Why VBSR?

Vermont Businesses for Social Responsibility (VBSR) is a statewide, nonprofit business association with a mission to leverage the power of business for positive social and environmental impact. For over 30 years VBSR has championed “business as a force for good” through education, networking, advocacy and thought leadership.

We are Vermont’s network of students, entrepreneurs, sole proprietors, small businesses, largest employers, policymakers, advocates, nonprofit organizations and inspired individuals – collectively working toward a just, thriving and transformative economy that works for all people and the planet.

Learn more about VBSR Become a Member

Champion Members

VBSR Champions are corporate social responsibility icons. Brands around the globe look to Vermont industry leaders to learn how to lead successful businesses in a way that is good for their people and good for the planet, and these companies lead the way.

VBSR is one of the only places to get a comprehensive education on both the theory and practice of being a values-led business.
— Liz Schlegel, Champion Member The Alchemist
VBSR’s proven track record at the statehouse helps put our values into impactful, values-led public policy.
— Sascha Mayer, Champion Member Mamava
I encourage those interested in expanding personal awareness, belief systems and business expertise to take advantage of VBSR’s programming.
— Karen Lawson, Lawson’s Finest Liquids
We know how critical the business voice is – and how much influence is has. And particularly in Vermont it's become commonplace for companies to have a strong sustainability programs. Advocacy like VBSR’s is the next horizon for that.
— Kate Ogden, Seventh Generation

VBSR Events

On Thursday, December 3rd, we're hosting a convening to celebrate the housing changemakers across our state. Our housing awards will recognize the people, projects, and partnerships that overcome barriers and move Vermont closer to a state where everyone can afford a home, including legislators who championed good policy, towns that said yes to housing, builders who got shovels in the ground, and advocates who showed up. Join us for an evening of celebration, connection, and continued momentum in Vermont's housing movement. Appetizers will be available alongside a cash bar.

What does collective action look like for B Corps in practice? Join VBSR for a hands-on workshop designed for B Corp certified businesses to explore certification requirements, share ideas, and turn collective impact into action. We’ll be joined by Anastasia Gramotneva, Associate Director, Growth, B Lab U.S. & Canada, for an afternoon of conversation, practical guidance, and direct Q&A with B Lab.

As a small businesses, you may not have a big HR department or unlimited resources, but there are many ways to create a safer, more inclusive workplace to better support employees! Join VBSR, All Brains Belong and Invest EAP as they share new resources designed to help employers strengthen workplace culture, support employees across the lifecycle of employment, and reduce turnover.

Join Building Bright Futures and First Children's Finance for a focus group where Newport-area employers share how child care is affecting their employees and their business - what you're experiencing now and what you need for the future.

Jeffrey Hollender, co-founder and former CEO of Seventh Generation, spent five decades in the trenches of social entrepreneurship while pushing for a better way of doing business and revolutionizing the relationship between corporations, society, and the environment. In this Story Session, Jeffrey goes behind the scenes of Seventh Generation, the company that helped pioneer the sustainable business movement.

One workshop will include a brief history of HACCP, discussing the importance of quality personnel within the food safety team. Another on improving root cause analyses and corrective action using the 8D methodology.

VBSR News

UVLists, a new Vermont nonprofit formed by longtime volunteer list administrators, signed an agreement with Vital Communities on October 1 to assume the administration of 38 Upper Valley town discussion lists.

Aneta “Nettie” Morse was recently named the National Council for Community and Education Partnerships (NCCEP) GEAR UP Student Leader of the Year at the organization's annual "Lighting the Way" conference in Washington, DC, an honor selected from among hundreds of students nationwide.