#plugintodevin - Your Mark on the World with Devin Thorpe: Recent Episodes
Devin D. Thorpe
Host Devin Thorpe, candidate for Utah's 3rd Congressional District, interviews guests to discuss social issues that impact Utahns. Paid for by Friends of Devin Thorpe.
plugintodevin Show - Devin Thorpe for Congress
Guest: Jennifer Fresques Office Sought: Salt Lake County Assessor Issue: Most people don't know what the Assessor does or who the current Assessor is. One of my goals would be to change that, to make the office more accessible to the public. The Assessor's office has struggled to retain and attract experts in our field. This makes valuation more difficult. It also makes it more difficult for us to hold the valuations on higher valued properties which could result in undue burden on all others. Unfortunately, because people don't understand the role of the Assessor, they often don't really care who runs the office. This makes running for this office difficult. The Assessor plays an integral role in running the office as well as with the public. Within our office there is a desperate need for positive changes. The public needs to understand that without the right leadership, they will be affected. Customer service may suffer and the values may suffer. It's important to get the values correctly assessed in order to spread the tax burden equitably and without undue burden to our working class families.
Bio: My name is Jennifer Fresques. My husband Rich and I have two incredible sons, a dog and a cat. We love spending time together as a family whether it’s watching a movie, playing board games or cards or having snowball fights. I love reading. I love laughing with my husband and kids. I am also passionate about surrogacy and our family was fortunate enough to be able to help three families grow when I was a surrogate for them. I have a Bachelor Degree in Accounting and I am a Certified General Appraiser. I have worked in the Salt Lake County Assessor’s office for 12 years. While in the Assessor’s office I have worked in various positions in the Commercial Department. I have been in leadership roles for several years now. I feel passionately about the work we do and about the people that I lead. My background in the county and in the Assessor’s office as well as my Certified General licensing makes me an excellent candidate for Salt Lake County Assessor. I have spent years observing the challenges in our office and speaking with my fellow employees about the issues they have in our office. I have striven to become a leader with an open door, ready to listen and always willing to advocate for our employees. I strongly believe the Assessor’s office needs fresh perspectives in management in order to make positive changes within the organization. The better our organization and the more effective and efficient our employees can become, the better our customer service and valuation can become. The closer the assessor’s office can get to the true fair market values of all properties, the better the tax burden can be fairly spread. My oath as a leader: I will lead with integrity and honesty. I will be the “fix it” leader who not only fixes things, but empowers others to fix things as well. I will set clear expectations and make certain that those expectations are clearly communicated to those I lead. I will provide the knowledge, tools and guidance to help build up those around me. I will strive for positive communication, transparency, consistency and competency.
Website: jenniferfresques.com Facebook: @jennifer4assessor Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/jennifer-fresques Instagram: @jennifer4assessor
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plugintodevin Show - Devin Thorpe for Congress
Guest: Brian Moench Issue: Right now it's the pandemic and whether to open schools. Normally it's air pollution and the climate crisis. I've been involved in trying to raise awareness of the health consequences of air pollution/dirty energy, and shape public policy to improve Wasatch Front air quality. We're not doing anywhere enough to reduce pollution, and much more must be done. The proposed inland port will be the biggest new source of pollution in 50 years.
Bio: Medical Background: - Graduate of U. of Utah Medical School - Internship in Internal Medicine at LDS Hospital - Residency in Anesthesiology at Mass. General Hospital - Fellowship in Intensive Care Medicine Mass. General Hospital - Former instructor in anesthesia, Harvard Medical School - Former Chairman, Anesthesia Dept., Holy Cross Hospital - Private practice in anesthesiology since 1981. Environmental expertise: - Former adjunct faculty member, U. of Utah Honors College, teaching public health and the environment. - President and founder, Utah Physicians for a Healthy Environment, (UPHE). Since 2007 UPHE has become the largest civic organization of medical professionals in the Western US. We have been actively engaged in many environmental battles throughout the country and Western Canada. UPHE has worked closely with numerous national environmental groups like the Sierra Club, Earthjustice, and WildEarth Guardians. - Board Chairman, Doctors and Scientists Against Wood Smoke Pollution - Nominated by Pres. Obama as a finalist for the Award, Champions of Change, for my work on public health and the climate crisis, 2013. Writing and lecture experience: - I have had about 110 Op Eds published in newspapers throughout the country on numerous issues related to the environment and public health. - I have been the principal author of extensive and heavily referenced comments submitted to federal and state agencies on various types of environmental rule making, and courts briefs written for environmental lawsuits on behalf of UPHE. - I am the author of the health chapter in a soon to be published book, Air Pollution in Utah: Issues and Solutions. The book is under contract with the University of Utah press. - Author of the non-fiction book, Death by Corporation, an expose' of the dark, and all too often lethal business practices of major international corporations. - I have appeared on national television, MSNBC, Fox Business Chanel, to discuss the relationship between neonatal death and pollution from fracking. - I have been quoted in numerous national newspapers, appear regularly on local television and radio programs discussing the health consequences of air pollution and am well recognized by the Utah public as an expert on air pollution and health. I give dozens of lectures a year on numerous issues related to environmental contamination. - I have testified as an expert witness in environmental lawsuits, and am currently an expert witness on the effect of environmental contaminants on brain function for defendant in a murder trial. - On a lighter note, I was the first political opponent of the now infamous political guru for George W. Bush, Karl Rove, at Olympus High School, SLC, 1968. - I was the creator and founder of a humorous greeting card company, In Your Face Cards, which sold 35 million cards over 11 years. As a physician, humorous cartoonist, and creator of In Your Face Cards, CNN did a personal profile on me in the late 1990s. - I am an ongoing thorn in the side of Utah state government, industrial polluters, oil and gas drillers, and wood burners.
Website: UPHE.org Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/brian.moench.1
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plugintodevin Show - Devin Thorpe for Congress
Guest: Samuel Winkler Office Sought: House District 42 Issue: Managing growth and what comes with it. The air has become more polluted and our roads are clogged with traffic. Our schools are overfull and I have a concern for the amount of water we actually have left. We need to manage growth to ensure that we will have water for future generations, that developments include transit, education, and commercial elements.
Bio: Sam Winkler was born and raised in Utah, married with three children ages 2, 6 and 13. Sam graduated Magna Cum Laude from Weber State University with a bachelors in Criminal Justice and enjoys spending time with his family camping, fishing, and just hanging around. Sam is a police sergeant for a local police department and has worked serving our community for over 20 years. Sam currently supervises the School Resource Officers, Traffic Unit, Community Outreach and fills in as a Public Information Officer. Sam's career has allowed him to see first-hand many of the issues we all face in our communities today - whether it's needing to invest more in education, to our deteriorating air quality, or growing pains and infrastructure. Even today, Sam has great ideas to work with the community on criminal justice and law enforcement reform. Sam will listen to all of the evidence and weigh all of the facts to make the best decisions for the people of our district and the State of Utah.
Website: www.vote4samwinkler.com Twitter: @SamuelUtah Facebook: @SamWinkler4UTHouse42 Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sam-winkler-b0924716/ Instagram: @SamWinkler4UTHouse42
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plugintodevin Show - Devin Thorpe for Congress
Guest: Suzanne harrison Office Held: State rep Office Sought: State rep Issue: Feeling heard and prioritized.
Bio: I grew up in Provo where my parents both spent their careers working at BYU. I went to Timpview High School and then attended Stanford University where I met my husband, John, who was raised in Centerville, Utah. After Stanford I graduated from medical school at the University of Utah, and completed my residency in anesthesiology at Harvard University. We’ve lived in District 32 for over a decade. Our children attend local public schools. John works as a Senior Director of Engineering at Lucid Software. I am a board-certified anesthesiologist at Riverton Hospital and Intermountain Medical Center. I also volunteer at our children’s schools and sports leagues and in our church.
Website: Votesuz.com Twitter: @votesuz Facebook: @votesuz Instagram: @votesuz
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plugintodevin Show - Devin Thorpe for Congress
Guest: Tim Chambless Office Sought: 2018 Utah State Senate District 2 Issue: Climate Change impacting the nation's demographics. I have observed erratic weather and temperature changes for half a century. The time to act is now.
Bio: University Professor. Taught over 30,000 in 35 years. Utah resident 49 years. Involved in over 30 political campaigns. Worked for a Utah Governor, U.S. Senator and Utah Congressman, and Salt Lake City Mayor. Married and father.
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plugintodevin Show - Devin Thorpe for Congress
Guest: Doug Owens Office Sought: Legislature, House District 36 Issue: Conservation. Started non-profit to help find common ground with people on the other end of the political spectrum. We can win friends to conservation by highlighting the importance of outdoor recreation for the economy.
Bio: Doug Owens was born and raised in Salt Lake City and graduated from the University of Utah and Yale Law School. He and his wife Cynthia Smart Owens have four children and are proud to call Millcreek their home. As an attorney, Doug has three decades' experience resolving complex commercial, environmental, and employment issues. Twenty-five years ago, Doug took two years off from his career to stay home with three little boys while Cynthia finished medical residency. Cynthia currently practices medicine at St. Mark’s Hospital. Doug is committed to improving education, keeping Utah’s economy strong, protecting our air, and preserving the places that make Utah special. Doug is the founder of Utah Outdoor Partners, a non-profit organization launched to raise awareness of the value of Utah's outdoors and promote the creation of parks, trails and other recreation infrastructure to keep pace with population growth.
Website: dougowensutah.com
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plugintodevin Show - Devin Thorpe for Congress
Guest: Olivia Jaramillo Office Sought: Utah State Representative, House District 14 Issue: The impact of population growth and the economic and social changes its bringing and impacting the middle class. This is bringing to surface many issues that are difficult to deal with such as poverty and everything associated with it like bankruptcy. We need to address our economy, and make it more friendly to our middle class.
Bio: Olivia Jaramillo is the Democratic candidate for the Utah House of Representatives, House District 14. Olivia was born and raised in Mexico, and immigrated to the United States when she was 14. She joined the United States Air Force in 1999. She has served tours to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, 7 years in Europe, and humanitarian missions into Sub-Saharan Africa (Mozambique, Cameroon, Nigeria, South Africa). She has written Military Legislation at local and regional Military levels. She retired from Active Duty Military Service after 20 years in March 2019. She currently Chairs the North Davis Communities that Care Coalition, has created a Veterans Benefits Fair in Davis County, in conjunction with Davis County Commissioners, founded and leads the Davis County Multicultural Committee; and is currently working with Davis County Sheriffs and all 15 City Mayors and City Councils on reforming their first responder training to include Implicit bias/race relations sensitivity education.. She was recently nominated to be the State’s PTA Diversity & Inclusion Board Specialist. She is committed and advocates for the preservation of Constitutional American Rights, the middle class, a proper State tax reform, public education, the environment, and minority communities such as Veterans of war, and the correction of public perception towards legal immigrants. Olivia lives in Syracuse, Utah with her 9 year old son Oliver.
Website: www.oliviaforutah.com Twitter: @oliviaforutah Facebook: facebook.com/oliviaforutah Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/olivia-jaramillo Instagram: @oliviaforutah
Photo credit: Hassison Spendlove
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plugintodevin Show - Devin Thorpe for Congress
Guest: Chase Hansen Issue: How to overcome despair and human suffering. I see it around me. Complex challenges can we solves through listening and empowering others.
Bio: When he was four years old Chase Hansen founded KID LABS, "a social impact corporation with a mission to be a global FORCE FOR GOOD." Of course, he had a little bit of help from his mentor and sidekick, a.k.a. his dad, John Hansen. The idea developed in 2013, when Salt Lake City - based father and son visited FanX Salt Lake Comic Convention and decided they too could be superheroes - now they focus on empowerment projects to create meaningful change in the world. Together they champion for others and take on unique social challenges through; innovative business development strategies, awesome collaborative marketing ventures, and creative social experiments.
Website: http://bit.ly/Project_Empathy Twitter: @chiefkidofficer Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pg/chiefkidofficer Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chase-hansen-72471111/ Instagram: @chiefkidofficer
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plugintodevin Show - Devin Thorpe for Congress
Guest: Kevin Perez Office Held: Vice Chair Utah County Dems Issue: Electing Democrats. The job as part of the EC is to elect democrats
Bio: Kevin Perez is a 26 year old native from San Diego, CA who moved to Orem, UT at a young age. The son of Mexican immigrants, raised by a single mother. He has worked hard to make it through school and help raise his younger brother. Due to the hardships he’s faced his main concerns are that of every other american. Rising costs of education, Worsening pollution, Shrinking Health Care Coverage, and the 11.5 Million undocumented immigrants who live in the shadows. These are the issues that Kevin is the most passionate about, issues that should have been resolved years ago.
Website: https://utcountydems.com Twitter: @utcountydems Facebook: https://facebook.com/utcountydems Instagram: @utcountydems
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plugintodevin Show - Devin Thorpe for Congress
Guest: Emily Hase Office Held: Chair, Salt Lake County Democratic Party Issue: Voter education. Ensuring voters are educated on how to cast ballots, and the importance of voting in down-ballot races is important for electing Democrats in all offices.
Bio: Emily Hase serves as the Chair of the Salt Lake County Democratic Party by night, and as a business analyst for a Fortune 100 company by day. She got her start in Utah politics in 2013 when she managed the re-election campaign for the great JoAnn Seghini, and has been working to elect local leaders ever since. She has worked on campaigns from city council to Governor, and serves on committees for the Salt Lake County and Utah Democratic Parties, local issue and identity caucuses, and the Young Democrats of America.
Website: https://www.slcountydems.com/ Twitter: @emily_j_hase Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Emily.Hase.UT/ Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emilyhase/ Instagram: @emily.j.d.hase
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plugintodevin Show - Devin Thorpe for Congress
Guest: Chris Peterson Office Sought: Utah Governor
Bio: Chris' government and policy experience include: · Working as a Special Advisor in the U.S. Department of Defense where he helped lead the Pentagon’s efforts to protect military servicemembers from predatory lending. The Secretary of Defense awarded Peterson the Office of the Secretary of Defense Award for Excellence for his efforts on behalf of military families; · Serving in the federal Consumer Financial Protection Bureau where Peterson’s team stopped deceptive and abusive practices by Wall Street banks, payday lenders, and debt collection agencies. His team won $12 billion in refunds and restitution for Americans who were victimized by illegal financial practices; and, · Leading at the University of Utah where he worked as an Associate Dean for Academic Affairs with managerial responsibility for the educational mission of the University’s College of Law. Peterson is a national leader and authority on consumer protection. He has published several books including a university textbook on consumer law and an award winning book on predatory lending. The National Association of Consumer Agency Administrators, an association of state and local consumer law enforcement agencies, gave Peterson its national consumer advocate of the year award for his public service. Chris lives in Salt Lake City with his amazing wife and three wonderful kids. He's a fifth generation Utahn with deep pioneer roots. Chris was born and raised in West Valley City and attended Utah’s public schools. A father of three, Chris is married to Tera Peterson who is also a practicing attorney. Tera is an Assistant Solicitor General in the Utah Attorney General Office’s Criminal Appeals Division where she works to protect crime victims including especially abused children. The Petersons enjoy skiing in Utah's mountains and hiking our state's majestic deserts.
Website: https://petersonforutah.com/ Twitter: @PetersonUtah Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PetersonforUtah/
Guest: Karina Brown Office Held: City of Nibley Planning Commissioner Office Sought: Lt. Governor Issue: Democrat elections
Bio: Karina is President of the Cache County Friends of the Children's Justice Center Board and was a founding sponsor of the Medicaid Expansion ballot initiative (Proposition 3) adopted by Utah voters in 2018. She also serves on the Cache Valley Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors and is Co-Chair of the Cache Chamber Legislative Affairs Committee. She is a Planning Commissioner for the city of Nibley, Utah. And she is the co-founder of the Cache Valley United for Change organization dedicated to promoting civic engagement. Karina also currently serves as Co-Chair of Cache Celebration of Women's Suffrage 2020, an organization working to celebrate the centennial of the 19th amendment granting women the right to vote. The organization is dedicated to educating Utah students about voting history including the Voting Rights Act of 1965 and 1870 when Seraph Young of Utah was the first woman in America to vote under an equal suffrage law. The Women’s Suffrage 2020 curriculum includes an educational exhibit available to school districts across the state. Brown has an M.S. in Human, Environmental, and Consumer Resources from Eastern Michigan University and a B.S. in Family Resources and Human Development from Arizona State University. She is currently pursuing a Public Leadership Credential from the Harvard Kennedy School of Government. Karina is married to Dr. Karl Brown, a physician and Air Force veteran and is a mother of four fabulous children in Nibley, Utah (Cache Valley). Her hobbies include fitness, spending time with family, listening to audio books, and playing violin and guitar.
