This is a terrific approach to honoring what so many social entrepreneurs should be doing: helping build local capacity and then get out of the way! I think more organizations should be thinking about their exit when they start an organization. When starting a new tech for good social enterprise, I try to imagine three successful exit options at the start (in addition to the failure exit option). As Geoff notes, thinking about exit early on can focus a leadership team on better solutions for the long term.
Camps of BMVSS are different from those organized by other institutions in general, in the sense that the camps of BMVSS are one-stop facilities and the patients who come are measured and their custom-made limb/caliper is/are fabricated and fitted, without making them visit again a second time as done by most of the other organizations.
Geoff, this is such a relevant article. Most NGO either doesn’t have an exit plan or if exists it rarely capacitates systemic levers or local government cadre. Funding is often focused on churning output on a scale instead of systemic changes for long-term outcome/impact.
This was a great analytical piece on exit strategy that gives lots of food for thought. What I would like to see is various successful "exits", cases to gain practical lessons. For example, the "graduation scheme" sounds good and that it should be tailored towards local context - are there case studies, examples that will serve as real life situations? in other words, examples would be very helpful. I’m writing an exit strategy now and am looking /searching various materials on this.
COMMENTS
BY JAMES FRUCHTERMAN, Tech Matters
ON September 17, 2021 03:27 PM
This is a terrific approach to honoring what so many social entrepreneurs should be doing: helping build local capacity and then get out of the way! I think more organizations should be thinking about their exit when they start an organization. When starting a new tech for good social enterprise, I try to imagine three successful exit options at the start (in addition to the failure exit option). As Geoff notes, thinking about exit early on can focus a leadership team on better solutions for the long term.
BY WASH Solutions
ON September 23, 2021 07:02 PM
Brilliant piece Geoff. Thanks for sharing.
BY Bhagwan Mahaveer
ON September 24, 2021 05:20 AM
Camps of BMVSS are different from those organized by other institutions in general, in the sense that the camps of BMVSS are one-stop facilities and the patients who come are measured and their custom-made limb/caliper is/are fabricated and fitted, without making them visit again a second time as done by most of the other organizations.
Website: http://jaipurfoot.org
BY Kate Fogelberg
ON October 12, 2021 07:40 AM
Love this, Geoff! Well said and here’s to hoping it provokes lots of reflection in the WASH sector and beyond.
BY Jan-Eerik Leppanen
ON January 29, 2022 06:42 AM
Brilliant article and analysis. I agree 100%, government is the true duty-bearer - not a CSO or NGO.
BY Shweta Chooramani
ON June 9, 2022 11:17 PM
Geoff, this is such a relevant article. Most NGO either doesn’t have an exit plan or if exists it rarely capacitates systemic levers or local government cadre. Funding is often focused on churning output on a scale instead of systemic changes for long-term outcome/impact.
BY Nara
ON December 16, 2023 06:36 PM
This was a great analytical piece on exit strategy that gives lots of food for thought. What I would like to see is various successful "exits", cases to gain practical lessons. For example, the "graduation scheme" sounds good and that it should be tailored towards local context - are there case studies, examples that will serve as real life situations? in other words, examples would be very helpful. I’m writing an exit strategy now and am looking /searching various materials on this.