The Global Water Crisis and Funding Challenges

Access to clean drinking water remains one of humanity’s most pressing concerns, with approximately 2.2 billion people lacking safely managed drinking water services. The infrastructure required to deliver clean water to underserved communities demands substantial financial investment, often exceeding the budgets of local governments and non-governmental organizations. Traditional funding mechanisms have proven insufficient to address the scale of this crisis, prompting stakeholders to explore alternative financing models.

Several key factors contribute to the water accessibility challenge:

• Aging infrastructure in developed nations requiring costly modernization
• Lack of basic water systems in rural and remote communities
• Climate change impacts affecting water availability and quality
• Limited financial resources in regions most affected by water scarcity
• Insufficient coordination between international aid organizations and local authorities

The estimated cost to achieve universal access to clean water and sanitation by 2030 exceeds $114 billion annually, highlighting the urgent need for diverse funding sources beyond governmental budgets and conventional charitable donations.

Online Casino Industry’s Growing Social Responsibility

The global online gambling market has experienced exponential growth, generating billions in revenue annually. Recognizing their financial capacity and social influence, many operators have begun integrating corporate social responsibility initiatives into their business models. Charity poker tournaments, slot machine competitions, and blackjack events specifically designed to raise funds for humanitarian causes have become increasingly common.

These charitable gaming events typically function through several mechanisms. Operators may donate a percentage of entry fees, contribute a portion of house profits from designated games, or match player donations during special promotional periods. The transparency of blockchain technology and modern payment systems allows participants to track how their contributions support specific water projects, enhancing trust and encouraging broader participation.

International organizations dedicated to supporting individuals with gambling addiction and promoting responsible gaming principles play complementary roles in this ecosystem. GamblersAnonymous and BeGambleAware are prominent international organizations that provide assistance to people struggling with gaming addiction while advocating for responsible gambling practices across the industry. While supporting charitable initiatives, these organizations ensure that fundraising efforts don’t exploit vulnerable individuals, maintaining ethical standards within the industry’s philanthropic activities. Their involvement guarantees that casino charity events prioritize player wellbeing alongside fundraising objectives, creating a balanced approach to socially responsible gaming.

Successful Case Studies of Casino-Funded Water Projects

Several notable examples demonstrate the tangible impact of online casino charity tournaments on water accessibility. In 2023, a coalition of European operators organized a month-long poker series that raised over €2.5 million for water infrastructure in East Africa, funding the construction of 47 wells serving approximately 30,000 people. Similarly, Asian gaming platforms have partnered with regional NGOs to finance water purification systems in Southeast Asian communities affected by industrial pollution.

The effectiveness of these initiatives stems from strategic partnerships between gaming operators, established humanitarian organizations, and local implementation teams. This collaborative approach ensures that funds reach intended recipients efficiently while incorporating local expertise in project design and execution. The gaming industry’s digital infrastructure also facilitates real-time reporting and community engagement, allowing donors to witness the direct results of their participation.

Regulatory Framework and Online Casino Bonus Structures Supporting Charity

The legitimacy and success of charitable gaming initiatives depend heavily on robust regulatory oversight. Regulatory bodies such as Hungary’s SZTFH (Szerencsejáték Felügyelet), the Malta Gaming Authority, Curaçao eGaming, Anjouan Gaming Authority, and the Kahnawake Gaming Commission have established frameworks governing how operators can conduct charity events while maintaining player protection standards.

These regulators ensure transparency in how online casino bonus structures and promotional offers are utilized in charitable contexts. For instance, operators might offer special deposit bonuses where a percentage of the bonus amount is automatically directed toward water projects. Welcome packages, free spin promotions, and cashback offers can be structured to include charitable contributions without diminishing the value players receive.

Key regulatory considerations include:

• Verification that charitable donations reach designated beneficiaries
• Clear communication to players about how their participation supports causes
• Prevention of misleading marketing that exploits charitable messaging
• Auditing requirements for operators claiming tax benefits from donations
• Player protection measures ensuring bonuses don’t encourage irresponsible gambling
• Licensing conditions that may require minimum charitable contribution percentages

Regulators like the Malta Gaming Authority have pioneered guidelines specifically addressing charity tournaments, creating templates that other jurisdictions have adopted. These frameworks balance commercial interests with genuine philanthropic impact, preventing “charity washing” where operators claim social responsibility without meaningful contribution.

