Dedicated to continuously improving our world
Our impact spans two decades and counting
At c|change, we believed in the B Corp mission long before we achieved certification.
Since day one, our agency was driven by the belief that there was a better way to do business. We could take a more meaningful and innovative approach—worldbuilding—to our client work. We could create a more empathetic and supportive employee experience. And we could underscore the “change” in our name by making service to our communities a central part of our work.
For clients, this has led to building immersive experiences that drive not just business growth, but the social impact they desire. That's one reason why our clients turn to us to help tell the stories of collaborations with nonprofit partners and internal initiatives promoting diversity and equity.
And for our communities and the planet, this has meant applying our talent, creativity, and problem-solving to find meaningful ways to address issues as large and complex as climate justice and racial equity.
Let’s chat if you’re interested in collaborating to solve challenges for your brand, community, or the environment. Or, if you have any feedback on how we’re doing, please let us know through the form below.
Hugh Schulze, c|change, President/CEO
Environment
On February 19th, 2021 c|change formally committed to reach NetZero carbon emissions by 2030. While we have seven more years to reach this milestone, our goal is to reach NetZero carbon emissions sooner–by 2025.
We will reach NetZero by first quantifying our scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions, reducing them to as close to zero as possible and then working with credible partners to offset the remaining carbon emissions. This process is underway and we are excited not only by the possibility of reaching this goal but by finding innovative and credible ways to do so.
Our choice in space/landlord was based on our ability to collaborate with them on sustainability initiatives as well as their commitment to stakeholder engagement as evidenced by their having obtained WELL Health-Safety certification for their entire portfolio of commercial spaces (including our office at 372 W. Ontario).
Community
One of the primary ways in which c|change responds to the needs of our community stakeholders is by working in service to organizations and institutions that both need our help and that align with our values.
c|change offers 8 hours per year of compensated volunteer time to each employee and our goal is that, as a company, we hit a minimum of that amount of volunteer time across the company. We also organize group volunteer activities as an agency. And in 2022, we participated in a holiday toy drive. The c|change team donated 25 toys to ChiGivesBack, a local social impact organization.
2022 volunteer hours were spent supporting PAWS Chicago, B Lab, Westchester Primary School, Our Lady of Ransom “Ransom Responds” Food Pantry, and Chicago Adventure Therapy.
Social media for social change
In 2022, we created a social media video and posts to promote the @Equiano.stories Instagram film and exhibit at the DuSable Black History Museum and Education Center. The exhibit, which coincided with Black History Month, reimagined the story of writer and abolitionist Olaudah Equiano as told through modern social media.
We also developed a series of posts throughout B Corp Month that gave an inside look at what it's like to be a certified B Corp and why that matters for our clients, people, community, and the planet.
Clients
Like all businesses, we rely heavily on our clients to ensure our continued viability. We are committed to delivering value to our clients that they would agree is in line with the investment that they make in our services.
The way that we assess how well we are satisfying client needs is by conducting an annual Net Promoter Score (NPS) survey. In 2022, we were pleased to continue to receive strong, positive feedback leading to an NPS score deemed “Excellent.”
Employees
Our employee stakeholders drive our business and their collective personalities, values, and sense of belonging all contribute to our culture. Our commitment to our employees can partially be understood by the ways in which we look to meet their needs in a holistic way.
c|change offers 100% paid medical, dental, and vision insurance for employees and dependents, retirement benefit with employer match, commuter benefits, and access to learning and development opportunities we adapt to meet the needs of our team.
The average contribution amount for covered workers in small firms is $1,209 for single coverage and $7,556 for families.
Source: KFF, 2022
The annual health insurance premium for c|change employees with single or family coverage is $0.
In 2022 we were also able to distribute bonuses to each employee.
c|change maintains a flexible work environment for our employees. Our agency began shifting to a hybrid work environment in 2022, after spending over two years fully remote to adapt to the challenges of COVID-19. As part of worldbuilding a supportive and empowering employee experience, we adjust to employees’ unique situations, whether supporting fully remote work for employees moving to other cities or part-time schedules so employees can balance familial obligations with their careers.
For when employees work in-office, c|change offers an “open tab” at a nearby, locally owned coffee shop, and provides lunch and snacks during the workday.
Public benefits and disclosures
c|change is both a Certified B Corp and a benefit corporation under Illinois law. We work to provide public benefits to our clients, our employees, and the community. Our public benefit is measured through B Lab’s B Impact Assessment (BIA), which measures a company’s positive impact on its myriad stakeholders and is considered the current, best third-party standard for measuring a business’s social and environmental performance.
We have been using the BIA since 2020, the year we began working on our B Corp Certification. We are required to recertify every three years, and achieved our recertification in 2023.
There is no organizational or monetary connection between c|change and B Lab or any other ties that create a conflict of interest with B Lab as a certifying body. The c|change shareholders with an ownership stake of more than 5% are Hugh Schulze, our Founder and Executive Creative Director.
Your feedback is welcome
Thank you for reviewing our impact statement. We welcome your thoughts, questions, ideas, and suggestions. Although your name and email address are not required, please consider providing this information if you’d like a response from us.
