The OneStar Foundation, Dallas Social Venture Partners, and Root Cause would like to thank all of those who helped us spread the word about our social media conference, live from the OneStar Foundation’s Governor’s Nonprofit Leadership Conference last Wednesday. We were excited to be able to share the conversations taking place at the conference with all of you who tuned in, tweeted, and blogged about it. Thank you for watching and listening, and thank you for your questions!
If you missed the live stream the first time around, you can watch it anytime here.
Please take a look at what these folks are up to, they are all doing amazing things. The organizations and individuals that supported our effort to spread the word about social innovation in Texas are:
The Microfinance Forum
myImpact.org
Spark Club
Social Velocity
Social Entrepreneurship at Change.org
SVP Toronto
Central Dallas Ministries
Beth’s Blog
PhilanTopic
Social Enterprise Institute
Dallas South
SVP International
Philanthropedia
SVP Portland
La Reunion TX
Business Boomer
Refresh Button
Social Capital Ventures
interSector Partners L3C
Ashoka’s Youth Venture
Xian3k
Livestream
501derful.org
Friday, December 18, 2009
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
Texas Social Innovation Initiative! - Webcast
Check out the re-broadcast of the Texas Social Innovation Initiative. OneStar Foundation, Root Cause and Dallas Social Venture Partners showcase North Texas as a center for social innovation.
Watch live streaming video from bboomer at livestream.com
Thursday, December 3, 2009
Sparking Social Innovation in the Lone Star State
Texas has always been innovative and entrepreneurial. So it should be no surprise that the social sector in our state is launching a social inovation initiative in a "big" way.
DSVP is proud to participate in bringing these ideas to North Texas in a collaborative way with OneStar Foundation and Root Cause.
Please tune in to this blog space (click to the home page) on December 9th from 10:30am-11:15am to watch a virutal new media press conference! We will talk about the work we are doing together, how social innovation is changing the way nonprofits do business, and announce social innovations that have been selected to help kick off this initiative. Even with a regional focus, this work is indicative of a bigger trend to collaborate at the national, state and local levels to stimulate socially innovative activities in communities.
In the meantime, check out the media advisory, or read about how Social Innovation at an Inflection Point, or check out the Govenor's Nonprofit Leadership Conference where all of this will get announced!
DSVP is proud to participate in bringing these ideas to North Texas in a collaborative way with OneStar Foundation and Root Cause.
Please tune in to this blog space (click to the home page) on December 9th from 10:30am-11:15am to watch a virutal new media press conference! We will talk about the work we are doing together, how social innovation is changing the way nonprofits do business, and announce social innovations that have been selected to help kick off this initiative. Even with a regional focus, this work is indicative of a bigger trend to collaborate at the national, state and local levels to stimulate socially innovative activities in communities.
In the meantime, check out the media advisory, or read about how Social Innovation at an Inflection Point, or check out the Govenor's Nonprofit Leadership Conference where all of this will get announced!
Thursday, November 19, 2009
Pitching Social Innovations
As many of you may know, DSVP is celebrating our ten year anniversary next year. We have already begun planning the celebration with an event that will blow your minds. As part of the planning, we have researched an array of socially impactful experiences to consider for our celebration. What we have loved, is the idea of a pitch event.
Pitch events are a known experience in the world of venture capital. You get a room full of investors to listen to a handful of entrepreneurs pitch their idea or business model. The value for the investor is getting exposed to a broad array ideas of which they might consider investing. The value for the entrepreneur is to pitch to a room full of potential investors and make new connections. (Think Shark Tank)
Now consider applying this to the world of nonprofits. Get a room full of social investors (donors, foundations, and corporate philanthropists) and pre-select and prepare a group of nonprofit leaders and social entrepreneurs to pitch their ideas, programs and organizations. This is exactly what took place at the recent Social Innovation Fast Pitch, co-hosted by Los Angelos Social Venture Partners, the Social Enterprise Institute and the University of Southern California.
After a six weeks of preparation and coaching, ten nonprofit organizations took the stage for three minute pitches without visual aids. That's right, NO Powerpoints! They were not only competing for $20,000 worth of award money, they were pitching to be seen and heard among a community of social impact investors. To see the list of presenters and winners click here.
DSVP will bring the fast pitch experience to North Texas with our big event in 2010. (think big BANG!) It is a refreshing take on the traditional grant writing approach to fundraising. Although it might not be a replacement, it certainly enhances community awareness of missions and puts the leaders to the test to present their mission, vision and needs!
Learn more by listening to the Maximizing Social Impact Podcast: Social Innovation Fast Pitch
Pitch events are a known experience in the world of venture capital. You get a room full of investors to listen to a handful of entrepreneurs pitch their idea or business model. The value for the investor is getting exposed to a broad array ideas of which they might consider investing. The value for the entrepreneur is to pitch to a room full of potential investors and make new connections. (Think Shark Tank)
Now consider applying this to the world of nonprofits. Get a room full of social investors (donors, foundations, and corporate philanthropists) and pre-select and prepare a group of nonprofit leaders and social entrepreneurs to pitch their ideas, programs and organizations. This is exactly what took place at the recent Social Innovation Fast Pitch, co-hosted by Los Angelos Social Venture Partners, the Social Enterprise Institute and the University of Southern California.
