The Maine Highlands Guild, based in Dover-Foxcroft, has won first place and a $25,000 grand prize in the National Social Venture Competition. The Guild is a nonprofit organization providing marketing and sales services to artisan-based microbusinesses in Piscataquis and Penobscot counties.

The guild promotes and sells local art, crafts and traditional products to help the creative economy grow in Maine.

The National Social Venture Competition is organized through a joint effort by the Haas Business School at the University of California, Berkeley; Columbia Business School; and the Goldman Sachs Foundation.

The competition’s mission is to promote the creation of financially self-sufficient or profitable social ventures.

The guild was one of 10 teams that competed in the final round of judging at Columbia University Business School in New York City on April 12. The teams were judged by representatives from foundations, investors and academics who are at the forefront of this growing field of social entrepreneurship.

“We are extremely honored, since participants included teams representing 40 business schools from the United States, England, France and Spain,” said Tracy Michaud Stutzman, executive director of the guild. “What the judges liked about our project is that, along with a solid business plan and social return on investment analysis, it was community-driven and based in the culture and heritage of the region. Additionally, they could see our passion and commitment to the project.”

Along with the $25,000 grand prize, the guild’s business plan will be circulated among the Investors’ Circle, a network of 150 social investors, providing new funding sources as the guild raises funds for expanded operations.

Additional information about the competition may be found at www.socialvc.net