Twitter: @petersonutah @karinaforutah Facebook: facebook.com/karinaandelinbrownforutah Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/karina-andelin-brown-23067aa6 Instagram: @karinaforutah @petersonforutah
Photo credit: Alina Brown
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plugintodevin Show - Devin Thorpe for Congress
Guest: Alan Naumann Office Held: Chair, Environmental Caucus, Chair, Flip 7 Committee Office Sought: Support Utah House races Issue: Air Quality. Health is threatened. Need to drastically reduce burning fossil fuels
Bio: Solar and EV charging contractor, Chair, Environmental Caucus, Chair, Flip & Committee
Twitter: @alanrnaumann Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/alan.naumann.90 Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alan-naumann-72608b45/
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plugintodevin Show - Devin Thorpe for Congress
Guest: Brian King Office Held: Representative, House District 28, Utah State Legislature; Leader, House Minority Caucus Office Sought: Re-election to that office Issue: Public education, clean air, quality outdoor life, economic development, access to health care. They are critically important quality of life issues. I am in favor of all of them!
Bio: Brian S. King serves in the Utah state House of Representatives. He graduated from the University of Utah College of Law in 1985 and has practiced law in Salt Lake City for over 30 years. Most of that time he has represented individuals suing health, life, and disability insurers and self funded employee benefit plans. This work usually involves the Employee Retirement Income Security Act ("ERISA"). He has lectured across the country and written frequently on the topic. Mr. King was invited to testify before the Department of Labor in Washington, D.C. regarding proposed changes to ERISA's claims and appeals procedures and also testified before the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Treasury about changes to the federal Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act. He has been lead counsel in hundreds of trial and appellate cases across the country involving health, life, and disability claims. Mr. King has also been lead counsel for plaintiffs in over a dozen class actions, mostly involving ERISA cases. He has represented clients before the U.S. Supreme Court and in many Federal Circuit and District courts. He is a past president of the Utah Association for Justice (formerly the Utah Trial Lawyers Association). He also serves on the Board of Directors for the Rape Recovery Center and on the Board for the ACLU of Utah. In 2008 Brian was elected to the Utah State House of Representatives as the Democratic representative for District 28 in Salt Lake City. He is a member of the House Judiciary and Business and Labor Standing committees. He also serves on the Executive Offices and Criminal Justice Appropriations Subcommittee, the Constitutional Defense Council, and the Federalism Commission. He was elected by his Democratic House colleagues as the Leader of the House Democratic caucus in 2014 and continues to serve in that position.
Website: www.kingforrep.com Twitter: @RepBrianKing Facebook: Facebook.com/Brian.king.7528/ Instagram: @briansking
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plugintodevin Show - Devin Thorpe for Congress
Guest: Mandar Apte Issue: Promoting peace, compassion, nonviolence and social justice. Violence affects everyone - me - you - everyone - irrespective of our socio-economic status, political views, or where we live. We have to come together to end systemic racism and promote compassion, nonviolence and harmonious co-existence
Bio: Mandar is a former Shell GameChanger who used to manage Shell's investment portfolio on social innovations that create shared value - both social impact and business value. After working at Shell for 17 years, Mandar became a Visiting Scholar at George Mason and started an innovation lab on the Business for Peace that provides innovation consulting to brands to find novel ways to make peace profitable. Currently, he manages a nonprofit peace consultancy 'Cities4Peace' that actively promotes peace and compassion in cities across the world. His flagship work in 2019 was in Los Angeles - working closely with the LAPD and the LA Mayors Office for Gang Reduction in Los Angeles. In 2017, Mandar produced/directed a documentary film 'From India With Love' (now on Amazon Prime). The documentary showcases the journey to India that he hosted for the parents from the Sandy Hook school, Black Lives Matter activists and a former gang member from LA to study nonviolence.
Website: www.cities4peace.org Twitter: @mandarapte108 @cities4peace Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mandarapte108/
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plugintodevin Show - Devin Thorpe for Congress
Guest: Susi Feltch Malohifo'ou Office Held: Executive Director, Co-Founder
Website: https://pik2ar.org/ Facebook: facebook.com/pik2ar Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/susifmalohifoou/ Instagram: @pik2ar
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plugintodevin Show - Devin Thorpe for Congress
Guest: Daniela Larsen
Bio: National Geographic Certified Educator. Passionate about exploring the world through science and the human story. Current projects include creating online education, marketing the right causes, conservation and historical preservation. Executive Director The Hutchings Museum
Website: johnhutchingsmuseum.org Twitter: @museumhutchings Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/daniela-larsen-natgeo/
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plugintodevin Show - Devin Thorpe for Congress
Guest: Elizabeth Weight Office Held: State Representative Office Sought: State Representative Issue: Fair, safe, and sustaining employment. I have had the opportunities for education and employment that provided income to support a household and also health and retirement benefits. What my security has done is give me a basis for comparison and realization of the precarious nature of jobs, not to mention benefits, for so many people in my House district as well as across the state. Also, as a woman and single household wage earner, I have experienced the impact of gender bias in employment as well as the seemingly chosen ignorance of policy makers about the economic as well as household impacts that working women must navigate. A common point of view is that people choose their employment paths by acquiring education and working toward career goals. My own parents succeeded with hard work and integrity. However, somewhat from my experience, but also from my observations of my students' family situations, there are numerous traditions and presumptions that simply avoid realities of inter-generational poverty, limited access to healthcare, and, as we have been reminded recently, racial biases. I regularly hear people use the phrase "pull themselves up by their bootstraps" but I know too many situations where there are no boots. We can see from the course of economics in my lifetime that Capitalism does not create even its own best support system. When public policy assures more equity for education, healthcare, and employment, it builds fundamental elements for strong economy.
Bio: Elizabeth Weight is a sixth generation Utahn with family roots in Sanpete County. As her parents moved from ranching to other business careers, she and her three sisters attended public schools in Fairview, Brigham City, and Bountiful. She holds B.S. and M.A. degrees in English Language Arts Education and taught for thirty-two years in Davis and Granite School Districts. Along with her teaching, she served as a department chair, state and local test item-writer and curriculum designer, as a member of her school community council, and in other teacher-representative positions. While in the classroom, she was a member and leader in the American Federation of Teachers Utah, an affiliate of the AFL-CIO, where she gained formal training in political action, organizing, and leadership. An AFT member still, she currently serves as the Secretary-Treasurer of the Central Utah Federation of Labor and a member of the union-sponsored Labor Day Picnic organizing committee. After moving to West Valley City, Elizabeth volunteered regularly with the Salt Lake County Democratic Party and worked on election campaigns, including that of former Representative Larry Wiley. She followed his suggestion that she consider running for office, and, in 2016 was the only Utah Democrat to flip a House seat. Elizabeth is definitely interested in education issues, especially from perspectives of the teachers, students, and families affected by the policies created in government. She recognizes and defines the strong connection between learning and all that students bring to school from their families’ experiences with safe and sustaining employment, healthcare, housing and food security, and the various effects of environmental conditions. She is excited for the opportunities as a Utah Representative to develop relationships and provide perspective among her colleagues and government staff. She is also proud to serve with the amazing guides in the Capitol Tour team … which allows her to continue in a teaching role with thousands of students and visiting tourists each year.
Website: Liz4Utah.com Twitter: @RepEWeight Facebook: facebook.com/elizabeth.weight.1 Instagram: @repeweight
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plugintodevin Show - Devin Thorpe for Congress
Guest: Alex Miles Issue: Immigration. Specifically DACA. My girlfriend is a DACA recipient. We need to act with compassion and empathy and find a solution that leads to a pathway to citizenship with all recipients.
Bio: I am Alex Miles. I was born and raised in Sandy, Utah. I graduated from Lyon College with a degree in Political Science. Since graduating I have attempted to do the most good with my time and in my profession. This has led me to being on campaigns that inculde: the Nevada State Democratic party, Josie Valdez for County Council, Cory Booker's Presidential Campaign, and Mike Bloomberg's campaign. Now I have joined Devin Thorpe for Congress.
Twitter: @alexmiles26 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/alex.miles.75 Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alex-miles-a7503b164/ Instagram: @alexmiles8787
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plugintodevin Show - Devin Thorpe for Congress
Guest: Jacob Dunford
CW: Suicide
Issue: Suicide prevention/mental health and building safe spaces for everyone. I am personally affected by this issue by: my own coming out story as a gay man, my work in the LGBTQ+ non profit space (Encircle & LOVELOUD), and all the amazing people I have been able to learn from. I feel that if one of us hurting we are all hurting. This pride month is especially important to me. This years pride feel different. Feels less like a celebration on the dance floor & more like a call to action. This pride month we are standing arms locked with our black and brown LGBTQ+ community as we continue to demand justice against racial and gender inequalities. Some people are posting on social media. some protesting. Others donating. And some are having tough conversations with those close to me. A revolution has many lanes - be kind to yourself and to others who are traveling in the same direction. Just keep your foot on the gas! Also, More importantly - I was sitting here at my desk wondering what I could do to help educate folks on the importance of voting and being more mindful of who are elected officials. Thank you for being an exceptional leader and example in the community Devin! We need more folks like you running things.
Bio: Jacob Dunford is personally interested in ensuring every LGBTQ+ individual understands their value and is able to find a sense of community. Jacob loves what he does and will work tirelessly to cultivate a more inclusive Utah for everyone. Jacob prefers the pronouns He/Him.
Website: www.EncircleTogether.org Instagram: @jacobdunford
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plugintodevin Show - Devin Thorpe for Congress
Guest: Meaghan Miller Office Sought: Utah House District 54
Bio: Meaghan Miller lives in Wasatch County with her husband Dylan and two sons. Someone's left shoe is always missing and Fiona the dog sheds constantly. She received her bachelor’s degree in Athletic Training from Colorado Mesa University, and her Master's from the University of Denver. She began her career as an Athletic Trainer at Salt Lake Regional Medical Center and other physical therapy clinics but ultimately found professional fulfillment in the non-profit sector. Meaghan has over a decade of experience with healthcare policy and clinical care. She is currently the Executive Director of EATS, a 501(c)(3) a food-focused nonprofit serving Summit County. Additionally, she sits on the Advisory Board for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Utah and, she is involved in civil liberties advocacy - she's a fighter for you. Meaghan is a member of multiple coalitions advocating for policies to improve social equity. Areas such as patient access to healthcare, social detriments of health, education and working families especially important to her. Meaghan and her family are passionate about the Wasatch Back lifestyle. Her kids are avid outdoor enthusiasts and dirt follows them everywhere. She loves running, barre class and biking - along flat trails. Meaghan hates to cook, loves coffee any time of day, animals - except snakes and reruns of Friends.
Website: https://www.votemiller54.com/ Twitter: @votemiller54 Facebook: @votemiller54 Linkedin: |LinkedIn Profile| Instagram: @votemiller54
Photo credit: IZNAT Images
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plugintodevin Show - Devin Thorpe for Congress
Guest: Sydne Jacques Issue: I am dedicated to bringing more respect to the good people that build our communities, and to help people realize you do not have to have a college degree to be "successful". I work with these incredibly talented people and I'm annoyed that as a society we look down on them. People need to stop and think that their homes, offices, hospitals, schools, roads, bridges -- everything in their community is built by construction workers and they deserve more respect for the good work they do. AND their are great careers available.
Bio: Sydne Jacques is an advocate for “humans in hardhats,” or the belief that tradespeople and craftsmen should be valued and respected. She is a civil engineer turned CEO and consultant. This farm girl from Montana built an award-winning company with worldwide clients, has trained over 20,000 individuals and has facilitated team-building for more than 350 construction teams. Sydne has a unique ability to motivate individuals to help them reach the “Next Level” of life and leadership. Her company was recently named the 12th top Women Owned business in Utah and she has also been named one of “30 Women to Watch” by Utah Business Magazine. Sydne currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Utah Associated General Contractors, on the National Advisory Committee for the College of Engineering at Brigham Young University and on the board of directors for the non-profit Working Moms Connections. Sydne loves sports and is proud of two gold medals earned in basketball in the senior Olympics. She and her husband love to travel and she is the proud mother of four awesome kids.
Website: www.sydnespeaks.com Twitter: @gosydne Facebook: facebook.com/sydne.jacques Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/sydne-jacques
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plugintodevin Show - Devin Thorpe for Congress
Guest: Katy Owens Office Sought: Utah Senate District 19 Issue: Access to healthcare that families can afford has been an issue the community for a long time, but I think the events of this year have brought into focus just how important this is. I have a younger brother who was born with a number of heart and lung problems, and spent a lot of my childhood in the waiting rooms of children's hospitals. Now I've experienced something similar with my own son and some health chronic problems he's had in his young life. My husband and I, and my parents before us, had to make decisions about where we lived and where we worked to make sure we have the health insurance to keep our kids healthy. I think a lot of things are in flux right now because it remains to be seen how our system handles the COVID-19 crisis in the comings months, but I think we need to focus more on public health than we currently do - taking a more community-based view of health.
Bio: Katy Owens is running for Utah Senate District 19, which includes parts of Weber, Summit, and Morgan Counties. She is running to create a more responsive and representative legislature. Katy lives in Summit County with her husband and two kids. She has a bachelor’s degree in international relations, a master’s degree in political science, and has been in the field of election administration for the last ten years. She has worked for the Denver Elections Division, the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL), The Carter Center's Democracy Program, and now provides consulting services on election administration policy and management. Katy wants to see a better future for Utah's kids, which includes affordable healthcare, quality education, clean air and a meaningful voice in the legislature.
Website: www.katyforutah.com Twitter: @katyforutah Facebook: facebook.com/katyforutah Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/katy-owens-hubler-30918411/ Instagram: @katyforutah
Photo credit: Gillian Hunter Photography
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plugintodevin Show - Devin Thorpe for Congress
Guest: Steve Simpson Issue: Poverty, education, support for rural Utah. Affected in almost every way; employment, socially, emotionally.
Bio: Owner of Twin Rocks Trading Post and Cafe, Bluff, Utah
Website: twinrocks.com
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plugintodevin Show - Devin Thorpe for Congress
Guest: Karen Mayne Office Held: State Senate/minority leader Issue: Work place safety. Workers Rights. Save Communities Community Health. I have lived in my district entire life. Taking care of my friends, family, and neighbors. Trust in elected officials
Bio: Served District 5 for 12 years. Retired Granite School VP AFL-CIO Mom and Grandmother
Website: https://senate.utah.gov/karen-mayne Twitter: @KarenMayneUT5 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/karen.mayne.5 Instagram: @karen.mayne
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plugintodevin Show - Devin Thorpe for Congress
Guest: Colleen Copple Issue: Police Community Relationships. We facilitate police community task forces to address police reform issues. There are solutions that can reduce unjustified use of force events that result in loss of life or serious injury for officers and communities.
Bio: Colleen Copple is the co-founder of Strategic Applications International (2004) with her husband James Copple. Colleen raised her family in Salt Lake City, but has spent the last 20 years living and working in Washington, DC. She and Jim moved back to Utah County in 2019 to be closer to elderly parents. SAI's mission is to pursue great ideas, promote action and affect change with demonstrated results. Their work in the US has a strong focus on social justice issues, including crime, violence, substance abuse and criminal justice reform. SAI facilitated The President's Task Force on 21st Century Policing in 2015 that resulted in a 100% consensus report with 59 recommendations and 100 actions steps. SAI has continued to work on police reforms to build greater trust and legitimacy between police and communities. They recently facilitated a state wide working group on police-involved deadly force encounters in Minnesota, releasing the recommendations in Feb. 2020. Internationally, SAI works on international development issues in Africa with an emphasis on poverty, women empowerment, gender-based violence and HIV. Prior to her move to DC, Colleen worked for the Salt Lake City Police Department, where she raised over $10 million in grant funding for community policing initiatives from 1995-1998. She was hired by the National Crime Prevention Council in 1999 where she served as Advisor to the President and created a number of new nationwide community policing initiatives.