After a six weeks of preparation and coaching, ten nonprofit organizations took the stage for three minute pitches without visual aids. That's right, NO Powerpoints! They were not only competing for $20,000 worth of award money, they were pitching to be seen and heard among a community of social impact investors. To see the list of presenters and winners click here.
DSVP will bring the fast pitch experience to North Texas with our big event in 2010. (think big BANG!) It is a refreshing take on the traditional grant writing approach to fundraising. Although it might not be a replacement, it certainly enhances community awareness of missions and puts the leaders to the test to present their mission, vision and needs!
Learn more by listening to the Maximizing Social Impact Podcast: Social Innovation Fast Pitch
Friday, September 11, 2009
Triple Bottom Line = offers new value to share/stake holders
It was clear throughout the SOCAP09 Conference that not only are new business models and financial tools emerging to achieve social impact, but there are also disruptive innovations and creative destruction of the existing business models. There was much talk of real value in the triple bottom line model. This is where a business measures social impact and environmental impact alongside profits.
Customers are now looking at how a company manages ALL levels of their business and supply chain. Sustainable business now provides a strategy on how to last for the long term. Consumers have a greater demand and expectation for companies to be transparent in their social and environmental impact. And, consumers have more tools (social media in particular) at their disposal to organize and communicate their happiness and disappointment. A new generation of social action is emerging with the use of these tools, that work to influence the behaviors of businesses towards this new way of thinking...check out Carrot Mob.
Customer dissatisfaction is best dealt with in an honest and transparent way. Corporations who show a willingness to address any issues that may have social or environmental consequences in an honest and open way, are more likely to retain their customers and gain their trust.
But more importantly, corporations who operate at a large scale both nationally and globally have the opportunity to create greater positive social impact with just a tweak of their supply chain or business model. And this is the real opportunity for the social sector to explore.
Customers are now looking at how a company manages ALL levels of their business and supply chain. Sustainable business now provides a strategy on how to last for the long term. Consumers have a greater demand and expectation for companies to be transparent in their social and environmental impact. And, consumers have more tools (social media in particular) at their disposal to organize and communicate their happiness and disappointment. A new generation of social action is emerging with the use of these tools, that work to influence the behaviors of businesses towards this new way of thinking...check out Carrot Mob.
Customer dissatisfaction is best dealt with in an honest and transparent way. Corporations who show a willingness to address any issues that may have social or environmental consequences in an honest and open way, are more likely to retain their customers and gain their trust.
But more importantly, corporations who operate at a large scale both nationally and globally have the opportunity to create greater positive social impact with just a tweak of their supply chain or business model. And this is the real opportunity for the social sector to explore.
Thursday, September 10, 2009
Storytelling as Strategic Communications
This morning, I have the opportunity to teach a class on Storytelling at the Center for Nonprofit Mangaement. DSVP began our storytelling initiative in 2008 to capture the stories and build the communications content for a social media campaign. (See homepage for links to twitter, facebook, linkedin, and this blog) As a small nonprofit with 2.5 staff members (.5 is really a whole person who works part-time), we had a shoestring budget and very limited time to commit to our marketing and communication efforts.
The primary focus was to engage our stakeholders in meaningful conversations about our work and the value we bring to the community. In the process, we have captured 13 stories from 31 interviews; produced over 500 photographs, gleaned 40 useable quotes, and helped attract a variety of traditional media coverage. The impact it has had on all of our printed and social media work is exponetial as we slice and dice that content.
In today's class, I intend to talk about approaching storytelling beyond the traditional elements of storytelling strategy, i.e. protagonist/conflict/emotional hook. I get worn out on the "emotional hook" angle of nonprofit storytelling. While appropriate and compelling to some of your stakeholders, others need a differnt "impact hook". We will explore stakeholder personas and motivations and how to let them communicate your mission's value.
Storytelling as Reinforcement of Mission - Slide Presentation
The primary focus was to engage our stakeholders in meaningful conversations about our work and the value we bring to the community. In the process, we have captured 13 stories from 31 interviews; produced over 500 photographs, gleaned 40 useable quotes, and helped attract a variety of traditional media coverage. The impact it has had on all of our printed and social media work is exponetial as we slice and dice that content.
In today's class, I intend to talk about approaching storytelling beyond the traditional elements of storytelling strategy, i.e. protagonist/conflict/emotional hook. I get worn out on the "emotional hook" angle of nonprofit storytelling. While appropriate and compelling to some of your stakeholders, others need a differnt "impact hook". We will explore stakeholder personas and motivations and how to let them communicate your mission's value.
Storytelling as Reinforcement of Mission - Slide Presentation
Storytelling as Reinforcement of Mission
View more presentations from DSVP.
Friday, September 4, 2009
On starting a social enterprise. (This one goes up to 11)
Thanks to the expert soup at SOCAP09, I have gleaned some good advise for those interested in starting a social enterprise or social venture. These ideas come from a variety of brains including Bill Young of Social Capital Partners; Adam Webach of Saatchi & Saatchi S; Todd Johnson of Jones Day; Jonathan Storper of Hanson Bridgett; Paul Richardson of Renewal2 and Derek Gent of Vancity.
