In May, BusinessWeek looked at U.S.-based social entrepreneurs who were both making a difference and earning a profit. They selected 25 finalists, which were voted on by BusinessWeek readers.
The winner was Better World Books with 36% of the vote!
Here’s what BusinessWeek had to say:
“With 36% of the vote, online bookseller Better World Books led the pack. The 200-person company makes money selling books it gets for free from a network of individuals and institutions across the country. Co-founder Xavier Helgesen says the Mishawaka (Ind.)-based company has donated over $6 million to literacy programs and libraries around the world since it launched in 2002. “Right now, one out of seven people has the economic means to buy books from us,” he says. “If we can bring people up to levels of equivalent literacy, we’re helping our long-term business model.” Helgesen expects Better World, which has secured around $4 million in equity investment in total, to bring in $30 million in revenue this calendar year and be profitable in 2010. The company sells about 10,000 books a day.”
Ready to donate a book?
Here’s how:
Head to the Better World Books’ Buyback page and enter the ISBNs of the books you have. If your buyback total is at least $5 or you choose to donate at least three books, shipping is free! Better World Books pays for shipping when you use the pre-paid USPS Media Mail label they provide at checkout.
You can also mail books to:
Better World Books
Donation
55740 Currant Road
Mishawaka, IN 46545
Better World Books
- Better World Books collects and sells books online to fund literacy initiatives worldwide. With more than two million new and used titles in stock, we’re a self-sustaining, triple-bottom-line company that creates social, economic and environmental value for all our stakeholders.
- Organization Type: B Corporation
- Website: www.betterworldbooks.com
- Founder(s): Xavier Helgesen, Chris “Kreece” Fuchs, Jeff Kurtzman
- Founded: 2002
- Location: Mishawaka, Indiana, United States
- See complete company list here
Contributor Profile: Tristan
Tristan is a social change advocate, writer and social media do gooder. He has worked with Ashoka and Best Buy promoting social entrepreneurship and responsibility.
Twitter: @writerpollock
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I just sent it about 20 books to them! Good stuff and very easy process, you can even get paid for certain books (and choose to donate that money as well!).
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