Website: http://www.sai-dc.com/ Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/search/top/?q=strategic%20applications%20international%20(sai)&epa=SEARCH_BOX Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/colleen-copple-9570bb8/
Guest: James Copple
Bio: Experienced Owner with a demonstrated history of working in the design industry. Skilled in Nonprofit Organizations, Coaching, Government, Program Evaluation, and Conflict Resolution. Strong entrepreneurship professional with a Ph.D Candidate focused in History from University of Kansas.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Strategic.Applications.Intl/
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plugintodevin Show - Devin Thorpe for Congress
Guest: Alicia Gettys Issue: Effectively solving social problems and measuring impact. Unfortunately "Charities do sometimes faileth." I have volunteered for organizations and left thinking, "Did that really help?" or even worse, "Did my good intention, leave people off worse than they started?" Tools exist to prevent good intentions from going awry. I'd like to empower the world with these tools. I dream of a world in which we put all non-profits out of business due to the lack of social problems.
Bio: Alicia Gettys is the Managing Director for the BYU Ballard Center for Social Impact—the largest university run social innovation center. Through the Center, each year thousands of students learn industry best practices and skills to solve social problems.
Website: ballardcenter.byu.edu Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/alicia.gettys.9 Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alicia-gettys-09bb844/ Instagram: @aliciakgettys
Photo credit: Jocelyn Gardiner jgardinerphotography.com
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plugintodevin Show - Devin Thorpe for Congress
Guest: Colleen Copple Issue: Police Community Relationships. We facilitate police community task forces to address police reform issues. There are solutions that can reduce unjustified use of force events that result in loss of life or serious injury for officers and communities.
Bio: Colleen Copple is the co-founder of Strategic Applications International (2004) with her husband James Copple. Colleen raised her family in Salt Lake City, but has spent the last 20 years living and working in Washington, DC. She and Jim moved back to Utah County in 2019 to be closer to elderly parents. SAI's mission is to pursue great ideas, promote action and affect change with demonstrated results. Their work in the US has a strong focus on social justice issues, including crime, violence, substance abuse and criminal justice reform. SAI facilitated The President's Task Force on 21st Century Policing in 2015 that resulted in a 100% consensus report with 59 recommendations and 100 actions steps. SAI has continued to work on police reforms to build greater trust and legitimacy between police and communities. They recently facilitated a state wide working group on police-involved deadly force encounters in Minnesota, releasing the recommendations in Feb. 2020. Internationally, SAI works on international development issues in Africa with an emphasis on poverty, women empowerment, gender-based violence and HIV. Prior to her move to DC, Colleen worked for the Salt Lake City Police Department, where she raised over $10 million in grant funding for community policing initiatives from 1995-1998. She was hired by the National Crime Prevention Council in 1999 where she served as Advisor to the President and created a number of new nationwide community policing initiatives.
Website: http://www.sai-dc.com/ Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/search/top/?q=strategic%20applications%20international%20(sai)&epa=SEARCH_BOX Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/colleen-copple-9570bb8/
Guest: James Copple
Bio: Experienced Owner with a demonstrated history of working in the design industry. Skilled in Nonprofit Organizations, Coaching, Government, Program Evaluation, and Conflict Resolution. Strong entrepreneurship professional with a Ph.D Candidate focused in History from University of Kansas.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Strategic.Applications.Intl/
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plugintodevin Show - Devin Thorpe for Congress
Guest: Babs Isak Office Held: Bernie Sanders National Delegate Utah CD3 Issue: COVID-19. I am a Medical Technologist BA MT for the American Society of Clinical Pathologists (ASCP) with a Background in Epidemiology. I see a need and I'm trying to help fill it.
Bio: Lifelong Outdoor Enthusiast and River Guide/Trip Leader 30+ years Wilderness First Responder (WFR) Swift Water Rescue Technician 4 Medical Technologist BA MT for the American Society of Clinical Pathologists (ASCP) with a background in Epidemiology US World Cup Bobsled / Skeleton teams 2002/2006 US Skeleton Olympic Trials Founder/Director of Green Street Farm - Community Homestead Grand County Search and Rescue Team Member in Training (GCSAR) Volunteered Senator Bernie Sander’s Utah State Headquarters -- 2016 and 2020 Campaign Seasons--Front Office, Door to Door, Text/Phone Bank, Social Networking. Volunteer at Both Senator Sanders 2016 Utah Rallies with Security and Americans with Disabilities (ADA). Salt County County and Utah State Delegate-- 2016-2018 Precinct Chair HD 26 SLC062-- 2018 Grand County and Utah Democratic State Delegate 2020 2020 Bernie Sanders Democratic National Convention Delegate for CD3. Environmental and Climate Activist LGBTQ+ Gender Fluid Feminist People of Color (POC) Ally Veteran and Senior Issues Healthcare Advocate Rural Representation Labor Supporter Progressive
Twitter: @babsisak Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/babsisak Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/babs-isak-66131549/ Instagram: @babsisak
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plugintodevin Show - Devin Thorpe for Congress
Guest: Dave Bierschied Office Held: City Council Moab President Moab Chamber of Commerce. Issue: Fair representation of the diverse group of residents of SE Utah at a National level. Because of political bias we haven't had a say in local issues for many decades. We need statesmen and not politically connected representatives. Who will listen and be fair minded.
Bio: Raised here in Moab, Dave has experienced firsthand the evolution of Moab from a Uranium Boomtown to an International Resort Destination. Prior to real estate, Dave had careers as a Journeyman Iron Worker, Power Line Designer for Utah Power and Light, and as a General Manager of a local hotel in Moab. He started his real estate career in 1996 and has worked every aspect of the industry; representing sellers, buyers, and investors in both the residential and commercial markets. He believes strongly that it is not only his duty to represent his clients to the best of his ability, but also to educate them throughout every step of the process, so that his clients can make the best decisions possible. Dave is a firm believer in giving back and is particularly passionate about education. He volunteers several days a week in his daughter's classroom and has chaired committees for the Local Board of Education.
Community Involvement: Local Board of Realtors and Utah Association of Realtors, President in Local Board for 5 Terms Moab Rotary Member, President 2016 & 2018 AG 2017-2020 Rim Village Vistas HOA Board President Moab City Council, Moab Chamber of Commerce, President for 2 Terms Utah Regional Wildlife Committee, Chair for 10 Years Canyonlands Field Institute, Board President 5 Years, Blue Ribbon Committee that worked with BLM and resulted in the Development of the Colorado River Corridor BLM Regional Advisory Council, Grand County School District Friend of Education Award Recipient
Website: www.moabrealty.com Facebook: facebook.com/bierschied Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dave-bierschied-77422613/
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plugintodevin Show - Devin Thorpe for Congress
Guest: Karina Brown Office Held: City of Nibley Planning Commissioner Office Sought: Lt. Governor
Bio: Karina is President of the Cache County Friends of the Children's Justice Center Board and was a founding sponsor of the Medicaid Expansion ballot initiative (Proposition 3) adopted by Utah voters in 2018. She also serves on the Cache Valley Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors and is Co-Chair of the Cache Chamber Legislative Affairs Committee. She is a Planning Commissioner for the city of Nibley, Utah. And she is the co-founder of the Cache Valley United for Change organization dedicated to promoting civic engagement. Karina also currently serves as Co-Chair of Cache Celebration of Women's Suffrage 2020, an organization working to celebrate the centennial of the 19th amendment granting women the right to vote. The organization is dedicated to educating Utah students about voting history including the Voting Rights Act of 1965 and 1870 when Seraph Young of Utah was the first woman in America to vote under an equal suffrage law. The Women’s Suffrage 2020 curriculum includes an educational exhibit available to school districts across the state. Brown has an M.S. in Human, Environmental, and Consumer Resources from Eastern Michigan University and a B.S. in Family Resources and Human Development from Arizona State University. She is currently pursuing a Public Leadership Credential from the Harvard Kennedy School of Government. Karina is married to Dr. Karl Brown, a physician and Air Force veteran and is a mother of four fabulous children in Nibley, Utah (Cache Valley). Her hobbies include fitness, spending time with family, listening to audio books, and playing violin and guitar.
Website: www.petersonforutah.com Twitter: @petersonutah @karinaforutah Facebook: facebook.com/karinaandelinbrownforutah Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/karina-andelin-brown-23067aa6 Instagram: @karinaforutah @petersonforutah
Photo credit: Alina Brown, Gail Thorpe
Navajo Project, Navajo Nation
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plugintodevin Show - Devin Thorpe for Congress
Guest: Tara Benally Office Held: Non Office Sought: Non Issue: A number of things. It's within my community and within my Nation. Working together and Keeping an open mind and putting differeences aside.
Bio: I will do my own intro. ( If that's ok?) It's a native thing.
Website: Twitter: Facebook: Tara Benally Linkedin: Instagram:
Photo credit:
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plugintodevin Show - Devin Thorpe for Congress
Guest: Jeff Merchant Office Held: Utah Democratic Party Chair
Bio: The son of a Pakistani immigrant, Jeff was born and raised in Utah and has been a life-long Democrat. He got his start in politics working on a congressional race that took him across the state. As an attorney, he has worked on environmental issues like wetlands preservation and promoted communities of color as part of the Minority Bar Association. As a small business owner, he runs a healthcare company that works with seniors throughout Utah to help them navigate the increasingly complicated web of social security, Medicaid, and Medicare. Jeff, his wife Emily, and their daughters Mia, Maggie, and Elsie live in Holladay along with their two dogs, Mikado and Major. In his spare time, Jeff likes to tell dad jokes, cook, and try to grow bonsai trees. Jeff ran for UDP Chair to strengthen our party, elect more Democrats, and make a better Utah. His priorities as Chair include rebuilding trust in the party, working with county leadership to develop and support strategies that get candidates elected, eliminating existing party debt, and building a stronger party staff.
Website: https://utahdemocrats.org Twitter: @jeffreymerchant Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jeffrey.merchant.5 Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffrey-merchant-632269a/ Instagram: @jmmerchant
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plugintodevin Show - Devin Thorpe for Congress
Guest: Darren Parry Office Sought: Congress - Utah District 1
Bio: Darren Parry serves as the Councilman of the Northwestern Band of the Shoshone Nation, a Utah Tribe with Headquarters in Brigham City, Utah. Councilman Parry has served on the council on 2 separate occasions and has been currently serving for the last 6 years. Darren also serves on the Board of Directors for the American West Heritage Center, in Wellsville, Utah, The Utah State Museum Board, the Community Advisory Board for the Huntsman Cancer Institute, the Northern Regional Advisory Council for Utah Division of Wildlife and the American Indian Services Board which provides scholarships for Native American Students around the country. He attended the University of Utah and Weber State University and received his Bachelor’s Degree in Secondary Education, with an emphasis on History. Darren is the author of “The Bear River Massacre; A Shoshone History” and teaches Native American History at Utah State University. His passions in life are his family which includes his wife Melody, 9 children and 13 grandchildren. His other passion is his Tribal family. Darren was the first Utahn to receive the Esto Perpetua Award from the Idaho State Historical Society, recognizing his efforts in the preservation of Shoshone History. He wants to make sure that those who have gone before him are not forgotten. He has managed inspiring accomplishments within his tribal nation as well as leading social unity and education. It is important to him that all peoples perspectives are heard and respected.
Website: https://darrenforutah.com/ Twitter: @shoshoneelder Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DarrenParryForCongress/ Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/darren-parry-4725aa7/
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plugintodevin Show - Devin Thorpe for Congress
Guest: Christopher Wharton Office Held: Salt Lake City Council
Bio: T. Christopher Wharton is an attorney and senior partner from Salt Lake City, Utah who focuses on family law, criminal defense, and LGBTQ advocacy. He is licensed to practice in federal and state courts in Utah and is certified to appear before the Supreme Court of the United States. Chris graduated from Westminster College with a Bachelor of Arts degree in history. He received his Juris Doctor degree from the University of Utah S.J. Quinney College of Law, where he served as president of the Student Bar Association and managing editor of the Journal of Law and Family Studies. Chris also completed a semester studying jurisprudence at University of Oxford, Magdalen College, and international criminal law at The Hague, Netherlands. Chris gained valuable experience interning at the Utah State Legislature, clerking with the Utah Attorney General’s Office, and practicing as a third-year law student at the at the Salt Lake City Prosecutor’s Office, where he tried and won his first jury trial. Chris went on to work as an associate attorney for two years before opening his own practice in 2012. Chris' extensive work in the areas of family law and LGBTQ advocacy has gained local and national attention. In 2013, Chris helped lead a team of attorneys that submitted an amicus brief to the United States Supreme Court, arguing for equal treatment of LGBT families under the law. In 2015, he obtained the first same-sex common law marriage adjudication in Utah. As an active community volunteer, Chris has done pro bono work for the ACLU of Utah, Equality Utah, the Utah Pride Center, and the Rainbow Law Clinic. Chris has served as president of the Utah Young Lawyers Division, vice chair of the Board of Directors of the Utah Pride Center, and chair of the Salt Lake City Human Rights Commission. Chris also served on the board of the LGBT & Allied Bar Association of Utah and on the Utah State Bar Board of Bar Commissioners as the young lawyer representative to the American Bar Association House of Delegates. He currently represents the residents of District 3 on the Salt Lake City Council. Outside the office, Chris enjoys independent films, local politics, history, art, Netflix, and food trucks. Chris' pronouns are him/his.
Twitter: @chriswhartonslc Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/therealchriswharton Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christopher-wharton-b9b87026/
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plugintodevin Show - Devin Thorpe for Congress
Guest: Cheryl Butler Office Sought: Utah House District 53 Issue: Today - that issue is responding to COVID19 I support the stabilization efforts underway in Summit County - staying home, wearing a mask when I'm out in public, and avoiding visiting my elderly parents. It can be difficult and frustrating. I am greatly saddened by the enormous loss of life we've seen all around the world, and right here at home. I am also worried about our unemployed workers and the more vulnerable members of our community who are finding it more difficult to access the resources they need - work, education, and healthcare. And in some cases, food and housing. When I see a problem, I ally myself with those people out there working to solve it. I'm very active in Rotary, which is an entire organization devoted to Service above Self. Right now, we Rotarians are laser focused on creatively working to provide our community with additional resources to help in the COVID19 response. We are sewing masks, building face shields, distributing food and other necessities, promoting social interaction through remote meetings, and calling vulnerable members of our community. We are not stepping back, we are ramping up our normal service projects.
Bio: Family- Cheryl grew up in a small, rural town where her parents were medical professionals, serving the community, and instilling the values of honesty, hard work, self-sufficiency and caring for others. These are the same values she has stressed with her own children and grandchildren. And these values lead her to appreciate the importance of serving the public. Cheryl retired in 2016 after working 34 years, as a successful engineer and senior manager for a major international energy company. She is a recognized expert in risk decision making and oil/gas process safety. She has been a featured speaker at industry conferences around the world and has published papers in multiple technical journals. For the last 15 years of her career, Cheryl lived and worked overseas in Nigeria, Venezuela, and Kazakhstan - learning the languages and cultures along the way. For 50 years, Cheryl has been putting her skills and experience to work in every community where she has lived. She has coached kids soccer teams, tutored and mentored students, started new 4H clubs, and served on the school board. Cheryl currently serves on the Board of Habitat for Humanity, teaches ESL to recent immigrants, volunteers with voter registration efforts, and in the public schools encouraging young people to pursue careers in STEM. Cheryl is the Community Services Director for the Sunrise Rotary Club in Park City. She is also the Director of the Talem Foundation which funds international sustainable development projects. She loves to hike with her dog Barney and sew quilts for the grandkids.
