Social Innovations
Arts Education Needs Investment
A new study says arts education should be expanded.
Socially Responsible Investing - Most Popular
Social Innovations
Money to Grow On
Certain nonprofits can take a page from business's playbook and learn how to attract cash for expansion.
Rediscovering Social Innovation
Social entrepreneurship and social enterprise have become popular and positive rallying points for those trying to improve the world, but social innovation is a better vehicle for understanding and creating social change in all of its manifestations.
Podcast
Laura Arrillaga - Philanthropy Today
Venture philanthropy and other new products and trends indicate that philanthropy has changed dramatically over the past 10 years. Donors are younger than ever before and foundations have become increasingly professionalized. In this audio interview, sponsored by the Stanford Center for Social Innovation, philanthropy expert Peter Hero interviews Laura Arrillaga, a leader in Silicon Valley, about developments that are now making philanthropy a powerhouse for social change.
Social Innovations
Chinese Activity in Africa, Part 2: The Path of Least Resistance
Africa is finding Chinese investment less demanding than that of the West.
Social Innovations
Chinese Activity in Africa, Part 1: Feeding the Dragon
Chinese investment in Africa could mean new opportunities in goods, services, and employment.
Social Innovations
Data, Data, Everywhere…But How Do You Find What You Need?
Figuring out what data is most useful for effective philanthropy is a massive challenge.
Social Innovations
Microloan Sharks
Commercial microfinance institutions (MFIs) must calculate two bottom lines: alleviating poverty for clients and also generating profits for investors. To achieve the latter goal, some MFIs charge their impoverished clients exorbitant interest rates. The recent Banco Compartamos IPO in Mexico raises a red flag, demonstrating how easily well-intentioned MFIs and their investors can shift from microlending to microloan-sharking.
Social Innovations
Compromise Might Greatly Diversify Leadership of California Foundations and Nonprofits
An effort to broaden and deepen diversity in foundations and nonprofits.
Social Innovations
The Equity Capital Gap
For-profit businesses can efficiently and quickly raise large amounts of money to fund growth and innovation by tapping equity capital—money that people invest in a company in return for ownership and a share of profits. The nonprofit world has no corollary, making it difficult, costly, and time-consuming to raise money. In this article the author explores ways that nonprofits and funders can create their own version of equity capital, and, just as important, develop an equity approach to doing business.