1. Beware of making decisions based on tax implications.
2. Research first, then build your structure.
3. Get a good lawyer with very good subject matter expertise.
4. Get mission aligned and defined right up front.
5. Memorialize the mission/ anchor it in the business model.
6. Make a road map of how that mission will play out as the business grows.
7. Have a way to resolve disputes when it comes to the mission aspect of the business so it doesn't get lost or re-purposed.
8. Don't forget you are running a business. Make sure everyone on staff understands the fact that you ARE a business.
9. Lead with a good business model. Most investors are already stressed and are not interested in leading with a mission or social impact agenda.
10. If you are doing something that is worthwhile and good, there are people who will help you.
11. Jump Now, Fear Later, The Safety Net will come.
1. Beware of making decisions based on tax implications.
2. Research first, then build your structure.
3. Get a good lawyer with very good subject matter expertise.
4. Get mission aligned and defined right up front.
5. Memorialize the mission/ anchor it in the business model.
6. Make a road map of how that mission will play out as the business grows.
7. Have a way to resolve disputes when it comes to the mission aspect of the business so it doesn't get lost or re-purposed.
8. Don't forget you are running a business. Make sure everyone on staff understands the fact that you ARE a business.
9. Lead with a good business model. Most investors are already stressed and are not interested in leading with a mission or social impact agenda.
10. If you are doing something that is worthwhile and good, there are people who will help you.
11. Jump Now, Fear Later, The Safety Net will come.
Emerging Social Capital Markets
I will begin with the confession that throughout the Social Capital Markets conference I had to stretch my brain to stay connected to much of the conversation. As you would predict, much of the conversation was made up of very specific references to traditional financial mechanisms, capital markets and a whole lexicon of language that is just barely familiar to me. Lucky for me, I had Bob Wright *, DSVP founding partner and banker/lawyer extrordinaire who kindly helped by translating for me!
There was a sense that the scale of our global issues are massive, and the only way to really achieve the social impact we seek is to tap in to the private and public resources at the scale that can make a meaningful difference. The questions raised included: how do we use the existing tools, infrastructure and resources in dramatically different ways to address some of our most pressing social issues? And, how do we begin to construct new tools to achieve the impact we seek. Therefore, much of the conversation narrowed around the following areas.
1. Building and accessing social venture investment funds such as Calvert, Acumen, Schwab Charitable, Good Capital, Renewal2, IGNIA, and many more. There was a general sense that social investors need to get more familiar with each other and what segment of the investment continuum that each are focused. There is an opportunity and a need to develop ways to signal each other and hand off investments at different stages as in the venture capital world of seed, venture, equity, and private funding.
2. Measuring social impact in a way that involves standards of risk assessment and a true cost and wholistic approach to value. New tools announced included Impact Reporting Investment Standards (IRIS) and Global Impact Inves ting Rating System (GIIRS). What I found most interesting here is watching a very common conversation that has been happening for the last ten years in the social sector (about how to you measure social impact or social ROI), now happening among financial experts. Keep in mind, these folks are used to seeing quarterly reports on the status of their investments. Try giving quarterly reports on how one community solving povety. Community change has a different timeframe. However, what is most exciting is having this conversation among experts who are well versed in quantitative analysis. Together, we are sure to advance these ideas faster.
3. The perceptions of risk vs. real value in social investments. The recognition that often times investors and philanthropists are the same people with different expectations. I heard a term used, "Two-Pocket Investor" which refers to someone who thinks differently of their philanthropic investments vs. their financial investments. There was some confusion from the investor community why some of our philanthropic institutions deem social enterprises as too risky and yet preferred to give a grant. A solution offered up was a "stacked investment" which is a blend of financial investments and grants to help distribute the risk.
4. And, finally, their was amazing ideas and wisdom shared on starting a social enterprise. (see previous blog post on this topic)
*Bob, the world awaits your genius tweets.
There was a sense that the scale of our global issues are massive, and the only way to really achieve the social impact we seek is to tap in to the private and public resources at the scale that can make a meaningful difference. The questions raised included: how do we use the existing tools, infrastructure and resources in dramatically different ways to address some of our most pressing social issues? And, how do we begin to construct new tools to achieve the impact we seek. Therefore, much of the conversation narrowed around the following areas.
1. Building and accessing social venture investment funds such as Calvert, Acumen, Schwab Charitable, Good Capital, Renewal2, IGNIA, and many more. There was a general sense that social investors need to get more familiar with each other and what segment of the investment continuum that each are focused. There is an opportunity and a need to develop ways to signal each other and hand off investments at different stages as in the venture capital world of seed, venture, equity, and private funding.
2. Measuring social impact in a way that involves standards of risk assessment and a true cost and wholistic approach to value. New tools announced included Impact Reporting Investment Standards (IRIS) and Global Impact Inves ting Rating System (GIIRS). What I found most interesting here is watching a very common conversation that has been happening for the last ten years in the social sector (about how to you measure social impact or social ROI), now happening among financial experts. Keep in mind, these folks are used to seeing quarterly reports on the status of their investments. Try giving quarterly reports on how one community solving povety. Community change has a different timeframe. However, what is most exciting is having this conversation among experts who are well versed in quantitative analysis. Together, we are sure to advance these ideas faster.
