A Vibrant social mission since the start

Social Imprints was incorporated in 2008, but the seeds of the company were planted in 1999.

At the time, Jeff Sheinbein, now Social Imprints CEO, was executive director of a San Francisco non-profit printing company called AI, that hired recovering drug addicts and formerly homeless individuals. Jeff advertised for an admin assistant, and several days later a shy young man walked in the door and introduced himself as Kevin McCracken.

Kevin said he'd been referred by a counselor at Walden House, a Bay Area drug rehab and treatment center. Jeff liked Kevin and decided to hire him. Soon, McCracken was answering phones, filing paperwork, and performing other duties. His energy and enthusiasm were immediately apparent, and he was soon promoted to sales manager. In 2004, Kevin became executive director, when Jeff was invited to help start a similar non-profit social-based printing company in London.

In 2008, Jeff and Kevin again joined forces to start the company of their dreams. Jeff remembers, "We wanted to create a different kind of printing company, one that would offer high-quality promotional products and outstanding customer service, while providing maximum social returns to the community.

In 2009, just before Social Imprints opened, the company was selected among thousands of applicants to present its business plan to the Investors Circle Conference. The members of Investors Circle select the most promising social enterprises in the U.S. and offer them an opportunity to present their business plans to some of the country's most prominent investment funds and angel investors.

Social Imprints made a big impression. The company secured $300K from well-known angel investors, including Mike Hannigan, president and founder of Give Something Back; Henry Vandermark, founder of Solar Wave Energy; James Lincoln, CEO of Illuminated Funds; and Josh Mailman, founder of Serious Change. Josh is also the founding investor in Stonyfield Farms, and started the Social Venture Network, a non-profit that connects hundreds of business leaders and inspires them to build a just and sustainable economy.

In the summer of 2009, Social Imprints opened with a bang. In six months, the company generated nearly $800K in sales and received San Francisco Magazine's "Start up of the Year" award. In 2010, its first full year, the company generated nearly $2 million in sales to more than 400 of the nation's leading organizations, including Wikipedia, Dolby, Metallica, University of San Francisco, and AmeriCorps Alums.

Jeff Sheinbein
Co-Founder & Chief Executive Officer

Jeff Sheinbein has over 12 years of experience in social enterprise management in the U.S. and abroad. He is the former managing director of AI, a non-profit screen printing and embroidery company that continues to hire from the same at-risk adult population as Social Imprints.

Under Jeff's leadership, that organization became one of the country's most successful nonprofit enterprises of its size, and one of the most profitable businesses in the screen printing industry. It gained significant publicity through coverage by TV, newspapers, and magazines, including KRON-TV, the San Francisco Chronicle, and Impressions magazine.

Leveraging his success with non-profits, Jeff was hired by the Community Action Network in London to replicate his successful business model there. While in the UK, he traveled throughout the country, holding social enterprise workshops for hundreds of aspiring young British social entrepreneurs.

Jeff has had a successful second career as an independent consultant, helping nonprofits and social enterprises grow. His clients include Golden Gate Community Inc., The Body Positive, ShareForward, East West Holistic Center, and the Borders Books Free Classes Program.