Website: www.votecherylbutler.com Twitter: @votecherylbutl1 Facebook: facebook.com/votecheryl Instagram: @votecherylbutler
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plugintodevin Show - Devin Thorpe for Congress
Guest: Jennifer Dailey-Provost Office Held: Utah House of Representatives Office Sought: Utah House of Representatives Issue: The issue that is helping my community is the coronavirus pandemic. There is a lot of activity from state, government, and business leaders in trying to address the rising public health and economic catastrophes. I want to discuss the fine line between responsible yet nimble, while still being held accountable to effectuate progress.
Bio: Jen Dailey-Provost lives in Capitol Hill with her husband Scott and three daughters. She received her bachelor’s degree in business from the University of Utah David Eccles School of Business, and her MBA from Westminster College’s Gore School of Business. She began her career as the Director of Human Resources at Solitude Mountain Resort, but ultimately found professional fulfillment in the non-profit sector. Currently, Jen works to serve HD24 in the Utah House Representative, but is also pursuing her PhD in Public Health at the University of Utah. Her first priority, though is raising her three daughters with her husband. She is the former executive director of the Utah Academy of Family Physicians in Salt Lake City where she managed the business of the 501(c)(6), as well as the UAFP Foundation, a 501(c)(3) that is focused on medical education in underserved areas. Additionally, she served primary care and public health functions as the director of governmental affairs and policy, prioritizing policies like patient access to health care, social determinants of health, air quality, education, and reproductive rights. It was her work in healthcare and public health advocacy that motivated her run to serve in elected office. Jen and her family love the quality of life that Utah offers and take advantage of the incredible access to the outdoors whenever possible. She is most passionate about skiing and running, but Jen also loves to hike, bike, and snowshoe as often as possible.
Website: http://jenforutah.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jenforutah/ Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenniferdaileyprovost/
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plugintodevin Show - Devin Thorpe for Congress
Guest: Carol Spackman Moss Office Held: State Representative Office Sought: State Representative Issue: Good public schools. I spent most of my life as an educator in the community I represent, my daughter teaches at Skyline, where many of my constituents’ children attend. My community expects me to be an advocate for our public schools and frequently contact me about issues affecting their children. That is a big part of my responsibility to my constituents, to be their advocate.
Bio: Before I was elected to the Utah House of Representatives, I had a wonderful, rewarding career for 33 years teaching English and student government at Olympus High School. My decision to run for office was prompted by the negative attitude my then representative had toward public education and teachers, whom he called “a bunch of whiners,” when we went on strike for higher salaries and smaller class sizes. I defeated him in 2000 and am now running for my 11th term. Besides education, I have focused in recent years on passing legislation addressing the opioid epidemic, mental health issues, prison and jail reform, clean air, refugees, and driving safety. I have served as a board member on many non-profits, all of which focus on children and social justice issues.For many years, I have served in leadership positions in my caucus. Currently, I am House Minority Whip. My husband Bob and I have five children and six grandchildren. We love to travel and have been to many fascinating countries, some we have visited as part of humanitarian missions. I love to read, walk, spend time with family, and yes, I love my job, and believe holding public office is a privilege, one I take very seriously. Representing my constituents in District 37, Holladay and Murray, two great cities, is a great pleasure and honor.
Website: www.carolmossforhouse.com Twitter: @RepCarolMoss Facebook: Carol Spackman Moss and Representative CarolSpackman Moss
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plugintodevin Show - Devin Thorpe for Congress
Guest: Sherwood (Woodie) Neiss Issue: Access to capital. I have a vested interest in the success of the JOBS Act. We need more eyes, ears and dollars focused on small businesses.
Bio: Mr. Sherwood Neiss co-authored the “Crowdfunding Exemption Framework” which became the basis of Title III of the U.S. JOBS Act to legalize equity and lending-based crowdfunding. He is in the forefront of the crowdfunding industry, as the co-founder of Crowdfund Capital Advisors (“CCA”). CCA is a consulting firm serving certain governments and multi-lateral organizations including Inter-American Development Bank, the World Bank, governments of Chile, Malaysia, Israel, and the UAE, professional investors, crowdfunding professionals and the entrepreneurial community. Mr. Neiss co-authored the World Bank’s research report “Crowdfunding’s Potential for the Developing World” and the MIF report “Creating a Crowdfunding Ecosystem in Chile.” He also co-authored “Crowdfund Investing for Dummies.” He is the creator of CCLEAR, a database of online investment offerings. Data and analysis from CCLEAR has been used in SEC reports and to drive proposed rules. Mr. Neiss serves on the advisory boards of several crowdfunding companies. He is a co-founder and former-board member of the Crowdfunding Professional Association and the Crowdfunding Intermediary Regulatory Advocates. Mr. Neiss was selected as a recipient of the Crowdfunding Visionary Award. VentureBeat listed Mr. Neiss as one of the most influential thought leaders in crowdfunding. Prior to CCA, Mr. Neiss co-founded FLAVORx, Inc., acted as its chief financial officer, won Ernst & Young’s Entrepreneur of the Year award, as well as the Inc. 500 award three years in a row.
Website: www.theccagroup.com Twitter: @woodien Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sherwoodneiss/
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plugintodevin Show - Devin Thorpe for Congress
Guest: Kiyan Banuri Issue: The most issue that is most important to my community is the compounding effects of the COVID-19 pandemic during Ramadan, as well as Islamaphobic rhetoric posited by public officials during the pandemic. As a Muslim, and an active member of the Muslim community, the cessation of congregations--praying at Mosque, reading the Quran, and other issues--have made Ramadan isolating and starkly different for many Muslims. And, tweets of political officials have spread anti-Muslim rhetoric as against the rule of law, social distancing, and gaining preferential treatment. These issues have deep impacts in the Muslim community, and I have felt the lack of knowledge and media coverage of the faith have lead to prejudice and Islamaphobia, especially during these trying times. I believe that exposure of Islam and its traditions, as well as emphasizing the commonality between Islamic and other value systems are important, especially in a time when households are on edge due to various issues such as job losses, the fear of infection or infection, etc.
Bio: Kiyan Banuri is a Pakistani-American Muslim who hails from Utah. He currently studies International Relations and Japanese at Tufts University. Prior to college, Kiyan was heavily involved in Policy Debate, ranking amongst the top 25 in the United States, presiding Utah State Champion for 3 years in a row, researching various issues such as immigration, foreign policy, education, and surveillance policy. Learning the power of his own voice, he now wants to promote communicative effectiveness by helping others with their voice and ideas through opportunities in political campaigns, consultancy, and volunteering. He volunteered with the Emerald Project as an Ambassador, helping the non-profit combat the misrepresentations of Islam. And, he currently serves as an Executive Board member of the Tufts Association of South Asians, where he coordinates cultural events and celebrations on campus; these events attract hundreds of attendants, from around the east coast. He also serves as a selected consultant for 180 Degrees Consulting, the world's largest university-based consultancy. He aided in social media marketing, financial, and proof-of-model projects for various non-profit clients.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100009655756571 Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kiyan-banuri-440289196/ Instagram: @kbanuri
Photo credit: Kirt Thorne
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plugintodevin Show - Devin Thorpe for Congress
Guest: Philippe Cousteau Issue: Environment. We are all suffering as our climate changes, our ocean health declines and the war on science continues to make us less healthy, less resilient and less sustainable. We need to recognize that the war on science must stop and that we must build a sustainable society. This pandemic is an opportunity to accelerate that trend.
Bio: Inspired by the legacy of his grandfather of Jacques Cousteau, Philippe is an multi Emmy-Nominated TV host and producer as well as an author, speaker, and social entrepreneur. Philippe is the host and executive producer of the multi-Emmy nominated weekly syndicated series Awesome Planet, now in its sixth season. Philippe and Ashlan’s latest project is a Virtual Reality program called Drop in the Ocean which gives participants an immersive adventure exploring the ocean and premieres at Tribeca Film Festival Interactive in the spring of 2019. Recently Philippe and his wife Ashlan were the stars of The Travel Channel’s hit series Caribbean Pirate Treasure; winner of a Cynopsis Media Award for Best Adventure Reality Series. In 2016 Philippe teamed up with his wife Ashlan to co-host Nuclear Sharks, the #1 show for Discovery’s Shark Week. In 2015, they co-hosted a three-part series with Takepart.com, exploring tiger and rhino conservation in Nepal called Treasures of the Terai. As a special correspondent for CNN, he has hosted several award-winning shows, including his series Going Green which ran for four years and the 8-part special Expedition Sumatra. Philippe has also hosted and produced television programs for Animal Planet and the 8-part series Oceans for the BBC and Discovery Channel. His conservation efforts are focused on solving global social and environmental problems. In 2005 he founded EarthEcho International; a leading environmental education organization dedicated to inspiring youth to take action for a sustainable planet. To date, 2 million youth in 146 countries have participated in EarthEcho programs. Philippe has served as a consultant on a select group of international resort developments where he advises on best practices for social and environmental sustainability and his team designs immersive and meaningful 21st century experiences that leverage local environmental and cultural assets to redefine destinations.
Twitter: @pcousteau Facebook: @pcousteau Linkedin: |LinkedIn Profile| Instagram: @pcousteau
Photo credit: Voyacy Ventures
Guest: Ashlan Cousteau
Bio: Journalist and explorer, Ashlan Gorse Cousteau, travels the world in search of stories that entertain and inspire. From diving with great white sharks off Mexico, searching for tigers in the jungles of Nepal and filming caribou migrations in the Arctic, Cousteau engages viewers through incredible storytelling and experiences. Most recently, Ashlan was the co-star of Travel Channel’s award winning series, Caribbean Pirate Treasure. She, along with her husband Philippe Cousteau dive into maritime mysteries, explore pirate history and investigate the lore of lost treasures. Ashlan’s documentary, Nuclear Sharks, for Discovery Channel’s Shark Week 2016 premiered as the #1 rated show across all cable programming. Traveling to the Marshall Islands, she led an expedition to film, tag and investigate the mystical grey reef sharks who survived against all odds in the fall out of one of the world’s largest nuclear testing grounds. Ashlan also joined the eccentric crew of the “Desiree” for season two of The Aquatic World of Philippe Cousteau, the highly successful adventure spoof, on CNN’s digital platform Great Big Story. For over a decade, Ashlan worked for top rated entertainment shows; at Entertainment Tonight as a special correspondent and for 7 years prior as a correspondent and fill-in anchor for E! News. She also was the lead anchor of E! News Now, reaching millions of digital viewers daily. As an entertainment journalist, she covered everything from breaking news and celebrity exclusives to award shows and premieres. Cousteau’s endeavors go beyond television. In January of 2017, she traveled to Antarctica to be a headlining speaker at TedxScottBase where her talk, Laugh, Cry, Connect…How Entertainment Can Save Our Planet, was received with great praise. At the request of the United Nations, Ashlan served as host for the UN’s Convention on Migratory Species in Quito, Ecuador. She has presented at the Society of Environmental Journalists, DreamForce and SXSW Eco. Ashlan was selected by former Vice-President Al Gore to be the opening anchor for his internationally live broadcast of 24 Hours of Reality and continues to be a leading voice for environmental issues on Capitol Hill.
Website: www.earthecho.org Twitter: @ashlancousteau Facebook: @ashlancousteau Instagram: @ashlancousteau
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plugintodevin Show - Devin Thorpe for Congress
Guest: Scott N. Howell Office Held: Utah State Senate Issue: Healthcare and Education. I am concerned about my grandchildren receiving the best healthcare and education. Making sure healthcare if affordable. Providing the best quality education.
Bio: Scott N. Howell currently is a consultant providing government relations consulting to businesses and organizations, including several development companies and various business and civic entities. Scott spent 34 years with the IBM Corporation most recently as Director for the Public Sector Industry guiding government and business leaders in pursuit of outcome-based strategies and successful delivery of implementation initiatives. During 1990 to 2000 Scott served as a Utah State Senator. For eight of those years he served as the Senate Minority Leader. In 2000 and 2012 Scott was elected as the Democratic Nominee for the United States Senate.
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plugintodevin Show - Devin Thorpe for Congress
Guest: Karina Brown Office Held: City of Nibley Planning Commissioner Office Sought: Lt. Governor Issue: Healthcare Access - Medicaid Expansion is available for people in need. Complete expansion up the 138% of the poverty level went into effect 1/1/20. I was one of the five signatories or sponsors of Proposition 3 to expand Medicaid. I became interested in this issue because my mother passed away in the healthcare coverage gap in 2013. I feel it is important for people to have access to quality primary care especially with the potential loss of employment during the pandemic.
Bio: Karina is President of the Cache County Friends of the Children's Justice Center Board and was a founding sponsor of the Medicaid Expansion ballot initiative (Proposition 3) adopted by Utah voters in 2018. She also serves on the Cache Valley Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors and is Co-Chair of the Cache Chamber Legislative Affairs Committee. She is a Planning Commissioner for the city of Nibley, Utah. And she is the co-founder of the Cache Valley United for Change organization dedicated to promoting civic engagement. Karina also currently serves as Co-Chair of Cache Celebration of Women's Suffrage 2020, an organization working to celebrate the centennial of the 19th amendment granting women the right to vote. The organization is dedicated to educating Utah students about voting history including the Voting Rights Act of 1965 and 1870 when Seraph Young of Utah was the first woman in America to vote under an equal suffrage law. The Women’s Suffrage 2020 curriculum includes an educational exhibit available to school districts across the state. Brown has an M.S. in Human, Environmental, and Consumer Resources from Eastern Michigan University and a B.S. in Family Resources and Human Development from Arizona State University. She is currently pursuing a Public Leadership Credential from the Harvard Kennedy School of Government. Karina is married to Dr. Karl Brown, a physician and Air Force veteran and is a mother of four fabulous children in Nibley, Utah (Cache Valley). Her hobbies include fitness, spending time with family, listening to audio books, and playing violin and guitar.
Website: www.petersonforutah.com Twitter: @petersonutah @karinaforutah Facebook: facebook.com/karinaandelinbrownforutah Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/karina-andelin-brown-23067aa6 Instagram: @karinaforutah @petersonforutah
Photo credit: Alina Brown
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plugintodevin Show - Devin Thorpe for Congress
Guest: Priyanka Bakaya
Bio: Priyanka Bakaya is Renewlogy’s CEO and is an entrepreneurial environmental leader. Bakaya worked in the energy research sector and in electronic waste, which led to her researching plastic waste technologies during her time at MIT. Bakaya also worked in venture capital on start-up financing for Silicon Valley firms Accel Partners and Globespan Capital. Bakaya has previously been selected as a World Economic Forum Global Shaper, a Lightspeed Venture Fellow and a Laureate for the Cartier Women’s Global Initiative. She has been named to the Fortune 40 under 40 Ones to Watch List, and Forbes 30 under 30 List in Energy and Waste360 40 under 40. She is a graduate of MIT and Stanford (Honors).
Website: http://renewlogy.com/ Twitter: @renewlogy Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Renewlogy/ Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pbakaya/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/renewlogy/
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With questions submitted in advance, Devin answers 10 questions in about 10 minutes.
Topics include healthcare, the war on drugs, education, rural communities, water and ethics.
Questions from Carol Fineagan, Sean Thomas, Richard Davidson, Janis Baker Ferre, Nate Blouin, Walt Sorenson, Margie Broschinsky, Jake Garn, Cindy England and Richard Swart.
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plugintodevin Show - Devin Thorpe for Congress
Guest: Jamie Cheek Office Sought: Utah's 1st Congressional District Issue: Healthcare. Everyday I see people who can't afford or access healthcare. Growing up my family was on Medicaid. Growing up in a small town, my mother hated using it because "everybody knew everybody." I honestly believe this is why she delayed getting healthcare for herself when she was sick. By the time she went to the doctor, at the age of 35, she was diagnosed with Metastatic Colon Cancer and died within a month of being diagnosed. I was only 16 when she passed, and my brother was 15 and our younger sister was only 3, the same age as my daughter now. My take is that as your Congresswoman, I would fight for affordable and accessible healthcare. We hear too many stories of people delaying going to the doctor for treatable and preventable illnesses because they don't have healthcare. There have been so many stories of people dying from COVID-19 having their last concerns being the financial burden they are leaving to their families for their treatment. America must do better on this issue and I am willing to fight for this when I get to Washington.
