Posts Tagged social entrepreneurship

The Rotary Revolution

Apr 13

Posted by admin in social entrepreneurship | No Comments

I was recently asked to speak at a Rotary Club in Tucson by Paul Bellows, a colleague of mine, and founder of Bellows Consulting.

During my talk, I realized for the first time that Rotary had the infrastructure to become the greatest force for social entrepreneurship and social innovation on the planet.

Let me explain. Rotary is recognized as the worlds largest philanthropic organization. Local Rotary clubs have developed since 1905 and are known for international philanthropic projects like helping eliminate polio throughout the world and ensuring fresh water is available to people in distant places. While Rotary also provides scholarships, and UN involvement for young people, I think it would be fair to say that most global citizens are unaware of this. I certainly was.

When I spoke to the Old Pueblo group, we talked about moving Rotary to the next level of philanthropy by applying principles of cause-marketing and social entrepreneurship to their existing model, and using social media to share this message with a new generation of 80 million millennials who all seemed predisposed to wanting to change the world.

I had never spoken to a crowd that reflected the same high level of intensity I share when into comes to making a difference. It was simply Amazing!

It was at this moment that I realized that with a little strategic planning at the international and local levels, Rotary could become the largest social innovator on the planet…Alas, Rotary could shed the stigma of being a good ol’ boys social gathering, attract new leaders and become highly profitable by applying business principles to doing good.

After finishing my talk, I took several questions regarding how Rotary might most successfully use the principles mentioned above.

My advice was that a brand awareness campaign was desperately needed. This campaign would reach out to leaders and effectively communicate the history as well as the new vision of Rotary Clubs around the world.

I called for a “Rotary Revolution.” Sounds exciting doesn’t it. I look forward to seeing how the rest of this story will go and the role I will play in it. I’ll Keep you posted!

Tags: Bellows Consulting, brand awareness, cause-marketing, Rotary Club in Tucson, social entrepreneurship

Business Plan Competitions for Social Entrepreneurs

Jan 5

Posted by admin in social entrepreneurship | 1 Comment

Name	Web site	Next Deadline	Entry Criteria, Prizes, Notes
Investor's Circle Call for Applicants	http://tinyurl.com/IC-call-for-applicants	January 13, 2010	Companies at early or expansion stage whose businesses address significant social or environmental issues.
Global Social Venture Competition	www.gsvc.org	January 20 (USA Entries)	One team member must be a current or recent (2 years) graduate business student. $25,000 grand prize.
Brigham Young University Social Venture Competition	http://socialventure.byu.edu	January 22, 2010	Applicants must be currently enrolled at Brigham Young (Provo, Hawaii, or Idaho). $50,000 in cash and prizes.
Business Environmental Awards	www.acterra.org/bea/	January 22, 2010	For existing companies in the San Francisco Bay area. Some Non-profit organizations are eligible.
Tufts Entrepreneurship Business Plan Competition	http://tinyurl.com/tufts-competition	January 25, 2010	One member of each team must be a Tufts student. $100,000 in cash and in-kind prizes.
Florida International University (FIU) Entrepreneur Challenge	http://fiuchallenge.com	January 30, 2010	Open to all FIU students. $5,000 grant.
Harvard Social Enterprise Club Pitch for Change Competition	www.pitchforchange.org/	January 30, 2010	At least one team member must be a current graduate student. Cash prizes totaling $7,000.
Tulane University Business Plan Competition	www.tulanebusinessplancompetition.com/	February 1, 2010	Open to students. All business ventures must be seeking outside equity capital. Cash prizes totaling $40,000.
Seattle Pacific University Social Venture Plan Competition	www.spu.edu/depts/sbe/svpc.asp	February 9, 2010	At least one teams member must be a SPU student. $7,500 in prizes.
Yale Entrepreneurial Society (YES)	www.yesatyale.org/y50k.php	February 9, 2010	At least one team member must be a Yale student, staff, or faculty member. $55,000 in prizes.
Duke Start-Up Challenge - Entrepreneur Competition	www.dukestartupchallenge.org/	February 10, 2010	At least one team member must be a full-time student at Duke. Prizes totaling $52,000.
Stanford Social E-Challenge	http://tinyurl.com/social-ebases	February 17, 2010	At least one team member must be a Stanford student or recent alumni. $50,000 in prizes.
Skoll Awards for Social Entrepreneurship (SASE)	www.skollfoundation.org/skollawards/	February 17, 2010	Organization led by social entrepreneur with at least a 3 year track record. Mezzanine funding available.

