Purchasing with Purpose

An interesting announcement from Anthropic: Claude Corps, a $150 million fellowship program that will train 1,000 early-career workers in AI and place them within nonprofits across the U.S.

As AI continues to reshape the economy, the initiative raises important questions about how we can leverage AI to support both organizational impact and inclusive economic growth. And of course this all sits alongside the perennial discussion around the social and environmental impacts of AI.

Keen to hear thoughts on what else people would like to see from tech companies to drive equitable access to AI skills?

Link to article in the comments.

This week's Impact Enterprise of the Week is AutonomyWorks.

AutonomyWorks provides digital marketing, transaction processing, data management, quality assurance, and AI services while creating meaningful employment opportunities for people with autism.

Their work shows how procurement decisions can strengthen communities, expand economic opportunity, and deliver high-quality business outcomes at the same time.

Investing in people builds resilient supply chains

New data from the World Economic Forum found that social risks now drive around 18% of global supply chain disruptions, with labor strikes, protests, and worker-related issues among the leading causes.

The takeaway? Fair wages, safe working conditions, and strong communities aren't just ethical considerations, they're critical to supply chain resilience.

A recent article from Supply Chain Management Review emphasized why supporting social and economic growth in the places in which you operate is so important for competitiveness:

"The future of supply chain competitiveness will depend on whether firms can protect and renew the places from which value is created."

For those of us working in impact procurement, this is a reminder that who we buy from matters. Investing in suppliers that prioritize workers, communities, and sustainability isn't just good practice, it's good business.

Article links are in the comments.

Join us on June 25 for our next Impact Session featuring Melissa Widen, co-founder of First Women's Bank.

Women own 39% of U.S. businesses and generate $2.7 trillion in economic activity, yet receive only a fraction of small business lending. First Women's Bank was created to help close that gap by directing capital toward women-owned businesses and advancing economic opportunity.

Melissa will share the bank's journey, innovative impact deposit model, and lessons that can help all of us think differently about using capital to drive meaningful change.

The session will include a presentation followed by small-group discussions focused on practical takeaways for our own organizations and communities.

June 25, 2026 at 12:00PM ET.

Space is limited, register today:

https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/pshqfVCWQHK1rsbt6WlFEA #/registration

Impact Enterprise of the Week: Sweet Beginnings

Sweet Beginnings is creating pathways to employment, economic opportunity, and second chances through the power of urban beekeeping.

As a social enterprise of the North Lawndale Employment Network, Sweet Beginnings provides transitional jobs, training, and ongoing support for individuals returning from incarceration. Participants gain hands-on experience managing urban apiaries, harvesting honey, producing Beelove® products, fulfilling orders, supporting retail operations, and developing the workplace skills needed for long-term career success.

Beyond workforce development, Sweet Beginnings contributes to environmental sustainability through urban beekeeping and the production of Certified Naturally Grown honey and honey-based products. Their work strengthens communities, supports pollinator health, and creates lasting economic opportunity for individuals rebuilding their lives.

Through innovation, environmental stewardship, and a commitment to inclusive employment, Sweet Beginnings shows how business can create positive impact for both people and planet.

Impact Enterprise of the Week: Jubilee Trading Co

This week we’re highlighting Jubilee Trading Company, a mission-driven nonprofit creating sustainable, life-changing work through global fair trade partnerships and local employment opportunities in Tennessee.

Jubilee Trading Company partners with skilled artisans in Morocco and Kenya to produce handcrafted leather goods using environmentally responsible practices while ensuring fair wages, safe working conditions, and reliable income for artisan communities.

Closer to home, Jubilee creates employment opportunities for women facing barriers to work, including domestic abuse survivors, through job readiness programs and supportive local hiring initiatives in rural Tennessee.

Beyond their products, Jubilee invests deeply in community. Their Lawrenceburg storefront hosts free workshops and events, while their Kenyan workshop also serves as a community gathering space for medical camps and local programs.

Learn more about their work:
https://jubileetradingco.com/

Plan for a Better Future by Green America + Social(k) to learn how to bring sustainable investing into workplace retirement plans

May 27 | Employers: Learn why offering sustainable funds matters — and how to add them to your plan

Save your spot + help build a future you actually want to retire into https://bit.ly/4niYWXg

Impact Enterprise of the Week: Point of View Story

This week we’re highlighting Point of View Story, an organization using the power of film to foster healing, connection, and understanding.

Through therapeutic films and cinematic storytelling, they create meaningful tools that support individuals, families, and agencies navigating difficult life experiences. Their work demonstrates how creativity and storytelling can become powerful vehicles for emotional healing and human connection.

We’re inspired by enterprises like Point of View Story that are using innovative approaches to put people first and create lasting social impact.

Learn more: https://www.pointofviewstory.com/

One of the best resources out there on building an economy that works for people and planet is the Community Wealth Building Action Guide from The Democracy Collaborative. We've linked the Guide here: https://www.democracycollaborative.org/whatwethink/community-wealth-building-action-guide

The core idea is simple but powerful: instead of relying on outside investment, communities can build resilient local economies by using the assets, institutions, and resources they already have.

The guide highlights five key pillars of Community Wealth Building:
1. Progressive procurement
2. Locally rooted finance
3. Just use of land and property
4. Inclusive and democratic enterprise
5. Fair work

If you're ready to make your procurement work harder for your community, get in touch to see how we can support you to get started with impact-led purchasing in your organization.

Ready to take the next step? Our Essentials Program gives you the tools to make the case for impact-led purchasing in just 2.5 hours, using the language that gets leadership to act. Sign up with the link in the comments.

Action guide for advancing Community Wealth Building in the United States — The Democracy Collaborative Community Wealth Building (CWB) is an economic development model that transforms local economies based on communities having direct ownership and control of their assets.

Yesterday’s People and Planet First Procurement Exchange: Chicagoland Mini Trade Show brought together buyers and mission-driven enterprises from across Chicagoland for an afternoon focused on relationship-building and values-aligned procurement.

These intimate mini trade shows are designed to create real pathways between institutions, companies, and social enterprises that are ready to deliver high-quality products and services while creating positive impact.

A special thank you to HHPLIFT for hosting and helping create a space where these connections and opportunities could happen.

Thank you to everyone who participated and helped make the event a success. We look forward to continuing to grow this ecosystem together. More mini trade shows are coming soon.