Blake Poston's blogshttp://www.justmeans.com/editorials/socialenterprise/3.htmlFri, 25 May 2012 00:33:33 GMThttp://www.justmeans.com en hourly 1http://www.justmeans.com/Social-Enterprise-Business-Idea-Series--Shared-Service-Centers/12778.htmlThu, 15 Apr 2010 12:27:33 GMTBlake Poston In a previous post I talked about sector collaborations and partnerships. In this next installment of the business ideaseries, I will be focusing on a concept that elaborates on that collaboration theme. This weekI will be discussing Shared Service Centers. These are businesses aimed at helping other businesses. A Shared-Service Center is a place that can handle every-day activities that do not require much input from the receiving organization- like payroll, marketing materials, social media br Read Full Article ]]> In a previous post I talked about sector collaborations and partnerships. In this next installment of the business ideaseries, I will be focusing on a concept that elaborates on that collaboration theme. This weekI will be discussing Shared Service Centers. These are businesses aimed at helping other businesses. A Shared-Service Center is a place that can handle every-day activities that do not require much input from the receiving organization- like payroll, marketing materials, social media broadcasts, or providing physical office space. With a company that focuses only on helping other organizations, this idea offers a premium on efficiency and effectiveness.While this concept has been utilized in the private sector for a long time, the concept is not widely used in the public sector. This creates a niche market that is currently being unfulfilled. For almost two decades there has been a surge in the need for shared service centers due to rising rents and increasing financial challenges to the nonprofit community. The theory is successful because the shared spaces provides affordable, quality work space or services and also promotes and joins together various organizations with different missions throughout the community.The idea is simple. The centers provide physical space, virtual resources, and/or social opportunities that foster collaboration and innovation. The operation can be set up as a nonprofit organization that aids other nonprofit organizations or it could be a low-profit social enterprise that sets pricing for shared spaces and services to cover the operating expenses, thus furthering its mission to maintain a double bottom-line.Boston possesses one of the largest centers of this kind in the United States called the Third Sector New England Nonprofit Center (TSNE). This building house nine floors of office space and meeting rooms, and provides supportive programs and services for tenant organizations. One element that sets this and other nonprofit centers apart from other tenant sharing facilities is their ability to initiate collaborative efforts between their tenants. In a survey conducted by the Nonprofit Center Network (NCN) of 39 nonprofit centers questioned about 30% of them required that tenants collaborate with one another as a condition of their lease. For example, Boston's Nonprofit Center provides programs every month to encourage collaboration between tenants.Nonprofit Centers also tend to offer services that most organizations cannot find in commercial rental spaces. Most nonprofit centers will make meeting space available to its tenants at little to no extra cost. They provide high speed internet services, and parking. These may not seem like much, but to an organization with limited resources- being able to save on some of these basic operational expenses could make a big difference on how large a scale they can offer their services. Once established the meeting space can also be used to house many community activities, such as exercise classes, seminars, workshops and a cost effective option for non tenant community meetings and events.Another bonus to the idea, is that many existing centers have opted to capture buildings that need renovation and when implementing those upgrades they have adopted green practices and features. In the survey conducted by NCN, of the 39 organizations, 7 had renovated historical buildings and 5 had adopted green designs. The Boston nonprofit center is one of two organizations that have received federal LEED certification for its building.Shared Service Centers are much more than a cluster of nonprofit organizations sharing office space. Nonprofit centers offer a deliberate opportunity for collaboration that aim to build a community of nonprofits. Shared Service Centers have proven to be an effective strategy to help address the needs of nonprofits to have secure, affordable, and efficient work spaces and resources. As an existing nonprofit, an added revenue stream could be created by operating a shared service center or a socially conscious social entrepreneur can fulfill their mission by helping other organizations fulfill theirs. Either way, it's a viable business model and a potentially successful social enterprise.Let me know what you think.Photo Credit: moviereviews.wikispaces.com]]>http://www.justmeans.com/Nonprofit-and-Social-Enterprise-Name-Debate/12747.htmlWed, 14 Apr 2010 14:59:51 GMTBlake Poston Shakespeare once asked, "What's in a name? Well, a lot of individuals involved in the nonprofit and social enterprise world are asking the same question and receiving very different answers. On one hand there are those who believe that a name is not as important as the mission being executed. Feeling it is more about the clarity of your goals, the quality of your services, and how effectively you communicate with your audience that defines an organization- not what it is called.On the other hand Read Full Article ]]> Shakespeare once asked, "What's in a name? Well, a lot of individuals involved in the nonprofit and social enterprise world are asking the same question and receiving very different answers. On one hand there are those who believe that a name is not as important as the mission being executed. Feeling it is more about the clarity of your goals, the quality of your services, and how effectively you communicate with your audience that defines an organization- not what it is called.On the other hand, many people believe that terms like "nonprofit" are engrained in the fabric of our society and should not be changed just to suit a current trend. In the case of nonprofits, this term has long been associated with charitable programs and refers to a broad category of issues that involve state and federal statutes, tax codes, and specific organizational activity. Following that logic, there is a strong argument for respecting the meaning and usefulness of the term.There are also those who believe that the term nonprofit is exclusionary and should be changed to capture the true purpose of the sector not just its legal tax status. In recent arguments within the sector, some have lobbied for terms such as "community owned organizations," or "social-profit organization" to describe the nonprofit sector as one that is there to serve the public. This movement would like to focus more on what the organization can offer the community as opposed to being defined as an agency that does not focus on profits.This debate extends beyond just the nonprofit world and also involves social entrepreneurship.Those in the social enterprise field have broadened the argument for a simpler name and give a similar reason being used in the nonprofit debate- inclusion. It is well known that social entrepreneurship does not only occur in English speaking countries. In fact, it is most popular in areas where English is a second or even third language. With the current phrase being as it is, a difficult combination of letters- some believe that others will be more drawn to the field, if they are welcomed with an easier term to refer to.This debate is slowly building momentum in both areas and various conversations can be found on blogs all across the internet. Pepsi will even be sponsoring an online contest to rename social entrepreneurship, where the public can vote on the new name they like most. Whatever it is- whether talking about renaming the nonprofit world or social entrepreneurship, it should be a term that will work for the next 50 years or so.What do you think about the whole name debate? Any ideas? As always let me know what you think.Photo Credit: steinunn.files.wordpress.com]]>http://www.justmeans.com/CHANGEMAKERS--Ateba-Croker-and-a-Stand-Against-Human-Trafficking/12709.htmlTue, 13 Apr 2010 20:56:14 GMTBlake Poston This is thefourth in an occasional series for Social Enterprise about young changemakers who are creating innovative new social businesses to tackle global problems at home and abroad.] The owner of Shoe Revolt has much more than a love for shoes behind her social enterprise called Shoe Revolt. Ateba Crocker, a former college professor in Virginia and business owner, is also a survivor of sexual abuse and prostitution. She uses that personal history as the driving force behind her social entrepr Read Full Article ]]> This is thefourth in an occasional series for Social Enterprise about young changemakers who are creating innovative new social businesses to tackle global problems at home and abroad.] The owner of Shoe Revolt has much more than a love for shoes behind her social enterprise called Shoe Revolt. Ateba Crocker, a former college professor in Virginia and business owner, is also a survivor of sexual abuse and prostitution. She uses that personal history as the driving force behind her social entrepreneurial mission. Ateba operates an online shoe store whose main goal is to aid in the alleviation of human sex trafficking. The mission of the company is to use the profit from the purchase of new and donated shoes to financially support anti-trafficking initiatives to eradicate human trafficking for good.This idea all sparked from the personal exploitive history of Ateba Croker. At the age of 9, her father began to verbally and sexually abuse her. In an interview offered to the Examiner, she stated that growing up, he often sais abusive words to her like, "you look like a prostitute," and often stating that he has the right to touch her because he was her father. Her mother, who was unaware of the abuse at