Tags: Harvard, social enterprise, social entrepreneurship, William James Foundation, Yale

Social Capital Markets 2009 Convention

Aug 16

Posted by admin in Education, Social Entreprenueurship Education | No Comments

If your are a serious about making a Social impact SOCAP09 is where you will want to be. Everybody who is anybody at this event will be there.

This event was organized by Kevin Jones and a couple of years ago the put major players of the Social Entrepreneurship movement together.

Heads of Major Foundations, non-profits, and social venture capitals firms will all be establishing relationships and building partnerships with social entrepreneurs like you and I to reshape our world. Hope to see you there.

For more information view the video below and visit

www.socialcaptialmarkets.net

Tags: arizona, change, Education, entrepreneurship, Kevin Jones, NextBillion.net, opportunity, San Francisco, SOCAP09, Social Capital Markets 2009, social entrepreneurship, Social Venture Capital, tucson

Is Network Marketing Social Entrepreuership’s Greatest Resource

Jul 11

Posted by admin in Network Marketing, Social Entreprenueurship Education | No Comments

So I’ve been toying with several blog ideas over the past couple of weeks because I really wanted to talk about something that hasn’t really been discussed before.

Also, I was looking for industries that could potentially have a huge social impact on society.

My conclusion was that any industry could foot the bill (i.e. make a difference) as long as the end result of their efforts added value to the lives of all involved and didn’t cause harm in the process.

Since this was a very large conclusion to come to, I decided to look at ways of doing business, and this is what lead me to writing about network marketing industry today.

Now let me start by saying that, I am apart of a network marketing company and to some extent I am biased.

However, I am very aware that throughout the years network marketing has really earned a bum wrap because so many of the companies that professes to but beacons of light and a sure path of freedom from poverty simply haven’t been that.

Many of these companies have misrepresented the true success potential of their opportunity, are like cults in that new recruits pressure friends and family to join, and to make matters worst many of these companies change pay plans when their enterprise becomes saturated with too many distributors.

However, the fundamental concept of network marketing is social in nature and could potentially be the strongest ally for aspiring social entrepreneurs around the world.

Done correctly network marketing is Social Entrepreneurship at its finest…Network marketing is supposed to be about creating a lifestyle that assist those closest to you by offering them a product, service or business opportunity that can actually enrich or add value their lives.

However, in order for network marketing to be truly social entrepreneurial it must be carried out with the highest degree of integrity on the part of the company and the independent distributor.

The network marketing company must be ethical, maintain a high degree of integrity, and truly have the intent of making a difference in the world instead of just making a buck.

Secondly the independent distributors involved in a network marketing company must be ethical and committed to working with the organization because they have concluded that their network marketing organization is the right fit, at the right time for their life.

In my next blog we will discuss the social entrepreneurial impact of network marketing companies and distributors that actually get the philosophy of making a difference.

In the mean time if you are involved in a network marketing company and would like to learn more about how to build a business that makes a difference and provides you with the financial ability to create a massive impact, please checkout magnetic sponsoring

Tags: arizona, business, change, Education, entrepreneurship, ethics, home based business, independent distributor, integrity, making a difference, Network Marketing, opportunity, phoenix, social entrepreneurship, tucson

Best Social Entrepreneurship News websites

Jun 16

Posted by admin in social entrepreneurship | 1 Comment

In an effort to ensure you guys have more than enough information to perform reseach and get involed, here is a another great list of Social Entrepreneurship sites…This list comes from E-180.org

Best Social Entrepreneurship News websites

1. E-180

Ok, that’s us. We keep you posted on social entrepreneurship, consensual education and social media. News, fellowships, training programs, resources.

2. CSR Wire

CSRwire is the leading global source of Corporate Social Responsibility news.

