If you're passionate about a specific cause or social initiative, you may look to support a purpose-driven business.

In today’s marketplace, many businesses are purpose-driven and support a particular cause or mission through their work. The causes that businesses may support can be endless. They may strive for long-term sustainability by incorporating eco-friendly practices in their operations. They may help their local communities through a charitable foundation or even focus on creating sustainable products and services.

Businesses aligning with a purpose, mission, or social cause will likely see some benefit. According to Deloitte, purpose-driven brands see higher market share gains and grow faster than their competitors. In addition, these companies will see internal benefits among their staff and improvements in customer satisfaction.

Corporate social responsibility (CSR) may come to mind when thinking about purpose-driven businesses. CSR is a management concept that business leaders use to positively impact society. It can help a business maintain a positive image for its brand and attract and retain employees.

Sometimes, consumers consider a business’s mission and CSR efforts when choosing where to buy from. For example, if you want a new car, you might look into the sustainability efforts of popular car companies. Or perhaps you’re looking for a new bank or credit union. How the financial institution supports your local community may sway your choice.

So, how can you identify a purpose-driven organization? If you are curious about how a business positively impacts society, an excellent place to start is its website. If a company is focused on its purpose and has CSR efforts in place, it will likely have a section detailing its mission, core values, and community initiatives.

If you really want to dig into the details, look for recently published “social impact reports” or “CSR reports” to see how the company’s mission is integrated into its operations. Do your best to look beyond the company’s marketing claims and find examples of their purpose in action.

Many businesses also share their community outreach efforts on their social media platforms. If you want to get a first-hand look at how a business works to fulfill its mission, follow it on social media and look through its posts.

To help you find purpose-driven businesses, look for the BBB4Good^SM verification on BBB.org. BBB4Good Verified Businesses are BBB Accredited Businesses, meaning they have been vetted against not only the BBB’s Standards for Trust but also the BBB4Good Standards.

If you’re looking for a charity to support, find one you can trust. Visit Give.org to search for an Accredited Charity.

If you’re a business owner, read BBB’s tips on employee retention and company culture and find more information on managing your organization.