FAQs

A social enterprise is an organization that addresses a basic unmet need or solves a social problem through a market-driven approach (Social Enterprise Alliance)

Candles are a timeless and elegant product that also serve as a beautiful manifestation of our belief in the spark and light that resides in everyone. We also found that candle production is a great fit for a workforce development program because we can train people quickly, which allows us to focus on other transferable skills. We wanted a product that would make our program accessible to all skill levels so that we can support the growth and development of as many young moms as possible.

Bright Endeavors was founded by two female social entrepreneurs in 2007. In 2010, we merged with New Moms, a non-profit in the Austin neighborhood of Chicago that provides wraparound services for young moms, including housing and family support programs.

Our participants find work in a wide variety of industries! We work with each participant throughout their time at Bright Endeavors to identify the types of job opportunities they want to explore. Popular industries include retail, hospitality/food services, transportation and healthcare.

We offer a 12-week program. Our young moms are paid for the entirety of their time in our program, which includes classroom training as well as time on our production floor. Our workforce team at New Moms provides support up to 2 years after Bright Endeavors’ graduation.

We would love to stay in touch! Please follow us on social media (Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest) and subscribe to our email updates on our website to receive notifications about our program and sweet candle deals. We promise we won’t fill your inbox with unnecessary emails – just occasional notes to check in.

We use 100% soy wax and all of our fragrances are phthalate-free. We also use cotton braided wicks.

We love that soy wax is a plant-based, renewable resource and it is biodegradable. Soy wax is also known for its long burn time (compared to paraffin wax) and produces a clean burn.

We recommend a burn time of 3-4 hours per lighting. This will help ensure that the melt pool reaches the edge of the container, allowing the candle to burn evenly and avoid “tunneling.” Always allow the candle vessel to cool completely before handling. Make sure to trim the wick to 1/4″ before each lighting. Of course, never leave a candle unattended or within reach of children, pets or a draft!

Little beads of what appears to be sweat at the top of the candle is a normal occurrence. Soy wax is a natural material and is sensitive to extreme temperature change. The natural oil can separate from the soy wax but it does not affect the quality of the candle, the way it burns or the scent throw. Simply wipe the excess oil off with a dry paper towel and light up!

*Order by December 18th, 2024 to receive by the 25th.

Please note: USPS processing times are approximately 7-10 days due to the frequency of package deliveries to the carrier. For faster shipping, we recommend UPS.

For UPS, our current processing time is approximately 3-5 business days. Shipping times vary by location; shipping to locations in Illinois are approximately 1-2 days and locations outside of the state are approximately 2-5 days in transit.

Exceptions to this are large quantity orders and you will be notified of any longer ship times. You will receive a shipping confirmation once we transfer your order to the carrier. If you have any questions, please contact us at sales@brightendeavors.org or (773) 388-2811.

Soy wax is a very soft wax and will start to melt if exposed to hot temperatures for long periods of time. Please be aware that your candles can be affected by severe exposure to hot temperatures of 80 degrees or higher for long periods of time. Unfortunately, mail trucks are not air conditioned. However, to minimize the risks associated with shipping in hot weather, we will include ice packs with the shipment. These ice packs will typically control the temperature for up to two days. Cross country deliveries or any deliveries that require more than two days in transit are a bit riskier, so please keep this in mind when purchasing candles in the summer months. Even though orders under $50 are insured, USPS and UPS will not reimburse for melted candles so we cannot be held liable for melted candles. Please order at your own risk or choose expedited delivery services.

Not yet, but hopefully we will continue to grow and can offer it in the future!