3. Change.org – Social entrepreneurship

The social entrepreneurship blog @ change.org. Nathaniel is the founding Director of the Center for Global Engagement at Northwestern University, which works annually with hundreds of students in dozens of countries around the world through curricular programs and student project incubation.

4. Stanford Social Innovation Review

Strategies, tools and ideas for nonprofits, foundations and socially responsible businesses

5. Fast Company – Social Responsibility

Fast Company often features articles on social responsibility and social entrepreneurship. They also organize every year the Social Capitalist Awards. Along with the 45 world-changing nonprofits, they also honor ten companies not only striving to make a profit, but to also make a difference.

6. Social edge

Social Edge is the global online community where social entrepreneurs and other practitioners of the social benefit sector connect to network, learn, inspire and share resources. A Skoll Foundation initiative.

7. NextBillion.net

NextBillion.net brings together the community of business leaders, social entrepreneurs, NGOs, policy makers, and academics who want to explore the connection between development and enterprise.

8. Alltop : Social entrepreneurship

The best of blogs on social entrepreneurship, from Guy Kawasaki’s Alltop.

9. Alltop : Good

The best of blogs on social good, from Guy Kawasaki’s Alltop.

Best Social Entrepreneurship Fellowships and Funding websites

10. Ashoka

Ashoka is the global association of the world’s leading social entrepreneurs—men and women with system changing solutions for the world’s most urgent social problems. Since 1981, they have elected over 2,000 leading social entrepreneurs as Ashoka Fellows, providing them with living stipends, professional support, and access to a global network of peers in more than 60 countries.

11. Echoing Green

Since 1987, Echoing Green has provided seed funding and support to more than 450 social entrepreneurs with bold ideas for social change in order to launch groundbreaking organizations around the world. They provide seed money, in the early stage of a social venture.

12. Skoll Foundation

The Skoll Foundation’s mission is to advance systemic change to benefit communities around the world by investing in, connecting and celebrating social entrepreneurs. Their main funding program is the Skoll Awards for Entrepreneurship

13. Tides Foundation

Since 1976, Tides Foundation has worked with donors committed to positive social change. They put resources and people together—strengthening community-based nonprofit organizations and the progressive movement through innovative grantmaking.

14. Schwab Foundation

They identify the world’s leading social entrepreneurs: Over the past eight years, the Foundation has been selecting 20-30 social entrepreneurs annually from around the world into its network of leading social entrepreneurs. The social entrepreneurs are selected from more than 1000 candidates that apply every year either to a national “Social Entrepreneur of the Year” competition or directly to a regional selection of the Foundation.

15. Reynolds’ Foundation

The Reynolds’ Foundation funds two great social entrepreneurship fellowships : one for Harvard graduate students and one for NYU graduate students.

+ Unltd

UnLtd is a charity which supports social entrepreneurs – people with vision, drive, commitment and passion who want to change the world for the better. They do this by providing a complete package of funding and support, to help these individuals make their ideas a reality.

Best Social Entrepreneurship Training Programs websites (non-academic)

16. Net impact (Multiple locations)

Net Impact is an international nonprofit organization whose mission is to make a positive impact on society by growing and strengthening a community of leaders who use business to improve the world. We offer a portfolio of programs to educate, equip, and inspire more than 10,000 members to make a tangible difference in their universities, organizations, and communities.

17. StartingBloc (Boston, New York & London)

StartingBloc’s curriculum is delivered through their signature program – The Institute for Social Innovation. The Institute is a two-month program anchored by four one-day conferences. They provide students and young professionals with the training, education, and networks necessary to turn any career into a socially responsible one.

18. Global Social Benefit Incubator (Santa Clara, US)

The Global Social Benefit Incubator (GSBI™), a program developed by Santa Clara University’s Center for Science, Technology, and Society in partnership with Social Edge. It assists social benefit entrepreneurs in developing business plans that enable their organizations to reach increasing numbers of beneficiaries.

+ School of Social Entrepreneurs (Multiple locations: UK, Australia)

The SSE runs practical learning programs aimed at helping develop the individual entrepreneur and their organization simultaneously: our approach, and belief, is that social change is people-powered, and that the most valuable assets and resources we have are human ones.

