Cultivating our Local Living Economy.

Pile of Assorted-varieties of Fruits and Vegetables

Our Mission

Our mission is to cultivate a Philadelphia regional economy that is inclusive, just, environmentally healthy, and based on local business ownership.

About Us

The White Dog Café Foundation (WDCF), officially chartered as a 501 (c) 3 non-profit organization in October 2002, started with two original programs — Fair Food and the Sustainable Business Network. Over the last 20 years, the White Dog Café has become a model enterprise, known nationally for its community involvement, environmental stewardship and responsible business practices. Food is purchased with a commitment to buying humanely raised animal products and sustainably grown produce from local family farmers. One hundred percent of electricity is purchased from wind power generated in Pennsylvania. And the Café currently employs over 100 people in living wage jobs. The White Dog exemplifies what we refer to as the “Triple Bottom Line” of people, planet and profit in business.

Realizing that creating one model enterprise is not enough, the White Dog Café Foundation was founded to take what has been learned and modeled at the Café to a higher level of social impact. The Café contributes 20% of its profits to the Foundation and other non-profit organizations that share our values. Café customers make significant financial contributions, and earned income and foundation grants complete our financial support. Unlike many non-profits, we use the marketplace as a vehicle for social change. Business can be a powerful force in confronting many of the problems we face — wealth disparity, the breakdown of both rural and urban communities, environmental degradation, and the scarcity of meaningful employment. The Foundation programs support locally owned farms and businesses that, like the White Dog, serve the needs of customers, employees, our community and the Earth.

What do we do?

We help create, strengthen, and connect locally owned businesses and farms that provide essential human needs to our region; support minority entrepreneurs in this new economy; and educate the public about the benefits and responsibilities of building a local living economy.