Influencing for-profits

Two other ways of having a social impact within the for-profit sector, besides trying to change the incentive structure of for-profits, isare to fund a company that addresses an important social need, and to work for a company and donate some of those earnings.

For-profit organizations control a very large share of society’s resources. Though they are normally not driven primarily by altruistic concern, many companies do create social value by producing goods and services demanded by consumers. However, altruists can incentivize companies to increase the social value of their output. For instance, they can engage in impact investing or divestment.

Two other ways of having a social impact within the for-profit sector, besides trying to change the incentive structure of for-profits, is to fund a company that addresses an important social need, and to work for a company and donate some of those earnings.