FAQ

What is the legal structure of Greater Good?
Greater Good is organized as a project of the Progress Group, a for-profit consulting firm. CORE, Colorado's leading sustainability trade organization is serving as the 501c3 fiscal sponsor. Eventually, Greater Good will be incorporated as its own non-profit entity.

How is the Greater Good funded?
The project is being supported through a combination of training and consulting fees, foundation grants and personal investments. Non-cash support in the form of human capital (e.g., volunteer mentors and trainers) will also help grow the project.

What does triple-bottom-line mean?
The triple bottom line (abbreviated as "TBL" and also known as "people, planet, profit") takes into account ecological and social performance in addition to financial success. Triple-bottom-line businesses aim to create positive social and environmental change as well as generate a profit. While adopting a triple-bottom-line standard may entail upfront investments, overall profits tend to be equal to or greater than conventional businesses due to efficiency gains, increased exposure, and community support.

What is unique about the Greater Good?
While many there are many dynamic business development programs in Colorado that assist low and moderate-income entrepreneurs, none focus on how to adopt TBL or sustainability practices. That is our focus – bringing TBL practices and their benefits to small businesses and aspiring entrepreneurs from disadvantaged communities.

How does the Greater Good Academy complement existing local business development and green-collar jobs efforts?
The Greater Good is entering the Front Range in a landscape rich with business development and sustainability initiatives. In the same way that natural systems create abundance through cooperation, we intend to integrate our unique offerings with existing workforce development and entrepreneurial training programs. Our pipeline partners represent some of the most progressive training programs in the state. Our goal is support this broader ecosystem, by forming partnerships and increasing the amount of capital dedicated to the mission of advancing the triple bottom line among civic-minded small businesses.

What is the timeline for implementing the Academy?
The official launch of the Greater Good program will take place at the Mi Casa Resource center on November 12th. Throughout the fall and winter, we will be:  

• Offering ongoing 2-hour information sessions for interested businesses at a variety of local venues
• Organizing an advisory board composed of members of local government, business development non-profits, and successful entrepreneurs
• Securing corporate and foundation partners to help sponsor the Program
• Expanding our network of partners
• Refining our curriculum in advance of the first 8-week Academy in early 2010