What it Means to be a Social Enterprise

At BUNYAAD, our very name means foundation. As a social enterprise, that foundation is built on purpose: building healthier, more inclusive communities.

When BUNYAAD was created, our IBPOC, female founders made a deliberate choice about how the organization would be structured. Having spent many years in the non-profit and public sectors, we had seen how difficult it can be to advance real change while tied to cycles of grants and shifting government priorities. We wanted a model that would let us focus on the work that urgently needs doing, not the work that happens to be fundable at a given moment.

That is why we chose to become a social enterprise. The term captures who we are. We deliver services like a private firm, but every decision is shaped by a social mission. This allows us to bring senior-level expertise directly to clients while also investing in initiatives that would otherwise go unfunded. It gives us the freedom to contribute significant pro bono and low-cost work without shifting the burden onto schools and communities already stretched thin.

This structure has been essential to the way we work. It allows us to move quickly, to design practical solutions with educators and health leaders, and to underwrite initiatives that advance system-level change. It also ensures that our role remains consistent across every project: to be a trusted partner who can anticipate challenges, offer clarity, and help leaders navigate complexity with confidence. The recognition we have received, such as the Public Health Association of BC’s Healthy Corporate Citizen Award, is meaningful because it reflects the trust that has been placed in us. More important than any award, however, is the work itself. We are proud to advise governments, municipalities, First Nations, national Indigenous organizations, and private sector clients. We are equally proud of the initiatives we have been able to support independently, driven by community need rather than by outside funding priorities.

For both Ashraf and me, this is deeply personal. BUNYAAD was not built to be just another public affairs firm. It was built to stand for something larger: the belief that education and health are inseparable foundations of community well-being, and that change requires independence, courage, and purpose. Being a social enterprise is not a label we apply to ourselves. It is the foundation we stand on, and the commitment we bring to every partnership.

BUNYAAD exists to build healthier, more inclusive communities. That has always been our promise, and it continues to guide everything we do.

By Sherri Moore-Arbour

CEO, BUNYAAD Public Affairs

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