Success and Social Value
Check out this great post on #socent from @Forbes. I would love to hear your thoughts on Drucker’s quote as well: “success is maximizing shareholder value, and social value would result.” What does this position presuppose?
Venture Philanthropy - Risky But Rewarding
“Venture capital takes financial capital and expertise and provides it to high-potential, high-risk, startup businesses. Venture philanthropy uses the same approach and applies it to philanthropic donations in the nonprofit or social enterprise sector. Both VC and VP involve a commitment of time and resources, carry a high degree of risk and can produce outsized returns.” READ MORE…
(via denverpost.com)
Where Did Social Enterprise Come From, Anyway?
“Businesses, even those outside the realm of greedy corporate drones, are designed to earn a profit. Other priorities, like environmental sustainability or job creation, are reached only through happy accidents or marketing ploys to help companies make more money. Surely, if you’re raking in the dough, you can’t be making a difference—at least not on purpose.
This outdated vision of commerce has multiple origins, but if asked, most students of social enterprise will point an accusing finger at Milton Friedman’s 1970 New York Times Magazine essay “The Social Responsibility of Business is to Increase Its Profits.” Friedman’s point (though slightly more nuanced than the title or its interpretation might suggest) was that corporate executives have a responsibility to maximize profit. Frittering away money on other objectives—say, fighting poverty—would cheat stockholders, employees, and customers out of cash that is rightfully theirs.”
(via @GOOD)
The World Needs More Social Entrepreneurs
“We need to teach our youth that they can help people; that they can lead; that they can make lasting and important change in their communities and across the globe. Society, employers, educators, and parents need to recognize that our kids’ successful personal and social development must start with a mastery of several complex skills — empathy, teamwork, leadership, and change making.” (via @HBR)
How are we equipping our youth to view business and life as opportunities to impact social issues our global community faces? How are we inspiring them to recognize their potential in ways that go beyond simply financial return? What organizations do you know that are doing this?
Is the Social Enterprise Bubble About to Burst?
“Over the past two months, GOOD has profiled organizations in Africa using market solutions to solve water and sanitation challenges, improve agriculture, and promote public health. Social enterprises like these are transforming development work, and social entrepreneurs are being hailed as rock stars.
But social enterprise isn’t the first trend to hit the development sector. From women’s empowerment to “sustainability” to microfinance, the aid community has moved through its stash of silver bullets. What makes social enterprise any different?”
(via GOOD.is)
“Social business is a loaded term, and an increasingly popular one. Do you really know what it means? Do you know where the core value of a social business lies? The infographic below will help.” (via Global Dawn and @Forbes)
The Rise of the Charitable For-Profit Entity
“Many Americans, and millions of business owners, want to do more than simply turn a profit — although they certainly have nothing against making money. Their goals also include improving the environment and developing communities. In the classic model, these social purposes had to be pursued in a non-profit corporation. But some regulations on tax-exempt non-profits such as limitations on political and lobbying activities, attracting and raising investment capital in addition to taxes on unrelated business income have made it a less desirable business entity for some.”
(via Forbes)
We Need a Battery Miracle
All the batteries on Earth store just 10 mins of world electricity needs. This new battery may be key.
(via @BillGates)
The Silicon Valley of Shit: Nairobi Is Ground Zero for Sanitation Innovation
“Yet while the government lacks funds, initiative, and directive for innovation in sanitation, a unique blend of social entrepreneurs have flocked to Nairobi, all seeking one noble goal: Profiting from peoples’ excrement.”
(via @good.is)