Best Social Entrepreneurship Training Programs websites (academic)

This list was published by CNN Money in 2007.

19. Babson College (Boston, MA)

The Arthur M. Blank Center for Entrepreneurship is the hub for entrepreneurial activity at Babson. The center’s mission is to lead the global advancement of entrepreneurship education and practice through the development of academic, research, and outreach initiatives that inspire entrepreneurial thinking and cultivate entrepreneurial leadership in all organizations and society.

20. Columbia University (New York, NY)

Columbia offers the Social Enterprise program, where students develop a perspective on how to apply business skills to social enterprise endeavors and align personal and professional values in careers that result in social benefits to a broader community. The curriculum explores social enterprise within four focus areas: Public and Nonprofit Management; International Development and Emerging Markets; Social Entrepreneurship; and Corporate Social Responsibility and Sustainability.

21. Cornell University (Ithaca, NY)

At the Center for Sustainable Global Enterprise, they believe the private-sector has a critical role to play in helping solve the world’s most pressing environmental and social problems. They work directly with companies around the world to identify, understand, and capitalize on these competitive opportunities.

22. Duke University (Durham, NC)

A research and education center based at Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business, the Center for the Advancement of Social Entrepreneurship (CASE) promotes the entrepreneurial pursuit of social impact through the thoughtful adaptation of business expertise.

23. Harvard University (Boston, MA)

Grounded in Harvard Business School’s mission to educate leaders who make a difference in the world, the Social Enterprise Initiative aims to inspire, educate, and support current and emerging leaders in all sectors to apply management skills to create social value.

24. New York University (New York, NY)

The Satter Program in Entrepreneurship is to educate, challenge, and inspire social entrepreneurs to leverage intellectual, social, and financial capital resources with a focus on social change, innovation, and impact.

25. Stanford University (Stanford, CA)

Their Center for Social Innovation aims to inspire and educate social innovators, providing knowledge and ideas that strengthen the capacity of current and future leaders to champion social change.

+ Oxford Saïd Business School (Oxford, England)

The Skoll Centre for Social Entrepreneurship was launched in 2003 at the Saïd Business School, Oxford University, to promote the advancement of social entrepreneurship worldwide. In addition to delivering innovative teaching programmes, the Skoll Centre has developed a portfolio of research which employs theory but that is also valuable to practitioners in the field.

Tags: Alltop, arizona, Ashoka, Babson College, Change.org, Columbia University, Cornell University, Duke University, Echoing Green, Fast Company, Global Social Benefit Incubator, Harvard, Harvard University, Net Impact, New York University, NextBillion.net, NYU, Oxford Said Business School, phoenix, Reynolds' Foundation, School of Social Entrepreneurs, Schwab Foundation, Skoll Foundation, Social Capitalst Award, Social Edge, social entrepreneurship, Stanford University, StartingBloc, Tides Foundation, tucson, UnLtd

Education for Social Entrepreneurs

Jun 11

Posted by admin in Social Entreprenueurship Education | No Comments

So exactly where does one go to learn how to change the world? Really, anywhere in the world he or she chooses.

There are several opportunities to learn about Social Entrepreneurship by finding and filling needs in your own neighborhood.

SE Education is more about being in action and creating results as opposed to simply passively hoping some great guru will come along and teach you something.

In all reality, the world doesn’t need “changing” because there is nothing “wrong” or “right” about it. The world just is…period. As a SE your work is to assist others in find opportunities that allow them to fulfill on the dreams, goals, and desires that are most important to them.

Now, this may mean assisting or supporting others in an effort to do some things differently. However, this is not about changing them or their life, or the world, it is simply about being present to support the natural growth and development of humanity.

I’ve seen many people profess to be SEers but they are only out to fight against something they don’t agree with (again nothing “wrong” here). However, there power is limited to their anger or frustration.

Full power, self-expression and freedom become available when the mind and heart are set upon being in the action of allowing one’s natural goodness to unfold in a way that adds value to your life and lives of others.

You may look for opportunities to make a difference in many ways. You may travel the world, pay close attention to current events, attend seminars, participate in personal development programs or attending a major university.