the time, was also being physically abused by Ateba's father. In an effort to avoid further beatings at the hand of her husband, Ateba's mother would try to stay away from him as much as possible, and the molestation would occur when she was not home.After Ateba's parents divorced, she moved from New Jersey to Virginia, where she spent her teenage years. It was there that she began a promiscuous lifestyle searching for the love she never found from her father. Eventually, she became pregnant and still very young she wanted to ensure that she was able to provide everything for her son. The child's father was not able to support them, so she turned to prostitution as a means to make a living. In her mind, she was already sleeping around, so making the leap to becoming a high priced escort was not all that difficult. She notes that in the beginning, she thought she was better than that of a street prostitute because she worked for an agency. However, soon she began to feel dirty and the business began to take a heavy toll on her soul, body, and mind. Eventually, Ateba began to question if this was all she was created for- as sexual vessel to be used by any man who desires.Soon, Ateba began to feel as though she could not be an effective parent while she sold her body, so in an effort to become a better mom, she left the escort business. Upon exiting the business, the real work began to put her life back together. Ateba faced Post Traumatic Disorder after her departure from the sex industry. She also had to undergo extensive therapy and a 12 step program to overcome a substance abuse problem that developed as a coping mechanism.After her recovery from the prostitution industry, Ateba focused on her education and her son. She finished her Master's degree in international business management and went on to work in the corporate world and as an educator at a Virginia college. Following those experiences, Ateba now wants to channel her energies towards her online shoe store, Shoe Revolt, a company that has coined the phrase, "more than a shoe, it's a stand!"The idea came from two passions- a love for shoes and a desire to educate and eradicate human trafficking. Ateba wanted to find a way to communicate with other women. Ateba says that "a real shoeista, when she steps on her favorite shoes or if there is a crack on the ground and she breaks her heel, is going to be hot with two ts." She goes onto say, "I wanted that anger time 200% more to come out of every woman that hears about this injustice against someone that could b her sister or daughter." Ateba goes onto mention that the driving purpose behind the company is to see the injustice of human trafficking come to an end. "What gets me up in the morning is to fight my past and all the rejections that hurt me and people in human trafficking and prostitution the most."Shoe Revolt operates by requesting companies and celebrities for shoe donations and aims to fight against trafficking in three different ways:Housing- 75% of women walk into prostitution because they are homeless. Shoe Revolts mission is to financially sustain current shelters and to help build more.Decriminalize the victim- Shoe Revolt seeks to offer scholarships to the victims so that she can pursue a higher education. Shoe Revolt recognizes that the girl is the victim with great potential to bring about the best out of her life.Healing- Shoe Revolt will support and create more rescue shelters that offer a holistic approach to the recovery against childhood trauma, neglect, sexual and verbal abuse, domestic violence, and poverty.Ateba is still putting the pieces together and gathering donations. She hopes to open the store in August, 2010. She feels a lot of pressure to do this right and represent those who have already supported her in this endeavor; she hopes to make a "humanistic profit- where the dollars are assigned to the value of a girl's life." Shoe Revolt is a for profit business that recognizes that the only way to fight trafficking is with a steady revenue stream. In its current form 100% of the net profit is dedicated to fighting human trafficking. 100% goes to a charitable partner and the other 50% goes towards anti-trafficking initiatives, survivor educational scholarships and public advocacy.Currently, Ateba Croker also champions for this cause by speaking at local churches and conferences on behalf of human trafficking victims and victims of the sex industry. She has also recently been nominated for a community service award in Hampton Road, Virginia for her efforts.Let's give a roaring round of applause to Ateba Croker for her efforts, she is definitely on the right path to initiating change.Photo Credit: Ning]]>http://www.justmeans.com/Why-Social-Enterprise-Needs-Effective-Brand-Management/12462.htmlThu, 08 Apr 2010 20:32:37 GMTBlake Poston For those in the social sector who believe that brand management is something you shouldn't worry about- you could not be more wrong! Beyond establishing your mission and creating your organizational strategic plan, creating an effective brand is one of the most important elements of your social enterprise's success. A brand is what your target market will remember and recognize about your organization and should be carefully created and managed. It is the personality of your organization and yo Read Full Article ]]> For those in the social sector who believe that brand management is something you shouldn't worry about- you could not be more wrong! Beyond establishing your mission and creating your organizational strategic plan, creating an effective brand is one of the most important elements of your social enterprise's success. A brand is what your target market will remember and recognize about your organization and should be carefully created and managed. It is the personality of your organization and you want the public to like you.Everyone is familiar with successful brands. The golden arches are synonymous with burgers and fries. The infamous swoosh communicates athletic apparel across the globe. These are both examples of global brand recognition that communicate to the public. While most social enterprises are not aiming to reach the massive recognition of McDonald's and Nike, they should still work towards creating the most effective and recognizable brand for their audience. Social enterprises are competing for attention and an effective brand can go a long way.So, what is a brand? Simply put, it's your organization's public image. It involves an organization's internet presence, its company logo and promotional materials. The goal of the brand is to create a positive and favorable organizational image in each target audience. These positive reactions are based on an individual's beliefs, ideas and impressions of the organization's services, programs, and management styles. Brands are the currency in which social enterprises trade upon for donors, funders, community support and clients.Brands can be cultivated online or offline. Online social entrepreneurs can create blogs, websites and social media platforms to enhance their brand recognition. Today anyone can create a free blog spot or use free hosting sites to create a website. There are a plethora of marketing and advertising options (e.g. Google ad words) to promote your organization and gain a following. More recently there has been the use of social media websites like Facebook and Twitter that have taken promotion to a higher level. With the simple posting of recent events and status updates these platforms allow organizations to reach mass followers with little to no cost involved.Offline, an organization can create materials that possess content worthy of sharing and focus on subjects pertaining to your organization's mission and vision. The tone, style and use of visual materials like business cards, post cards, posters, and letterhead all need to be consistent to convey the same message. The public needs to be able to see your information and know who is producing it and what is being presented to them. Done correctly, the target market will begin to look forward and expect that your brand equates to efficiency, professionalism and reliability.All too often, participants in the social sector feel that their good works should speak for itself, but that can only happen if people know who you are and recognize what you do. This can only be accomplished with an effective marketing and brand management plan. A strong brand is the main component in being noticed, which is why it is crucial for social enterprises to get their branding right.What do you think?Photo courtesy of: coursesandcareer.com]]>http://www.justmeans.com/Social-Enterprise-Collaboration-and-Partnerships/12454.htmlThu, 08 Apr 2010 18:51:16 GMTBlake Poston Being a social enterprise does not mean that you are in the social change movement alone. There are several partnerships that can be formed to better enhance the delivery of your services and the networks you operate within. Typically, social enterprises become so wrapped up in raising funds and focusing on their own organizational survival (especially in the current economic state) that the idea of collaboration and partnerships becomes a distant and unrealistic alternative. Due to this self cr Read Full Article ]]> Being a social enterprise does not mean that you are in the social change movement alone. There are several partnerships that can be formed to better enhance the delivery of your services and the networks you operate within. Typically, social enterprises become so wrapped up in raising funds and focusing on their own organizational survival (especially in the current economic state) that the idea of collaboration and partnerships becomes a distant and unrealistic alternative. Due to this self created isolation, many social enterprises (and nonprofits) lose out on some of the bigger investments and philanthropy because their organizational brand is too small. This is when partnering with other organizations and sharing some of the costs and responsibilities could be beneficial. Seeing that most social enterprises and nonprofit organizations are seeking social change, there should not be such a stigma attached to partnering with other like organizations to greater expand your organization's reach.There are