English Hudson Is Officially B Corp Certified!
Being a women-owned, Black-owned business in 2025 carries both pride and responsibility.
At English Hudson, we know that our existence as a social impact consulting firm is part of a much bigger story—one shaped by generations of women and Black leaders who created paths where there were none, invested in their communities when resources were scarce, and believed that business could be a tool for justice.
When our co-founders, Lynn English and Marlissa Hudson, started English Hudson in 2021, they brought over 40 years of combined experience in fundraising and a vision for doing this work differently. From the beginning, our firm has been built on a belief that fundraising and philanthropy can—and must—be more equitable, sustainable, and accountable.
Since then, we’ve worked to stay true to that vision by helping mission-driven organizations grow stronger, redistributing resources into communities, and building a culture of philanthropy that reflects justice and care. Along the way, we’ve celebrated important milestones, including recognition as a WBENC Women's Business Enterprise and certification through The 25 Initiative. And now, we are proud to share that English Hudson is officially a Certified B Corp as of July 2025.
Why did we pursue the B Corp Certification?
B Corp certification is among the most rigorous designations a business can earn. Companies are evaluated on how they treat their employees, engage with their communities, protect the environment, and operate transparently. Only organizations that meet high standards of verified social and environmental performance are recognized.
Marlissa Hudson, Co-founder and Chief Executive Officer at English Hudson, shared, “We’ve long respected and frequented B Corp-certified businesses, and we’re honored to join this community of forward-thinking companies. We know that profit can and should be used for good. Our B Corp certification signals our commitment to merging capitalism with purpose.”
Going through the certification process allowed us to pause and reflect on whether we were truly practicing our firm’s values. We asked ourselves: Are we creating the kind of impact that lasts? Are we building a business that reflects equity and sustainability from the inside out? The certification process gave us honest answers and set the bar for how we want to keep growing as a company and with our clients.
“English Hudson's B Corp Certification reflects a meaningful alignment between mission and day-to-day practice,” said Mike Emmert-Kantor, Director of Strategic Growth at B Lab. “As a consulting firm focused on strengthening nonprofits and social impact organizations, they now join a global community of businesses committed to social and environmental accountability. Their work supporting purpose-driven enterprises and underserved communities demonstrates the kind of leadership that adds real depth to the B Corp movement."
Becoming B Corp certified is a point of pride, but more importantly, it will continuously challenge us to keep improving and live our values.
What Being a B Corp Means for Our Team
Joining the global B Corp community connects us with businesses worldwide that share our vision for a more sustainable and equitable future. At English Hudson, justice, excellence, freedom, and courage guide us as core values. This certification exemplifies how those commitments come to life in practice:
Justice: Being a B Corp affirms our commitment to centering justice and ensuring Black and Brown communities play a leading role in shaping and benefiting from philanthropy.
Excellence: It pushes us to deliver high-quality work with care and transparency while staying true to sustainable practices.
Freedom: The B Corp Certification challenges us to continue strengthening organizations so they can thrive independently, creating long-term sustainability and self-determination for the communities we serve.
Courage: It reinforces our responsibility to advocate for justice and equity in spaces resistant to change, even when the path is uncertain.
Together, these values ground our work and reflect why becoming a B Corp matters so deeply to us. Beyond our own walls, the certification also connects us to a broader movement of businesses redefining what responsible, purpose-driven practice looks like.
“The B Corp community is strengthened by businesses that embed equity and impact into their core. English Hudson’s B Corp Certification is a powerful example of this principle in action. As a women-owned, Black-owned consulting firm, they bring essential perspectives that challenge traditional business norms and help evolve how we think about stakeholder governance,” said Sarah Schwimmer, Co-Lead Executive at B Lab. “Firms like English Hudson help model a future where purpose-driven business is not just possible, it’s necessary. We’re proud to welcome them to the B Corp community.”
This certification is more than a milestone—it’s a charge to keep raising the bar for what’s possible. As we look ahead, we remain committed to helping social impact organizations grow stronger, advancing equity through fundraising and strategy, and building partnerships that lead to lasting impact.
Above all, this certification is a reminder of why we began: to lead with justice, build with care, and create lasting change.