Technology Integration Enhancing Transparency and Impact

Modern technological solutions have revolutionized how charitable gaming tournaments operate and report their impact. Blockchain-based tracking systems enable complete transparency from donation collection through fund disbursement to project completion. Smart contracts can automatically allocate percentages of gaming revenue to designated water projects, eliminating intermediary costs and reducing misappropriation risks.

Mobile gaming platforms have expanded access to charity tournaments, particularly in regions where desktop computers are less common. Players can participate in fundraising events through smartphone applications, with real-time updates showing collective progress toward funding goals. Gamification elements—such as leaderboards highlighting top charitable contributors or achievement badges for participation—enhance engagement while maintaining focus on the humanitarian objective.

Building Sustainable Partnerships for Long-Term Impact

The most successful casino-funded water projects extend beyond one-time financial contributions, establishing ongoing partnerships that ensure sustainability. Leading operators have created dedicated charitable foundations that work year-round with water accessibility organizations, providing consistent funding streams rather than sporadic tournament-based donations.

These partnerships typically include:

• Multi-year funding commitments allowing for comprehensive project planning
• Employee volunteer programs where casino staff participate in water project implementation
• Technology transfers where gaming industry expertise supports water organization digital infrastructure
• Educational initiatives teaching responsible gambling alongside water conservation awareness
• Community engagement programs in beneficiary regions creating local support networks

By integrating water accessibility into their core corporate values rather than treating it as occasional publicity opportunity, forward-thinking operators demonstrate that commercial success and social impact can coexist productively.

Future Outlook: Scaling Impact Through Innovation

As the online casino industry continues expanding globally, its potential contribution to water accessibility projects grows proportionally. Emerging markets in Africa, Asia, and Latin America—regions most affected by water scarcity—also represent significant growth opportunities for gaming operators. This alignment creates natural incentives for operators to invest in local water infrastructure as part of market entry strategies.

Innovative approaches currently being piloted include virtual reality charity events where players experience water scarcity challenges firsthand before participating in fundraising tournaments, cryptocurrency-based donation systems enabling borderless contributions, and artificial intelligence algorithms optimizing fund allocation to maximize impact per dollar raised.

The convergence of online entertainment and humanitarian causes exemplified by casino charity tournaments represents a promising model for addressing global challenges. While not a complete solution to water accessibility issues, this approach demonstrates how diverse sectors can contribute meaningfully to sustainable development goals. As regulatory frameworks mature and best practices emerge, the gaming industry’s role in supporting clean water access will likely expand, benefiting millions while proving that profitability and purpose need not be mutually exclusive objectives.

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Effect of rates on charitable contributions

The amount of charity contributions is significantly impacted by betting, particularly when it comes to athletic events. Numerous important elements account for this phenomena. First, individuals’ interest in particular events naturally rises when they wager with their money. They start paying closer attention to the happenings and are able to clearly recall each development. They become emotionally invested in the result, which could motivate them to take on more tasks or donate to charities.

Second, wagering on athletic events has the potential to raise awareness of related humanitarian endeavors. Many sporting events come with a lot of media and a large audience base, which makes it easy to bring attention to social concerns and issues. As a result, there is an increase in both awareness and people’s readiness to donate to charities associated with these events. Consequently, philanthropic institutions can have increased financial resources to accomplish their goals.

Raising awareness of the issues

Betting may effectively be used to promote awareness of a variety of social concerns and challenges that society faces, in addition to providing financial support. Numerous online bookmakers and betting sites actively participate in efforts to generate money and awareness for these kinds of causes because they recognize their social obligation.

Such campaigns have the ability to increase public awareness of a range of social concerns in addition to raising money to aid the underprivileged. It can bring in those who haven’t previously given these concerns much thought when betting businesses and internet platforms utilize their prominence and power to raise awareness of specific issues.

