Comments for The Social Ecosystem http://blog.ambientengines.com Exploring Entrepreneurial Ideas that Address Social Issues, Enhance the Environment, Sustain Development and Transform the Developing World Mon, 01 Feb 2010 21:58:03 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 Comment on Some reflections on Martin Luther King and non-profit leadership by Raj Melville http://blog.ambientengines.com/2010/01/21/some-reflections-on-martin-luther-king-and-non-profit-leadership/#comment-1038 Raj Melville Mon, 01 Feb 2010 21:58:03 +0000 http://blog.ambientengines.com/?p=602#comment-1038 Thanks for your insights Drew. One site that I have written about previously that you might want to check out is http://www.unitedprosperity.org/ Unlike other online donation/microloan sites, United Prosperity provides loan guarantees to enterprising entrepreneurs in developing countries. By providing guarantees to microloans, it allows your dollar's impact to multiply - 2X to 4X depending on the institution they guarantee. Thanks for your insights Drew. One site that I have written about previously that you might want to check out is http://www.unitedprosperity.org/ Unlike other online donation/microloan sites, United Prosperity provides loan guarantees to enterprising entrepreneurs in developing countries. By providing guarantees to microloans, it allows your dollar’s impact to multiply – 2X to 4X depending on the institution they guarantee.

]]> Comment on Some reflections on Martin Luther King and non-profit leadership by Drew Meyers http://blog.ambientengines.com/2010/01/21/some-reflections-on-martin-luther-king-and-non-profit-leadership/#comment-1037 Drew Meyers Mon, 01 Feb 2010 21:45:59 +0000 http://blog.ambientengines.com/?p=602#comment-1037 I totally agree with you that people need to take the long term approach to alleviating poverty -- which is why I'm such a huge advocate/believer in microfinance. I totally agree with you that people need to take the long term approach to alleviating poverty — which is why I’m such a huge advocate/believer in microfinance.

]]> Comment on Why we need Social Investors by Tom http://blog.ambientengines.com/2009/08/20/why-we-need-social-investors/#comment-733 Tom Tue, 25 Aug 2009 10:15:21 +0000 http://blog.ambientengines.com/?p=525#comment-733 Great post, although I'm not sure that there necessarily has to be a trade-off between economic rate of return and social/environmental impact - ideally the two can co-exist quite happily. ClearlySo has set up investor speed dating evenings to stimulate just this sort of early-stage social investment (http://www.clearlyso.com/sbblog/?p=422) - we've another one coming up in Sept. I agree that the market does need socially-conscious investors to get more involved (or maybe just more investors to become socially-conscious?) - but entrepreneurs also have a responsibility to be 'the best they can' when it comes to communicating their proposition to investors. To that end we're running 'investment readiness workshops' so that social entrepreneurs can learn how to pitch more effectively. It's all about fostering excellence in the social business sector. If we can bring the good ideas and the good capital together and help them communicate, that will be a job well done. Great post, although I’m not sure that there necessarily has to be a trade-off between economic rate of return and social/environmental impact – ideally the two can co-exist quite happily. ClearlySo has set up investor speed dating evenings to stimulate just this sort of early-stage social investment (http://www.clearlyso.com/sbblog/?p=422) – we’ve another one coming up in Sept.

I agree that the market does need socially-conscious investors to get more involved (or maybe just more investors to become socially-conscious?) – but entrepreneurs also have a responsibility to be ‘the best they can’ when it comes to communicating their proposition to investors. To that end we’re running ‘investment readiness workshops’ so that social entrepreneurs can learn how to pitch more effectively. It’s all about fostering excellence in the social business sector.
If we can bring the good ideas and the good capital together and help them communicate, that will be a job well done.

]]> Comment on Why we need Social Investors by Daniel Epstein http://blog.ambientengines.com/2009/08/20/why-we-need-social-investors/#comment-731 Daniel Epstein Sat, 22 Aug 2009 20:33:47 +0000 http://blog.ambientengines.com/?p=525#comment-731 I couldn't agree with you more Raj. The need for early stage and startup stage social investors is incredible. I'm excited to learn more of your thoughts to this regard as setting up such a fund is of primary interest of Unreasonable. Thank you for your well thought out and well articulated posts! I couldn’t agree with you more Raj. The need for early stage and startup stage social investors is incredible. I’m excited to learn more of your thoughts to this regard as setting up such a fund is of primary interest of Unreasonable. Thank you for your well thought out and well articulated posts!

