benefit corporation
noun
US law
: a for-profit corporation whose purpose is to provide a benefit to society (as improving the environment or good health) in addition to making a profit for shareholders
called also B corporation
Examples of benefit corporation in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
OpenAI has been working to transition its governance model into a public benefit corporation structure, a change aimed at easing capital access and enabling broader partnerships.
—
Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 8 June 2026
OpenAI's for-profit arm is also a public benefit corporation controlled by a nonprofit foundation whose directors must balance shareholder returns against a broader mission—a structure whose instability was laid bare when OpenAI's board fired and briefly ousted Sam Altman in 2023.
—Beatrice Nolan, Fortune, 2 June 2026
With the entertainment industry in flux and talk everywhere about new models, Level Forward has been plugging away at one as a public benefit corporation — a for-profit company legally required to balance a focus on earnings with positive societal or environmental impact.
—Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 19 May 2026
In the coming months, the company plans to rename itself NewBird AI and give up its status as a public benefit corporation.
—Suvrat Dhanorkar, The Conversation, 18 May 2026
The bankruptcy plan requires Purdue cease operations to form a new public benefit corporation called Knoa Pharma, which is run by a nonprofit foundation.
—Eduardo Cuevas, USA Today, 1 May 2026
In 2025, the company further evolved into a for-profit public benefit corporation, under the OpenAI foundation.
—Samantha Delouya, CNN Money, 28 Apr. 2026
By October 2025, OpenAI completed its conversion to a for-profit public benefit corporation.
—David Zimmermann, The Washington Examiner, 28 Apr. 2026
In October, the company restructured as a public benefit corporation, which is a for-profit company working towards the public benefit.
—Lia Russell
march 24, Sacbee.com, 24 Mar. 2026
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Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 8 June 2026
OpenAI's for-profit arm is also a public benefit corporation controlled by a nonprofit foundation whose directors must balance shareholder returns against a broader mission—a structure whose instability was laid bare when OpenAI's board fired and briefly ousted Sam Altman in 2023.
—Beatrice Nolan, Fortune, 2 June 2026
With the entertainment industry in flux and talk everywhere about new models, Level Forward has been plugging away at one as a public benefit corporation — a for-profit company legally required to balance a focus on earnings with positive societal or environmental impact.
—Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 19 May 2026
In the coming months, the company plans to rename itself NewBird AI and give up its status as a public benefit corporation.
—Suvrat Dhanorkar, The Conversation, 18 May 2026
The bankruptcy plan requires Purdue cease operations to form a new public benefit corporation called Knoa Pharma, which is run by a nonprofit foundation.
—Eduardo Cuevas, USA Today, 1 May 2026
In 2025, the company further evolved into a for-profit public benefit corporation, under the OpenAI foundation.
—Samantha Delouya, CNN Money, 28 Apr. 2026
By October 2025, OpenAI completed its conversion to a for-profit public benefit corporation.
—David Zimmermann, The Washington Examiner, 28 Apr. 2026
In October, the company restructured as a public benefit corporation, which is a for-profit company working towards the public benefit.
—Lia Russell
march 24, Sacbee.com, 24 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Benefit corporation.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/benefit%20corporation. Accessed 13 Jun. 2026.
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