I firmly believe that healthcare is a human right and that we need to be doing more to help our most vulnerable. We need to stop lining insurance companies profits and focus more on the people who need the access to affordable healthcare. People shouldn't have to worry about the costs of life saving treatment or waiting til the last moment to seek care. Bio: Jamie grew up in Wyoming and moved to Utah nearly a decade ago. She now lives in Ogden with her husband and daughter. She works as a District Director for Utah State of Rehabilitation where she managers a $1 million+ budget as well as supervises over 15 people. Her work allows her to help many of the most vulnerable populations find greater independence through gainful and fulfilling employment. She has decided to run for this congressional seat because Utah Deserves Better. She is focused on issues that can make a difference in the lives of Utahns: a champion for the causes and policies that prioritize people over profits. This includes focusing on issues like affordable healthcare, clearing Utah's air and investing in education. As an unabashed optimist, she rejects the politics of fear and hate that pervade the status quo. “Utahns are compassionate people and our values are not being represented by our politicians, who remain impervious to public sentiment. It is time to elect someone different -- someone who will listen to her constituents and will tirelessly work to make their lives better.”
Website: cheekforutah.com Twitter: @cheekforutah Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jamie.cheek.33 Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamie-cheek-14543930/ Instagram: @cheekforutah
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plugintodevin Show - Devin Thorpe for Congress
Guest: Jared Anderson Office Sought: Utah 3rd Congressional District Issue: Poverty Better monetary income is an idea to bring hope back into the lives of the American people. I’d equate it to what the G.I. Bill was after the 2nd World War. I support it wholeheartedly.
Bio: Jared is a father, husband, student, and progressive. He is currently writing a book to defend the democratic institutions of our polarized nation. He is a history nut and loves the musical Hamilton.
Twitter: @jaredforutah
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plugintodevin Show - Devin Thorpe for Congress
Guest: Jazmin May Issue: Immigration and Education. I am a DACA recipient. We need to find a pathway for Dreamers and their parents to obtain citizenship and grant us equal opportunity in this country.
Bio: Jazmin May has a passion for community work and advocacy. She believe that every member of the community has a right to access the resources they need to be successful. Jazmin had a lot of helping getting to where she is today. She came to the United States when she was five years old. Knowing no English she was places in 1st grade where she took it upon herself to learn English very quickly and do well in school. From a young age Jazmin loved learning and school. As she got older she knew the challenges that came with being undocumented. Applying to college and getting financial aid would be difficult. That however motivated her even more to work harder in high school. With the help of many of her teachers and the AVID program Jazmin was able to go to her dream school, Westminster College. The DACA program that started in 2012 created under the Obama administration helped Jazmin to get her work permit and be able to contribute to her education. But as luck would have it, not only did Jazmin get accepted to Westminster but she received a full tuition scholarship to attend. During her time at Westminster, she was very involved on campus. She was a tour guide, a class senator, on the student government events team, an orientation leader then assistant. Jazmin also mentored incoming first year students through a mentoring program on campus. Eventually she was the coordinator for that program in her last two years of college. All this helped her to become the student body president for Westminster. Jazmin found her passion to help people and empower others. She knew many people had helped her with her own goals that she wanted to give back to the community. During her college years she worked at East High School as an Outreach mentor in the GEAR UP program. She helped students get ready and understand college, how to apply for scholarships and financial aid etc. She understood what it was like to be undocumented, wanting to go to college but not knowing how to get there or if it was a possibility. That is why she wanted to guide others who are undocumented or come from minority backgrounds. Jazmin graduated with a degree in Communication, she received the Board of Trustees Charter Award at commencement. Afterwards Jazmin went to work for a charter school. There she got to see what education was like from the inside and how our current system impacts english language learners. And how we should be doing more for them. Jazmin is part of League of United Latin American Citizens and also worked for mayoral candidate Luz Escamilla, who inspired her to continue her path in politics. From there, Jazmin went to work for a presidential candidate and is currently working for Devin Thorpe for Congress. Jazmin hopes to continue working in politics to make sure the right people get elected. To ensure communities are being heard and we are understanding what the needs of the people are. To help show that a DREAMer can be involved in politics and create change to help her community.
Twitter: @1jazminmay Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jazmin.may.9 Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jazmin-may Instagram: @jazzymay2
Photo credit: Ezra Schofield
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plugintodevin Show - Devin Thorpe for Congress
Guest: Thandeka Tutu-Gxashe Issue: Currently I would guess the spread and impact of Covid19 infections and the impact on our lives and the devastating impact on our economy and all that flows from that. Also what will life be like post our country lockdown. Mainly just socially and the curtailment of ones ability to move around at will and as we know it. We can still go to the shops and put food on the table which is not the case for many people in our poorer communities. However as the schools are closed countrywide we cannot continue to do our work of handing out Tutudesks from the Desmond Tutu Tutudesk Campaign to learners at schools where they are needed so badly. A lot will need to be done to uplift and protect our poorer communities and the homeless. It cannot be just trying to get back to business as usual. This virus has highlighted what an unequal society South Africa is. There have had to be donations of food parcels but also some rioting and looting of grocery stores and supermarkets in some areas. I think there will be a greater need for the services of organizations such as ourselves the Tutudesk Campaign.
Bio: Thandeka Tutu-Gxashe is the CEO of the Desmond Tutu Tutudesk Campaign Centre (DTTCC). It addresses the 95 million desk shortage in sub-Saharan Africa, by aiming to provide 20 million of these environmentally friendly, portable Tutudesks by 2025. Thus positively enhancing the lives of African children, their communities and countries and making Africa a more globally competitive continent through improved literacy and education. Ms Tutu-Gxashe has been educated and worked in the UK, Swaziland, Botswana and the USA. She is passionate about education and public health, especially the fight against HIV/AIDS, and improving the health and education experiences of young people, thus promoting global peace and justice.She received several fellowships whilst completing her MPH at Emory University, Atlanta, These included from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), American Cancer Society, the Agency for Toxic Substances & Disease Registry, the South East AIDS Training Center & the Dekalb County Board of Health. Much of her working life has been in clinical research both in the USA and in South Africa. She undertakes public speaking at universities, schools and community groups both locally & internationally. Thandeka has served on the Boards of several foundations and non-profit organizations. She is currently on the Board of the Desmond Tutu HIV Foundation, HPSA (formerly Heifer International (South Africa)) and the Foundation for Sport, Development and Peace. She was named one of the global 100 real leaders by Real Leaders Magazine. Ms Tutu-Gxashe is the eldest daughter of Archbishop Desmond Tutu & Nomalizo Leah Tutu. She and her husband reside in Cape Town, South Africa and have one son.
Website: https://tutudesk.org/ Linkedin: LinkedIn.com/in/thandeka -tutu-gxashe
Photo credit: |Photo Credit|
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plugintodevin Show - Devin Thorpe for Congress
Guest: Lynette Wendel Office Sought: Utah House of Rep., Dist 39 Issue: Currently, the effects of COVID 19, schools, jobs, healthcare. Because of my community networks and commitment to service, I am utilizing my relationships and skills to support one to one connections in our district. We are connecting those who can to those who need assistance. This idea started off as a need to feel empowered and helping people. It started off as a thought of neighbor helping neighbor and has culminated in a volunteer team of 40 callers trying to reach thousands of our neighbors over the next several weeks. We have had an overwhelmingly positive response. The callers are energized and feel appreciated. The people we call feel connected again. Sometimes, we are the first person they have spoken to in days. In addition to worries about schools, jobs and the virus itself, the isolation has been very hard on a lot of people.
Bio: Lynette has a rich professional history in education and conflict resolution spanning more than two decades. Equally dedicated to public service, she has an extensive 15-year volunteer resume in community planning, education, public safety, animal welfare, and environmental sustainability. Lynette's decision to run for office is founded on improving conditions for everyone in our community. She is respected as a non-partisan leader for her ability to include all stakeholders and facilitate productive dialogue in a civil and respectful manner. Lynette will close the existing divide between our community’s priorities and current legislative policy.
Website: www.votelynette.com Twitter: @votelynette Facebook: facebook.com/votelynette Instagram: @votelynette
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plugintodevin Show - Devin Thorpe for Congress
Guest: Greg Skordas Office Sought: Attorney General Issue: Utahn's voted to expand medicaid in 2018 and the legislature overturned that vote by the people, and the Attorney General just stood by and didn't protect the peoples voice. The Attorney General should be the attorney for the people of Utah, not special interests and big donors.
Bio: I’m Greg Skordas, Democratic Candidate for Attorney General for the State of Utah. I've lived in Utah all of my life. I studied and received degrees in both Engineering and Law at the University of Utah. I raised three highly successful children here too. Nic, Annie and Bina— an Air Force medical doctor, an educator, and an environmental scientist. I also have five grandchildren. In addition to being a lawyer, I've worked for the past 35 years with the National Ski Patrol at resorts in Summit and Weber Counties and ski 25-30 days a year. My wife and I currently live in Eden, just east of Ogden in Weber County, and we have a small home in Torrey, adjacent to FishLake National Forest near Capitol Reef National Monument in Wayne County. I’ve practiced law for 38 years. Through that time, I’ve seen how the law applies to our everyday lives. I’ve seen how it protects people from crimes, delivers justice to victims, and ensures fair outcomes for those that are innocent or guilty. I’ve been on the front lines of Utah’s legal system. I’ve been a public defender, a prosecutor, and a private attorney building a successful business. I’ve appeared in every county in Utah, talked with jurors, prosecutors, police officers, judges, clients, and the families in every part of the state.
Website: www.skordasforag.com Twitter: @SkordasGreg Facebook: www.facebook.com/SkordasforAG Instagram: @SkordasforAG
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plugintodevin Show - Devin Thorpe for Congress
Guest: Chris Peterson Office Sought: Utah Governor Issue: Chris Peterson has spent his career fighting for working families. A professor of business law at the University of Utah, he has worked tirelessly to help industry to improve the lives of their employees and customers. When our neighbors were losing their homes and the economy was crashing before our eyes, Peterson took the fight to Wall Street greed helping build a team in Washington, D.C. that returned $12 billion to cheated American families. Chris knows Utahns need a fair marketplace that treats customers right and gives every business a chance to succeed.
Bio: Chris' government and policy experience include: · Working as a Special Advisor in the U.S. Department of Defense where he helped lead the Pentagon’s efforts to protect military servicemembers from predatory lending. The Secretary of Defense awarded Peterson the Office of the Secretary of Defense Award for Excellence for his efforts on behalf of military families; · Serving in the federal Consumer Financial Protection Bureau where Peterson’s team stopped deceptive and abusive practices by Wall Street banks, payday lenders, and debt collection agencies. His team won $12 billion in refunds and restitution for Americans who were victimized by illegal financial practices; and, · Leading at the University of Utah where he worked as an Associate Dean for Academic Affairs with managerial responsibility for the educational mission of the University’s College of Law. Peterson is a national leader and authority on consumer protection. He has published several books including a university textbook on consumer law and an award winning book on predatory lending. The National Association of Consumer Agency Administrators, an association of state and local consumer law enforcement agencies, gave Peterson its national consumer advocate of the year award for his public service. Chris lives in Salt Lake City with his amazing wife and three wonderful kids. He's a fifth generation Utahn with deep pioneer roots. Chris was born and raised in West Valley City and attended Utah’s public schools. A father of three, Chris is married to Tera Peterson who is also a practicing attorney. Tera is an Assistant Solicitor General in the Utah Attorney General Office’s Criminal Appeals Division where she works to protect crime victims including especially abused children. The Petersons enjoy skiing in Utah's mountains and hiking our state's majestic deserts.
Website: https://petersonforutah.com/ Twitter: @PetersonUtah Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PetersonforUtah/
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plugintodevin Show - Devin Thorpe for Congress
Guest: Shannon Miller Cox
Issue: Trauma (ACE) Responsive and Informed Services I am a survivor but I have white privilege, I come from having every opportunity to pick myself up and thrive! Private insurance, safe supportive family, never falling so far down that I suffered for very long. My women don't have this experience! We need to recognize the underlying Trauma issues inn this community if we are ever going to really deal with our Suicide rates and our addiction rates!
Bio: I am the Executive Director and Founder of Journey of Hope started 6 years ago after retiring from Law Enforcement. A survivor of sexual assault, I believed wearing a gun would protect me from further harm; what I found were thousands of victims suffering in Poverty, Addiction, Mental Illness, and anv intersection of crushing systems of oppression. In this space I found my calling on this Earth, to use my privilege, my survival to help others find their Journey of Hope!
Website: www.JourneyOfHopeUtah.org Facebook: @JourneyOfHopeUtah Linkedin: LinkedIn.com/in/ShannonCox
Photo credit: Journey of Hope
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plugintodevin Show - Devin Thorpe for Congress
Guest: Heidi Totten Issue: Helping solve global hunger through economic development and self-reliance. I work with families that live below the poverty line in Kenya. It's quite ridiculous that we live in a world where people go hungry. Period.
Bio: Heidi Totten is an eclectic wife and mother of two relatively normal children. She spent her early career building technical teams around the world during the dot com era, and ten years ago launched her own business helping entrepreneurs and small businesses go global by embracing social media and online marketing. Her focus is connection and collaboration, and her personal business motto is “Content is king, but community builds the kingdom.” Heidi has helped hundreds of entrepreneurs over the past 3 years. She runs Heidi Totten Consulting (www.heiditotten.com) and The Eclectic Entrepreneurs (www.eclecticentrepreneurs.com) as a way to help the most people possible during her one crazy life. In her spare time, she is the Executive Director of 100 Humanitarians International, (www.100humanitarians.com) a grassroots non-profit that focuses on mentoring families in economic development in Kenya, Africa. She has taken over 200 people on 18 expeditions. Her happy place is hauling down roads in Kenya in dusty jeeps, but she is also known for her love of tacos, guacamole, and chocolate.
Website: www.100humanitarians.org Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/100humanitarians/ Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/heiditotten/
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plugintodevin Show - Devin Thorpe for Congress
plugintodevin Show - Devin Thorpe for Congress
Guest: Howard Leonhardt
Bio: Inventor with 21 Issued U.S. patents and dozens more pending mostly focused on organ repair and regeneration. Invented leading stent graft system and first percutaneous heart valve. Led team to complete first ever in man non-surgical repair of an aneurysm and first stem cell repair of a heart. Founder of over 33 startups. Operates incubators/accelerators in California and Utah. Founded a number of social good impact startups including The California Stock Exchange TM and The Kindheart Lionheart TV Network. Leonhardt Vineyards a California wine making operation was founded in 2000.
Website: http://www.leonhardtventures.com/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/howardleonhardt Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LeonhardtVentures/ Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/howard-leonhardt-6694185/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hleonhardt/
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plugintodevin Show - Devin Thorpe for Congress
Guest: Isaac Nuttall.
Issue: Making government more of, for, and by the people (i.e Campaign Finance Reform, Improving Voter Participation, etc.) I see many people at my school (Timpanogos), and community abroad, who are affected heavily by voter apathy, seeing no feasible way to improve politics at all level. This has led to depressingly low voter turnout levels for young people in my community, leading to one party holding a monopoly on state and local politics. I know that if young people, my friends, classmates, and neighbors were to engage in the political process, state and local politics would be far more reflective of their, as well as my, pressing issues. This issue of making government more of for and by the people, particularly among traditionally silent voting groups, is paramount above all other issues. I believe that we need extensive campaign finance reform to make our leaders more beholden to their constituents and less to wealthy donors. A solution I support is Seattle's method, in which we give every eligible voter $100 in public money to donate to whatever candidate they want; candidates who accept these donations agree not to accept any donations above $250. As for improving accessibility to voting and decreasing voter apathy, I support measures such as same-day registration, making Election Day a Federal Holiday, and Automatic Voter Registration. However, as long as they are fully accessible to all U.S Citizens, I am not neccessarily worried by Photo-ID Requirements.
