When we founded Fervor & Zeal, we knew we wanted to be more than just another apparel company. We wanted to be part of a movement that proves business can be a force for good. That’s why joining Business For Good San Diego (BFG) was such a natural fit for our co-founders Matthew, Jay, and Sam—and why Sam and Jay now proudly serve on BFG’s board of directors.

What Makes Business For Good Different

Business For Good San Diego has a mission to unite small business owners to drive policy that improves our community. We know that good policy - the fundamental principles that guide our governments - intersects with a small business’s bottom line, the livelihood of its employees, and the health of our community.

This isn’t your typical business networking group. BFG members benefit from advocacy education and awareness of local policies that improve San Diego for all, deep connections with likeminded professionals, and resources to grow purposeful San Diego brands that stay in business—for good. With 110+ BFG members representing millions in local economic impact, this community has real influence and takes that responsibility seriously.

The Power of Political Education and Advocacy

One of our favorite aspects of being part of the BFG community is the access and education to local politics. Too often, business owners feel disconnected from the policy decisions that directly impact their operations, employees, and communities. BFG changes that by making political engagement accessible, educational, and actionable.

Business For Good wants to prepare all our members with the skills and knowledge they need to be confident advocates for local policy change. Through workshops, guest speakers, and hands-on advocacy training, BFG transforms business owners from passive observers to active participants in shaping San Diego’s future.

Real Impact Through Focused Advocacy

We focus on shaping policy in the four areas we believe are most crucial to improving the health, well-being and livelihood of our local communities: Immigration, Environmental Health, Housing & Homelessness, and Business Resources. These aren’t abstract policy areas—they’re issues that directly affect our employees, customers, and neighbors.

Some of BFG’s concrete achievements include:

  • Initiating policy to ban the use and sale of harmful styrofoam products in the City of San Diego, which is enacted as law on April 1, 2023
  • Helping lead the charge in creating a Community Choice Energy Program for all who live in San Diego, allowing for cleaner, more affordable energy options
  • Establishing a multi-sector effort to advance our community’s integration of immigrants and refugees, leading to the City launching the Welcoming San Diego initiative
  • Supporting local policy that allows small-scale community composting, forging the path for the City of San Diego’s now mandated organic waste recycling program

Why Local Politics Matter for Business

As a company that gives back 50% of our profits to artists and organizations, we understand firsthand how local policies around housing, immigration, environmental health, and small business support directly impact our ability to serve our community effectively. When artists can’t afford to live in San Diego, when small businesses struggle with unnecessarily complex regulations, when environmental policies don’t align with our sustainability values—these aren’t abstract policy issues. They are barriers to building the kind of inclusive, creative, sustainable community we want to be part of.

Board Service as Community Stewardship

Sam and Jay’s service on the BFG board represents our commitment to not just benefiting from this community, but actively contributing to its mission. With advocacy and action, our leadership pushes for policies that advance business development while improving lives.

Board service means helping steer an organization that has grown from a small alliance of businesses to a vibrant, growing organization with a serious voice in San Diego since its founding in 2017. It means taking responsibility for ensuring BFG continues to serve as a bridge between San Diego’s business community and the policies that shape our collective future.

Looking Forward

As BFG continues to grow and evolve, we’re excited to be part of an organization that proves local businesses can drive meaningful policy change. Real results become possible when people come together with a shared vision for progress.

Whether it’s through our continued board service, participating in advocacy campaigns, or simply showing up to learn from fellow business owners who share our values, our involvement with Business for Good San Diego represents more than membership—it represents our commitment to being active participants in building the kind of community we want to live and work in.

Because at the end of the day, business isn’t just about what happens within our four walls. It’s about how we show up for our community, how we use our voice and our resources to create positive change, and how we work together to ensure San Diego truly becomes America’s Finest City for everyone who calls it home.

Interested in learning more about Business For Good San Diego? Visit businessforgoodsd.org to explore membership options and upcoming events. Because when values-driven businesses come together, real change becomes possible.