Best for Colorado2019-09-30T16:10:33-06:00

Take the Best for Colorado Challenge

A 30-minute online tool to measure and improve your company’s impact

on your workers, your community, and the environment

Upcoming Workshops

  • Free, confidential tool
  • Anyone in the company can start the Challenge!
  • Learn more:  www.bestforco.com  

Get Your

Impact Report

See how your company  stacks up against peers on best practices

Connect With

Peers

Get paired with tools and local experts to help you improve

Be

Recognized

Participate in the Best for Colorado Awards by improving and earning top impact scores.  

Have an inspiring story?  We want to share it!  

Join hundreds of Colorado companies

using the power of their business to create higher quality jobs,

build stronger communities, and protect the environment.

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Q&A

How long does the Challenge take?2019-02-06T12:40:23-07:00

Answering all Challenge questions takes about 30 minutes for most small businesses. We strongly encourage you to estimate your answers the first time through.

The time it takes to answer questions depends on the size, age, and complexity of your company. The assessment can be saved and revisited at any time to allow — if you’re not sure of an answer, skip it or estimate it and come back later.

How much does it cost to take the Challenge?2019-02-06T12:41:05-07:00

The Challenge is a free business intelligence tool available to all companies in Colorado at no charge.

What kind of businesses should take the Challenge?2019-02-06T12:41:39-07:00

The Challenge contains questions that apply to all businesses, regardless of your business size or sector. You will be shown questions that are tailored to your business’s size and industry. Most businesses that complete the Challenge have under 50 employees, but it is built to accommodate businesses of any size.

Who developed the standards contained in the Challenge?2019-02-06T12:42:20-07:00

The questions in the Best for Colorado Challenge come from the B Impact Assessment, a comprehensive impact assessment tool created and administered by the non-profit B Lab. The questions in the B Impact Assessment & Best for Colorado Challenge are created and revised by B Lab’s Standards Advisory Council, a group of independent experts with deep industry and stakeholder expertise. See the full membership of the Standards Advisory Council on B Lab’s website.

The B Impact Assessment also goes through a private and public testing period in which feedback is collected and integrated into its final versions. Expert working groups are convened in order to explore specific issues more closely. The B Impact Assessment is updated every two years in order to accommodate new and innovative practices, respond to the feedback of its users, and to more accurately assess the impact of all types of businesses.

Who in our business should complete the Challenge?2019-02-06T12:42:54-07:00

Anyone that is interested! There’s no minimum title or tenure to take the Challenge.

We recommend appointing one team member as a lead; this individual typically completes a first draft of the Challenge and then convenes a supporting team to assist with double-checking responses. CEOs, CFOs, HR Managers, COOs, Associates, and Interns have all taken companies through the Challenge with success.

What will I need to prepare before completing the Challenge?2019-02-06T12:43:33-07:00

The following items may be helpful when completing the Challenge:

  • Company’s financials. It may be helpful to have either a Profit & Loss Statement or your accounting system (e.g. QuickBooks) open.
  • Supplier information. If possible, refer to a vendor ledger with amounts spent in the 12 months. This will help you answer many questions related to your supply chain.
  • Employee roster. This will help you answer many questions related to your workforce.
  • Employee handbook. Several questions refer to the policies and programs your business offers your employees in writing.

If you don’t have all these at hand, don’t worry. You can also estimate your responses and return to questions with relevant documents or materials as needed.

Who sees answers to my questions in the Challenge?2019-02-06T12:44:19-07:00

Your data is kept confidential when you answer questions in the Best for Colorado Challenge. Individual answers from businesses are never shared publicly. If you choose to complete the B Impact Assessment and have your answers verified, you will review your responses with a B Lab staff member as part of the verification process. B Lab review staff are bound by confidentiality agreements.

Is the Best for Colorado Challenge a competition?2019-02-06T12:44:49-07:00

The Best for Colorado Challenge exists to support businesses in making positive changes to their worker, community, and environmental practices. While business owners can view their performance measured against the performance of other businesses who have completed the assessment, the Challenge is part of a collaborative campaign that builds a community of out of people using business as a force for good in Colorado.

What is a B Corp? How do we become one?2019-02-06T12:45:24-07:00

Certified B Corporations (B Corps) are businesses that are leading the way in using business as a force for good. B Corp is to business what Fair Trade certification is to coffee or USDA Organic certification is to milk. Unlike traditional businesses, B Corps meet rigorous standards of social and environmental performance, accountability, and transparency. To achieve B Corp Certification, a company must receive a verified score of 80 points or more on the B Impact Assessment. Completing the Challenge is the first step to becoming a B Corp; the questions in the Challenge are taken from the B Impact Assessment. Learn more about the full process here.

Today there is a growing community of more than 2,000 Certified B Corps from 50 countries and over 140 industries working together toward one unifying goal: to redefine success in business.

What is the relationship between Best for Colorado and B Corp?2019-02-06T12:46:11-07:00

Best for Colorado is brought to you by The Alliance Center, in partnership with B Lab, the nonprofit behind the B Corp movement. Best for Colorado is specifically designed to engage all businesses on the path to positive impact, regardless of whether B Corp Certification is a goal for their organization. Best for Colorado utilizes the same impact measurement tools (the B Impact Assessment) that Certified B Corps use, and thus participating in Best for Colorado can be a good on-ramp for any company interested in B Corp (as well as those that are not!).

Businesses who are already using the B Impact Assessment, including all Colorado B Corps are automatically eligible for Best for Colorado. Simply bestforcolorado@thealliancecenter.org to opt in, access resources and receive recognition.

What makes Best for Colorado different than B Corp Certification?2019-02-06T12:46:49-07:00

Best for Colorado encourages all businesses to begin measuring their impact, and thus does not have any minimum performance requirements; the program is also free to participate in. Certified B Corps meet rigorous standards of social and environmental performance, accountability, and transparency and therefore go through a more in-depth process. B Corp requirements include meeting a minimum level of performance on the B Impact Assessment and making a legal commitment to consider shareholders in decision making. B Corps also receive additional benefits as a result, and there is a fee associated with the Certification. There are more than 2,500 Certified B Corps around the world – click here to learn more

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