Bio: My name is Isaac Nuttall. I have lived in seven different places including India, Texas, Philadelphia, Utah, etc... I moved to Lindon Utah from Keller Texas two years ago, having gone to the National Finals of the National History Bee three years in a row, but my interests were rapidly shifting from history to politics, having been shocked along with the rest of the country by the election of Donald Trump. I have volunteered for a handful of political campaigns including Daniel Friend, Luz Escamilla, James Singer, etc... I now love politics and speech and debate, with my main events being Student Congress and Extemporaneous Speaking, which has opened a love within me for the many issues facing our country, and how we as Americans must recognize and work towards the common good. I am most passionate about how we can make politicians more beholden to their constituents and less to wealthy donors, improve access to voting and improve voter participation and in essence, make government more of for and by the people, the issue I hope to speak on in the podcast.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/isaac.nuttall.52 Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/isaac-nuttall-9b7928185/
Photo credit: Bell Photography.
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plugintodevin Show - Devin Thorpe for Congress
Guest: Wendy Davis Office Sought: Utah House District 45 Issue: So many...but I'll go with affordable, liveable communities My own kids are looking for affordable housing and finding it challenging to find it. They are also challenged to find jobs with adequate wages that lead them to economic prosperity. We need to work collectively to provide options for more affordable housing, increase wages and ensure it is not only big business that prospers in good economic times.
Bio: Wendy Davis was raised by a single mother and is the daughter of a Vietnam War Vet and a union steward. Originally hailing from the Midwest, Wendy has proudly called Utah her home for 25 years. Wendy Davis has a Ph.D. in political science from the University of Utah and has spent her career as a higher education technology expert. Wendy has served on the Mount Jordan Middle School Community Council, on PTA in the Canyons School District, and has been an advocate for refugees. As a mother of four children and grandmother to seven with her husband Dean, Wendy is passionate about family-focused values. Wendy understands the struggles many families face today and is running to stand up for Utah families.
Website: www.wendydavisutah.com Twitter: @wendydavisutah Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wdanleydavis Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wdanley/ Instagram: @wendydavisutah
Photo credit: Wendy Davis owns all rights to the photo
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plugintodevin Show - Devin Thorpe for Congress
Guest: Nate Blouin
Issue: Expanding regional markets for continued growth of renewable energy. Utah is still largely dependent on coal for electricity. Coal is becoming uneconomic and has always been a large source of pollution. As an outdoor athlete, burning fossil fuels is dangerous to my health through reduced air quality and endangers everyone along the Wasatch Front and throughout the Uinta Basin. Mineral leases risk destroying the lands we recreate on and that are sacred to indigenous tribes. Expanding regional energy markets will help renewable energy proliferate and will coordinate entities including utilities and other energy producers, ensuring a reliable an efficient grid. Regional markets exist in most of the United States, but the west's wide open spaces developed differently than other areas. Coordination will ensure prudent land use and will allow for a smaller footprint of energy infrastructure, protecting viewsheds, public lands and our environment.
Bio: Nate Blouin is the Interwest Energy Alliance’s Policy Manager. Nate joined Interwest in February 2020 and comes from a background in political campaigns, working for candidates in Utah at the city, state and federal levels. He most recently worked for Erin Mendenhall, Salt Lake City’s newly-elected mayor, shaping policy in areas including air quality, transportation, and homelessness. Nate graduated from Brown University with an MPA in 2019 and is also a proud alum of the University of Utah and Salt Lake Community College. His passion for civic engagement and renewable energy stem from his love of the outdoors: Nate is a competitive runner and avid backcountry skier. Additionally, Nate serves as a member of Salt Lake County’s Open Space Trust Committee and Salt Lake Community College’s Alumni Leadership Council.
Twitter: @natefromutah Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nablouin Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nate-blouin-b195a713/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nb.runsteep/
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plugintodevin Show - Devin Thorpe for Congress
Guest: Jeff Silvestrini Office Held: Mayor of Millcreek Issue: Growth and redevelopment
Bio: I am the best mayor Millcreek, Utah, has ever had—and also its worst! As the first and only mayor of this city of 63,000, settled in 1848 but not incorporated until 2017, I have had the rare opportunity to create a city government from scratch. Millcreek is an “inner-ring” suburb south of and adjacent to Salt Lake City. It is part of a metropolis home to over two million Utahns. Millcreek is namesake of the mountain stream which flows through our town. Our boundary extends from the alluvial fan of Mt. Olympus in the Wasatch Range on the east to the Jordan River bisecting the Valley of the Great Salt Lake on the west. Our residents include wealthy, educated east siders and a substantial immigrant and refugee population who are far less affluent, living predominantly our west side. We have some of the best performing schools in our state. We also have elementary schools in which 27 languages are spoken. In Millcreek’s first years, I led our effort to form a lean, transparent and collaborative city government. I was re-elected by a 75% majority in 2019, to a new four year term. Since incorporation, we have launched comprehensive urban-planning efforts using innovative strategies to engage our entire community in envisioning its future. We are planning new town and neighborhood centers to address a housing shortage and to accommodate a population expected to double state-wide in 40 years. Consistent with the Wasatch Choice 2050 Plan, we are creating nodes of population density, which we hope will support rail or bus transit, reduce traffic congestion and improve air quality. We have incorporated active transportation plans for everyone in our city, embracing “disruptive technologies” like Bird and Lime bikes and scooters. We are encouraging renewable energy: solar, wind and geothermal with incentives to builders and by keeping our new city green from inception. We have launched an ambitious effort called “Millcreek Promise," a data driven, collective-impact program which sponsors and coordinates after-school programs, job skills trainings and public health initiatives designed to improve our residents’ lives and to solve social problems of underachievement, intergenerational poverty, crime and addiction. Our goal is for every child in Millcreek to have the opportunity to attend college or trade school. We are doing this on a balanced budget, without raising taxes and looking for grants like crazy. We have achieved a high degree of “customer satisfaction” with Millcreek residents, which has catalyzed volunteerism and activism toward achieving our common goals of bridging divides, building community and lifting all boats. Particularly given the dysfunction of government at the national level, local government is where differences can still be made by individuals.
About: I am at the epicenter of planning and approvals in my city. I also serve on the Central Wasatch Commission, a key to preserving our watershed and natural heritage. We need to properly plan to handle growth and keep Utah the sustainable place we have come to enjoy. I was born in Battle Creek, MI and grew up there and in Tiffin, OH. I attended the University of Michigan from 1972-1976. I moved to Salt Lake City to attend the University of Utah College of Law, graduating in 1979. I applied here on a whim to live in the mountains- never thought I would stay long- but ended up loving Utah, getting a law job and making it a career, marrying a Utah woman, raising two amazing daughters and finally deciding to run for mayor of my then yet-to-be formed new city.
Experience: - Mayor of Millcreek, a Utah municipal corporation, Jan. 2017-present; - Board Member, Unified Police Department of Greater Salt Lake, Jan. 2017-present; - Board Member, Unified Fire Service Area, Jan. 2017-present; - Board Member, Unified Fire Authority of Greater Salt Lake, 2017-present; - Member (current Vice Chair), Wasatch Front Regional Council, 2018-present; - Member, Utah Federal Funds Commission 2018-present; - Salt Lake County Council of Governments, 2017-present; - Commissioner, Central Wasatch Commission; - Former chair, Millcreek Township Council; - Vice President, Cohne Kinghorn, P.C. 2015-2017; - President, Cohne, Rappaport & Segal, P.C. 1997-2015; - Member, Mayor’s Blue Ribbon Commission on the Foothills and Canyons Overlay Zone, Salt Lake County, 2012-13;
Education: A.B. with distinction, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 1976; J.D. University of Utah S.J. Quinney College of Law, Salt Lake City, UT, 1979;
Professional Memberships: Member, Utah State Bar, 1979-present; Member, American Health Lawyers Association;
Facebook: jeff4millcreek: https://www.facebook.com/jeff4millcreek/?ref=bookmarks Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeff-silvestrini-56889111/
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plugintodevin Show - Devin Thorpe for Congress
Guest: Misty Frost Issue: I think our community of learners is really focused on the impact to healthcare workers and what that means for their future job prospects. I've always been passionate about giving people opportunities to improve their economic state. With the pandemic, and it's impact on our healthcare system, it's becoming clear that there are going to be more even more jobs in healthcare than we anticipated. Not only will there be jobs, but we're going to need to rethink those jobs in ways that provide even more opportunity for people in the field. I don't think anyone can say for sure yet how our lives will be changed post-pandemic, but we do know that with any cultural shift of this magnitude things will change. There are so many who are being negatively impacted right now, I'm really hoping that this can be an opportunity for people to find meaningful work in the areas we desperately need good people.
Bio: As CEO of Carrus, Misty drives the vision and strategy behind the company mission. Misty’s 25-year career includes extensive global experience at a senior executive level, including serving as SVP of global marketing at Instructure, where she led the global growth strategy and drove value from a private startup to a publicly traded business valued at over $1 billion. Prior to this role, she served as VP of delivery services for Datamark and worked with various global brands, including Intel, Nortel Networks, Hyatt Hotels, and Disney. In addition to leading the charge at Carrus, Misty serves on the board of directors for Marketware and Equality Utah. She’s also an active member in the Women’s Tech Council and Utah Wonder Women, a group dedicated to developing women’s executive leadership.
Website: www.carruslearn.com
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Guest: Jenny Kassan Office Held: Fremont City Council Office Sought: None currently Issue: Getting sufficient friendly capital for small businesses that are doing good in the world. I have run several undercapitalized businesses and I hate living in a world where the most needed changemakers are struggling just to make ends meet. We need to make it easier for everyone to move their investment dollars into the businesses they love and care about - this requires legal reform but even more important massive education and support for small businesses and non-professional investors.
Bio: Jenny has 25 years of experience as an attorney and advisor for mission-driven enterprises. She has helped her clients raise millions of dollars from values-aligned investors and raised over $1.5 million for her own businesses. She is the author of Raise Capital on Your Own Terms: How to Fund Your Business without Selling Your Soul (Berrett-Koehler, October 2017). Jenny earned her J.D. from Yale Law School and a masters degree in City and Regional Planning from the University of California at Berkeley.
Website: www.jennykassan.com Twitter: @jennykassan Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jenny.kassan Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennykassan/ Instagram: @jennykassanconsulting
Photo credit: Jennifer Graham Photography
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Guest: Gay Lynn Bennion Office Sought: Utah House of Representatives, District 46 Issue: Education, historically underfunded, now challenged by COVID-19 and social distancing policies. All of our family members have attended public schools. I currently serve as Director of Education Committee with Women's State Legislative Council and have been following bills, attending hearings. Our 3-year old granddaughter is already excited to go to school. I want to work for the best education possible for her and all of our children. Being involved with the refugee/immigrant community for the past 5 years, I know they bring new energy and drive to our society, but they also need dedicated support from schools to thrive in a new culture and sometimes language. Our democracy's foundation is educated citizens who have critical thinking skills, especially given the challenge of "fake news" and inundation of information with the internet. Funding has increased this year, but we still have many improvements to make.
Bio: I’m a Utah native and graduate of BYU in English. I married Jim in 1986. We began an adventure as his Air Force military physician service took us and our 4 children around the country. We returned in 2012. I joined Women’s State Legislative Council and this 100 year old non-partisan group has allowed me to see the legislative process in action. I’ve attended and testified at hearings, followed bills, and written five resolutions passed by the Council. I’ve also enjoyed teaching English to immigrants and refugees through English Skills Learning Center and received the 2016 Jean and Bruce Bingham Literacy Legacy Award. I’ve been involved at this level because I am passionate about our public education, environment and helping all of us navigate through the health, financial and social problems we face due to the pandemic. I am endorsed by Senator Kathleen Riebe, Representative Marie Poulson and Josie Valdez.
Website: www.gaylynnbennion.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gaylynn.bennion
Photo credit: Robin Pendergrast
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Guest: Jennifer Miller-Smith Disable Rights Caucus Chair Issue: Accessibility Some places are not accessible. We need more accessibility.
Bio: Utah Democratic Party Disability Caucus Chair, Salt Lake County Party Disability Caucus Chair. Disability activist/organizer.
Twitter: @jlms_qkw Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jennifer.millersmith
Photo credit: Karen Sewell
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Guest: Elizabeth Hill Chair of the Democratic Women of Utah County
Issue: solving the homeless crisis in Utah County, access to Mental Health Services and Suicide Prevention, gerrymandering, Affordable Insurance or Universal Health Care, overcrowded classrooms, helping folks transition from gov assistance with a better living wage, equal pay for women and rational student loan programs We all know someone or are someone that has been personally affected by these issues Elect leaders that also care deeply about these issues that are committed to addressing and solving them. Volunteering time and resources can make a big difference in many of these areas.
Bio: Elizabeth Hill- Chair of the Board for Democratic Women of Utah County. I am a paralegal working in Family Law and a firm believer in access to justice. I am a senior manager of volunteers for FanX, managing 150+ volunteers for Vendor Floor and Artist Alley. A firm believer in the value of volunteering whenever and wherever I can to make a difference in this world. DWUC is a group of women and men in Utah County that are committed to engaging in monthly meetings that provide information about local opportunities to volunteer, candidates running for office and global issues that affect us locally. We try to highlight local organizations that are making positive contributions to our community. Our membership dues are used solely to provide a scholarship for a nontraditional student seeking to further their education through UVU. Throughout the year we hold opportunity drawings at the monthly dinners for an item that is donated by a board member, and the money raised is donated to Project Read. We also do a yearly sub for Santa for the holiday and provide a wonderful holiday for a local family through the generous donations of our members. We have been highlighting Utah Women from our past and present this year as we celebrate the anniversary (150 for Utah!) of the right to vote. Some of the key issues that concern our members are: solving the homeless crisis in Utah County, access to Mental Health Services and Suicide Prevention, gerrymandering, Affordable Insurance or Universal Health Care, overcrowded classrooms, helping folks transition from gov assistance with a better living wage, equal pay for women and rational student loan programs. Of course, we could go on and on about the issues that we as a group care deeply about.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Democratic-Women-of-Utah-County-199367541541/
Photo credit: Reiko Turner
Guest: Joel McKay Smith Issue: Creating and cultivating economic opportunities for marginalized communities (rural and neurodiversity) I grew up on a farm in Utah county in what is now referred to as Silicon Slopes, I have a passion for education and empowerment. Once this current crisis passes the ability for urban cores and rural communities will be even more important. The neurodiverse are uniquely qualified to execute critical tech positions that are hard if not impossible to fill.
https://www.sba.gov/funding-programs/disaster-assistance
Bio: Rural Business Development Champion, Cause Supporter, Super Connector, Public Speaker, Geek Evangelist, Father, Husband
Website: accelerantbsp.com Twitter: @joelmeister Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/joelmckaysmith Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joelmckaysmith/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/joelmeisterslc/
Guest: Aaron Dekeyzer Office Sought: SL County Council 6
Issue: Dark Skies Light pollution is growing at twice the rate of human population. As cities transition to LEDs in the name of energy efficiency (which they should), they often overlook the unintended consequences that those have on human and environmental health. And now, the first generation has been born that will never experience the Milky Way.
Fortunately, you can do something about it! Follow these two fundamental dark-sky principles: 1) only light your intended area when you need it by using a full-cutoff fixture, and 2) use bulbs with a color temperature of 3,000 Kelvin or fewer (think soft white, or warm yellow). You can also inquire with your city about their lighting ordinance. If you would like assistance on working to ensure that it is appropriate, you can connect with the Utah Chapter of the International Dark-Sky Association at utah.darksky.ngo
Bio: Aaron Dekeyzer has the passion to connect with voters and a strategy to win the election for Salt Lake County Council! A native of the valley, he currently serves as the Chair of the following organizations: Sandy City Sustainability Focus Group, Utah Society for Environmental Education, and International Dark-Sky Association Utah Chapter. Aaron has a Masters Degree in Ecopsychology and a certificate in Smart City Design and Technology from MIT. Aaron is a Realtor at Living Wasatch with Equity Real Estate. He holds the GREEN Designation, and focuses on educating his clients on the benefits of a green lifestyle. He loves spending time in his boys’ classrooms teaching ecological principles and networking with teachers. When he is not working in the community, Aaron enjoys photographing birds and stars, hiking and skiing, playing chess, and rocking out to concerts in gardens. He is so grateful to his wife and three sons for their support, and looks forward to having yours!
