing Garments
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6
Profit-Sharing Cafes
Profit-Sharing Cafes
Kinfolk is an Australian Social Business with Four Development Projects
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5
Fair Trade Peruvian Handcrafts
Fair Trade Peruvian Handcrafts
Sanyork Promotes Artisans in a Poor Community of Lima
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4
Sustainable Hipster Fashion
Sustainable Hipster Fashion
'Threads for Thought' is Eco and Donates Proceeds for Good
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3
Explosive Ethical Jewelry
Explosive Ethical Jewelry
'peaceBOMB' Bracelets Embrace War-Inflicted Cities
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2
Fair Trade Ugandan Goods
Fair Trade Ugandan Goods
One Mango Tree's Clothing and Accessories Have a Beautiful Story
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1
Schoolbags That Give
Schoolbags That Give
Denim 'Benson Backpacks' Help Fund Education in Tanzania
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