From Bloomington, Illinois, to the cutting edge of social entrepreneurship, Bill Wollrab’s journey has been anything but ordinary. The youngest of six kids, Bill's early life hinted at a path less traveled, marked by a passion for the environment. “In the seventh grade, I wrote letters to the local newspaper,” he said. “I wanted to express my feelings about acid rain and nuclear waste.” 

After graduation from Lake Forest College, Bill landed a job with a solar company, long before renewable energy was mainstream. Eventually, he turned his sights toward entrepreneurial opportunities, including co-founding the Yard House restaurant chain in Long Beach, California in 1995. The business was purchased by the Olive Garden/Darden Group for $585 million in 2012.

The experience provided Bill an opportunity to test a new way of raising capital. “I suggested that we should raise money from a large group of small investors versus a small group of large investors,” Bill explained. “I thought that the more investors we had, the more loyal customers we would have.” As a result, the large group of stakeholders created so much word-of-mouth publicity that marketing costs were reduced, resulting in a savings that was passed on to customers.

This experience, combined with a desire to support environmental and social causes became the seed of a new vision to help nonprofits thrive. The vision materialized with AllPeople Marketplace where shoppers can find curated, eco-conscious health and wellness items, household wares and food products. By shopping on the platform, customers support their favorite charities, including their children's schools, with 5% of each sale contributed to the non-profit of their choice.

But the company impact extends beyond the transaction itself. In keeping with the Bill’s core beliefs, the company is 100% community owned. Anyone wishing to join ownership can purchase company shares through equity crowdfunding. “The model is reflective of my personal values,” Bill said. “I want to build and leverage a successful business to do good things.” 

Timing for this type of business couldn’t be better. “People see inequity and need but don’t always know how to make a difference. This is how to make a difference. The platform enables people to easily get involved and impact issues that are important to them,” Bill said. “That connection extends beyond profits.”