The Evergreen® 7Ps™ are the defining tenets of Evergreen® businesses. The Evergreen® 7Ps are:
The first three Ps define the character of the people, and the last four Ps reflect the long-term strategic tenets of an Evergreen® business.
Evergreen® companies are private, profitable, enduring, and market-leading businesses that make a dent in the universe. They put their purpose and people first and avoid decisions that impose a growth-at-all-costs or exit-oriented mindset, which benefits both the communities they serve and our society.
They are everywhere. They exist in every industry, state, and size, and span from owner-operator to sixth generation businesses over 150 years old.
They value their employees. Evergreen® companies land on best places to work lists across outlets, year after year.
They endure. Evergreen® companies have much higher longevity than public companies and are designed for much greater resilience through economic cycles than private equity or venture capital-backed firms. Forbes’s Top 10 Private Companies average almost 100 years.
They are impactful. As resilient employers, Evergreen® companies are invaluable to their communities. Employees can have meaningful jobs, support healthy families, and contribute to their local communities. With no intention to sell, these organizations avoid the otherwise inevitable loss of jobs, top local talent, and IP from the communities they serve.
Companies pursuing certification via the Certified Evergreen® program go through an assessment and evaluation by Tugboat Institute®. The assessment is based on data provided by a company’s cross-functional leadership. The assessment looks at company history and track record, culture and rewards, innovation and people metrics, financial performance, and future readiness.
Tugboat Institute is not only interested in how a company’s business practices were designed and intended but how they are practiced in the organization and their effectiveness today. An employee survey is distributed to employees across various levels of the organization and of tenure with the company as part of the assessment to provide this insight.