Fall 2014

Issue

Fall 2014

Volume 12, Number 4

The fall 2014 issue of Stanford Social Innovation Review features a number of articles on mission-driven for-profit companies. The Case Study, “From Petitions to Decisions,” examines Change.org, which has been profitable since 2010. It boosts more than 70 million registered users and is signing up new ones at the rate of 4 million per month. The company has ambitious plans to move beyond petitions to become a platform for a new sort of digital democracy.

Features

Global Issues

Global Problem Solving Without the Globaloney

By Pankaj Ghemawat 3

It’s time to put an end to the “flat world” thinking that guides the work of all too many social change organizations.

Impact Investing

The Rise of Gender Capitalism

By Sarah Kaplan & Jackie VanderBrug 13

Investing with a gender lens creates financial returns and improves the lives of women and girls and their communities.

Economic Development

The Next Stage of Financial Inclusion

By Dean Karlan 5

Research on the needs and habits of the poor shows that nonprofits can serve a vital function in expanding access to financial services.

Impact Investing

A New Vision for Funding Science

By Sarah Kearney, Fiona Murray, & Matthew Nordan

Philanthropic investment can close the funding gap between science research and the commercialization of science-based products.

What’s Next

Technology & Design

When the “Doves” Fly

By Suzie Boss

A Silicon Valley start-up that operates earth-orbiting imaging satellites is making them available to social innovators.

Economic Development

Cultivating a Neglected Field

By Suzie Boss

Seven lending organizations are teaming up to meet the large-scale needs of smallholder farms in the developing world.

Design Thinking

Design for Cleaner Living

By Suzie Boss 1

A team of social innovators is devising ways to put urban India on track to a tidier future.

Health

Built WELL

By Suzie Boss 1

Taking a lead from LEED certification, a new standard aims to promote healthy construction of homes, offices, and other structures.

Field Report

Health

A Model of Health

By Corey Binns

In Nepal, a US-based nonprofit is partnering with the national government to deliver full-service medical care in remote areas.

Design Thinking

Substance Over Style

By Alicia Clegg

An international design award based in Denmark celebrates products and projects that aim “to improve life.”

Education

Mentor for America

By Suzie Boss

Thanks to the New Teacher Center, beginning educators gain support that will help them thrive in a challenging profession.

Case Study

Civil Society

From Petitions to Decisions

By Greg Beato 1

After Change.org placed petitions at the center of its platform, the size of its membership soared. But operating a high-volume petition site isn’t enough for its leaders. Includes magazine extras.

Viewpoint

Foundations

A Good Ending

By Christopher G. Oechsli & David La Piana

Leaders at the Atlantic Philanthropies are modeling best practices for winding down a large, high-profile foundation. Includes magazine extras.

Economic Development

Rethinking Poverty

By Elisabeth D. Babcock 15

Recent discoveries in brain science shed light on what holds the poor back—and on how to help them get ahead.

Energy

Get Rid of the Grid?

By Pepukaye Bardouille & Dirk Muench 3

An emerging business model that aims to reduce energy poverty holds real promise. But it needs a jump-start.

Human Rights

Equal Effort

By Sylvia Yee 2

Behind the recent advance of gay marriage rights lies a decade of careful planning and diligent collaboration. Includes magazine extras.

Research

Socially Responsible Business

How Fair Trade Grew

By Adrienne Day

Variances in the experience of producer countries strongly affect how fair trade markets have evolved.

Philanthropy

As Giving Goes Global

By Adrienne Day

Philanthropic activity is increasing worldwide in ways that reflect a shared ethos of humanitarian "virtue."

Civil Society

Social Work as a Social Wedge

By Adrienne Day

In China, a new kind of NGO has started to embed the values of civil society in its provision of social services.

Nonprofits

The Stories That NGOs Tell

By Adrienne Day

Traditional aid organizations and newer, more volunteer-driven groups view their work in notably different ways.

Book Reviews

the_zero_marginal_cost_society_jeremy_rifkin

Review

Economic Development

No Value

Review By Timothy Ogden 11

A "big think" look at the future of capitalism fails to reckon with the factors that make capitalism so resilient.

Review

Education

Taking a Charter Flight

Review By Catherine DiMartino 1

In one prominent effort to reinvent public schools, promise and performance don't necessarily match up.

Review

Impact Investing

A Guide to “Good” Investment

Review By Cathy Clark

Two impact investing pioneers offer a primer on efforts to generate both social benefits and financial returns.

Last Look

Health

The Gift of Life

By Eric Nee

Papua province is the epicenter for HIV/AIDS in Indonesia, the world's fourth largest country.

Collective Insights on Collective Impact

browse past issues all issues

Free Weekly eNewsletter

latest newsletter
Magazine Sections
- Features
  
  New and in-depth explorations of solutions to social, environmental, or organizational problems
- What’s Next
  
  New approaches to social change
- Field Report
  
  Profiles of innovative work
- Case Study
  
  An inside look at one organization
- Viewpoint
  
  Insights from the front lines
- Research
  
  Highlights from scholarly journals
- Book Reviews
  
  Reviews of new and notable titles
- Editor’s Note
  
  Perspectives on the print magazine issues from SSIR's editor-in-chief
- SSIR Online
  
  Takeaways from SSIR's digital channels
- Last Look
  
  Images that inspire
- Sponsored Supplements
  
  Collections of articles on a single topic, funded by a sponsor
SSIR is published by the
Stanford Center on Philanthropy and Civil
Society, at Stanford University.