various opportunities that small social enterprises can explore when trying to determine the best way to collaborate with another organization. The first of which would be to consider reaching out to your competition to see if the two joined forces could come together and collectively seek funding. Most social enterprise organizations have a competitor that produces like services, and in a traditional model this would be the organization that you would consider a risk to available resources. However, if the two organizations worked together to create the same social change the possibility to achieve greater results is increased.A relationship such as this takes time. It takes time to develop the trust necessary to make a competitor collaboration function. There has to be several initial connections made to discuss and feel each other out. A greater understanding of each other's missions has to be discovered, and it has to be determined if personal egos can be set aside for the greater good. Contractual and legal obligations have to be discussed to establish how funds will be distributed and clarifying legal responsibility. Organizational controls will have to be determined as well and how the joint venture will manage and oversee the quality of the services being provided. However, once all of these factors have been addressed, the two organizations can join together and apply for greater funding andcollectively make a difference.Taking a step back from fully collaborating with a competitive organization, would be to find complementary partnerships within the sector. This involves developing relationships with organizations that are not your direct competition, but offer services that might compliment what you are already doing. For example, if you are operating a social enterprise that offers job placement to ex-convicts, you might have future plans to offer literacy courses and GED classes. Instead of waiting for the revenue to start that branch of your enterprise, you could look for existing organizations that already offer those services and collaborate with them to offer a broader more collective set of services.A social entrepreneur can also seek to find organizations that offer similar services on a grander scale and team up with them to better offer their services. This form of collaboration is particularly effective for small organizations that are seeking larger commercial companies toprovide some form of funding assistance or specialty skill set. Working with larger companies that share your direct market could serve beneficial for both parties. As the small social enterprise, you are receiving either monetary support or industry expertise. The larger organization is receiving positive publicity by being associated with your cause and access to additional members of your shared market.The process of collaboration and partnering is a big step and can be a rather daunting task; however, the trick is to make your organizational brand appealing to others so that selling the joint venture will not be that hard. It should also be recognized that just because a social enterprise (nonprofit) chooses to partner with an outside company does not mean they are sacrificing their mission or core organizational values. It means the contrary, they are ultra focused on their mission, recognize their limitations and are willing to take the added step of asking for help to ensure their mission gets executed.That's pretty smart if you ask me, but what do you think?Photo Courtesy of: communitywealth.com]]>http://www.justmeans.com/Social-Enterprise-Business-Idea-Series/12295.htmlTue, 06 Apr 2010 19:18:12 GMTBlake Poston [Part 1 of a weeklyseries that discusses social enterprise business ideas]Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFI's) are a social entrepreneurial goldmine. Nationwide CDFI's serve economically distressed areas by providing credit, equity, and financial services that are generally unavailable through traditional financial institutions. According to the Coalition of Community Development Financial Institutions, the CDFI term maybe new; however, the concept is one that is rich throughout Read Full Article ]]> [Part 1 of a weeklyseries that discusses social enterprise business ideas]Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFI's) are a social entrepreneurial goldmine. Nationwide CDFI's serve economically distressed areas by providing credit, equity, and financial services that are generally unavailable through traditional financial institutions. According to the Coalition of Community Development Financial Institutions, the CDFI term maybe new; however, the concept is one that is rich throughout American history. The concept was used by Immigrants habituating in New York's lower East side in the 1800s and African American's forming the first community development credit unions in the 1930s. Communities have always sought credit solutions due to the inability to access traditional lending methods.In the 1960s, the Johnson Administration started a campaign against poverty, aptly titled the "war on poverty." It was within this campaign that many community development corporations (CDCs) were established and funded with programs from the Office of Economic Opportunity. It was the success of many of these CDCs that set the path for the community development financial industry. In 1994, a government agency called the CDFI Fund was established. The purpose of this fund was to offer individual/local CDFIs and their community partners through a competitive bidding process. This focused governmental effort on strengthening community development through specialized financing caused the confidence of the industry to be bolstered and additional support to be administered. Today, CDFIs continue to grow and impact rural and urban communities across the country.Many have called the CDFI industry a socially responsible investment. Patrick Ferraro of Guidestar.org calls the industry "compassionate capitalism." Whatever you choose to call it, Community Development Financial Institutions are good social business and one that is growing in popularity. According to the Opportunity Finance Network, a membership organization for community financial institutions, CDFI assets in America have grown from $7.6 Billion in 2001 to 23.5 Billion in 2008.Those assets are concentrated in four types of institutions. They consist of community development banks, credit unions, loan funds and venture capital funds. CDFIs are generally certified by the Community Development Financial Institution Fund at the US Department of Treasury. While most of the larger institutions are certified by the Treasury, it is believed that there are hundreds of other institutions across the country that are serving the needs of low-income citizens, but have yet to apply for Federal CDFI funds, or they lack various criteria to become nationally certified.While starting a financial institution is not an easy task, for those interested in taking on such a social venture will be interested to know there are professional associations available for training and assistance. Some of which include: The Association for Enterprise Opportunity, the Community Development Finance Association, the CDFI Coalition, Opportunity Finance Network, and the Community Development Venture Capital Alliance. Any of those organizations can offer sound advice and additional resources for persons eager to learn more.If you are not willing or able to take on such a large commitment you can participate in other ways that support the works of local CDFIs. A simple act of taking your personal or business banking needs to that of a local community development bank or credit union will ensure that the profits you help generate will be reinvested through the development and assistance of low income communities. For a more hands on approach a person can always invest, and/or donate to a local CDFI or volunteer their time to organizations that help low-income families.As always let me know what you think.Photo Courtesy of: ruralnetwork.ning.com]]>http://www.justmeans.com/Nonprofit-Organizations-and-Green-Social-Enterprises/12246.htmlMon, 05 Apr 2010 16:39:03 GMTBlake Poston Nonprofit organizations that wish to create a for-profit venture have a unique opportunity to engage themselves heavily in the green industry. Nonprofit organizations can develop small businesses that focus on creating a green economy not only to provide an extra revenue system, but also to help create a green planet. It's a win-win situation for everyone and an option that nonprofits, new and old, should consider.By creating a social enterprise that focuses on environmental issues, a nonprofit Read Full Article ]]> Nonprofit organizations that wish to create a for-profit venture have a unique opportunity to engage themselves heavily in the green industry. Nonprofit organizations can develop small businesses that focus on creating a green economy not only to provide an extra revenue system, but also to help create a green planet. It's a win-win situation for everyone and an option that nonprofits, new and old, should consider.By creating a social enterprise that focuses on environmental issues, a nonprofit organization can go beyond simply fulfilling its mission. Depending on the type of small business created, the social enterprise could become an employer and producer of green products. Thus, creating a revenue generating stream that will benefit the nonprofit organization and also assisting with the preservation of our environment.Nonprofit Organizations that establish environmentally motivated businesses create a triple bottom line for their brand. Not only will the public recognize the organization for its nonprofit works and additions to the community, but they will also be recognized for the environmental and economic sustainability that their profit-making subsidiary offers. And while the argument for controlling climate change and environmental resources increase, the need for social enterprises whose goal is to tackle those issues will increase as well. Today's social climate has created the perfect storm for those nonprofits who seek to expand their impact on society and also rely less on foundation and government grant support.Many social enterprises choose