To actively engage audiences and motivate them to take action, these campaigns can make use of a variety of media, including ads, social media campaigns, competitions, and promos. For instance, holding competitions for bettors in which a percentage of the winnings is given to charity can motivate participants to actively support charitable causes in addition to placing bets.

Examples of successful initiatives

The degree to which sports teams and organizations leverage their prominence and power to promote charitable causes is a key determinant of how strongly gambling and philanthropy are related. Here are a few examples of these projects:

1. Raffles and auctions: A lot of soccer teams host raffles and auctions for their supporters, giving away a variety of prizes like jerseys, autographed balls, and first-hand encounters with team members. Proceeds from ticket sales and auctions go toward supporting neighborhood organizations, charitable causes, and initiatives that assist the underprivileged.
2. Charity Events and Matches: A percentage of the ticket sales revenue is donated to charity when sports teams and athletes host charity events or matches. These gatherings can be an effective way to raise money and awareness for social causes because they frequently draw sizable crowds.
3. Sports competitions and events: A fraction of the money raised at certain sports competitions and events is donated to charitable causes. For instance, money raised from the sale of event tickets may go toward supporting athletes in need or funding initiatives for the development of young athletes.
4. Partnerships with charitable organizations: A number of sports clubs and associations form long-term relationships with charitable groups by contributing a portion of their earnings or offering other forms of assistance, such event planning or promotion.

Liability of betting companies

Positive social effects are mostly dependent on betting companies being held accountable for how they spend their winnings. In the context of corporate social responsibility and earning the trust of consumers and society at large, this is particularly crucial. When talking about the accountability of betting companies, keep the following points in mind:

1. Financial transparency: Bookmakers ought to be transparent about how they use the money they get from bets. This comprises financial performance statistics and specifics about the projects and philanthropic initiatives that have received funding.
2. Investment in community projects: A large number of gaming corporations actively allocate a portion of their earnings to projects and activities that benefit charities. Support for sports, the environment, healthcare, education, and other initiatives that benefit society as a whole may be included in these investments.
3. Relationships with charitable organizations: A number of betting businesses form long-term relationships with different charitable groups in order to collaborate on social issue projects and initiatives.
4. Increasing awareness: Betting firms have the ability to use their platforms and resources to bring attention to problems and concerns facing society. This could entail running awareness campaigns, planning instructional activities, and lending support to projects that deal with certain problems.
5. Legislation and ethical standards: Furthermore, betting companies have to abide by all laws and ethical guidelines regarding social responsibility and charity. This entails financial reporting that is transparent, following the guidelines for allocating funds, and taking part in pertinent audits and inspections.

Generally speaking, a betting company’s reputation and social impact are greatly influenced by how it uses the money it receives from bets. These businesses have the capacity to significantly improve many people’s lives and solve societal issues in addition to turning a profit.

Conclusion

All things considered, the connection between gambling and charitable giving has a big influence on society, highlighting how important it is for philanthropy and social projects. To fully realize the potential of gambling and sports betting as a tool to address social concerns and benefit the underprivileged, this dynamic calls for constant research and analysis. A deeper understanding of this link can lead to the development of novel approaches that have the potential to greatly boost societal benefits and improve life on Earth for all people.

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An Overview of Charitable Giving

Charitable giving is more than just a noble act. It’s a way for individuals to contribute to societal changes, help those in need, and provide aid in areas that may be lacking government funding. While the reasons behind charitable giving vary, the end goal is always the same: to make a positive impact in the world.

Charitable Donations and Live Casinos

Recently, the gaming industry, particularly live casinos, has been playing a significant role in charitable donations. In an unexpected twist, the glamour and glitter of casinos are not just about entertainment anymore, but also about making a difference. A portion of the profits generated from these casinos goes to various charities worldwide. Let’s dive deeper into this intriguing connection.

Live Casinos in 2023

Live casinos have been experiencing significant growth in recent years, largely due to technological advancements and an increased appetite for real-time, interactive entertainment. In 2023, they continue to offer an immersive, realistic casino experience from the comfort of the player’s home or on the go.