Twitter: @aaronslco Facebook: http://facebook.com/aaronforcountycouncil Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aaron-dekeyzer-44ba7668
Guest: Dayton Thorpe
Bio: I am a Data Scientist in San Francisco. I completed a PhD in physics at UC Berkeley and a bachelor's in math and physics from the University of Southern California. I serve on the Board of Directors for Eden I&R/211 Alameda County and Conard House, two California non-profits.
Website: howto115.com Facebook: facebook.com/dayton.thorpe.7 Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/dayton-thorpe-45240658/ Instagram: @dayton.thorpe
Guest: Daisy Thomas Office Sought: Utah State House District 46 Issue: Health care We all need healthcare. Every human being deserves to live a life of dignity and in the US that means life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. I don't believe people should suffer and die in poverty because they lack the financial capacity to pay for required medical services. Healthcare is an investment into a functioning society, as we are seeing with this worldwide pandemic.
Bio: Daisy Thomas served as the Utah Democratic State Party Chair 2017-2019, presiding over more growth in the Democratic Party than Utah has seen since the 1990s—retaining all incumbents, while adding three State House seats, one State Senate seat, and a seat in the US Congress -- all turned blue during Daisy’s tenure.
Website: http://www.daisyforutah.com/ Twitter: @daisygthomas Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheDaisyThomas Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/daisygthomas/ Instagram: @daisyforutah
Photo credit: Karen Sewell, Avenue Twelve Photography
Guest: Kurt Bestor
Office Held: National Delegate for Obama 2008
Issue: Health Care
As a free-lance musician, I have no employer and health insurance is very expensive. There was a time in my life when I COULDN'T get health insurance (because I had two children with Spina Bifida). I made too much money to get Medicaid or other help while not making enough to pay for expensive medical specialists out of pocket. No insurance companies would cover my family due to the cost of the kids' care. Talk about medical care "no man's land!" I have LONG been a fan of taking the profit margin out of health care. R & D is one thing, but the profane world that health insurance and hospital monopolies have created need to be curtailed. A version of a one-payer system is a good place to start. This would cover all Americans for basic health care. Of course, like in Canada and the UK, one can always pay for luxury care or nicer hospital digs, but EVERY American should have the constitutional promise of "life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness." Sounds like good health to me!
Bio: Kurt Bestor, an Emmy-Award-winning and Grammy-nominated composer, is known for the incredible range of musical genres in which he excels. From his full orchestral film scores for IMAX movies like Great American West and Sedona to cutting edge synth compositions for television shows and video games, there's virtually no style he hasn't composed. Bestor's music is played by orchestras, bands, and singers the world over. His popular anthem "Prayer of the Children" is still one of the most sung choir songs in the world and is currently being covered by American Idol finalist David Archuleta and the iconic rock group Three Dog Night. When not composing, Bestor performs his traditional holiday show to sold-out audiences in the Intermountain West and his classical compositions and orchestral pops shows with various orchestras throughout the world.
He and his wife, Petrina, and daughter Ella make their home in the mountains of Utah.
Website: http://kurtbestor.com Twitter: @kbestor Facebook: facebook.com/kurtbestor Linkedin: linked.com/in/kbestor Instagram: @kbestor
Guest: Angela Krull, Campaign Manager
Issue: Opportunity and economic mobility for all
I grew up in a relatively small town in Idaho. I was taught that if you work hard, you can achieve your dreams. What I didn’t understand then and only really started to understand with more life experience was that not everyone starts in the same place and that all too often, the obstacles to achieving one’s dreams are almost insurmountable. That is especially true for minority communities and some rural communities.
Bio: Angela is the campaign manager for Devin Thorpe’s campaign for Congress. She is a lawyer by trade and has been working in the non-profit sector doing development work for the past 10 years. She helped create the Community Foundation of Utah, raised over $1M to expand Quatere’s entrepreneurial peer cohorts to several urban and rural communities across Utah, and has served in the boards of several nonprofits, including Encircle House and Discovery Gateway Children’s Museum. Angela has a BS from the UofU in Political Science, with a minor in Economics, and JD from U of U Law School. She and her husband have a daughter 11 and a son 10.
Website: http://devinthorpe.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/angela.krull Instagram: @angkrull
Pulitzer Prize Winners Nicholas Kristof and Cheryl WuDunn have written a new book, Tightrope: Americans Reaching for Hope, to be released next month. The book will follow the model of the couple’s previous collaborations, Half the Sky and A Path Appears, painful analyses of big social problems that also celebrate the hope found in existing solutions. Without the benefit of a review copy, I recorded a discussion of the book and some of his other writing with Kristof several months ago. I invite you to watch the interview in the player above. Kristof’s thoughtful manner of speaking reflects a mind practiced in editing his prose as he goes, sometimes causing him to pause mid-sentence only to finish the thought by starting or finishing a new sentence, leaving the last incomplete. It’s a style that has garnered the New York Times columnist millions of social media followers to whom he has often appeared in self-produced videos like mine (the key difference being the size of our respective audiences). His millions of fans and followers feel an authentic connection to the self-described “farm boy” from Oregon, despite more than because of his Harvard and Oxford (as a Rhodes Scholar) education and 30+ years at the Times. Kristof partners with WuDunn, his wife of three decades with whom he has three children, to write books. They won a Pulitzer for their coverage of the Tiananmen massacre in 1989 while they both worked at the Times. WuDunn now works in banking. For Tightrope, which he describes as “deeply personal,” Kristof begins with his own beginning, returning to his rural hometown of Yamhill, Oregon. He focuses on the kids who were on his old school bus. “And about a quarter of those kids have passed away largely from what economists call a death of despair, drugs, alcohol, suicide and also reckless accidents.” “Most of America has looked the other way as working families have collapsed into a miasma of lost jobs, drugs and shortening life expectancy,” he told me. “One of the stories we tell is of some neighbors who lived not far from us,” he says beginning his narrative. “There's a family of five kids. The oldest was in my grade. Really, I mean, everybody was very smart. And they had risen very, very quickly. I mean, the 20th century had been enormously good to them. The dad had a good labor union job. And then then everything kind of collapsed and the jobs went away. The kids all ended up dropping out of school and they self-medicated with that with alcohol, with other drugs.” “And then then they became less employable, less marriageable. The family structure, which had been really strong in my community, just collapsed very, very quickly. The social fabric, it became undone,” he said, speaking of his hometown. “And so now of those five kids, four of the five are now dead. And the only one who survived survived because he spent 13 years in the Oregon State Penitentiary on drug offenses.”
Read the full Forbes article and watch the interview here: http://bit.ly/35MqCeM
We at the Your Mark on the World Center have been sharing podcasts and YouTube episodes of the Your Mark on the World Show - The Social Impact Podcast about crowdfunding for good and other topics for the past eight years. In that time, we’ve had many sponsors but none so generous as Johnson & Johnson’s CaringCrowd.
CaringCrowd is J&J’s crowdfunding platform for global public health nonprofits. J&J collects no fees from users and matches most individual donations on the site up to $250. The mission alignment between CaringCrowd and the Your Mark on the World Center has been perfect, making the two organization synergistic partners.
CaringCrowd has provided funding not only to continue the show but also to do on-site training for nonprofit organizations across the country. This training, conducted from Montana to Mississippi and New York, has empowered nonprofits of all sorts to become more effective fundraisers, accelerating their various missions from serving the homeless to educating children around the world.
It is important to note that CaringCrowd co-founder, John Brennick, has become a great friend and is a true champion of global good. Guided by a commitment to true north, his decisions have always been based around maximizing the impact of the organization for the benefit of the most people. Humans around the world owe their lives to a quiet, unassuming guy passionately working to help nonprofits raise more money.
As we bring the show and the work of the Your Mark on the World Center to a close, we want to express our deepest appreciation to the support of Johnson & Johnson and CaringCrowd and John for their trust and support. However much or little we’ve done, we couldn’t have done it without you.
Gail McGovern, 67, became the eighth CEO in five years at the American Red Cross in 2008, as the country entered its most severe economic downturn in seven decades. Today, she remains at the head of what is once again a fiscally healthy nonprofit. Looking back, she reflects on what she learned.
The $3 billion annual revenue organization responds to 60,000 disasters every year, ranging from single house fires affecting one family to natural disasters that impact hundreds of thousands. At the time she took the helm, the large nonprofit had drawn down its available credit lines and was nearing the brink of its own disaster.
McGovern successfully steered the organization through the crisis and credits the leaders of the organization for their resilience during the challenging period.
She had been through challenges before; in fact, she often sought them out early in her career. Along with 1900 men, she was one of just 50 women admitted to Johns Hopkins University the first year that women were allowed.
She joined AT&T doing technology “back when dinosaurs roamed the earth,” she quips. She nearly had to beg for an opportunity in sales, defending her candidacy by noting she’d sold Girl Scout cookies. A series of other lateral moves prepared her for a trajectory that landed her in the executive suite. Later, she would join Fidelity Investments as president of Fidelity Personal Investments, overseeing an operation with 10,000 people and $500 billion under management.
After leaving, she spent four years at Harvard when the challenges at the Red Cross created an opportunity there. It appealed to her “give-back gene” so she took the job.
“After 28 years in the for-profit world, you would think I had learned what I need to learn,” McGovern says. Referring to her experience leading the Red Cross, she adds, “But it taught me to be a different and better leader as a result of that experience.”
McGovern shared what she learned about being a leader, lessons she says would have applied perfectly in her for-profit experience to make her a better leader.
“Back when I was in the for-profit sector, you know, I would tell people, ‘Calm down. It's just telecommunications. We're not saving lives here,’ or at Fidelity, I'd say, ‘Calm down. You know, it's just managing money. We're not saving lives here,” she explains. “That schtick doesn't work at the American Red Cross.”
“What I've learned at the Red Cross is it's possible to not only lead with your head, but also lead with your heart.”
She says, in the for-profit world, it was her style to seek input and build consensus, but she and the team knew that at the end of the day, she had the authority to make decisions and she did. “I would say, ‘OK, we’re going to do this. Everybody jump!’ And people would say, ‘How high?’”
She says, working with 300,000 volunteers and a relatively small staff of just 19,000 mission-driven people, that approach doesn’t work. She says, directing volunteers is different. When you say, “’OK, everybody jump!’ And they say, ‘No, I'm not ready to. You can convince me. I don't understand how that's going to help our mission.’”
Her success suggests she learned to adapt quickly. “What I've learned is, first of all, you can lead to the power of your ideas, not the power of your office.”
Read the full Forbes article and watch the interview here: http://bit.ly/2PPFjHa.
Alex Scott never remembered a time she didn’t have cancer, having been diagnosed before her first birthday. She died at age eight. During her lifetime, Alex led efforts to raise over $1 million to fight childhood cancer.
Her mother, Liz Scott, has continued the effort inspired by her daughter. The organization she inspired has now raised $175 million to fight cancer, about $25 million this year.
As we approach the end of the run of the Your Mark on the World Show, I invited Liz to return to the show to provide an update as her inspiring story remains one of my favorites.
Interview with Liz Scott, the Co-Executive Director of Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation.
The following is the pre-interview with Liz Scott. Be sure to watch the recorded interview above.
Revenue model:
ALSF generates revenue through supporter donations, partnerships with local and national businesses and by hosting special events.
Scale:
ALSF now has more than 50 employees and generates about $25 million annually
What is the problem you solve and how do you solve it?
ALSF's goal is to find a cure for cancer. In the meantime, ALSF is funding research to help provide better, less toxic treatments to children with cancer.
In 2008, Aussie Daniel Flynn came across two facts: children were dying (some still are) due to waterborne illnesses and the world market for bottled water was about $50 billion (now it is about $140 billion). In that juxtaposition, he saw a solution. The idea for Thankyou Water was born.
Working with his buddy Jared Burns and his then girlfriend now wife Justine Flynn, as first-year university students, they launched a consumer brand that features 55 different products and is sold in 5,500 locations across Australia and more recently New Zealand, dropping “water” from the brand to become “Thankyou.” The plan was to give 100% of profits to nonprofits working to eradicate extreme poverty. In 2015, the company set up a charitable trust which now owns the business. All dividends flow to the trust to be distributed ultimate to charities.
But I’ve skipped the good parts.
At the outset, the team found a bottler that agreed to produce their product without charging anything upfront.
“I remember we pitched to the largest distributor of beverages in the country. They work for brands like Lipton Iced Tea and Red Bull. And we're in the meeting sharing the vision we had, change the world, you know, one bottle at a time,” Flynn says. “And on the spot in our first sales pitch, the director says, ‘I love it. I'm going to order 50,000 units from you guys.’ And then he said, ‘How quick can you get it to me?’”
After a pause, unprepared for the question, Flynn says, “Well, give us about three weeks.”
“I mean, we were first-year university students. We had no concept of manufacturing lead times,” he adds.
“It sort of sums up Thankyou,” Flynn says. “We really haven't known what we were doing. And yet people have come around this idea.”
The social media marketing and the authentic connection with consumers has been key to success.
Rotary General Secretary John Hewko was recently given the additional title of Chief Executive Officer, which didn’t change his job description so much as it gives clarity to his role, especially for those outside the organization.
John is passionate about ending polio—and not just because that’s his job. For the past eight years, he has traveled to Tuscon, Arizona to participate in a 106-mile bike ride known as El Tour De Tuscon. Over the years, he and other Rotarians have raised over $50 million for the fight.
From his desk, John has a view of Rotary International that is uniquely broad and all-encompassing. No one knows more about the wide-ranging work Rotary does from local park projects around the world to international projects undertaken collaboratively among clubs from different parts of the world to address critical problems like clean water and maternal and child health.
Rotary is also working, he says, to create a new membership model that will allow people to join Rotary International without joining a local club. Tune in to the full interview to get more from John’s perspective.
In a series of discussions at the University of California Los Angeles Anderson School of Management, hosted by Originate and BCG Digital Ventures, experts comment on "Tomorrow's Technologies." For one on social good, I was invited to moderate. The panelists were:
Margret Trilli: President & Chief Investment Officer of Impact Assets Rebecca Masisak: CEO of TechSoup Gunnar Lovelace: Founder, Thrive Market & Founder & CEO, GoodMoney Peter Felix: Director of Inventory Control, Los Angeles Regional Food Bank
About Margret Trilli:
Margret's 25-year career includes executive leadership, investment and operating roles for large and small companies including Barclays Global Investors/Blackrock and Charles Schwab. Currently, Margret is the President and Chief Investment Officer of ImpactAssets where she recently led the firm through the $1B AUM milestone. ImpactAssets advises philanthropists on their impact investing across the spectrum of asset classes and impact themes. The firm specializes in helping families and foundations set impact and investment strategies and realize them through their donor-advised fund, which is the only donor-advised fund dedicated to the catalyzation of impact investing.
Margret graduated from Stanford Graduate School of Business and holds a degree in Economics from University of California Santa Barbara.
About Rebecca Masisak:
Rebecca sets the strategic direction for TechSoup and provides executive oversight of all aspects of the organization and its global operations.
She joined TechSoup in 2001 to launch its e-commerce donation platform, moving the organization from a local Bay Area focus to a national reach. In 2006, she founded the TechSoup Global Network to scale the program’s impact globally. Ms. Masisak became CEO of the organization in 2012, after having served the prior six years as co-CEO.
She previously worked as a strategy consultant with Coopers & Lybrand and in leadership roles at several Internet businesses. She holds an M.B.A. from the Columbia University Business School. Ms. Masisak was named one of the Most Influential Women of the Bay Area 2017 by San Francisco Business Times and co-leads the Bay Area Social Enterprise Leadership Forum.
