This great photo comes from the King Arthur Company.  We here at Cakes rely on them for the flours we use in our desserts--both because of their quality and (as a B-Corp) their commitment to sustainable and socially-responsible business practices.  This photo reminded me that 3 sets of my great-grandparents were farmers (on two continents) and that farmers have the huge responsibility for feeding us all.  With changes in our climate, their jobs get harder and more uncertain.  I especially want to honor those who have taken on the added challenge of producing high-quality organic products, in an effort to sustain our Mother Earth and help us to become healthier.   We couldn't do our work without you--Thank you!

Cakes With a Conscience is a for-benefit company.  In addition to creating delicious desserts from organic, sustainable and fair-trade products, we donate a portion of our profits each year to causes that we believe will help make our world a better, more peaceful place.  We think addressing gender inequity and violence against women are of the utmost importance in reaching that goal, so we focus our charitable donations on fighting gender violence here in the US and around the world.  We look for charitable groups that have a proven track record for addressing violence and oppression against girls and women, domestic violence, and sexual trafficking (of all children), and primarily choose organizations that offer education initiatives.  This year, we have also donated to organizations that have outstanding records for promoting understanding about gender and cultural diversity.  Here are the organizations we supported this year (in alphabetical order):
Center for Diversity Education (US/NC)
Interact Raleigh (US/NC)
The Malala Fund (International)
No Kid Hungry, Educators "Breakfast Team" (US)
Room to Read International (International)
Teaching Tolerance, SPLC (US)
Urban Ministries of Wake County, Helen Wright Center (US/NC)
Wellesley Centers for Women (International research and action projects)

As of November 25, 2014, Cakes with A Conscience name and logo are now registered trademarks with the US Patent and Trademark Office!

If you've read our home page and other Blog posts, you know that Cakes was founded as a for-benefit company.  That means, as part of our business plan, we are committed to operate our business in a socially responsible manner.  We commit over 15% of our profits to organizations that fight gender violence, and we hold ourselves and our products to certain standards in terms of having a positive impact on our environment and the world we live in.  To us, that's much more than a label or a marketing hook, but a philosophy about how we want our business to function in the world. 

So far, North Carolina doesn't have regulations in place about how for-benefit companies should operate in our state, so over the past several months, Cakes has been working through the nonprofit B-Lab to meet rigorous standards of social and environmental performance, accountability, and transparency.  We are proud to say that so far we have gone through our assessment and have scored well above the minimum requirements to qualify as a B-corp! 

So what's next?  Over the coming months, we expect to continue through the certification process, and it's our goal that by the end of 2013, to join the more than 760 other Certified B Corps from 27 countries and 60 industries.  We'll keep you posted!  Your continued support in helping us to build our business will really help us make a difference!