Fall 2015

Issue

Fall 2015

Volume 13, Number 4

More and more funders now view nonprofit media as an important tool in social change. And more and more news outlets now rely on philanthropic funding to support their operations. The fall 2015 issue of Stanford Social Innovation Review includes a pair of feature articles that examine the need for, and the difficulty of, measuring the social impact of media. A case study of Humanity United also shows the power of media.

Features

Business

The New Face of Corporate Activism

By Gerald F. Davis & Christopher J. White 2

Social intrepreneurs have an opportunity to change their companies for the better, from the inside out.

Features

Can We Measure Media Impact? Surveying the Field

By Anya Schiffrin & Ethan Zuckerman

Two scholars analyze an array of current approaches to gauging whether and how news organizations make a difference in the world.

Nonprofits

Can We Measure Media Impact? Reading Between The Lines

By Chip Giller & Katharine Wroth

Leaders at one nonprofit media outlet are advancing a conversation about how best to develop meaningful metrics for journalistic work. Includes magazine extras.

Up for Debate

UP FOR DEBATE

The Payoff of Pay-for-Success

By V. Kasturi Rangan & Lisa A. Chase 6

Up for debate: The pay-for-success model will have a positive impact, just not in the way that many proponents think. Includes additional, online-only responses from a variety of thought leaders.

What’s Next

Global Issues

The Internet of Things Is Now a Thing

By Ladan Davarzani & Mark Purdy 1

Several ventures now under way in developing countries show how networks of connected machines can drive economic growth.

Nonprofits

High Tech for Dry Times

By Suzie Boss

A system that combines software and sensors promises to improve farmers’ ability to manage, conserve, and lease water.

Global Issues

Credit Where It’s Due

By Suzie Boss

New tools and practices are helping low-income Americans use rent payments to build up their financial profile.

Field Report

Global Issues

Back to School

By Cameron Conaway

In Ethiopia, a foundation-led initiative uses accelerated learning techniques to give young people a second chance at an education.

Nonprofits

Recipe for Impact

By Sarah Murray 1

Delivering nutritious school lunch fare on a large scale is the social mission—and the business model—of Revolution Foods.

Global Issues

Designed for Support

By Alicia Clegg

Maggie’s Centres, a network of specially built facilities in the United Kingdom, provides cancer patients with a comforting environment.

Case Study

Foundations

Casting a Tight Net

By Sarah Murray

Humanity United is pursuing a strategy that combines carrots and sticks—collaboration and activism—to confront human rights abuse in the seafood industry. Includes magazine extras.

Viewpoint

Education

Competing Principles

By Joanne Weiss 48

Race to the Top, a $4 billion US education reform effort, produced valuable lessons on designing a competition-based program.

Nonprofits

Foreign Disentanglement

By Kendra Dupuy, James Ron, & Aseem Prakash 1

To counter restrictions on NGO activity, local groups need to reduce their dependence on international financial support.

Global Issues

The Gift of Time

By Celeste Mergens 3

Careful product design enabled Days for Girls to create a solution that empowers its users at a critical stage of their lives. Includes magazine extras.

Research

Government

Conditions of Engagement

By Adrienne Day

By imposing requirements on recipients, cash transfer programs can “push” them to develop habits of civic participation.

Nonprofits

Knowledge Versus Power

By Adrienne Day

Instead of building an independent base of expertise, many NGOs in China focus on retaining ties to government agencies.

Education

Reforming the Education Debate

By Adrienne Day

Recent changes in US policy regarding teacher evaluation reflect the impact of foundation-supported advocacy.

Civil Society

Does Group Contact Make Good Citizens?

By Adrienne Day

In developing countries such as Kenya, interaction with NGOs appears to boost people’s level of civic activity.

Book Reviews

Review

Book Reviews

Tech Is Not the (Only) Answer

Review By Andrew Means

Digital tools are a necessary but not sufficient component of any long-term social change effort.

Review

Social Entrepreneurship

The Insight of Outsiders

Review By Edward T. Walker

In many cases, the people who can change an organization are those who don’t “fit in” there.

Review

Social Entrepreneurship

Lending Out Wisdom

Review By Jonathan C. Lewis

A memoir by the founder of Kiva highlights the passion that marks the life of a social entrepreneur.

Last Look

Human Rights

European Dreamin’

By Eric Nee

Thousands of Africans attempt to reach European soil by scaling fences surrounding Spanish cities.

Other

Measurement & Evaluation

Made to Measure

By SSIR Editors

Supplements to the article “Can We Measure Media Impact? Reading Between the Lines.”

Foundations

Tracking Trafficking

By SSIR Editors

Supplements to the article “Casting a Tight Net.”

Health

Girls Talk

By SSIR Editors

Supplements to the article “The Gift of Time.”

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- What’s Next
  
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- Field Report
  
  Profiles of innovative work
- Case Study
  
  An inside look at one organization
- Viewpoint
  
  Insights from the front lines
- Research
  
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