Case Studies

The Freedom Café is a small business in Durham, New Hampshire, dedicated to ending human trafficking and the commercial exploitation of people. Operating as a 501c3 nonprofit, the Freedom Café offers pro-social entrepreneurs a template for ethically running a financially sustainable food service business as a base for activist causes.

Relying on partnerships in the local community and financial independence have been key to the Freedom Café's success. The café has been able to achieve its goals without compromising on values by building mutually beneficial relationships with the local university and its student population, as well as with the local government and other businesses in the area. Additionally, the Freedom Café's earned income model allows it to focus on its mission rather than administrative demands faced by most other nonprofits. Remarkably, the café has operated for over a decade without relying on conventional investors or donor funding streams, growing and scaling at a pace that serves the continuity and impact of its mission, while raising thousands of dollars a year to fight human exploitation in the global supply chain and providing affordable products to locals with a pay-what-you-want pricing model.

For business owners wondering how to navigate legal and operational barriers to prioritize social impact without the burdensome demands of large donors or shareholders, the Freedom Café is a model for operating ethically, independently, and successfully.