Miami, FL is home to a growing number of social enterprises, nonprofits, and businesses that prioritize social and environmental impact alongside growth.
According to the National Center for Charitable Statistics, there are over 9,000 registered nonprofit organizations in Miami.
These organizations employ over 100,000 people and generate billions of dollars in revenue each year.
In recent years, there has been a growing interest in social entrepreneurship and impact investing in Miami, with organizations like Radical Partners and Ashoka Miami hosting events and providing resources for social entrepreneurs.
Miami Nonprofits and Social Enterprises
Code/Art
Code/Art is a nonprofit organization that empowers girls to code through art. They offer after-school and summer programs, workshops, and competitions to introduce girls to coding and inspire them to become creators, not just consumers, of technology.
Code/Art believes that art can help break down the barriers to entry that girls face in the male-dominated field of computing.
By using art as a medium, girls can express their creativity while learning coding skills. The organization provides a safe, supportive environment where girls can explore coding and build confidence in their abilities.
Guitars Over Guns
A music education nonprofit that uses the power of music to mentor at-risk youth in underserved communities. They provide after-school programs, concerts, and performances to inspire students to reach their full potential and develop life skills such as collaboration, communication, and creativity.
The Full Edit
The Full Edit offers a curated collection of clothing and accessories from designers who prioritize ethical production practices.
After seeing excessive waste as a Victoria’s Secret Designer, Colleen decided to take action. In 2013, she left her job to start TheFullEdit, a Zero Waste Lifestyle Agency that helps people organize their homes and transform their waste into new creations.
Colleen guides her clients through a purging process to remove unwanted items and repurpose materials through her “Upcycle with TheFullEdit” workshops held in Miami and New York.
As Miami’s first zero waste apparel company, TFE resells high-quality garments using only reused packaging. Colleen has been recognized as an expert in sustainable fashion by Discover, Amex, NyMag, and Nylon.
Through TFE, Colleen has eliminated 4,662lbs from the waste stream, organized 14 ZeroWaste awareness events, and educated over 40 businesses on waste reduction.
With 13 years of NYC design experience, Colleen has collaborated with brands like Tesla, NBA, and Glamour to educate others on sustainable design thinking and reduce textile waste in fashion.
Colleen holds degrees in Fashion Technology from Buffalo State and Textile/Surface Design from The Fashion Institute of Technology. She’s also a graduate of F.I.T’s first sustainability class, earning a Professional Certificate in Sustainable Design Entrepreneurship.
As the Director of Eco Fashion at DebrisFreeOceans, Colleen leads Miami’s Annual Eco Fashion Show and Fashion Revolution events, bringing mindful Miamians together to create a less wasteful fashion industry and community.
Radical Partners
Radical Partners is a Miami-based social impact accelerator that works with changemakers to bring innovative solutions to pressing social issues. They provide a range of services to support these efforts, including coaching, funding, networking, and more.
At Radical Partners, they believe that real change comes from working together. They bring together diverse groups of people from different backgrounds and sectors to collaborate and create lasting solutions to complex problems.
They help facilitate these partnerships by providing a supportive and inclusive environment where everyone’s voice can be heard.
Radical Partners works with social entrepreneurs, non-profits, and community leaders to help them achieve their goals and have a greater impact.
They provide funding opportunities through their Social Entrepreneurship Bootcamp and the Community Leadership Institute, which provide resources to help individuals and organizations develop and implement their ideas.
The Education Fund
The Education Fund is a nonprofit organization that has been working to strengthen public schools in Miami-Dade County for over three decades.
Their mission is to promote educational excellence by providing much-needed resources to teachers, students, and schools.
Through a variety of programs, including teacher training and development, student scholarships, and school-based initiatives, they strive to improve academic achievement and increase graduation rates.
The Education Fund believes that every child deserves access to a high-quality education, regardless of their background or circumstances.
They work to close the opportunity gap and ensure that all students have the resources they need to succeed.
By partnering with local businesses, community organizations, and individuals, they are able to leverage resources and maximize their impact.
The Underline
The Underline is a nonprofit organization dedicated to creating a 10-mile urban trail and linear park in Miami that will transform the city’s landscape and connect communities.
Their mission is to create a safe, accessible, and vibrant public space that promotes walking, biking, and other forms of active transportation.
By enhancing the natural beauty of the area and creating new public spaces for recreation and gathering, they hope to strengthen the social fabric of Miami and improve the quality of life for its residents.
The Underline is more than just a park – it’s a platform for community engagement and collaboration.
They work closely with local stakeholders, including government agencies, businesses, and community groups, to ensure that the project meets the needs and desires of the people it serves.
Through a variety of programs and events, they aim to foster a sense of community and pride in the area, and to inspire residents to take an active role in shaping the future of Miami.
EcoTech Visions
This social enterprise incubator provides resources and support for local entrepreneurs who are creating sustainable businesses. EcoTech Visions also offers job training and placement programs to help individuals gain skills and enter the green workforce.
EcoTech provides an intensive incubation experience for entrepreneurs, helping to launch innovative and environmentally-conscious ideas that would otherwise remain dormant due to limited resources.
The ultimate goal is to create the first green city in America, the Green Corridor, which focuses on economic development in renewable energy, energy efficiency, and environmentally-friendly technologies, with the aim of spreading this framework globally.
Love Life Cafe
This vegan restaurant is dedicated to promoting plant-based eating and sustainability. Love Life Cafe uses local and organic ingredients and sources their products from environmentally conscious vendors.
They have partnerships with various non-profit organizations and regularly donate a portion of their profits to support causes such as education, health, and social justice.
The website provides information about their social responsibility initiatives, including their involvement in the community, sustainable practices, and charitable donations.
They also encourage their customers to get involved and make a difference by providing information on how they can support the same causes that the Love Life Cafe supports.
Bunnie Cakes
This vegan bakery creates delicious and eco-friendly desserts using organic and locally-sourced ingredients. Bunnie Cakes also prioritizes sustainability in their packaging and shipping practices.
Bunnie Cakes is a Miami-based bakery that specializes in vegan and gluten-free desserts that are as delicious as they are beautiful.
Their mission is to create treats that everyone can enjoy, regardless of their dietary restrictions. From cakes and cupcakes to cookies and brownies, all of their products are made from scratch using high-quality, natural ingredients.
Seaworthy Collective
Seaworthy Collective (501c3) is a community and startup incubator situated in Miami that concentrates on BlueTech – the innovation of the ocean. Their primary objective is to foster inclusivity and remove any barriers that exist in the innovation of the ocean and climate impact.
The organization is committed to building a world of endless opportunities, where everyone can contribute towards finding solutions that positively impact our planet’s oceans.
Seaworthy Collective supports and empowers Sea Change Makers, which includes early-stage and aspiring entrepreneurs from diverse backgrounds and impact areas globally. These innovators are driving progress for our oceans, which cover 71% of the planet, with the ultimate goal of regenerating the entire planet.
These social enterprises and nonprofits are just a few examples of the growing movement towards sustainable and socially responsible business practices in Miami. By prioritizing impact alongside profit, these businesses are creating a more equitable and sustainable future for the city and its residents.