to provide services that include the creation of renewable energy, recycling and reusing, transportation efficiency, land conservation and education and awareness. Good Will Industriesis a perfect example of a nonprofit agency that has established a social enterprise thatallows individuals to recycle and reuse items. This company was promoting a green social enterprise before it was even popular.Good Will'smission is to decrease poverty barriers and limitations with the opportunity to work. They fund a lot of their organization's mission through goodwill retail stores that are dispersed all across the country. Many of you have probably donated or purchased items from these stores before.This nonprofit- greenconcept has become so popular that organizations such as Echoing Green offer 12-15 individuals or partnerships a fellowship each year. These fellows are offered up to $90,000 in seed money and technical assistance to develop and implement their green ideas into sustainable social change organizations. There is also plenty of help that came with the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 that offered an energy and jobs bill. Nonprofits are in a prime position to compete for these local, state and federal grants that allow for the creation and development of green job training programs.There is also a harsh reality that is establishing itself. As the green movement gains more momentum and imbeds itself more into the global culture and psyche, organizations will have to establish themselves as green to even be considered credible. This is regardless of the primary focus of the nonprofit organization. Nonprofits should take note of this trend and capitalize on it.As always let me know what you think.Photo courtesy of : extremegreenkids.org]]>http://www.justmeans.com/Grants-offered-to-Nonprofit-Organizations-by-Staples-Foundation-for-Learning/12065.htmlWed, 31 Mar 2010 20:13:58 GMTBlake Poston Nonprofit organizations have a friend in The Staples Foundation for Learning, which has awarded nearly $300,000 in grants to support the development of youth programs. Staples Foundation is a private foundation founded by the office supply company Staples, Inc. The purpose of the foundation is to support nonprofit organizations that provide educational professional and social opportunities that at risk youths need to succeed.The Staple's Foundation for Learning's mission is to "teach, train, and Read Full Article ]]> Nonprofit organizations have a friend in The Staples Foundation for Learning, which has awarded nearly $300,000 in grants to support the development of youth programs. Staples Foundation is a private foundation founded by the office supply company Staples, Inc. The purpose of the foundation is to support nonprofit organizations that provide educational professional and social opportunities that at risk youths need to succeed.The Staple's Foundation for Learning's mission is to "teach, train, and inspire the next generation of community leaders," says Ron Sargent, president of Staples Foundation for Learning and chief executive officer of Staples, Inc. Sargent also says that "we remain committed to helping youth realize their full potential." The Foundation was founded in 2002 and has contributed more than $17 million to nonprofit organization with local and worldwide service areas. The main areas of focus are addressing those nonprofit organizations that help disadvantaged youth.The Foundation for Learning is determined to encourage the education of young people and foster their human potential. The Staples Foundation for Learning strives to encourage children of all ages and backgrounds to discover the joy of academic achievement. It is the belief of the Foundation that building a love of knowledge is a fundamental achievement and will be invaluable to their success.Another key component stressed by the Foundation is the ability to train young people with various vocational skills that can truly make a difference in their lives and the lives of their families. The Foundation supports nonprofit organizations who offer assistance and training to individuals who opt to use their hands, hearts, and minds to be contributing members of their communities.Finally, the Foundation for Learning seeks to inspire a new breed of children to hope for a greater future. It is the hope of the Foundation to inspire and set an example of achievement, by supplying the means for inspiration and encouragement. This is believed to be the foundation for children to be able to learn and grow.To be eligible to apply for Staple's Foundation grant funds the organization must have nonprofit tax exempt status and possess a mission that focuses on job skills and education. The Foundation for Learning seeks to solicit and request grant applications from nonprofit organizations that fit within the mission of the Foundation and aims to support programs that provide job skills and/or education for all people, with a special emphasis on disadvantaged youth. Grants are awarded three times a year. While the grants are only awarded to nonprofit organizations, the funds can be used for both program and operational expenses. Those program expenses can be used to create services (which could include the creation of a social enterprise) that positively impact their communities.The Staples Foundation for Learning has awarded grants to several nonprofit organizations including the Boys and Girls Club, City Year, Horizons for Homeless Children and the YMCA.Photo Credit: earthforce.org]]>http://www.justmeans.com/Open-Season-for-Social-Enterprises--and-a-New-Future-for-Detroit/10597.htmlWed, 17 Mar 2010 07:59:52 GMTBlake Poston In an effort to save what is left of the housing stock in Detroit, city officials are devising a plan to shrink its residential city limits and hopefully turn around its fate. Currently, Detroit possesses a serious population decline and neighborhoods that have seen better days. A trip through any of Detroit's residential areas would reveal hoards of abandoned buildings and vacant lots, strewn with trash and debris. According to one recent estimate, the city of Detroit currently possesses 35,000 Read Full Article ]]> In an effort to save what is left of the housing stock in Detroit, city officials are devising a plan to shrink its residential city limits and hopefully turn around its fate. Currently, Detroit possesses a serious population decline and neighborhoods that have seen better days. A trip through any of Detroit's residential areas would reveal hoards of abandoned buildings and vacant lots, strewn with trash and debris. According to one recent estimate, the city of Detroit currently possesses 35,000 empty houses and 91,000 vacant residential lots. These vacancies have become blights on the community and feeding grounds for illegal dumping, crime and graffiti. It is because of these residential eye soars, the city of Detroit, lead by Mayor David Bing,is seeking to demolish these areas and re-map its residential areas.With the decline of the auto industryand a drastic decrease in populationthat can be blamed in part on thenumerous plant closings, the glory days of Detroit are long behind them. Once a thriving industrial powerhouse, Detroit boasted a population of over 2 million. Now, the city is populated with half that and is free falling. The auto industry that once caused the city to bloom is now proving to be its demise, and city officials are desperately seeking to stop the bleeding.One revolutionary idea being proposed is to clear the areas that are heavily saturated with burned out and vacant homes and redistribute the city's residential populations. The current plan is to demolish over 100,000 homes in three years. Once cleared, some proposed ideas for the new land would be to use some of the land for agricultural purposes. Other larger pieces would be sold or leased to community organizations to use. The Community Development Advocates of Detroit are championing for the creation of suburban-style neighborhoods and nature parks. The hope would be to produce a semi-rural atmosphere in the middle of a metropolis.This proposal could be a gold mind for those interested in social enterprise, and could prove to be the positive shift that Detroit so desperately needs. In a recent post, I highlighted the positive works of Energize Clinton County (ECC). This movement was created as a result from the departure of DHL from Wilmington, Ohio. With that exodus, the city saw a rapid economic decline, but instead of accepting that fate, Wilmington re-focused their energies and reinvented itself as the first Green Enterprise Zone. Detroit could have a similar fate if the powers that be in the city have their way.The city will acquire some of the property through tax foreclosures. However, the city will need hundreds of millions of federal dollars to offer current residents buy outs for their land and relocate others. This would be on top of a recent award of $40.8 million in federal renewal funds. In conjunction to those funds, the city is going to need additional investors who are interested in aiding with the cities recovery. This is where innovative social entrepreneurs could be of service.There are several possibilities available with this new plan. With the creation of agricultural fields, locally grown produce could be sold to the community. A person seeking to kill two birds with one stone could position themselves as urban farmers offering aid to the community with accessible option organic produce while also providing economic stimulus to the area.Taking a page from the ECC playbook, part of the vacant property could be used to develop a profitable green zone; positioning itself as an additional model for what the green industry can do for fledgling cities. With a vast amount of vacant land available the opportunities for the investment in green communities are endless.Detroit already has the infrastructure to be a productive hub for green products, with several available manufacturing plants in the area. Those seeking to be a part of this new chapter in Detroit's history could make a successful go of creating new revenue generating methods within the city. As a native of the Detroit area, I am thrilled to think of the possibilities upon the horizon. I hope that the