The most downloaded New York Times business article recently was "Make Money, Save the World". Yet another sign of one of the hottest trends in business today: corporations doing well while doing good. It's not only here to stay; it's now a full-fledged business model.
Altrushare Securities, the article says, is a firm majority-owned by two charities. So the question is: "Is it a for-profit business or a nonprofit fund-raising machine?" The answer: both. To coin the expression coined in the article: it's a for-benefit corporation.
The term may be brand new, but the concept has been around for a while. Since its creation over half a century ago, IFC has been dedicated to the notion that a corporation can do good in emerging markets through investments in private enterprise. By helping companies of all sizes access opportunities in emerging markets, IFC is furthering development impact on the ground in those countries.
Just one of the earliest examples of how companies are "making money, saving the world".
For more on IFC's efforts to create opportunities in emerging markets, click here