Mobile Live Casinos: The Future of Gambling

The revolution in the gambling world came with the advent of https://livecasinofinder.com/mobile-live-casino/ mobile live casinos. They offer a whole new level of convenience for players, allowing them to enjoy their favorite casino games anytime, anywhere, with just a few taps on their devices.

The Impact of Charitable Donations

Now, let’s shift gears back to the charities. The support that charities receive from the casinos, among other sources, significantly contributes to the realization of their missions.

Top 5 Best Charities of 2023

Let’s highlight some of the top charities making waves in 2023.

• The Education Foundation – The Education Foundation focuses on improving access to quality education for underprivileged children worldwide. This charity uses innovative, sustainable solutions to address education gaps and provide opportunities for children to have a better future.
• Clean Water for All – Clean Water for All works tirelessly to provide clean, safe drinking water to communities that lack access. They invest in infrastructure and work closely with communities to maintain it for sustainable development.
• The Food Security Initiative – The Food Security Initiative focuses on combating hunger and promoting food security. They work to provide immediate food relief and sustainable agricultural practices to ensure long-term food security.
• Medical Aid Worldwide – Medical Aid Worldwide provides medical assistance to regions affected by conflict, natural disasters, and disease outbreaks. They send trained medical professionals and crucial medical supplies to the areas most in need.
• Animal Protection Society – The Animal Protection Society is dedicated to protecting animals from abuse and neglect. They work on policy changes, rescue missions, and public education to create a more compassionate world for animals.

Choosing the Right Charity

When selecting a charity, two critical aspects to consider are transparency and accountability, and the impact of your donation.

Transparency and Accountability

Reputable charities demonstrate transparency by providing information about their financials, governance, and operations. They are accountable to their donors, stakeholders, and the public.

Impact of Your Donation

Understanding the charity’s work and the impact of your donation can help you make an informed decision. Remember, the best charities are those that make the most significant positive impact on their cause.

Conclusion

From providing education to underprivileged children to saving animals from neglect, the charities listed above have made a substantial impact in their respective fields. Remember, your contribution can make a big difference, whether you donate directly or play at live casinos contributing a portion of their profits to these noble causes.

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Global practice

In Finland, the gambling business is monopolized by Veikkaus. It is probably the most generous gambling corporation in the world. Almost all profits, except for salaries for employees and other necessary expenses, go to charity: sports development, assistance to child protection organizations, support of volunteer organizations, etc. Part of the income is also transferred to the Ministry of Health and Social Development.

Numerous European bookmakers sponsor sports teams, for example:

• Ladbrokes, one of the oldest bookmakers in the UK, sponsored the Scottish and Irish football championships for several years;
  the English bookmaker Sky Bet is a sponsor of three Leagues – Sky Bet
• Championship, Sky Bet League One, and Sky Bet League Two (the contract is valid until 2024);
• Austrian bookmaker bwin became the official betting partner of the Conference League and the Europa League.

Other gambling organizations often support sports, for example, the French lottery company FDJ supports the National Football Federation and sponsors four clubs. In 2016, it became the national sponsor of UEFA EURO 2016.

Experience

Both domestic and foreign gambling companies that have received KRAIL licenses have already started to engage in charity work. Despite their relatively recent appearance on the market in a legal status, they have already done a lot of work. Let us consider examples of such activities. Microgaming is celebrating its 20th anniversary with 20 charitable donations to 20 different organisations. On the Isle of Man alone, where the company is headquartered, the company has planted 1,500 trees and donated £3.5 million to charity. Microgaming stands ready to support environmental and social programs. Novomatic supports medical facilities as part of addiction prevention with annual donations of millions

Favbet

The international casino Favbet has created the Favbet Foundation, which operates in three main areas. First of all, it is the development of sports culture in the country. Thus, the company finances both its own and other charitable programs aimed at the following goals

• organizing recreational activities;
• support of sports teams, organizations and federations;
• development of relevant infrastructure;
• support for athletes with disabilities.

For example, Favbet became a partner of Photo Kyiv 2021 exhibition, presenting the exhibition Code of Invincibility: Real Stories of Modern Heroes. It is dedicated to the participants of the Invictus Games who went through the war and managed to become professional athletes despite severe injuries sustained in combat.

