Our Mission
To cultivate diverse & collaborative work communities, promote entrepreneurialism, and inspire a culture of doing good.
Our Vision
The Triangle area is nationally recognized as a hub for socially-conscious business.
Our Belief
Throughout all Loading Dock campuses, you will see our mantra: Do well. Do good. Better Together.
We believe that as businesses flourish in their profitability and health, they are positioned to invest in their local community.
With 700 members and growing, we believe The Loading Dock ecosystem has a unique ability to inspire a groundswell of “doing good” in the world.
At The Loading Dock, it is our greatest hope to cultivate leaders who will harness their power for good.
We believe that companies offer the agility needed to quickly address the needs of their community.
We believe businesses can provide the capital to assist such needs.
We believe businesses can provide the innovation and financial acumen to be strategic and wise in their approach to solving complex issues that humanity is faced with.
At The Loading Dock, we are committed to deepening business practices that will create a more just, equitable and sustainable world; but our greatest hope is that our members will be inspired and empowered to do the same. Out of the collective impact of hundreds of businesses working together, we will be able to fund, support and engage in the needs around us.
Our Commitments
As a Certified B Corp, The Loading Dock, is committed to using our business as a force for good. Certified B Corporations (B Corps) are companies that have completed a demanding assessment process to prove they meet high standards for environmental and social impact.
The Loading Dock is committed to deepening business practices that will create a more just, equitable and sustainable world; but our greatest hope is that our members will be inspired and empowered to do the same. Out of the collective impact of hundreds of businesses working together, we will be able to fund, support and engage in the needs around us.
Commitment to Purchase Local
Why does The Loading Dock try to purchase locally? Small-scale, locally owned businesses create communities that are more prosperous, connected, and generally better off across a wide range of metrics. When we buy from independent, locally owned businesses, rather than national chains, a significantly greater portion of our money is then cycled back through our local economy — to make purchases from our friends’ businesses, to aid our neighbors in need, and to support our local farms — ultimately strengthening the base of our whole community. When possible, we choose to purchase necessary supplies from minority owned businesses.
Commitment to Hiring
The Loading Dock is committed to hiring a diverse and inclusive workforce.
Commitment to Giving
The Loading Dock is committed to giving 2% of revenue to local nonprofit organizations that build community, enhance education, support entrepreneurialism, provide workforce development, and/or support and uplift minorities. This form of support may come through in-kind donations, drives, sponsorships or direct donations. The outcome of these contributions would be to strengthen the health of the local community through educational and economic development.
Commitment to Volunteerism
The Loading Dock is committed to at least quarterly volunteer opportunities for all full time staff, and is committed to engaging at least 5% of members in volunteerism.
Commitment to Growing Leaders
The Loading Dock is committed to providing at least one professional development training every quarter to its employees. These trainings may be around corporate responsibility, safety, leadership, hospitality, sales, finance, or other pertinent topics.
The Loading Dock is also committed to providing relevant, high quality training opportunities to its members. Topics are influenced by member interest and need, and taught by other members if possible.
Commitment to the Environment
The Loading Dock is committed to developing a local, sustainable network of suppliers to the extent possible; and when goods are purchased from afar, we will do our part to source items that are recycled, compostable or sustainably sourced if available.
We also commit to ordering one time per week, per vendor, per campus in order to limit unnecessary deliveries and greenhouse gas emissions.