]]> Comment on Some thoughts on Clayton Christensens article on Social Innovation by Raj Melville http://blog.ambientengines.com/2009/08/03/some-thoughts-on-clayton-christensens-article-on-social-innovation/#comment-719 Raj Melville Fri, 14 Aug 2009 04:22:47 +0000 http://blog.ambientengines.com/?p=519#comment-719 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" 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”

]]> Comment on Some thoughts on Clayton Christensens article on Social Innovation by Campus Entrepreneurship http://blog.ambientengines.com/2009/08/03/some-thoughts-on-clayton-christensens-article-on-social-innovation/#comment-718 Campus Entrepreneurship Fri, 14 Aug 2009 03:47:05 +0000 http://blog.ambientengines.com/?p=519#comment-718 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 ($$) will have little impact. Moreover, the size and scope of the vested interests in the current allocation of government resources will likey have a major role in writing rules and regulations if new metrics were demanded. All that said, the office, however small, is there and is a reality. That is a good thing. Secondly, as more individuals choose to get involved and show they can provide real social value, finders (donors/philanthropists) will support social entrepreneurs.. Americans, from the masses to folks like Ford and Gates, have an incredible track record of funding social innovations. Thanks for the link and your commentary. The Eco system for social entrepreneurs is growing w/out direct government action. The office is nice, but due to policy realities ($$) 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.

]]> Comment on Some thoughts on Clayton Christensens article on Social Innovation by Pamela Hawley http://blog.ambientengines.com/2009/08/03/some-thoughts-on-clayton-christensens-article-on-social-innovation/#comment-716 Pamela Hawley Tue, 11 Aug 2009 18:57:53 +0000 http://blog.ambientengines.com/?p=519#comment-716 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 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

]]> Comment on Some thoughts on Clayton Christensens article on Social Innovation by Responding to Clayton Christensen’s article on Government’s potential role in Social Innovation « The Social Ecosystem http://blog.ambientengines.com/2009/08/03/some-thoughts-on-clayton-christensens-article-on-social-innovation/#comment-715 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 http://blog.ambientengines.com/?p=519#comment-715 [...] Some thoughts on Clayton Christensens article on Social Innovation [...] [...] Some thoughts on Clayton Christensens article on Social Innovation [...]

]]> Comment on Some thoughts on Clayton Christensens article on Social Innovation by Daniel Epstein http://blog.ambientengines.com/2009/08/03/some-thoughts-on-clayton-christensens-article-on-social-innovation/#comment-712 Daniel Epstein Sun, 09 Aug 2009 23:36:55 +0000 http://blog.ambientengines.com/?p=519#comment-712 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. 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.

]]> Comment on Some thoughts on Clayton Christensens article on Social Innovation by Raj Melville http://blog.ambientengines.com/2009/08/03/some-thoughts-on-clayton-christensens-article-on-social-innovation/#comment-711 Raj Melville Sun, 09 Aug 2009 20:54:51 +0000 http://blog.ambientengines.com/?p=519#comment-711 Pamela Thank you for your detailed response. I too agree with you that both large scale and grass roots support is needed. The recent Obama Administration on Social Innovation has definitely raised the profile of Social Entrepreneurship. However we really need to reinforce the infrastructure for innovation for social impact and the government does have a role in this. I will post a follow up to this post shortly with my thoughts on what I think is an appropriate role for the government based on all the feedback I have been getting from my comments. Thanks again and I look forward to perhaps collaborating in the future Raj Pamela

Thank you for your detailed response. I too agree with you that both large scale and grass roots support is needed. The recent Obama Administration on Social Innovation has definitely raised the profile of Social Entrepreneurship. However we really need to reinforce the infrastructure for innovation for social impact and the government does have a role in this. I will post a follow up to this post shortly with my thoughts on what I think is an appropriate role for the government based on all the feedback I have been getting from my comments.

Thanks again and I look forward to perhaps collaborating in the future
Raj

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