The key is to find a need and fill it in true win-win-win fashion. The people you serve win, you win, and the world as a whole wins.

The list below will give you an idea of some of the schools that provide social entrepreneurial education. CAUTION: If you’re serious about making a difference consider the avenues above before you mortgage you future at a major school.

Noting wrong with school, I strongly believe in education, and even hold a Master’s degree. However, I’ve seen it used as a hideout and an excuse for inaction. If you see a need that can be filled now. Get to work!

There is no need to procrastinate your greatness.

Nevertheless, the schools below all offer Social Entrepreneurship programs. Visit their sites, visit the campuses, call admissions and let me know what you you liked or disliked. I’m eager to learn about your experience.

Alfred University
Austin Peay State University
Babson College
University of California, Los Angeles
Case Western Reserve University
Clarkson University
Colorado State University
Concordia University
University of Dayton
East Carolina University
Fairleigh Dickinson University
Georgetown University
Grand Valley State University
Harvard University
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
University of Iowa
Kennesaw State University
University of Kentucky
La Salle University
Loyola College in Maryland
University of Massachusetts-Amherst
University of Missouri-Kansas City
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Northwestern University
University of Oklahoma * GO SOONERS!
University of Oregon
Saint Joseph’s University
Samford University
San Diego State University
The University of Texas at Austin
Wake Forest University
Washington University
Warwick Business School

Tags: Add new tag, change, Education, opportunity, social entrepreneurship, transformation, Trends, University

Online Retailing with a Purpose

May 25

Posted by admin in Dubli For a Cause | No Comments

As many of you know, non-profits provide much needed support for your our communities. However, most of these organization are not sustainable without grants, donations and federal funding.

During economic downtimes (like we’re in today) much of this funding has been drying up and many non-profits have been forced to downsize or close their doors.

To make matters worse, the services of this non-profits are needed even more during these hard times.

Below are is a headline from the Associated Press and and video from Fox News.

GREENVILLE, S.C. – Shriners Hospitals, which has provided free care to children since before the Great Depression, is considering closing a quarter of its facilities as donations stagnate, costs increase and the charity’s endowment shrivels.

I am from S.C. and I can tell you that it is a big deal for the Shriners to close 6 hospitals. Many people in my community have supported this organization over the years.

Fox News 35 – Florida is facing $5 billion worth of budget cuts and some of the non-profit programs people rely on during tough times may disappear.

I have recently been working on a project called “Dubli for a Cause”. Dubli provides an innovative way for non-profits to sustainably raise funds for their organizations.

For only $199 a year, a non-profit can establish its very own online shopping and reverse auction portal that will allow them to raise funds 24/7.

The non-profit simply post a link about their new portal to their website, send out e-blast, and host a big party party for their donors to encourage them to shop on their portal when they plan to purchase things they need or want. Over 900 retailers are represented and discounts through the portal can range from 10-90%.

Best of all, when consumers make purchases or participate in the reverse auction, the non-profit receives 30% of the revenue earned.

American Idol star, Jordin Sparks is using this concept to fund her charity “Jordin Sparks Charities” along with a Boys and Girls club in California.

If you’d like more information about how you or a non-profit can participate in this program please visit www.DubliForaCause.com or e-mail me at info@SocialEntrepreneurForum.com

Since this is a Social Entrepreneurial blog there is a possibility to earn a decent income providing this service to these organizations. Please indicate in your e-mail if this is something you’d like to know more about.

Tags: Non-profits, Online Retailing, shopping, social entrepreneurship

Being a “Poor” Non-profit Worker is not a Criteria for Making a Difference

May 24

Posted by admin in General | No Comments

I just read this great article on a blog at www.change.org. Its really great and explains just why I’m so passionate about social entrepreneurship.

People all over this country want to make a difference but want to live a good life as well. When I was younger I considered going off to the Peace Corp and “volunteering.”

However, I had financial responsibilities to manage. Not only that, but the rumors that organizations like these are no more than a hide out for the CIA and are used to secretly control other countries really let the wind out of my sails.

My desire was simple. I just wanted to do some good in the world…and not have to live on welfare myself for choosing to do so. In fact it is actually my preference to create great success for myself in the process. I’m sure many of you can relate.

