Twice in the last week, I’ve asked for advice on where to turn for startup funding for ReGeneration Productions, LLC, the production company bringing you Mission: Sustainable. Twice, I’ve gotten the same answer: “Go nonprofit; it opens up a world of grants!”

Each time I hear this, I pause to reconsider and come to the same conclusion: Why shouldn’t organizations committed to passion over profit have a larger share of capitalist pie? Why should all do-gooders participate in commerce in separate sphere, guided by special rules and prescriptions? And lastly, call it semantics, but I’ve got a beef with using the phrase “nonprofit” to describe all of these wonderful organizations that have great potential for income. Something about the very wording seems to emasculate a corporation.

Environmentalists are spending a LOT of energy explaining to for-profit companies why they need to build concerns for environmental and social responsibility into their existing profit equations. Books like Natural Capitalism and Cradle to Cradle share roadmaps on how companies should turn a profit in a less resource-intensive way. The trend is to push, coddle, protest, boycott, and embarrass existing companies into good behavior, when maybe it’s time to pour some of that energy into supporting new companies that “get it” from the beginning. Arguably, it’s the same logic as mandating sustainability education for children who will be tomorrow’s leaders. It’s about investing in the leaders of tomorrow today.

I’d like to hear what other folks have to say about the nonprofit vs. for-profit debate. I’m open to rethinking my logic, so let me hear from you: What are the pros and cons in your view?

Yours in business,

Rose

[Images courtesy of http://savantcreativegroup.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/money_plant.jpg and http://www.ebooknetworking.com/books/086/547/big0865475873.jpg]