The company also provided funds for the creation of a multifunctional workout area at the NSC Olimpiyskiy (Kyiv), where everyone can train; in addition, open training sessions of famous athletes are sometimes held there.

The second area of activity is education. First, the company supports the government’s digitalization policy by sending the necessary equipment to libraries, schools, and other educational institutions. You may have noticed that where casinos go, infrastructure improves, related businesses open up new jobs, non-profit organizations flourish, social projects get a boost, and nearby housing makes themselves more expensive. If you want to try your hand at playing in a casino, we recommend that you try to make a minimum deposit in more detail on the website – casinos minimum deposit 5 euros. Casinos are a service for all budgets; even with a little money you can enjoy gambling. Thus, the betting business accumulates funds. Part of the money goes towards development, rent (if the casino is on land), buying equipment, paying employees. What does a casino produce? It’s obvious – your state of mind. And casinos employ people who are no strangers to all things human.

And, as a rule, getting rich, a man begins to share. First of all, he helps his family and his neighbors. And so the casinos begin to help at a regional level, supporting scientific research, such as Novomatic, to solve addiction problems. Absolutely all casinos are beautifying the area around them. Some are planting trees, others are contributing to environmental projects, supporting green energy. Projects are ready to implement their social ideas, at Novomatic, for example, it is enough to justify the essence of the project and the opportunity to get a grant will open. Companies’ annual reports contain details of expenditure, with sums running into the tens of millions of euros.

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In spite of the fact that in the USA the infrastructure of support of small and medium-sized business is highly developed, the specifics of support of social entrepreneurship require a special approach.

The main support from the state of social entrepreneurship is carried out in five directions:

• Stimulation of social innovations
• Creation of favorable conditions for the development of social initiatives
• Recognition and encouragement of successful social initiatives
• Assistance in the dissemination and development of successful social initiatives
• Dissemination of information about the effectiveness of social entrepreneurship

Thus, state support of social entrepreneurship includes, first of all, provision of information support, creation of infrastructure for development of social entrepreneurship and assistance in development of successful social enterprise projects.

Despite the fact that the government actively pays attention to the development of social entrepreneurship, organizations receive their main funding from foundations, private donations, and during the implementation of social business responsibility programs. For its part, the state promotes the creation and development of social enterprises by actively encouraging foundations to make initial investments in social enterprises and by eliminating bureaucratic obstacles when licensing (certifying) social enterprises.

The interaction of social enterprises with federal and local authorities, on the one hand, supports the development of social entrepreneurship in the country and, on the other hand, helps to identify socially significant problems, which leads to the formation of a certain state strategy to solve this or that problem.

Non-state support for social entrepreneurs

Non-state support for social entrepreneurship is much more effective and diverse than support at the state level.

Social Responsibility of Business in the United States

One of the first people to think about the concept of “social responsibility” was Howard Bowen, who published his work “Social Responsibilities of the Businessman” in 1953. In this monograph G. Bowen analyzes the companies’ behavior from the normative standpoint, outlines the framework and key areas of studying social responsibility of business and says that it consists of implementing policies for making such decisions or following a line of behavior that would be desirable from the standpoint of the goals and values of society.

At present, social responsibility (social responsibility) is a set of obligations that an organization assumes in terms of protecting the interests of society and its further improvement. Social responsibility of the company can be shown in relation to the parties interested in the results of its activities, as well as in relation to the environment and to the public welfare in general. Some companies recognize their responsibilities in all three areas and make every effort to succeed in each. At the same time, other companies emphasize one or two areas of social responsibility. There are also companies that do not acknowledge their responsibility to society in any form.

Social responsibility as a policy and a concept of the company’s strategic development includes the following areas of activity:

• Compliance with statutory requirements and obligations;
• Compliance with obligations to consumers, employees and investors;
• charitable donations;
• cooperating with state authorities and various NGOs in order to implement social programs; – implementing social programs.
• for the purpose of implementing social programmes;
• care for the environment.