3. The perceptions of risk vs. real value in social investments. The recognition that often times investors and philanthropists are the same people with different expectations. I heard a term used, "Two-Pocket Investor" which refers to someone who thinks differently of their philanthropic investments vs. their financial investments. There was some confusion from the investor community why some of our philanthropic institutions deem social enterprises as too risky and yet preferred to give a grant. A solution offered up was a "stacked investment" which is a blend of financial investments and grants to help distribute the risk.
4. And, finally, their was amazing ideas and wisdom shared on starting a social enterprise. (see previous blog post on this topic)
*Bob, the world awaits your genius tweets.
Social Capital Markets Conference 2009
I'm decompressing from an amazing time in San Francisco where I had the opportunity to meet the leaders who are advancing new ideas and financial instruments to achieve greater social impact. The crowd attracted to this second annual event was made up of a blend of financial advisors, fund managers, social entrepreneurs, and global organizers who were interested in thinking differently about how we address the social issues that we face in the world. The main theme was the desire to harness the power of business and government capital markets by building a new "social" capital market.
This was truely an amazing social media experience, and thank you to all the organizers who hosted us! The food was amazing and we all loved the kickass bags!
SOCAP09 YouTube Channel - Watch any of the amazing and rich breakout sessions
From the SOCAP Blog - Here what leaders throughout the event were experiencing
Check out the #SOCAP09 twitter feed with almost 3000 tweets from almost 600 contributors!
Social Capital Round Up
Economist.com write up: Capital markets with a conscience
This was truely an amazing social media experience, and thank you to all the organizers who hosted us! The food was amazing and we all loved the kickass bags!
SOCAP09 YouTube Channel - Watch any of the amazing and rich breakout sessions
From the SOCAP Blog - Here what leaders throughout the event were experiencing
Check out the #SOCAP09 twitter feed with almost 3000 tweets from almost 600 contributors!
Social Capital Round Up
Economist.com write up: Capital markets with a conscience
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
Youth Village Foundation Launches Dog Training Program
The Youth Village Foundation announces it’s Partnership with Canine Dimensions, a dog training company to launch a unique program to serve young men at the Youth Village and the Medlock Treatment Center. The program pair’s juveniles that have been involved in the juvenile court system with experienced dog trainers to learn the basics of dog handling, management and training.
Shree Gangeshwori Lower Secondary School Room
DSVP's Room to Read Giving Circle has successfully raised enough money to help build a school in Nepal! The school's construction is well under way, with community members pitching in regularly to help provide a new and improved learning environment for their children. The project is being closely monitored by a local School Construction Committee to ensure that they are providing the students with a safely constructed learning environment. This school is one out of 368 schools that Room to Read will be building this year! Estimated completion of the school is Summer 2010!
Partners are already discussing plans for a trek! A special thank you goes out to Ellen Wood, our partner who organized this giving circle and inspired the group to be bold!
2009 Investment Committee Kick Off
On August 25th, seventeen DSVP partners attended the first of two Investment Committee orientation sessions at The Richards Group. Social Venture Partner philanthropy relies on a model in which the investment decision is determined by the partners. We convene an investment committee each year, and it is open to all in the partnership. Through a competitive grant process, we look for nonprofits in the community that focus on children and education. Then together, the partners explore, assess and determine who will be their next investment.
This year, we recieved forty-one proposals. A variety of issue areas relating to children were presented in the following focus areas: Early Childhood (4), Arts and Culture (3), Child health and welfare (10), Civic/Engagement/Leadership (1), College Prep/Drop out prevention (9), Mental Health and Disability (3), Environment (4), and Family Support (7).
Thank you to Brad Logan and Susan Hoff, this year’s IC chairs for all of their hard work.
For those partners still interessted in joining the committee, the next IC Orientation is scheduled for Thursday, September 10th from 4:30-6pm. Please contact Sari at sraskin@dsvp.org to join the ’09 IC!
This year, we recieved forty-one proposals. A variety of issue areas relating to children were presented in the following focus areas: Early Childhood (4), Arts and Culture (3), Child health and welfare (10), Civic/Engagement/Leadership (1), College Prep/Drop out prevention (9), Mental Health and Disability (3), Environment (4), and Family Support (7).
Thank you to Brad Logan and Susan Hoff, this year’s IC chairs for all of their hard work.
For those partners still interessted in joining the committee, the next IC Orientation is scheduled for Thursday, September 10th from 4:30-6pm. Please contact Sari at sraskin@dsvp.org to join the ’09 IC!
Friday, July 17, 2009
The path of a new DSVP Partner
Recently we asked one of our newest partners who joined DSVP in May to reflect on how her journey has unfolded. Below you can see a glimpse of one partner's path as she navigates her way into Dallas Social Venture Partners. Special thanks to Barbara for sharing her experience.
On becoming an effective DSVP Partner
Reflections by Barbara Errickson
Retiring from 35 years in the business applications software business was a tough decision. Having been a focused career person for all those years, quitting “cold turkey” was not appealing. Enter DSVP – a way to continue applying my knowledge and skills in new ways while rounding out my “self” to include my more community-oriented side. And what a great set of partners as I embark on my new “career” !