reality of this land clearing proposal are realizedand soon. Detroit may never return to its glory days, but economic ruin does not have to be its eternal fate. With a little creative thinking, and the dedicated interest of social entrepreneurs and community development organizations, Detroit could hold some real promise.As always, let me know what you think!Photo courtesy: http://gutschow.files.wordpress.com/2009/10/detroit-then-now.jpg]]>http://www.justmeans.com/Friends-in-the-White-House/10888.htmlWed, 17 Mar 2010 07:50:24 GMTBlake Poston During President Obama's first State of the Union Address, he outlined several initiatives he would like to focus on during the remainder of his Presidency. One of those initiatives was to focus on small businesses. President Obama has called small businesses "one of the biggest drivers of employment that we have." In addition to advancing the small business community, Obama has set aside funds to spur social innovation. This is good news for those interested in pursuing social entrepreneurship. Read Full Article ]]> During President Obama's first State of the Union Address, he outlined several initiatives he would like to focus on during the remainder of his Presidency. One of those initiatives was to focus on small businesses. President Obama has called small businesses "one of the biggest drivers of employment that we have." In addition to advancing the small business community, Obama has set aside funds to spur social innovation. This is good news for those interested in pursuing social entrepreneurship.With regards to the small business assistance, the President has outlined a plan to see small businesses possess lower health care costs. He will do this by providing a small business health tax credit that will help employers provide quality health care to their employees. This refundable tax credit offers up to 50% on premiums paid by small businesses on behalf of their employees. Obama's small business health tax credit will work alongside other aspects of his health care plan to lower costs and improve competitiveness for America's small businesses.Barack Obama also believes that his administration needs to reduce the burdens on small businesses. To do this Barack Obama and Joe Biden will eliminate all capital gains taxes on small and start-up businesses to encourage innovation and job creation. By offering a "Making Work Pay" tax credit to almost every worker in America, Obama hopes to reduce the double taxation's that are often experienced by self-employed business owners who have to pay both the employee and employer side of the payroll tax.One of the biggest assistance measures being offered to small businesses is the expansion of loan programs. Access to capital is a top concern among entrepreneurs seeking to grow their business or foster a start-up. With the Small Business Lending Reauthorization and Improvements Act, the Small Business Administration's loan and micro-loan programs which provide start-up and long term financing will be expanded. This bill increases financing options that cannot be received via normal channels, helping entrepreneurs get loans, expand their network of lenders, and simplifying the loan approval process. This bill also fosters a national network of public-private business incubators. Business incubators facilitate the critical work of entrepreneurs in creating start-up companies. They offer help designing business plans, provide physical space, identify and address problems affecting all small businesses within a given community, and give advise on a wide range of business practices, including reducing overhead costs.Zeroing in on social innovation, the Obama administration has created several initiatives that are related to areas that social entrepreneurship tends to address. One of which is to support innovation and high-tech job creation. President Obama believes that their needs to be a concerted effort applied to the creation of new energy sources and the proliferation of the green industry. In doing so, the Obama administration has established a Research and Development tax credit that assists businesses with the creation of high-paying jobs.There will also be assistance to businesses effected by Hurricane Katrina. Upon taking office President Obama introduced the Hurricane Katrina Recovery Act to rebuild the Gulf Coast area. This bill increased the goal for procurement contracts awarded to small businesses owned and controlled by socially and economically disadvantaged individuals. It will be used for recovery and reconstruction activities related to Hurricane Katrina.Promoting affordable, high-speed Internet access in rural, urban and minority communities is also a top priority. The lack of broadband access in those areas has created a digital gap between those that have the Internet and those that do not. This creates a limit to the potential of many urban and rural companies and their eventual success. Obama also ties this initiative back to those affected by Hurricane Katrina as they have severely suffered from a lack of IT infrastructure. With the creation of new technologies, better use of the nation's wireless spectrum, and new tax and loan incentives, Obama and Biden believe that full broadband access can be achieved.Finally, President Obama has created the Social Innovation Fund. Through a grant competition, nonprofits are given the opportunity to battle back against the lack of resources and support they often face. In an effort to address some of our nation's most critical social challenges, the social innovation fund will identify, fund, and supportpromising nonprofit organizations working in low-income communities. The premise is easy. It offers nonprofit critical support with respect to management, staffing, data collection, fundraising, and other challenges that they will need to overcome as they grow.The First Lady notes that "by focusing on high-impact, results-oriented non-profits, we will ensure that government dollars are spent in a way that is effective, accountable, and worthy of public trust." To hammer that issue home, the social innovation fund will offer incentives for nonprofits to evaluate their effectiveness. Grant makers will be true partners in these evaluation efforts and be jointly held accountable for the results.The fund will provide about seven to 10 grants of $1-million to $10-million each to existing grant-making organizations. Those groups, in turn, will award annual grants of at least $100,000 to nonprofit groups for projects in the areas of economic opportunity, youth development, and healthy living. Both the grant makers and the nonprofit groups must provide equal matching funds.Organizations that wanted to apply for social-innovation money must have submitted a letter of intent by March 1, with applications due by April 8. The awards will be announced by July.What do you think of the White House's efforts? And do you think we will see the creation and advancement of more small businesses and social enterprises?Photo courtesy: Lana's Hope]]>http://www.justmeans.com/Creating-a-Business-Plan-for-a-Social-Enterprise/10480.htmlThu, 11 Mar 2010 13:08:32 GMTBlake Poston A business plan describes what the business will do, how it is going to do it, and why. When developing a social enterprise- the business plan will be one of the most important tools in developing that business into a success. The creation of a social enterprise business plan is no different than that of a nonprofit organization or traditional profit based company. It requires careful thought, and a defined purpose for the intended venture. This document is the key to securing financial support Read Full Article ]]> A business plan describes what the business will do, how it is going to do it, and why. When developing a social enterprise- the business plan will be one of the most important tools in developing that business into a success. The creation of a social enterprise business plan is no different than that of a nonprofit organization or traditional profit based company. It requires careful thought, and a defined purpose for the intended venture. This document is the key to securing financial support and upon operation will be the guiding force for the management of the organization and the measure to which you will accomplish thosegoals.The business plan is devided into specific elements. It attempts to investigate and describe the various activities that the business will undertake, the schedule to which the activities will take place, the required staff, the anticipated expenses and the projected results. It generally requires the expertise of several individuals within the organization and a clear understanding of the relationship and connection between the business venture being formed and the equal social mission of the organization.Although the flow of the document may differ the elements of most business plans are the same. It is not necessary to conform to a specific outline for the document, so long as the document is coherent and comprehensive. When developing a business plan specifically for a social enterprise it is necessary to make sure that the reader understands the mission of the organization and the reason why this social organization is being structured as it is.The table of contents for a social enterprise may look something like this:I. Executive Summary- this is an overview of your full plan. It helps explain the broad concept of your business before you go into detail further .II. Description of your business (including a mission statement)- outline the structure of your business, the legal formation, and the purpose it will serve in the industry. This is where you will craft your mission statement; however, it is sometimes helpful to leave this section of the plan for last, as it may be easier to devise a mission statement once all of the other elements of the paper have been created.III. Industry and Market Analysis- Analyze the market to which your business will be operating. You will want to discover your competition and who is also performing like services. Find out what are the trends of your intended industry and how are the clients reacting to the services being offered, and how they will benefit from your addition to the market.IV. Marketing