Foundations and Communities

Currently, the U.S. has a century-old infrastructure of foundations and nonprofit organizations that support area and community development. These organizations include: church-based organizations that provide social services; business organizations that work to achieve economic development goals; community foundations that support cultural organizations, social services and economic development; local nonprofits that build affordable housing; union-management partnerships; unique organizations that do local philanthropy by supporting widows, monoprofits or sponsoring

Named foundations provide active financial support to social entrepreneurs (e.g., the John Rockefeller Foundation, the Henry Ford Foundation, or the Andrew Carnegie Foundation).

Currently in the U.S., social enterprise membership organizations are being actively formed and developed. Such communities are important in terms of support in various areas (educational, informational), often functioning as a platform for exchange of experience for beginners and experienced social entrepreneurs.

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In the USA there are 2 systems of recognition of commercial organizations as a social enterprise:

1. Special types of commercial organizations are used for the purpose of social entrepreneurship: L3C and Benefit Corporation. These types of commercial organizations are derived from LLC (Limited Liability Company) and Corporation, respectively. Thus, two types of social enterprises are defined: a low-profit limited liability company “L3C” and a social corporation (“benefit corporation”).
2. Certification of enterprises by a specialized non-profit organization “B Lab”, which recognizes the fact that the company conducts socially beneficial activities and assigns to it the status of “B Corporation”.

It should be noted that many organizations, which by right can be considered as social enterprises, do not pass certification and do not receive the status of a social enterprise. This is due to the associated difficulties, material and time costs for the enterprise.

Low-profit limited liability company (L3C)

L3C is a hybrid form of private sector enterprise, which combines two main purposes – solving social problems and making a profit.

L3C belongs to the LLC (limited liability company) group. L3C status was first established in Vermont in 2008. For 2014, commercial LLCs can obtain L3C status in the states of Illinois, Louisiana, Maine, Michigan, North Carolina, Utah, Vermont and Wyoming. There are plans to amend L3C legislation in 26 more states in the near future.

Proponents of the separation of all LLCs into a separate group of low-income companies argue that this way it is possible to attract significant investments.

Let us consider the main characteristics of low-margin companies:

• Purposes of creation and activities
  Implementing charitable or educational initiatives. Profitmaking is also the goal of a low-profit company (but not the primary one), but such activities should take place exclusively through the realization of charitable goals;
• Primary Provisions.
  Commercial organization, general provisions for the organization and operation of limited liability companies apply;
• Organizational structure
  Like the LLC management system, the profit distribution and ownership structure of L3C companies is flexible and can be adapted to the policies and needs of the company;
• Obtaining L3C Status
  As with an LLC, the procedure for obtaining L3C status is an application to the state agencies at the local level. Each state sets its own requirements for companies seeking L3C status. In some states, an organization may be automatically granted L3C status without applying for status itself. The cost of establishing an L3C varies from State to State. Generally, the main costs are the legal costs of preparing the documents;
• Funding.
  Private and stock investments;
• Taxation.
  Despite the basic social mission of the activity, L3C is not exempt from taxation;

Disadvantages of low-income companies:

• No significant increase in investment has been identified.
• The original goal of providing easier access to small business financing programs has not materialized.
• No tax advantages over traditional LLC.

Social corporation (benefit corporation)

In April 2010 the state of Maryland passed a law creating a benefit corporation. As of January 2014, the following states can establish Benefit Corporations: California, Hawaii, Illinois, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Vermont, Virginia, Washington.

The basic features of a social corporation:

• Activities must be socially beneficial, which in turn constrains the corporation’s desire to maximize profits.
• The duties of directors to make decisions solely in the interests of the corporation (but not only in the interests of shareholders), as well as the responsibility of directors for decisions made to third parties – those who should benefit socially. Accordingly, directors do not traditionally have a heightened responsibility to shareholders to ensure the profitability of the company.
• Reporting. Publication on the official website of the corporation’s annual report, which contains information on the implemented projects, an assessment of their social benefit and environmental impact, as well as their positive meaning for society.
• Taxation: does not have an advantage over regular corporations.

Example of Benefit Corporation: the company “Loyal Lable” is a hybrid of commercial and non-commercial organization, a brand associated with socially conscious lifestyle. Besides commercial activity (record company), “Loyal Label” produces seven lines of T-shirts, a part of funds from their sale is used to finance specific projects with partners – charitable organizations.

