Figuring Out What Counts
The new United States presidential administration offers hope for decision-making that puts the well-being of people and the planet at the forefront.
The new United States presidential administration offers hope for decision-making that puts the well-being of people and the planet at the forefront.
The author reviews Jacqueline Novogratz's book The Blue Sweater: Bridging the Gap Between Rich and Poor in an Interconnected World and draws insight from the book's in depth presentation of social enterprise.
By estimating the social return on their investments, funders can deploy their dollars more effectively. To demonstrate the power of these calculations, the authors show how three organizations—the Robin Hood Foundation, Acumen Fund, and the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation—use cost-benefit analysis to evaluate their ongoing programs, choose mission investments, and plan long-term strategies.
The movement to provide capital to social enterprises is gaining momentum.
Funders are calling for more program evaluation, but nonprofits are often collecting dubious data, at great cost to themselves and ultimately to the people they serve.
Large-scale social change requires broad cross-sector coordination, not the isolated intervention of individual organizations.
With an understanding of these 10 funding models, nonprofit leaders can use the for-profit world's valuable practice of engaging in succinct and clear conversations about long-term financial strategy.
Despite the hoopla over microfinance, it doesn't cure poverty. But stable jobs do. If societies are serious about helping the poorest of the poor, they should stop investing in microfinance and start supporting large, labor-intensive industries.
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.