Plan- This is basically a plan within a plan. Within this document you will outline how you plan to market your business and the anticipated expenses that will be incurred. It necessary to be specific and realistic when devising this plan. Within this plan you will develop a market-driven strategy that will respond to what customers wantand are willing to pay for- not what you think they need and what you are willing to provide. This information requires that you go back to the industry and market data that you acquired when producing your industry and market analysis. When developing a marketing plan it is important to understand that you cannot perform the social good works of your business if you are not known to the public, so it is necessary for you to create a marketing plan that will allow for sufficient quantities of customers/clients to allow your business to meet its goals, thrive and grow.V. Management Plan- This will outline how your staff will be structured. Here you will outline the board duties (if there are to be any), the executive level staff and the job descriptions of everyone to be employed. It is important that you remain specific throughout this process and avoid vague, ambiguous statements.VI. Operations Plan- This is going to be your implementation manual. Here you will outline the strategies for the operation and how you plan on executing your mission. Again, I cannot stress the importance of being specific- as those you approach for financing will not be interested in fuzzy details about how their money will be spent. They want to know that you have a clear and definable measure of your goals. You want to develop an action plan that delineates each task and the person responsible, and required budget. You will also want to include a calendar with sufficient time to cover the various stages of concept, development and start-up.VII. Financial Plan- Within this portion you will outline the legal structure and performance measurement milestones. You will detail your capital requirements and operation expenses. It will be necessary to serparate your start-up costs from your on-going operating expenses. Most business plans forecast for the first five years.VIII. Risk Assessment and Contingency Plan- This is exactly what it sounds like. Investors will want to know that you have evaluated all potential threats and risks open to your business. And when evaluating these risks that you have created contingencies for those situations. It may be prudent to perform a SWOT analysis whereyou evaluate all potential strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats to your social enterprise.Planning will ensure that your idea is brought into reality. It helps you move away from the theoretical framework of your idea and allows you to focus on the impact your idea will have on society. The plan should be laid out in a clear and concise manner, so that it can also be presented to community leaders, investors, donors or other stakeholders for support of your aims.As always, let me know what you think!Photo Credit: The Company Line]]>http://www.justmeans.com/Social-Enterprise-Training-Resources/10206.htmlThu, 11 Mar 2010 12:58:28 GMTBlake Poston In light of the growing popularitytowards the social entrepreneurship field, many individuals seeking to pursue this form of business are wondering how they can enhance their skill sets and prepare themselves for this career route. In most other fields it's fairly simple; you want to become a doctor, you go to medical school. You want to be a lawyer you go to law school. But where do you go if you want to become a social entrepreneur? The fact is there is a lot of confusion surrounding this issu Read Full Article ]]> In light of the growing popularitytowards the social entrepreneurship field, many individuals seeking to pursue this form of business are wondering how they can enhance their skill sets and prepare themselves for this career route. In most other fields it's fairly simple; you want to become a doctor, you go to medical school. You want to be a lawyer you go to law school. But where do you go if you want to become a social entrepreneur? The fact is there is a lot of confusion surrounding this issue, as there is no clear cut path to learn social entrepreneurship.Greg Dees is often considered the father of Social Entrepreneurship as an academic subject and is the founding faculty director of the Center for the Advancement of Social Entrepreneurship at Duke University. He has been quoted as saying, "Business schools still view social entrepreneurship as a practice, not a discipline; it is the same difficulty that entrepreneurship was faced with when it began. There is not enough academic research out there right now; there needs to be more in order to advance the credibility of social entrepreneurship as an academic field." Most business schools still address social issues by discussing them within the frameworks of nonprofit organizations and government agencies. And matters concerning social entrepreneurship rarely exist within traditional MBA programs.So, the question still exists, where does one go to train themselves in social entrepreneurship? I personally chose to pursue an advanced degree in nonprofit management. Nonprofit management strategies are increasingly including traditional for-profit concepts including Strategic Planning and Financial Management. This avenue appealed to me because I am interested in the sustainability of nonprofit organizations and their use of social enterprise. This; however, is not the only avenue a person can take.Fortunately, given the popularity of the industry, there are more and more options becoming available.Essentially, a person can major in any subject and become a social entrepreneur. In my opinion, there is no right or wrong way to prepare yourself for work in an organization that ranks social impact equal with or above profit concerns. But, if a person wanted to ensure that they had the best advantage over the competition I have compiled some suggestions for those seeking a more detailed education in social entrepreneurship.Existing University Programs:Duke University- Center for the Advancement of Social Entrepreneurship (CASE)Stanford University- Center for Social InnovationColumbia University- The Social Enterprise ProgramNew York University- The Stewart Satter Program in Social Entrepreneurship (Within the Berkley Center for Entrepreneurial Studies)The University of North Carolina Chapel Hill- Center for Sustainable EnterpriseHarvard University- The Social Enterprise InitiativeIndividual Courses/ Electives:Babson College- The Social Entrepreneur/Socially Responsible EntrepreneurshipThe George Washington University- Nonprofit EnterpriseUniversity of California Berkley- Introduction to Social EntrepreneurshipUniversity of Notre Dame- Social EntrepreneurshipWashington University- Social EntrepreneurshipFoundation Resources/Training:AshokaSkoll FoundationTides FoundationSchwab FoundationSocial Enterprise AllianceThe Social Enterprise FundThe Institute for Social EntrepreneursSocial Enterprise Ventures, LLCAnnual Conferences:The Social Enterprise Conference at Harvard Business School (2010 conference already held- please keep and eye out for more information from Marcia Stepanek on the highlights of this conference).The Social Venture/Social Enterprise Conference [March 17-19, 2010]The Ohio State University/Fisher School of Business- Social Enterprise and Education Consortium Conference (SEEC) [April 22-24, 2010]Social Enterprise Alliance Summit [April 28-30, 2010]Social Capital Markets Conference (SOCAP10) [October 4-6, 2010]The Independent Sectors Annual Conference [October 20-22, 2010]Books/Publications:Occupation Change the World- published by Dreamnow (this e-book is FREE!)Social Entrepreneurship in Education: Private Ventures for the Public Good by Michael R. SandlerWomen Lead the Way: Your Guide to Stepping Up to Leadership and Changing the World by Linda Tarr- Whelan (good read for men too!)Switch: How to Change Things When Change is Hard by Dan and Chip Heath (How to Stick by them is also very good). Life Entrepreneurs: Ordinary People Creating Extraordinary Lives by Christopher Gergen andGregg Vanourek Enterprising Nonprofits: A Toolkist for Social Entrepreneurs by Gregory Dees ( A MUST READ)This isa blunt attempt to offer suggestions on possible educational resources and programs. Much of what a person learns in this field is by trial and error and experience. That being said, it should show the promise of the industry and it's expected growth that Colleges and Universities are adopting specific social enterprise curriculum. Please let me know if I have missed any others that should be listed.And as always, let me know what you think~!]]