My Nonprofit Reviews

Second Chance Inc. is an incredible organization. They have designed a socially, environmentally, and financially sustainable system. Their organization takes individuals who are chronically out of work, a huge problem in post-industrial Baltimore, and gives them the training and support they need to develop lifelong habits to succeed as workers, as community members, and as individuals. I have heard countless anecdotes about individuals who work for Second Chance who's lives were diverted from drugs, crime, or poverty simply because they were given a chance to escape that system and to grow through Second Chance's training program and eventually to thrive.

Second Chance is also incredibly environmentally friendly. They divert a massive amount of C&D "waste" from landfills whose capacity is quickly running out. Instead individuals who are interested in constructing and furnishing their homes in environmentally friendly and/or less expensive ways can do so with quality materials that have been rescued from being wasted. As our society begins to realize we do not live on a planet of infinite resources and starts searching for alternatives to the wasteful consumerist pursuit of the next new thing, I can only imagine the popularity of stores such as Second Chance will skyrocket.

Finally, while accomplishing these significant and important goals for a nonprofit, Second Chance Inc. has managed to be financially sustainable as well! By offering tax credits to donors and then being able to carefully salvage quality items which are displayed in an aesthetically pleasing warehouse, Second Chance has managed to be profitable independent of donations and subsidies, an incredible feat for a young nonprofit. Their business has grown by leaps and bounds and shows now signs of stopping.

In short, Second Chance Inc. meets and exceeds the three criteria for socially responsible investing and any investment in growing their company or expanding their business model would be a worthwhile one.