We are committed to offering programs and services for our diverse workforce and communities. We’ve strategized meaningful enhancements toward talent acquisition, professional development, internal committees, and policies. Our talent acquisition efforts have increased diversity in the applicant pools by revising job description verbiage to be holistically inclusive and unobstructed by unnecessary qualifications that would unintentionally avert applicants with varying abilities. Our professional development efforts have secured complimentary educational opportunities to increase our ability to equally serve Spanish-speaking populations. We’ve established a staff-led committee to build a culture of inclusion, equity, respect, safety, and anti-racism in our workplace and community where diversity is not only recognized but celebrated. Our policies reflect our stance of prohibiting discrimination, harrassment, and racism at all times. We offer education for businesses to implement the same practices with our DEI Summit.
We awarded over $215,000 in emergency grants to small businesses across the Southwest in 2020 at a time when many were struggling to access local, state, and federal support.
We pride ourselves on being an organization that proactively supports ethical business through a variety of educational and tangible resources. Our path to success includes a free self-paced online incubator, access to affordable capital with Kiva loans, and an intensive business growth accelerator program in partnership with GoDaddy. With these innovative opportunities, we remain dedicated to helping businesses develop ethically to build stronger, and more trustworthy relationships with customers. Our partnership with GoDaddy’s philanthropic arm provides education, resources, and tools to underserved entrepreneurs through our summits focusing on women, veteran, international, and diverse entrepreneurs. At the start of April 2020 our team launched and funded (through staff, partners, and community donations) Main St. Matters, an emergency grant program for businesses in dire need during the uncertain early months of the pandemic.
We have been recognizing businesses that demonstrate integrity and ethics for over 100 years, and now our new BBB4Good Program will additionally support and elevate purpose-driven businesses. By connecting purpose to their bottom lines, businesses are reshaping economies and reinvigorating communities. But we don’t just encourage businesses to use their platform for good, we lead by example. Although we are a nonprofit organization, we operate with a strong business mindset and have immense attention to detail when it comes to creating and implementing corporate social sustainability initiatives both internally and externally with our partners.
We encourage staff involvement to support the greater good of the community. Our company benefits offer four paid days per year to volunteer with a charitable nonprofit organization. Over the last year, we’ve contributed:
Active participation in the San Diego Chapter of Conscious Capitalism to elevate the network of purpose-driven and ethically conscious businesses.
In order to help local organizations like these further their missions, in March 2022, BBB awarded $62,500 in grants to nonprofit organizations dedicated to their respective ecosystems in Arizona and California.
Trust is cultivated at many levels and we are committed to recognizing future leaders with merit-writing scholarships awarded for ethical actions in the community. As high school students experience new challenges, some are able to demonstrate resilience and by navigating ethical dilemmas. Oftentimes these acts go unnoticed, but they should be recognized to inspire others to do the right thing. Our scholarship programs encourage ethical behaviors in the community and honors those who act with integrity. By promoting trust and ethical conduct with students, they will be able to model that behavior when they enter the workforce. In 2022, $30,000 in scholarships will be awarded to local Arizona students, athletes and JROTC cadets.
By honoring businesses leading the way with our prestigious Torch Award for Ethics, we set the bar for how ethical operations can positively affect the community at large. Earning BBB accreditation signifies doing things the right way and together, we’re in the business of good business. And we’re doing the work alongside these businesses too. BBB’s award achievements include being honored for our community contributions, inclusive leadership and excellent company culture that goes well beyond just a place to work.