Getting acclimated to any new environment can be a challenge, and DSVP has smoothed out that process by steering me to investee projects that fit my skills while also linking me up with other like-minded partners. Hence, my assigned “buddy” George, along with tours of Youth Village and Samaritan Inn - truly eye-opening events for me to understand better how local, non-profit organizations are helping children and their families avoid being totally left behind. It helps underscore how important it is for those of us who have been blessed with successful careers to give back to our communities.
Along with participation on our DSVP membership committee, I am now linked in to assist with the next Dallas Youth Village strategic planning session, and am joining several Samaritan Inn Board of Directors managed “IT modernization” teams. What a terrific adventure to help Collin County’s only homeless shelter plan for well-managed growth into the future.
On becoming an effective DSVP Partner
Reflections by Barbara Errickson
Retiring from 35 years in the business applications software business was a tough decision. Having been a focused career person for all those years, quitting “cold turkey” was not appealing. Enter DSVP – a way to continue applying my knowledge and skills in new ways while rounding out my “self” to include my more community-oriented side. And what a great set of partners as I embark on my new “career” !
Getting acclimated to any new environment can be a challenge, and DSVP has smoothed out that process by steering me to investee projects that fit my skills while also linking me up with other like-minded partners. Hence, my assigned “buddy” George, along with tours of Youth Village and Samaritan Inn - truly eye-opening events for me to understand better how local, non-profit organizations are helping children and their families avoid being totally left behind. It helps underscore how important it is for those of us who have been blessed with successful careers to give back to our communities.
Along with participation on our DSVP membership committee, I am now linked in to assist with the next Dallas Youth Village strategic planning session, and am joining several Samaritan Inn Board of Directors managed “IT modernization” teams. What a terrific adventure to help Collin County’s only homeless shelter plan for well-managed growth into the future.
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
Room to Read Giving Circle, of DSVP Partners, advances on goal to build school in Nepal!
Posted by guest blogger:
Ellen Wood, DSVP Partner and Board Member
Certainly, our focus at DSVP is to engage with our local investees. But it is also great--through our association at DSVP-- to find high energy, successful organizations to support outside that portfolio, as individuals, or groups of partners.
We have a great opportunity to do so for Room to Read. We were fortunate to have the opportunity to co-host a luncheon with Room to Read founder John Wood in March. Talk about sky-high goals....Room to Read wants to become the Andrew Carnegie of the developing world.....to set up libraries and schools and help increase the number of young women who get educated in countries in Asia and Africa. Currently they are opening new schools at the rate of one every 1.5 days and libraries every 4 hours. We were amazed at the business model his team has developed: with an aggressive growth trajectory, full accountability of results, which was led by local R2R teams that required the local community to contribute (land, labor, materials, some funding) to the "hand-up". No "hand-outs" allowed! Room to Read is a beautiful example of what social enterprise can be.
Over the last two months, a group of about 15-18 DSVP partners have organized a DSVP Room to Read Giving Circle in order to raise the money to build a school for children in Nepal. We are hoping to also organize a Texas Trek to Nepal sometime next year to go visit the school we build. So there are a few extended learning opportunities ahead for our group! We are so appreciative of a $15,000 dollar for dollar match that we were recently awarded from the Hudson Foundation in the interest of increasing the ability of our group to make a more significant gift. We have $10,000 raised so far, and need an additional $7,000 to reach our goal of $32,000 that it takes to build a (4 classroom) school in Nepal. More details on the School Project can be found on their website.
Even if you missed hearing John speak, we hope you will consider joining us in investing in the education of children outside our own community. I love to travel, and seeing the young kids in poor countries such as those in the Room to Read portfolio, has always made me want to do something for them that would last. Room to Read is the first organization that I have found where I know my investment will be optimized.
Please let us know if you want to join us. Contact DSVP and they will put you in touch with our work. Also, you will find even more detail on the need and the countries on their website.
See previous post on Room to Read.
Ellen Wood, DSVP Partner and Board Member
Certainly, our focus at DSVP is to engage with our local investees. But it is also great--through our association at DSVP-- to find high energy, successful organizations to support outside that portfolio, as individuals, or groups of partners.
We have a great opportunity to do so for Room to Read. We were fortunate to have the opportunity to co-host a luncheon with Room to Read founder John Wood in March. Talk about sky-high goals....Room to Read wants to become the Andrew Carnegie of the developing world.....to set up libraries and schools and help increase the number of young women who get educated in countries in Asia and Africa. Currently they are opening new schools at the rate of one every 1.5 days and libraries every 4 hours. We were amazed at the business model his team has developed: with an aggressive growth trajectory, full accountability of results, which was led by local R2R teams that required the local community to contribute (land, labor, materials, some funding) to the "hand-up". No "hand-outs" allowed! Room to Read is a beautiful example of what social enterprise can be.
Over the last two months, a group of about 15-18 DSVP partners have organized a DSVP Room to Read Giving Circle in order to raise the money to build a school for children in Nepal. We are hoping to also organize a Texas Trek to Nepal sometime next year to go visit the school we build. So there are a few extended learning opportunities ahead for our group! We are so appreciative of a $15,000 dollar for dollar match that we were recently awarded from the Hudson Foundation in the interest of increasing the ability of our group to make a more significant gift. We have $10,000 raised so far, and need an additional $7,000 to reach our goal of $32,000 that it takes to build a (4 classroom) school in Nepal. More details on the School Project can be found on their website.
