Comments on: Some thoughts on Clayton Christensens article on Social Innovation

By: Raj Melville

Raj Melville — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 04:22:47 +0000

Campus Entrepreneurship thanks for sharing your insights. I agree with you that Americans have a tremendous track record of supporting social innovation. In the past this was in the form of grants and checkbook philanthropy. The Gates and Clinton Foundation have increased the focus on results based philanthropy. As people become more concerned about the impact of their donations, they need tools and metrics to evaluate across different non-profits and social entrepreneurs to assess which organizations provide the best impact for their dollar. While entrusting the task of creating metrics to the government carries come risk of bias, there are ways around this,

For additional thoughts on what I think government’s role in social innovation should be see my next post entitled “Responding to Clayton Christensen’s article Government’s potential role in Social Innovation”

By: Campus Entrepreneurship

Campus Entrepreneurship — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 03:47:05 +0000

Thanks for the link and your commentary. The Eco system for social entrepreneurs is growing w/out direct government action. The office is nice, but due to policy realities ($$) will have little impact. Moreover, the size and scope of the vested interests in the current allocation of government resources will likey have a major role in writing rules and regulations if new metrics were demanded. All that said, the office, however small, is there and is a reality. That is a good thing. Secondly, as more individuals choose to get involved and show they can provide real social value, finders (donors/philanthropists) will support social entrepreneurs.. Americans, from the masses to folks like Ford and Gates, have an incredible track record of funding social innovations.

By: Pamela Hawley

Pamela Hawley — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 18:57:53 +0000

Raj and Daniel,

Great to see the conversation going forward so productively. Raj, thank you again for getting the word out about important social movements, causes and social entrepreneurs.

I think it important to bring into the mix: How can we be creative during challenging times such as these?As social entrepreneurs, we need to be tailoring our services to how people are already living. For example, on UniversalGiving (http://www.universalgiving.org) we feature Gift Packages. People can give $50 to feed a family in Sudan, or $25 to buy eyeglasses for a child in Tanzania.

Why is this so important? One main reason is that people are still going to give on birthdays and anniversaries, no matter how tough the economy. And we can use this as an opportunity to allow people to make their gift

and make it more meaningful.

Work with existing habits and patterns, and change the world gift by gift, birthday by birthday. http://www.universalgiving.org/gifts

Keep sharing the innovation!

Pamela

Founder and CEO
UniversalGiving
http://www.universalgiving.org

Living and Giving
http://pamelahawley.wordpress.com

By: Responding to Clayton Christensen’s article on Government’s potential role in Social Innovation « The Social Ecosystem

Tue, 11 Aug 2009 03:40:06 +0000

[...] Some thoughts on Clayton Christensens article on Social Innovation [...]

By: Daniel Epstein

Daniel Epstein — Sun, 09 Aug 2009 23:36:55 +0000

greatly looking forward to the conversation Raj. I actually just noticed the comment above mine posted by Pamela, and I have to also extend my thanks and my appreciation to her. Her organization, Universal Giving, is doing some truly incredible work around the world utilizing market principles and with a specific focus on nothing less than what works. She is actually a personal inspiration for me in the development of Unreasonable.