Check out this article and let me know what you thing…

Do Low Nonprofit Salaries Drive Young People to Social Enterprise?

by Nathaniel Whittemore

categories: Dissent, Millennial Generation, Society, Trends

Published May 21, 2009 @ 09:00AM PT

Sharon Schneider just wrote a fiery post suggesting that if the nonprofit industry doesn’t get over it’s discomfort with “overhead” and start to pay people better, it’s going to have a harder and harder time competing for talent. It’s worth quoting at length:

For bright kids graduating from college with a mountain of student debt, it’s tough to ask them to choose between $30,000 and a sense of fulfillment and $50,000 with a 401K and good health insurance. The current emphasis on “low overhead” at charitable organizations is leading to a brain drain from the sector that most needs an influx of young workers.

Personally, I find it a bit self-righteous to tell those who want both financial security and the opportunity to make a difference “the nonprofit sector DOES NOT need you.” Really? Because we’ve solved all the world’s problems so effectively and don’t need new ideas and new talent? Because Baby Boomers heading up nonprofits never plan to retire so that new leadership is needed?

You know what? Forget this debate, you’re right. Kids, if you hope for a double bottom-line return on the investment of your own talents and intellect–both social and financial–I’ve got a sector for you. It’s called social enterprise, and they’d love to have all the passion and idealism and ambition and energy you have to offer.

Let the masochistic working poor and their aging institutions whither as talented young people seek to do good and to do well. It may be painful and pointless, but at least they’ll feel good about themselves.

I literally couldn’t agree more. One of the hallmarks of the generation graduating from schools right now is their pragmatism. They’re not seduced by the notion that nonprofits are the only place that they can make a difference and have a career aligned with their values, and far too often, the opportunity costs of toiling in the nonprofit sector just aren’t worth it to them.

This is not a question of entitlement. The argument that people simply should suck it up and deal with the nastier parts of any particular industry is just ringing more and more hollow. The particular crosses that the nonprofit industry bears include low salaries, rigid bureaucracies, and a lack of professional development. But it’s not the only industry where younger professionals are butting up against the status quo.

About a week ago, I linked to a great post by Adrian Young about how the partners of law firms don’t understand Gen Y:

“Generation Y is entitled, lazy, selfish, tech savvy, and incompetent,” is how Scott Greenfield, one of the finest criminal defense attorneys in NY, started off the panel….

…Just at this moment the voice of my generation stepped in, “I spent years as an associate, I hit all my metrics- but I didn’t want to become partner. Its no secret that focusing on making as much money as possible ruined many of these older partners’ personal lives.” said Anthony Zana, he is now Corporate Counsel for Intergraph Corporation- where he left behind the billable hour.

“I’ve seen too many successful partners on their 3rd and 4th marriage- and I did not want that to be me.” Anthony added. “Even the ABA reports that depression, suicide, divorce, and alcoholism rates are higher for attorneys that work those types of hours.”

Adrian goes on to argue that “lifestyle” is the more important currency than money to the Millennials (or Gen Y, or whatever you want to call us). I’d add, in the context of this blog, that it’s about meaning, values, and freedom.

On the lower financial end (and this is where the nonprofit industry needs to shape up) its about freedom from debt and constantly looking behind you to see if there’s any unpaid bills lurking, among other things. On the reverse, career fulfillment has to involve freedom from the constant, unyielding, and suffocating pressure of being “on the clock”

I would argue that this is healthy for all these industries. Frankly (and this will seem ironic coming from me for those who know me off line), America has a pretty messed up relationship with work. Returning to a more holistic sense of fulfillment that involves the sort of financial freedoms mentioned above but includes being able to enact our values, connect and stay close with friends, family and community, and having time to learn and think and care and do is pretty essential, if you ask me, for the sanity and long term safety of our society.

Tags: change, entrepreneurship, Millennial Generation, peace corp, Social Dissent, social entrepreneurship, Society, Trends

Social Entrepreneur Forum

A Conversation For Those of us Who Want to do Good and do Well

Posts Tagged social entrepreneurship

Recommeded Must Reads

Ways to Get Involved

Categories

Meta

Tags

Need a Blog Host?