Even if you missed hearing John speak, we hope you will consider joining us in investing in the education of children outside our own community. I love to travel, and seeing the young kids in poor countries such as those in the Room to Read portfolio, has always made me want to do something for them that would last. Room to Read is the first organization that I have found where I know my investment will be optimized.
Please let us know if you want to join us. Contact DSVP and they will put you in touch with our work. Also, you will find even more detail on the need and the countries on their website.
See previous post on Room to Read.
Thursday, March 19, 2009
New Investee, New Ideas!!
From Guest Writers and Lead Partners: Scott Chase and Lynn Thorby
Photo from one of the radish gardens that the young men grow
and sell to local chefs.
It was with great excitement that Lynn Thorby and I agreed to be Co-Lead Partners for DSVP’s newest investee, Youth Village Foundation. Having been to Youth Village Foundation as part of the site visit team from the Investment Committee, we knew that the they would welcome our expertise and would be open to new ideas from us.
The Foundation supports programs to educate and train non-violent juvenile offenders who are residents of the Dallas County Youth Village. These programs range from culinary training to dog training and DSVP's networking and engagement resources will enable the Foundation to expand its funding and programmatic sources. The Foundation could also benefit from accounting, strategic planning and board governance skills that DSVP has to offer. These are the skills our partnership is known for and constantly improving. So, our mission at this early stage of the investment is to take those skills and apply them to our newest investee.
As a way to determine how best to deploy our resources, DSVP has the benefit of coordinating an Organizational Assessment for Youth Village Foundation with the Center for Non-Profit Management. The assessment will help determine and prioritize the strategic initiatives that DSVP will engage with on-the-ground.
Next month, we will report on the findings from the Organizational Assessment.
Thursday, March 12, 2009
International Philanthropy keeps focus on Social Innovation
Why would a Social Venture Partnership be interested in international philanthropy? Seriously, we are all about the citizen sector engaging in local nonprofits to help address our own community needs...right?
Recently, DSVP had the opportunity to co-host an event with John Wood, of Room to Read (see previous post). His vision is to end global poverty through access to books and education by building libraries and schools in some of the most impoverished regions around the world. He has taken his Microsoft back ground, and modeled his Room to Read mission with the aggressive growth strategy of Starbucks. The result...over 700 schools and over 7,000 libraries in nine countries. His mission is to impact ten million children by the year 2020.
As we look at our own unique challenges within our own back yard, we might question what the opportunity is for us to help support another international mission. I would suggest two reasons why this is important:
1. The work is innovative.
Our own education system is challenging at best. We strive to find new ideas to raise up and move to scale but are frequently slowed down by existing rigid infrastructure and systems. Same with the delivery of our nonprofit missions. We often approach the work with the same old model of building leadership and accessing resources. Room to Read's international education work and delivery of it's mission is proving to be social innovations that are worth learning (and borrowing) from.
2. John Wood is a pioneer social entrepreneur who is doing it right and well.
Although the social entrepreneur movement is almost 20 years old now, there are just a handful who have been working as such for a long enough time for us to learn from their experience. Ten years into his work, John's work is maturing in ways that are giving us all a more in-depth look at best practices. It is certainly worth nurturing into the next phase so we can continue to learn from and glean tools for social entrepreneurship. Indeed, it is important for us to raise up those who are doing it successfully.
Besides, who wouldn't want to help realize a vision..."to solve world poverty within this generation".
Listen to the Podcast!
Recently, DSVP had the opportunity to co-host an event with John Wood, of Room to Read (see previous post). His vision is to end global poverty through access to books and education by building libraries and schools in some of the most impoverished regions around the world. He has taken his Microsoft back ground, and modeled his Room to Read mission with the aggressive growth strategy of Starbucks. The result...over 700 schools and over 7,000 libraries in nine countries. His mission is to impact ten million children by the year 2020.
As we look at our own unique challenges within our own back yard, we might question what the opportunity is for us to help support another international mission. I would suggest two reasons why this is important:
1. The work is innovative.
Our own education system is challenging at best. We strive to find new ideas to raise up and move to scale but are frequently slowed down by existing rigid infrastructure and systems. Same with the delivery of our nonprofit missions. We often approach the work with the same old model of building leadership and accessing resources. Room to Read's international education work and delivery of it's mission is proving to be social innovations that are worth learning (and borrowing) from.
2. John Wood is a pioneer social entrepreneur who is doing it right and well.
Although the social entrepreneur movement is almost 20 years old now, there are just a handful who have been working as such for a long enough time for us to learn from their experience. Ten years into his work, John's work is maturing in ways that are giving us all a more in-depth look at best practices. It is certainly worth nurturing into the next phase so we can continue to learn from and glean tools for social entrepreneurship. Indeed, it is important for us to raise up those who are doing it successfully.
Besides, who wouldn't want to help realize a vision..."to solve world poverty within this generation".
Listen to the Podcast!
Room to Read Luncheon
View more presentations from DSVP.
Sunday, March 8, 2009
Connecting our world through travel and social entrepreneurship.