>http://www.justmeans.com/Changemakers-Series--Energize-Clinton-County--ECC-/9967.htmlWed, 03 Mar 2010 08:12:59 GMTBlake Poston Changemakers: A series for Social Enterprise about young changemakers who are creating innovative new social businesses to tackle global problems at home and abroad.Marcia Stepanek, my fellow social enterprise blogger and editor began a series on influential social entrepreneurs within the industry. In a collaborative effort, she and I will be tag teaming with this occasional series. Right now, I'm it!I chose to highlight Energize Clinton County (ECC), a grassroots movement and community center Read Full Article ]]> Changemakers: A series for Social Enterprise about young changemakers who are creating innovative new social businesses to tackle global problems at home and abroad.Marcia Stepanek, my fellow social enterprise blogger and editor began a series on influential social entrepreneurs within the industry. In a collaborative effort, she and I will be tag teaming with this occasional series. Right now, I'm it!I chose to highlight Energize Clinton County (ECC), a grassroots movement and community center for sustainable economic development. One of ECC's major endeavors consisted of creating America's first Green Enterprise Zone, which on July 16, 2009 became a reality when Wilmington, Ohio became the first recognized Green Enterprise Zone in the country.Spearheaded by Mark Rembert and Taylor Stuckert, Energize Clinton County saw its creation after shipping giant DHL left their hometown of Wilmington, OH. Faced with a community upheaval as a result of this employer leaving, Stuckert and Rembert seized on the moment to reinvent Wilmington as the country's first green enterprise zone. The two had been away from their hometown of Wilmington for several years, but upon learning of the economic crisis decided that dedicating themselves to saving Wilmington from collapse was not only the right thing for their hometown, but also their country.Mark Rembert, a graduate of Haverford College with a BA in economics, worked and lived in Pennsylvania for a start-up public relations firm and turned down a peace corp tour in Ecuador to return to Wilmington and further his work with Energize Clinton County. His partner Taylor Stuckert graduated from Butler University with a degree in Philosophy. He completed a Peace Corp service mission in Bolivia but also turned down an additional volunteer mission in Ecuador to work with ECC. Thier hope was to "turn Wilmington from the poster child for economic decline into a poster child for green recovery."As noted on their website- this movement began with a few letters to the editor and soon blossomed into a public policy, networking and social entrepreneur hub. The two entrepreneurs note that "through Energize Clinton County, the job loss crisis has been transformed into a breeding ground for the development of new technologies and strategies that will certainly lead America's economy through the 21st century." It is the belief of ECC that within the current economic climate- the green economy is now poised to spur development across the country and create endless job opportunities.Leading this movement is the previously mentioned Wilmington Green Enterprise Zone. A program that offers incentives for green and eco friendly investment and development. Some of the facilitating initiatives include:developing an inventory of local assets as they relate to the green economy.offering incentives for the investment in energy efficient retrofits, advanced energy technologies, and green collar jobs.Making use of local policy tools to stimulate green investments, while providing support to efforts seeking to obtain state and federal incentives.Indentifying opportunities for workforce retention that meet the needs of green businesses.Rembert and Stuckert began working with city officials to draft legislation establishing the Green Zone in 2008 and as previously mentioned on July 16, 2009 the Wilmington city council unanamously voted to establish the Wilmington Green Enterprise Zone- the first of its kind in the country.In 2009, Energize Clinton County also became a PopTech fellow. Poptech fellows are young leaders with extraordinary potential that possess new approaches towards social change. The fellowship program is designed to help facilitate change around the world. Each year PopTech selects 10-20 high potential changemakers who are working in areas such as healthcare, energy, development, climate change, education, and civic engagement to name a few.Let's givea round of applause for Mark Rembert and Taylor Stuckert for their efforts- they are definitely initiating change for the green industry.As always, let me know what you think.Photo courtesy: PopTech]]>http://www.justmeans.com/Nonprofit-Organizations-Use-of-the-Hybrid/9961.htmlWed, 03 Mar 2010 08:04:08 GMTBlake Poston As I mentioned in my biography post here on Justmeans, my goal is to inform those who are new to the field or seeking a greater understanding of social enterprises.When I first stumbled upon this niche market I found myself having to backtrack to understand a lot of what was being written about the industry.Yes, there were several definitions of social enterprise, but much of what I read was geared to the professional already entrenched in the field.To that end, I thought I would focus on those Read Full Article ]]> As I mentioned in my biography post here on Justmeans, my goal is to inform those who are new to the field or seeking a greater understanding of social enterprises.When I first stumbled upon this niche market I found myself having to backtrack to understand a lot of what was being written about the industry.Yes, there were several definitions of social enterprise, but much of what I read was geared to the professional already entrenched in the field.To that end, I thought I would focus on those who are seeking information, like I was. That being said- this post intends tooffer a quick lesson in what exactly a hybrid model is (just in case some of you were wondering why I was talking about a Prius).The environment in which nonprofits are operating has drastically changed over the past few decades. Funds are drying up, services are being duplicated at rapid rates (resulting in increased competition), and the demand for services heavily outweighs the supply. With the reality of these changes many nonprofits have chosen to operate for-profit businesses thatalso cater tothe social missions of their organization. This creates what is known in the field as a hybrid business model.Bill Strickland, a noted social entrepreneur, said in a keynote message to nonprofit leaders, that nonprofits have to "get out of the box" and not be focused only on mission and writing grant after grant. "The only way to survive in this environment is to have a social entrepreneurial mindset," he said. Most organizations do that with acombo for-profit and nonprofit business model.What is a hybrid Organization?Generally, it's a nonprofit organization that goes into business to provide services to the public; resulting in a revenue stream that allows the organization to advance its original mission.How are hybrids established?Typically,a nonprofit parent company establishes a subsidiary for-profit business which is legally separate from the nonprofit organization.What are some benefits of a hybrid?Many nonprofits have found that by establishing their own revenue generating enterprises, they can befreed from having to compete for various government or foundation offered resources. This freedomalsoreleases the organization from time consuming reporting that comes along with such funding.With a successfulsocial enterprise, nonprofits can see an increased ability to provide services and canexpand their reach.Nonprofits are able to maintain a stable staff and are not relegated to time sensitive positions(e.g. once the funding is gone, so too is the position).What are some risks of a hybrid?Any new start-up venture can be a risk, nonprofit subsidiary companies are no different.The initial start-up costs can drain the organization's resources (to include time, personnel, and money). Should the venture fail itmay also place the organization in a precarious financialsituation (an important reason to legally separate the two entities).Many may be put off by the organizations new profitmotivated venture; so, winning in the court of public opinion and maintaining your socially driven public image would have to be a key consideration.In my opinion, social purpose businesses are going to be the life blood of many nonprofit organizations, at least the successful ones. We are approachinga time (or currently existing...depending on who your ask) when gone are the days of relying solely on foundation grants and donations. If an organization wants to meet its goals and fulfill its mission it will have to establish some form of ahybrid business model. Stricklandnotes that nonprofits "have to recognize they're businesses, not just causes".He says "there are ways to combine the very best of the not-for-profit, philanthropic world with the very best of the for-profit, enterprising world." "This hybrid is the wave of the future for both profit and nonprofit companies," says Strickland.Throughout my upcoming posts, I intend to highlight existing hybrid models that are thriving as well as upcoming trends in an effort to showcase what is possible.And, as always, let me know what you think!Photo courtesy: Simple-Fundraising-ideas]]>http://www.justmeans.com/L3Cs-for-Social-Enterprise/9347.htmlTue, 23 Feb 2010 19:21:39 GMTBlake Poston Many people interested in forming a social enterprise are torn between establishing their business as a nonprofit or for-profit entity. This structural battle has lead to a new form of corporation called the Low-profit limited liability corporation (L3C). This new corporation status has steadily gained popularity among entrepreneurs and is becoming a popular choice for those seeking to find a more appropriate fit for their social enterprise.The low-profit limited liability corporation was formed Read Full Article ]]> Many people interested in forming a social enterprise are torn between establishing their business as a nonprofit or for-profit entity. This structural battle has lead to a new form of corporation called the Low-profit limited liability corporation (L3C). This new corporation status has steadily gained popularity among entrepreneurs and is becoming a popular choice for those seeking to find a more appropriate fit for their social enterprise.The low-profit limited liability corporation was formed to be a combination of nonprofit social missions and the savvy business models in the for profit world. The pioneers of this business structure were seeking an alternative to the limitations placed on nonprofit fundraising, especially in an economy that is producing less and less opportunities for nonprofit funding support. Using an L3C model allows socially motivated enterprises to draw in capital from investors interested in becoming active in businesses with a double bottom line (focusing both on some form of social change in conjunction with a for-profit business model). Unlike funding sources for nonprofit organizations, investors in social enterprises have flourished recently and have found a home with the L3C social enterprise.Many investors in this business form are intrigued with the idea that they can receive a return on their investment- an option unattainable with the nonprofit corporation. The L3C captures the tax-exempt benefits of a nonprofit entity and allows for capital to be raised from socially conscious investors seeking a modest return on investment. This convenient hybrid allows L3C social enterprises to capture both public and private funds. Like the traditional