20 Community Development Initiatives

From Socially Accessible Artwork to Shade-Grown Coffee

— January 13, 2013 — Social Good
Community development initiatives can come in all shapes and sizes. The ones featured here, however, meld business with benefit; they're hybrid organizations that re-think the way community development is traditionally done, that is, either through the government or through non-profit organizations and charities.

This Social Business top list features everything from a travel company that is all about the triple bottom line to energy drinks that fund development in the less-industrialized world. Many of these community development initiatives have an international outlook, but a few look to their more local community in order to promote self-development that fosters alliance between people who live, work and play in the same community that they do.

The most popular have been fair trade products that employ marginalized individuals and also support programs regarding poverty reduction, health and education.
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20
Regional Non-Profit Entities
Regional Non-Profit Entities
TRADE is the Trust for Rural African Development and Enterprise
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19
Responsible Himalayan Travel
Responsible Himalayan Travel
Ecosphere Focuses on the Triple Bottom Line with the Spiti Community
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18
Job-Creating Bike Shops
Job-Creating Bike Shops
Cycle Salvation Trains and Employs the Economically Disadvantaged
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17
Global Microfinance Networks
Global Microfinance Networks
FINCA Provides Financial Services to Low-Income Entrepreneurs
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16
Sustainable, Empowering Rugs
Sustainable, Empowering Rugs
'Arzu Studio Hope' Offers Employment to Women in Afghanistan
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15
Smallholder Business Partners
Smallholder Business Partners
Safi Coffee Goes Beyond Fair Trade for the Good of Kenyan Farmers
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14
Self-Sustaining Social Enterprises
Self-Sustaining Social Enterprises
Kinyei Fosters Independent Entrepreneurship in Cambodia
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13
Community-Focused Palestinian Produce
Community-Focused Palestinian Produce
Zaytoun Imports Organic and Fair Trade Products
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12
Community-Enhancing Natural Beverages (Update)
Community-Enhancing Natural Beverages (Update)
Runa Focused Energy Drinks Fund Development
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11
Socially Accessible Artwork
Socially Accessible Artwork
Art-Switch Lets Clients and Businesses Borrow First
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10
Innovative Training Centers
Innovative Training Centers
Striding Out Supports Young Social Entrepreneurs
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9
Organic Shade-Grown Coffee
Organic Shade-Grown Coffee
Ethical Bean Sells Fair Trade and Socially-Responsible Products
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8
Fair Trade Shea Butter
Fair Trade Shea Butter
Delapointe's Products are Made by Women in Burkina Faso
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7
Economically Empowering Jewelry Programs
Economically Empowering Jewelry Programs
Senhoa Benefits Survivors of Human Trafficking
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6
Alternative Food Networks
Alternative Food Networks
The People's Supermarket Focuses on Community Development
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5
Adventures with Purpose
Adventures with Purpose
Sam Bruce Shares 10 Ethical Holiday Providers of Sustainable Tourism
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4
Hip-Hop Social Enterprises
Hip-Hop Social Enterprises
The Global Block Foundation Promotes Personal Sustainability
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3
Hip Handwoven Attire
Hip Handwoven Attire
Bhalo Employs Rural Bangladeshi Women to Produce Fair Trade Fashion
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2
Human-Oriented Handicrafts
Human-Oriented Handicrafts
Tekoha Promotes Sustainable Development for Brazilian Artisans
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1
Badass Bean Roasts
Badass Bean Roasts
Kicking Horse Coffee is a Trailblazer of the Canadian Fair Trade Movement
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