This week, Dallas Social Venture Partners, has the honor of hosting international social entrepreneur, John Wood, of Room to Read. A friend to the social venture partner movement, Mr. Wood will be presenting to a number of DSVP Partners alongside other philanthropist and social entrepreneurs in our community on Wednesday. The program was made possible with collaborative support from the Entrepreneurs Foundation of North Texas, The Dallas Foundation, The Communities Foundation of Texas, and Dallas Women's Foundation; and underwriting from Marie Keese Lelash Foundation.
Below are a few entertaining resources to prepare our minds for the discussion. Much of Room to Read's work has taken place in Southeast Asia. So, as a starting point, we begin with some reflections from DSVP Partner Ellen Wood (no relation to John) from a recent trip to Southeast Asia. Then you can see a couple youtube videos about Room to Read's work. And finally, you can look at a couple of recent articles featuring the mission.
"Change Your Life: Devote Yourself to a Cause", Men's Journal- January 12, 2009
"Room to Read's John Wood: Bringing the Power of Education to Children Around the World", Knowledge @ Wharton- December 23, 2008
Below are a few entertaining resources to prepare our minds for the discussion. Much of Room to Read's work has taken place in Southeast Asia. So, as a starting point, we begin with some reflections from DSVP Partner Ellen Wood (no relation to John) from a recent trip to Southeast Asia. Then you can see a couple youtube videos about Room to Read's work. And finally, you can look at a couple of recent articles featuring the mission.
"Change Your Life: Devote Yourself to a Cause", Men's Journal- January 12, 2009
"Room to Read's John Wood: Bringing the Power of Education to Children Around the World", Knowledge @ Wharton- December 23, 2008
Sunday, February 22, 2009
Policy and Leverage for Social Venture Partners
A number of policy recommendations have been made to help evolve the nonprofit sector to its 2.0 version. What is most intriguing about these ideas is the vision to think differently about how we solve some of the biggest challenges facing our society by strengthening, leveraging and holding the sector accountable. To see a more comprehensive list of recommendations that will further such a transformation; see post on Social Entrepreneurs Engage.
However, there are two important recommendations that are extremely relative and exciting to help advance the work of the Social Venture Partner model. Imagine each Social Venture Partnership positioning their Social Investment Portfolio in a way that they could draw down a blend of matching dollars through federal grants and funding networks of public/private dollars that would ensure increased social impact.
Specifically:
A Nonprofit Capacity Building Initiative - A federal resourcing strategy to build the capacity, engage cross-sector leadership, and move local solutions to scale.
Acting as a grant making program of the Commission on Cross-Sector Solutions, the initiative would fund efforts to increase the skills, leadership and infrastructure to move good ideas to scale; and, build from the on-the-ground efforts by providing matching grants to the efforts of private and community foundations, businesses and local/state governments. This policy concept is being advanced by the National Council for Nonprofits.
A Community Solutions Fund Network - A network of funds targeted to bring together public and private dollars to help seed and nurture along (build capacity) proven on the ground solutions.
Each community is facing their own unique issues and targeted solutions. By creating a network of local and state funds that can attract a blend of corporate, governmental, and foundation grants, communities can develop a portfolio of solutions that make sense to address their unique needs. This concept is being advanced by America Forward.
The 25 Social Venture Partnerships are uniquely poised to take advantaged of these ideas. Each of us are funding a portfolio of community based organizations who we feel can have the greatest social impact when resourced with a blend of our financial, human and intellectual capital. As we think about the policy work that is relative to our individual portfolios, the question becomes, what bigger ideas can we promote that are powerful for us as a network.
However, there are two important recommendations that are extremely relative and exciting to help advance the work of the Social Venture Partner model. Imagine each Social Venture Partnership positioning their Social Investment Portfolio in a way that they could draw down a blend of matching dollars through federal grants and funding networks of public/private dollars that would ensure increased social impact.
Specifically:
A Nonprofit Capacity Building Initiative - A federal resourcing strategy to build the capacity, engage cross-sector leadership, and move local solutions to scale.
Acting as a grant making program of the Commission on Cross-Sector Solutions, the initiative would fund efforts to increase the skills, leadership and infrastructure to move good ideas to scale; and, build from the on-the-ground efforts by providing matching grants to the efforts of private and community foundations, businesses and local/state governments. This policy concept is being advanced by the National Council for Nonprofits.
A Community Solutions Fund Network - A network of funds targeted to bring together public and private dollars to help seed and nurture along (build capacity) proven on the ground solutions.
Each community is facing their own unique issues and targeted solutions. By creating a network of local and state funds that can attract a blend of corporate, governmental, and foundation grants, communities can develop a portfolio of solutions that make sense to address their unique needs. This concept is being advanced by America Forward.
The 25 Social Venture Partnerships are uniquely poised to take advantaged of these ideas. Each of us are funding a portfolio of community based organizations who we feel can have the greatest social impact when resourced with a blend of our financial, human and intellectual capital. As we think about the policy work that is relative to our individual portfolios, the question becomes, what bigger ideas can we promote that are powerful for us as a network.
Sunday, January 18, 2009
DSVP and Youth Village Foundation featured in Dallas Morning News
If any of you have ever had the pleasure of working with business columnist Robert Miller for the Dallas Morning News, you know he's a legend among the nonprofit community. I can't think of any other writer who has dedicated his golden prose to amplifying the missions and elevating leaders of Dallas' social sector. A nonprofit leader recently stating that you "know your organization has arrived" when Robert Miller has written about your work.