limited liability corporation (LLC), the L3C designation allows for the profits obtained to be redistributed to its investors and owners; all while maintaining a social mission and philanthropic zeal.A low-profit limited liability corporation has the added of benefit of being able to secure foundation funds that are reserved for program related investments (PRIs). Foundations are required to only invest funds in organizations that seek to further its cause. With this requirement foundations have been reluctant to invest funds in for-profit businesses for fear that they will not qualify as a program related investment. Unsure of how the funds will be used many social enterprises lose out on foundation funding when set up as a traditional limited liability corporation. L3Cs are legally established PRIs and as a result foundations are free to invest in social enterprises that adhere to its mission.With the benefits of the L3C designation the option to establish one of these corporations is limited around the country. Vermont was the first state to pass legislation that allowed for a low-profit limited liability business structure in April of 2008. Since then, Michigan, Wyoming, Illinois, Maine, Arkansas, North Dakota, Utah and two Indian Tribes have adopted similar L3C filing status legislation. There is also pending legislation in Georgia, Tennessee, North Carolina, Oregon, Washington, and Missouri. While, the filing status is not available in every state, an L3C can operate in any of the 50 states.What do you think?Photo courtesy: L3C]]>http://www.justmeans.com/Young-Leaders-for-Social-Enterprise/9345.htmlTue, 23 Feb 2010 19:05:08 GMTBlake Poston The American workforce is at a cross roads right now and experiencing a real shift in power. The fact is, as baby boomers begin to realize their retirement dreams and cash in those 401(k) accounts, a huge gap is being created. At one end of the spectrum there are the seasoned professionals who have paid their dues and are now looking forward to reaping the rewards of their hard working years. On the other end there is a fresh new breed of working professionals chomping at the bit to make their m Read Full Article ]]> The American workforce is at a cross roads right now and experiencing a real shift in power. The fact is, as baby boomers begin to realize their retirement dreams and cash in those 401(k) accounts, a huge gap is being created. At one end of the spectrum there are the seasoned professionals who have paid their dues and are now looking forward to reaping the rewards of their hard working years. On the other end there is a fresh new breed of working professionals chomping at the bit to make their mark on the world.This new crop of professionals is rather different than their baby-boomer parents. Many young people saw the personal pitfalls of working 80 hour weeks and strive for a greater emphasis on quality of life. They have watched their parents go through two and three marriages to advance their careers (careers they may not even have liked that much) and have opted to sacrifice material trappings for a more meaningful lifestyle. The "Millennial" generation is less interested in making as much money as possible and more interested in working for organizations that are more mission focused and provide a decent work- life balance. This altruistic zeal ever present amongst the generation Y crowd is a gold mine for the social enterprise field and is just what is needed to build this movement and carry it through the next decade.Those young leaders, who have a penchant for change, have more options than their predecessors when it comes to "how" to execute that change. Nonprofit Organizations (NPOs) and Nonprofit Governmental Organizations (NGOs) are not the only medium available for carrying out a community based mission. There is now the third sector of social enterprise. This field emerged out of a demand for both nonprofit values and for-profit strategic impact, and tries to draw the best from both fields. This combination has created a viable alternative to some professionals who are somewhat put off by working for the government or a nonprofit organization.Millennials may not place as much emphasis on material objects as mentioned before, but they still want to make a decent living and be able to support themselves and their families. And let's face it, you do not work for a nonprofit or local government and expect to get rich. This is especially true now that the economy has been experiencing a downturn and a financial recovery is still to be determined. Many local governments are finding themselves in hiring freezes and nonprofit organizations are having trouble finding the funds to keep a full and well-paid staff. This leaves the door wide open to draft a large amount of talented, idealistic young people and retain them as their families and needs grow.Now, I am not bashing nonprofit organizations and the good they can and will continue to do. I am just highlighting some of the benefits of opting to start or work for a social enterprise. Greg Dees is a professor at Duke University who teaches Social Entrepreneurship. He details the field in a way that I feel is worth repeating:"My own feeling is that "social entrepreneur" conveys the idea of somebody who is highly energized and determined to achieve impact; who perceives opportunities; who pursues them in an innovative and resourceful way; who is not bound or stuck by sector boundaries but willing to use whatever tools are likely to get the job done, including business tools. My feeling is that entrepreneurship lies in behavior: how innovative and resourceful people are, their willingness to do what it takes to have the impact, and their determination to make it happen. This kind of behavior can happen in many venues and on many levels, on a small or large scale and we should embrace and encourage social entrepreneurship of different forms, degrees and levels."This typifies the kind of passion and commitment that can be seen amongst new young leaders and should be the characteristics cultivated to enrich new talent within the field. It will be these kinds of minds that will make the terms "social enterprise" and "social entrepreneurship" known household wide. It will also be these new leaders who will open the doors for funding to flow more appropriately to social entrepreneurs and enable greater financial support for endeavors of this kind.More and more young people want to be entrepreneurial and creative and have the potential to make a comfortable living while at the same time lead a life of meaning and purpose. Drafting a strong and resourceful workforce can usher in more results and less rhetoric around issues that require change. Social enterprises can be an effective way to engage the youth population in solving social problems. With the right troops in place there could be a fundamental change in how community products or services are issued. More emphasis can be placed on the overall impact on the community versus how much money has been donated. Social enterprises can allow for people to stop stressing about how to meet the needs of the organization and start focusing on the needs of the community they are trying to help. Highlighting these attributes will inevitably generate more interest in an already growing sector of the workforce.What do you think?Photo Courtesy: Curtin]]>http://www.justmeans.com/Saying-Hello-as-the-New-Social-Enterprise-Blogger/9343.htmlMon, 22 Feb 2010 17:00:44 GMTBlake Poston Hello Justmeans -I am delighted to be a part of this online community and I am eager to offer what knowledge I have acquired on social enterprises to those entering and existing in the field. I hope that I am able to provide diverse topic discussions on issues concerning social enterprises. My goal is to cater to those individuals who may not be that familiar with the industry and are seeking to learn more about this ever growing business sector. I hope that I can encourage young entrepreneurs t Read Full Article ]]> Hello Justmeans -I am delighted to be a part of this online community and I am eager to offer what knowledge I have acquired on social enterprises to those entering and existing in the field. I hope that I am able to provide diverse topic discussions on issues concerning social enterprises. My goal is to cater to those individuals who may not be that familiar with the industry and are seeking to learn more about this ever growing business sector. I hope that I can encourage young entrepreneurs to consider developing socially minded organizations and educate them on the basics of a social enterprise in addition to developing trends. I also hope that I can facilitate nonprofit organizations to learn more about the benefits of establishing social enterprises within their organizations for additional revenue.I currently work for an affordable housing finance agency that utilizes several social enterprises under its nonprofit umbrella. I was bitten by the nonprofit bug during my undergraduate education at Florida State University where I majored in Social Science. Since graduating, I have spent the last 5 years working in the nonprofit field in various administrative capacities. I am currently pursuing a Masters degree in Nonprofit Management at the University of Central Florida.Social enterprises hail to be a hybrid of both the nonprofit and for-profit worlds. I also have a hybrid background that mirrors that of a social enterprise. During my first undergraduate experience, I majored in Business Administration. Feeling drawn by my social conscious I chose to return to school and pursue a degree in Social Science. My educational background has allowed me to combine my knowledge of both traditional business practices and that of more socially motivated endeavors generally carried out by nonprofit organizations. I guess this is why I have found myself drawn to the third sector of social enterprise.I look forward to conversing with the Just Means community, and I welcome the opportunity to exchange knowledge and ideas. So, feel free to introduce yourself, comment on my topics, say hello, or let me know if you completely disagree with me.I look forward to it all.Greetings again- and let me know what your're thinking?Photo Courtesy: childavenue]]>