SAGE Vision

A global community of teenagers creating better futures through social enterprises, socially responsible businesses and community service.

SAGE Mission

To help create the next generation of entrepreneurial leaders whose innovations and social enterprises address the major unmet needs of our global community.

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HomeTeam Resources Criteria for SRB
Criteria for SRB

For a team to participate in Socially Responsible Business (SRB) tournament, it should do its best to meet the four judging criteria as closely as possible.

Socially responsible businesses are always legally structured as for-profit businesses; they do not directly address social needs through their products or services or through the numbers of disadvantaged people they employ; instead, they create positive social change indirectly through the practice of corporate social responsibility (e.g., creating and implementing a philanthropic foundation; paying equitable wages to their employees; using environmentally friendly raw materials; providing volunteers to help with community projects; and so on)

SRB Judging Criterion Written Annual Report * Oral Present-ation
1. What is the marketplace viability of the business (e.g., has it achieved profitability through earned income? Or has it defined a believable path toward profitability)? 16 20
2. Has the business created positive social change indirectly through the practice of corporate social responsibility (e.g., creating and implementing a philanthropic foundation; paying equitable wages to their employees; using environmentally friendly raw materials; providing volunteers to help with community projects; and so on) Evidence of positive social impact can include media coverage (e.g., newspaper, TV, radio) and potential market reach (e.g., regional, national, global scale). 12 14
3. Has the SAGE team understood the importance of being responsible stewards of the environment in a market economy, either through its products or services, or by its actions in the community? 6 6
4. Has the SAGE team understood the importance of civic engagement in a democratic society, and that each citizen can exercise their freedom by registering to vote and participating in public elections? 6 N/A

TOTAL POSSIBLE POINTS

 40 pts 40 pts
How effective were the students in their responses to judges’ questions during the Q and A period?           20 pts

Written Annual Report   ____ (40 points maximum)

Oral Presentation          ____ (40 points maximum)

Q & A Period                 ____ (20 points maximum)

Total                               ____ (100 points maximum)

* Teams should bring 40 written annual reports with them to each competition. The written annual report is limited to four pages, including cover page. In addition, teams can have copies of media attention they have received for their projects (e.g., magazine articles, newspaper articles, web pages, etc.). Teams may NOT distribute copies of business plans or letters of commendation. Violation of this rule will result in an automatic 5-point deduction from the total of 40 points available for the written annual report. However, presenters MAY distribute their personal business cards.

Here is a handy summary of the four criteria:

  1. Marketplace viability
  2. Social impact
  3. Environmental stewardship
  4. Civic engagement

Note: Please compare the new criteria, above, with prior years, where we included the following as explicit SAGE judging criteria:

  • Global Activities
  • Utilizing College Mentors and a Business Advisory Board
  • Use of Media
  • Measuring Results

Starting with this handbook, however, the above four criteria have been eliminated as specific criteria. Instead, they are embedded in the program, as follows:

  1. Global Activities: Teams are no longer expected to demonstrate a global component per se; however, judges will likely be inclined to favor businesses that demonstrate scalability beyond a local market (e.g., regional, national or international market potential).
  2. Utilizing Mentors and BAB: By February 1 each year, acceptable evidence must be submitted to SAGE National home office that the business is underway and the team has enlisted at least (1) one or two college mentors and (3) three members of a business advisory board (BAB).
  3. Use of Media: Evidence of impact is demonstrated by how well a team has obtained media for its business. Impact is part of new judging criterion #2.
  4. Measuring Results: Market viability is demonstrated by how well a team measures its results. Examples include financial statements to demonstrate profitability, liquidity and risk. This judging criterion is now embedded in new judging criterion #1.