Today's article, "Many Help Young Offenders Refocus", features DSVP's most recent investment, Youth Village Foundation, and highlights the relationship we are embarking on over the coming years. DSVP has indeed begun to create our strategy working with Jerry Silhan, Executive Director and their Board to map out how we can best be relative to their efforts. We have identified our Lead Partners, Lynne Thorby and Scott Chase, who will serve as the partner liasons between Youth Village Foundation and DSVP. DSVP Engagement Manager, Sari Raskin, is busy crafting an engagement strategy to maximize the use of DSVP's human capital, intellectual capital, social capital, along side the grant dollars.
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Today's article, "Many Help Young Offenders Refocus", features DSVP's most recent investment, Youth Village Foundation, and highlights the relationship we are embarking on over the coming years. DSVP has indeed begun to create our strategy working with Jerry Silhan, Executive Director and their Board to map out how we can best be relative to their efforts. We have identified our Lead Partners, Lynne Thorby and Scott Chase, who will serve as the partner liasons between Youth Village Foundation and DSVP. DSVP Engagement Manager, Sari Raskin, is busy crafting an engagement strategy to maximize the use of DSVP's human capital, intellectual capital, social capital, along side the grant dollars.
Monday, January 5, 2009
A Primer on L3C - Tax Status - an alternative corporate structure with a social responsibility.
Corporate Social Responsibility or CSR, has certainly earned a name in the philanthropic lexicon. It seems that everyone has an opinion on if and how corporations should engage in social impact work.
From the corporate/for-profit perspective, the idea is that you give back to the communities of customers, employees, and the global public. This can be a pure marketing strategy that is determined to reach your customer where they're are at; or by taking on a systemic social issue that your own for-profit product development encounters to help society or the environment.
However, either as Cause Marketing or as work for Social Impact, the ultimate goal of a corporation is to maximize profits for their shareholders. So, as Public Relations or Philanthropy, it must ultimately be self-serving to the Limited Liability Corporation, or LLC, for it to truly reach corporate nirvana. A bit of a pity, but at least we know the true stripes of the animal we call a corporation. Regardless, the CSR concept begins to acknowledge the value and impact a corporation already has to the social fabric of a community and our global ecosystem. In fact, many organizations and leaders are currently dedicated to developing the standard of measures for ROI that are social and environmental.
An evolution of these ideas is a new business status of a Low-profit Liability Corporation, or L3C has made it's way into 3 states. Vermont has passed the law, Michigan is waiting for the Governor's signature, and North Carolina has it in the Senate Finance Committee. For a good definition and information on the structure, read Americans for Community Development's FAQ's on L3C. "An L3C is run like a regular business and is profitable. Unlike a for-profit business, however, the primary aim of the L3C is not to make a profit, but to achieve socially beneficial purposes. Profit is a secondary goal. The L3C thus occupies a unique niche between the for-profit and charitable sectors."
Other Resources via wikipedia:
International Business Report (2008). Corporate Social Responsibility: a necessity not a choice, Grant Thornton.
Baker, Mallen. "Arguments against Corporate Social Responsibility". Business Respect. Retrieved on 2008-03-07.
From the corporate/for-profit perspective, the idea is that you give back to the communities of customers, employees, and the global public. This can be a pure marketing strategy that is determined to reach your customer where they're are at; or by taking on a systemic social issue that your own for-profit product development encounters to help society or the environment.
However, either as Cause Marketing or as work for Social Impact, the ultimate goal of a corporation is to maximize profits for their shareholders. So, as Public Relations or Philanthropy, it must ultimately be self-serving to the Limited Liability Corporation, or LLC, for it to truly reach corporate nirvana. A bit of a pity, but at least we know the true stripes of the animal we call a corporation. Regardless, the CSR concept begins to acknowledge the value and impact a corporation already has to the social fabric of a community and our global ecosystem. In fact, many organizations and leaders are currently dedicated to developing the standard of measures for ROI that are social and environmental.
An evolution of these ideas is a new business status of a Low-profit Liability Corporation, or L3C has made it's way into 3 states. Vermont has passed the law, Michigan is waiting for the Governor's signature, and North Carolina has it in the Senate Finance Committee. For a good definition and information on the structure, read Americans for Community Development's FAQ's on L3C. "An L3C is run like a regular business and is profitable. Unlike a for-profit business, however, the primary aim of the L3C is not to make a profit, but to achieve socially beneficial purposes. Profit is a secondary goal. The L3C thus occupies a unique niche between the for-profit and charitable sectors."
In the white paper Mobilizing Change released by the Aspen Institute in 2008, L3C status was listed as one of the top ten policy recommendations for the social/nonprofit sector in the future.
"Idea #2: Promote the growth of enterprises that mix business practices with social missions by creating a special tax code designation for social-benefit enterprises." Quoted in that article is Heather Peeler with Community Wealth Ventures who wrote The L3C: A New Tool for Social Enterprise.Other Resources via wikipedia:
International Business Report (2008). Corporate Social Responsibility: a necessity not a choice, Grant Thornton.
Baker, Mallen. "Arguments against Corporate Social Responsibility". Business Respect. Retrieved on 2008-03-07.
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