Certification and rating system

Due to the lack of legislation on social entrepreneurship on the federal level, many companies try to present themselves as social enterprises, as this helps to attract investments and the demand for the services and products of the enterprise on the market. In this connection, in the last five years standardized certification systems and rating scales of significance of socially beneficial enterprise activities have been actively formed. Certification and ratings are implemented not on the state level, but within the framework of non-profit organizations’ activities.

A company that has been certified or has received a favorable rating can provide potential investors with information about socially significant activities and their results. By obtaining transparent data on a company’s activities, investors are able to choose the right company for them, and for companies with a high rating it is easier to raise funds.

There are a number of rating agencies and certification programs available to a social enterprise. But there is no universal, legally accepted rating system and certification, so any enterprise, regardless of its organizational structure, can be considered by a rating agency and apply for certification. Besides, the way the information submitted by an enterprise can be verified is only from open sources. The state does not allow agencies to obtain information about the activities of businesses if, under state law, this information can be withheld.

Among all the rating and certification agencies, a non-profit organization “B Lab” stands out, which recognizes the fact that a company conducts socially beneficial activities. Enterprises that have successfully passed certification of “B Lab”, are assigned the status of “B Corporation”. B Lab” also maintains an open rating of social enterprises, the rating is available online on the website of the organization.

The main features of “B Corporation” are:

• commercial organization;
• The purpose of creation and activity – rendering of positive material influence on a society and environment;
• annual submission of a mandatory report (published in the media) on socially beneficial activities and their results;
• the necessity of undergoing certification and obtaining the status of “Certified Corporation B” (confirmation that Corporation B is really a commercial organization and that its activities are really aimed at achieving socially beneficial effects) by a specialized non-profit organization called B Lab;
• in contrast to obtaining Benefit Corporation status, businesses with any organizational structure can apply for B Lab certification (not just corporations);
• The annual fee for B Corporation ranges from $500 for companies with annual revenues to $500 for companies with annual revenues. B Corporation annual fee ranges from $500 for companies with less than $2 million in annual revenue to $25,000 for companies with less than $2 million in annual revenue. The annual fee ranges from $500 for companies with annual revenues under $2 million to $25,000 for companies with revenues over 100. The annual fee ranges from $500 for companies with more than $100 million in annual revenues to $25,000 for companies with more than $100 million in revenues. B CORPORATION.

A company’s decision to be rated and certified by B Lab is based on compliance with four criteria:

• Environmental protection (production of environmental goods, use of recyclable raw materials and renewable energy sources, etc.);
• Protection and observance of employees’ rights (compensation and benefits provided to employees; work organization features);
• Support for local communities aimed at solving socially significant problems;
• Compliance with the reporting system.

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Many of the women who “graduated” from this institution went on to become prominent figures in the city in such socially directed fields as education, lawmaking, and the struggle for women’s rights.

In 1895, Edgar J. Helms initiated the first charity store in Boston to collect, reconstruct, and resell household goods, creating jobs for impoverished immigrants.

The active support of the state contributed to the development of non-profit organizations. Since the 1960s, for example, as part of the Great Society program, the federal government has invested billions of dollars in programs aimed at eradicating poverty and racial discrimination, health care, education, environmental protection, and solving transportation problems.

In response to the downturn in the U.S. economy in the 1970s and 1980s, federal funding for NPOs declined sharply, and social welfare and support were cut significantly. By some accounts, nonprofits lost about $38 billion. Then most nonprofits turned to the form of social enterprise. Between 1977 and 1989, about 40 percent of the growth in income for social service organizations came from for-profit, fee-for-service activities.

The activities of social enterprises are gradually becoming an integral part of the country’s social and cultural life. It is found that it is capable of solving those problems that neither commercial private, nor public, nor the third sector of the economy can solve.

Today there are 1.4 million third sector organizations registered in the U.S. Internal Revenue Service database, with three major clusters standing out among them:

• 654,000 charities
• 354,000 religious groups and organizations
• 140,000 social organizations and businesses.

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