How did iilo become an impact business?

Did you know iilo Creative Alliance is both a benefit company and an impact business? If that feels a little too jargon-y, allow me to translate! A benefit company is a for-profit business that commits to promoting public benefits and conducting business in a responsible, sustainable way. Rather than saying we want to make a positive impact in the world through iilo, our promise is threaded into the very structure of our company. Certified B Corporations are another form of the impact business model that show a clear alignment between values and revenue-generating activities.

Why did we become a benefit company?

Before becoming business partners and incorporating iilo as a benefit company, Madelen and I collaborated for over 10 years on values-aligned projects in our separate freelance businesses. Our focus has always been furthering the mission of our impact-driven clients through communication design.

We attended Decade Impact’s Getting to 80 program at the end of 2020. During this workshop, aimed at guiding businesses through the process of becoming B Corp certified, we realized we could make so much more impact if we combined our efforts. And so iilo Creative Alliance was born (read about how we got “business” married!) 

How does iilo make a positive impact?

Our mission is to make a positive impact in every aspect of our business, which includes operationally, with (and for) our clients and collaborators, and the rest of the world.

• A major driver for using a collaborator team model (rather than hiring employees) is the desire to give our collaborators full autonomy. Thanks to our virtual setup, our freelancers are able to earn more than a living wage, while having the flexibility and freedom they want. 
• We believe sustainable business practices also means sustainable work schedules for our collaborators, who work “full-time energy, part-time hours,” as we like to say.
• We factor in who we partner with in all business areas, whether it’s selecting a bank (we chose a credit union) or a supplier for the beloved iilo mugs our team sips their morning coffee from (we love Fairware!) 
• We always aim for the lowest environmental impact, lowest use of resources or waste production, and the highest positive impact for people — we believe in elevating humans and reducing negative impacts.
• We make our main impacts through you, the people we work with. Our goal is to have a client list that’s 100% mission-led (we’re currently at 90%, as outlined in our year 1 impact report). We don’t work for clients who aren’t in sustainable business areas or making positive impacts, and we don’t work for companies making products we wouldn’t purchase as consumers. 
• What sets us apart from other design agencies is that we ask, “Do we want more of this in the world?” If we don’t align with a prospective client’s values and genuinely believe in their message, services, or products, we don’t take on the project. 

Are you a mission-led organization that’s excited about working with a values-aligned creative services agency? We should talk! Complete our Let’s Connect form to begin the process.