About Gunnar Lovelace:
Lovelace is an active impact investor and operator focused on creating scalable examples of business as a force for good. His last company Thrive Market has competed successfully in the massive trillion-dollar US grocery market against the likes of Amazon and many others, has millions of users, 700+ employees, raised over 200m and is the first e-commerce company to go zero waste from distribution center to landfill. His new company Good Money is conscious mobile banking where every customer becomes an owner over time.
About Peter Felix:
Peter Felix is the Director of Inventory Control for the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank, a leading Southern California Non-Profit. He has championed the use of technology in supply chain management, finance and constituent relationship management (CRM) to effectively manage the over 85 millions pounds of food received and distributed annually to the food insecure in Los Angeles County.
About Originate:
Originate designs and builds custom software products that solve complex problems for organizations of all sizes and verticals. Originate is the behind-the-scenes innovation partner behind some of the world’s most recognized blue-chip brands and transformative startups. The company works across diverse sectors including real estate, financial services, retail, consumer goods and more to turn disruptive ideas into business opportunities for clients. Headquartered in Los Angeles, Originate has global presence with offices in New York, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Newport Beach and Berlin. Visit us at www.originate.com, and follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn or Instagram.
About BCG Digital Ventures:
BCG Digital Ventures is a corporate innovation, incubation, and investment firm. They invent, launch, scale, and invest in industry-changing new businesses with the world’s most influential companies. Their diverse, multidisciplinary team of entrepreneurs, operators, and investors work cross-functionally, rapidly moving from paper to product to business in less than 12 months. Founded in 2014 as a subsidiary of Boston Consulting Group, they have Innovation Centers and satellite locations in four continents and continue to expand their footprint across the globe.
Dr. Katharine Hayhoe is a climate scientist who leads the Climate Science Center at Texas Tech University and is the host and producer of the PBS series Global Weirding. I asked her everything you want to know about climate change but were afraid to ask.
Hayhoe has a positive, upbeat manner that leaves listeners feeling as if she’s talking about planning the best birthday party ever rather than warning about climate change. Perhaps that is her appeal. She has earned a reputation—she’s been named to Time’s 100 most influential people list and Fortune added her to their World’s Greatest Leaders list—for being able to communicate climate science better than most.
She explained why a difference as small as two degrees actually matters, why she calls it global weirding, how she explains climate science to skeptics who are religious, and the respective roles of big business, entrepreneurs and individuals in fighting climate science.
Customarily, I think it is my role as a Forbes contributor to distill a source’s insights into digestible bites for my readers. Hayhoe is such an effective communicator that I’ve instead chosen to provide you with a lightly edited transcription of most of our conversation (I still hope you’ll watch or listen to the full interview.)
Read the full Forbes article and watch the interview here: http://bit.ly/2YzW7FV.
On World Polio Day, I had the opportunity to sit down with Jennifer Jones who now serves on The Rotary Foundation Board of Trustees and who previously served on the Rotary International Board of Directors and as its Vice President. In that capacity, she reached the highest rank achieved by a female in Rotary.
Rotary excluded women until a United States Supreme Court ruling on May 5, 1987 that opened the door for women to join the organization.
Jennifer was a reporter who covered Rotary before women were allowed to join and remembers attending at least one club meeting with all men. She was treated well and later, when the opportunity presented itself, she joined.
She has risen through the ranks in an unprecedented way. Speculation abounds that she could one day be Rotary’s first female president.
In our discussion, we talked about her experiences and thoughts about women in Rotary. She points out that because women slightly outnumber men in the world and are also underrepresented in Rotary, an emphasis on recruiting women represents an opportunity to grow Rotary’s membership.
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Alex Budak co-founded a crowdfunding site called StartSomeGood.com, a platform for social entrepreneurs and other changemakers. As he became acquainted with people around the world who were starting to do some good, his passion increased.
He continues to advise StartSomeGood and now works as a full-time faculty member at the Haas School of Business at UC Berkeley. He’s teaching people how to become changemakers. He shares some of his insights below and in the video above.
The following is the pre-interview with Alex Budak. Be sure to watch the recorded interview above.
Expert Tips:
Tip 1: Companies, communities and, indeed, our world are calling out for a new type of leader. A leader who is resilient, creative, collaborative and optimistic. A leader who can work across sectors and hierarchies and defies stereotypes, and the status quo. A leader ready and able to create the future.
I call this new type of leader a changemaker.
Tip 2: The mindset and leadership skills a changemaker needs are all learnable and practicable by each of us. The mindset includes traits like resilience, humility, trust, collaboration and smart risk-taking. Leadership skills include influencing without formal authority and inspiring others towards a shared vision.
Tip 3: To teach changemakers, we must change the way we teach. The best way to become a changemaker is to practice becoming one. My course includes frameworks and theories grounded in research but then encourages and inspires students to take what they are learning and put it all into action. University education must get students out of their seats and into a mode of doing!
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Warner Woodworth, now 78, is an emeritus professor at the Marriott School of Business at Brigham Young University. Describing him that way is sort of like saying that Bill Gates used to work at Microsoft. While true, it fails completely to capture the essence of the person.
Warner has had a hand in launching 40 NGOs, has worked with social innovators around the world, including Nobel Peace Prize winner Mohammad Yunus.
His politics are distinctly liberal. At BYU, a famously consevative and pious school owned by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, he has been advocating for worker ownership for two generations. While worker ownership isn’t incongruous with capitalism it is a hallmark of socialism. He says he advocates for “humanistic capitalism.”
He admits his work isn’t always appreciated. “I get my share of criticism from my colleagues and my students and letters from their parents and letters from their church leaders, sometimes to church officials in Salt Lake or the administration, but bless their hearts, the big boys [at Church headquarters] have always said, ‘Warner, you do something unique, something we value greatly. You're reaching lots of people, none of us can. And you're not just talking. You're making change in the world.’ So it's worked out to be a pretty positive experience.”
Warner loves the Church but isn’t shy about his politics. For instance, he visited one of the migrant caravans from Central America as it arrived in Northern Mexico, advocating for better treatment for them.
As we visited, Warner shared his experience living in Brazil for two years at age 19. “I saw the oppression. I saw the poverty. I came back saying, ‘I know my mission in life. I know my purpose, it's to help people like them and to learn from them and collaborate and build partnerships.’”
And that is what he’s done for 50 years.
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Visiting with Rotary International President Mark Maloney is a bit like visiting with an old friend. He is absolutely without pretense despite being the elected leader of 1.2 million Rotarians around the world.
Having contributed 34 years to the fight to eradicate polio, he emphasizes his role as one of the million rather than allowing he might be one in a million.
While acknowledging that 2019’s polio case count is up from 2017 and 2018, he is confidently optimistic that Rotary—with help from its partners in the Global Polio Eradication Initiative—will complete the task soon.
Interview with Mark Daniel Maloney, the President of Rotary International.
The following is the pre-interview with Mark Daniel Maloney. Be sure to watch the recorded interview above.
What is your personal or professional connection to polio?
Rotary's long-term, sustained battle against polio has defined our organization for decades.
Where are you presently focused?
In 1988, polio was endemic in 125 countries, with more than 350,000 new cases a year worldwide. Since then, Rotary and our Global Polio Eradication Initiative partners have reduced the incidence of polio by more than 99.9 percent, and vaccinated more than 2.5 billion children against the virus.
Now only Afghanistan and Pakistan continue to report cases of the wild virus, and eradication is within grasp, but we still have work to do.
We will end polio forever, but only if we remain steadfast and vigilant. World Polio Day is a time for Rotary and supporters from all over the globe to come together, recognize the progress we have made in our fight against polio, and plan the action we must take to end polio forever.
How do we get from where we are to total polio eradication?
Looking at all we’ve accomplished so far, I’m optimistic that the end of polio is within our grasp, but we must remain steadfast and vigilant as we address the remaining challenges to eradication.
When we reach our goal, polio will become only the second human disease eradicated on the planet, and children will never again have to face this terrible, disabling virus. Rotary must continue to connect the world in the effort toward polio eradication. It is up to us. Let us finish the job.
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In 1985, Rotary International made the decision to tackle polio eradication. In 1988, it officially launched the effort, hoping to complete eradication by 2004 when the global service organization celebrated its centennial celebration. Now 15 years late, Michael McGovern, the volunteer chair of Rotary’s International PolioPlus Committee says he and Rotary are committed to finishing what they started.
Early in his Rotary career, which spans more than three decades, one of the members asked him out for drinks and asked him to make a pledge to fight polio. “That was an expensive drink,” he says of his commitment. He’s still following up on that today.
Interview with Michael K. McGovern, the Chair of Rotary's International PolioPlus Committee of Rotary International.
The following is the pre-interview with Michael K. McGovern. Be sure to watch the recorded interview above.
What is your personal or professional connection to polio?
Chair of Rotary's International PolioPlus Committee since 2014
Where are you presently focused?
We have the wild poliovirus cornered in the smallest geographic area in history, and Rotary is doubling down on our commitment to end polio for good.
How do we get from where we are to total polio eradication?
We must remain vigilant in rallying global political and financial support as we push towards a polio-free world.
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B Dondolo, a nonprofit named for the father of the founder, Lumbie Mlambo. The organization is working to improve health outcomes at the Igusi Clinic. One of the projects completed was to provide a water filtration system.
Prior to completion of the system, the clinic lacked clean water--imagine trying to operate a medical facility without a source of clean water.
Lumbie, working with development director Ronda Bowen, raised almost $10,000 on CaringCrowd. Almost half of that amount came from a match from Johnson & Johnson.
Preliminary Interview with Lumbie Mlambo, the Founder / CEO of JB Dondolo, Inc.
The following is a brief pre-interview that provides context for the recorded interview you may watch or listen to at the top of this article.
Lumbie Mlambo is the CEO and Founder of JB Dondolo, Inc.
What is the purpose of your crowdfunding campaign?
To replace old, rusty and busted water pipes with new ones at the Igusi Clinic.
What has been your experience using CaringCrowd?
We've been very fortunate to have all donations matched by Johnson & Johnson. From the funds we raised, we were able to have the sand and water samples collected and tested in the lab by the National University of Science and Technology (NUST). With the lab results, NUST was able to suggest a filtration system appropriate for the area. We purchased the system and installed it. Then we retested the water with NUST and the water was found to be clean and safe for consumption.
We've also used the funds to renovate Igusi Clinic. We replaced the doors, windows, roof, repaired cracks, painted the entire clinic, mothers-in-waiting cottage, kitchen, and nurse cottages. Also, we fenced the clinic, installed signage and gated it.
We are currently installing a shed around the filtration system to keep animals and people safe. Matching funds. It made it a lot easier to raise say $5k (example) because we only had to raise half of that. Therefore, we were able to raise funds fast.
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You can probably offset your entire carbon footprint for just $20 per month per person in your household. The process is easy, and you can simply set up a monthly plan and forget about it, so it takes no time. Here’s one way to do it; I’m sure there are others. Cool Effect is a nonprofit that operates a crowdfunding site at CoolEffect.org for buying carbon offsets. Every project on the site not only offsets carbon but also does additional good. Cool Effect CEO Marisa De Belloy joined me for a conversation about carbon offsets you can watch in the player at the top of this article. She describes climate change as the “issue of our time.” The first step in offsetting your carbon is to determine your impact. The average American emits 16.6 metric tons of carbon per year. If you want to get into the weeds, you can use this calculator or any of the variety of calculators available online. It may be easier to simply guestimate how your footprint compares by weighing things like the size of your home, the car(s) you drive, whether you have solar panels on the roof, etc.
Read the full Forbes article and watch the interview here: http://bit.ly/2XCrWxf.
My cousin, who is currently in prison, shared with me how much Michael Santos’ work was changing his life so I had to invite him on the show. Michael helps people prepare for and have the best experience possible in prison to help them be successful leaving it.
“My name is Michael. I mean, I'm a guy who made a lot of bad decisions as a young man. I was 20 years old when I thought it would be kind of fun to traffic in cocaine,” Michael begins. “And it turned out to be a really bad decision.”
“By the time I was 23, I was arrested by federal authorities and locked in prison and facing a sentence of life without the possibility of parole. I made some bad decisions even at the earliest stages after my arrest. I should have been accepting responsibility and working toward reconciling with society for the bad decisions that I had made. Instead, I pleaded not guilty. I went to trial. I perjured myself on the stand,” he continues.
“And it was while during that awkward stage between sentencing, between conviction and sentencing that I just had this change of mindset. I was exposed to the work of Socrates and that work completely changed my life and influenced the way I served nine thousand five hundred days in prison”
Michael has since gone on to become successful, helping prisoners--and those facing prison--to make the most of their lives.
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Rotary International is headquartered in the United States and a plurality of recent presidents are from the U.S., but Rotary lives up to its monicker with a majority of its Presidents coming from outside the U.S. Rotary’s current president-elect is Holger Knaack from Hamburg, Germany.
Fit and vigorous, Holger sports reading glasses positioned low on his nose, giving him the appearance of a skinny Santa Claus. The likeness doesn’t end there. Genuinely jovial, he seemed to delight in our conversation.
Rotary is an international organization with leaders coming from around the world, operating in a representative manner. Holger shared with me some of the differences he sees between Rotary in Central Europe, including Austria, Switzerland and Germany on the one hand and the U.S. on the other. Differences are remarkable.
One key difference is that it remains such an honor to be invited to join a Rotary Club in Germany that he jokes, we only leave Rotary “feet first.” Retention and recruitment are not a problem. He noted, however, that their American counterparts remain more generous with the Rotary Foundation.
Watch the full interview for more insights.
Interview with Holger Knaack, the President-elect of Rotary International.
The following is the pre-interview with Holger Knaack. Be sure to watch the recorded interview above.
What is your personal or professional connection to polio?
For more than 30 years, Rotary has been the driving force in the worldwide polio eradication effort.
Where are you presently focused?
Rotary must continue to connect the world in the effort toward polio eradication. World Polio Day is a time for Rotary and its partners and supporters from all over the globe to come together, recognize the progress we have made in our fight against polio, and plan the action we must take to end polio forever.
How do we get from where we are to total polio eradication? It’s imperative that we continue to raise awareness about the importance of polio eradication. Rotary embarked on this journey in 1985, and we won’t back down until every last child is protected from polio.
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Dr. Winnie Mpanju-Shumbusho, a former leader on malaria eradication with the World Health Organization and co-author of a recent report published in The Lancet, says we are making progress on malaria eradication as a result of four key interventions being scaled up in endemic countries:
Bed nets and other efforts to protect people from mosquito bites Rapid diagnosis leads to earlier treatment and fewer deaths More effective treatments have been developed and implemented Environmental controls to reduce mosquito breeding places
Reaching full eradication will require not only continuing to scale these interventions but also adding additional innovation, including the need for an effective vaccination.
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Boxabl, led by CEO Paolo Tiramani, has created an innovation for housing construction that could stand up a home ready to move in in a matter of hours rather than months!
The process begins with factory-built units that can be assembled almost like Legos on-site to create buildings up to four stories.
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Every year, Rotary International spends $150 million on polio eradication. Ever wonder how they decide where to spend that money?
Judith Diment, a member of the Rotary International PolioPlus Committee who serves on the grants committee, takes us inside the decision-making process to help us see both how exciting and difficult the process is. Watch the full interview above.
Interview with Judith Diment, the Coordinator of Rotary's Polio Eradication Advocacy Task Force/UK National Advocacy Advisor for polio of Rotary International.
The following is the pre-interview with Judith Diment.
What is your personal or professional connection to polio?
I have helped shape Rotary polio advocacy in the UK for more than 20 years.
Where are you presently focused?
The economic case for investing in polio eradication as an important public health cause.
How do we get from where we are to total polio eradication? The GPEI’s updated Polio Endgame Strategy 2019-2023 outlines the remaining challenges in achieving eradication and addresses the steps we must take to end all forms of poliovirus for good and sustain a polio-free future.
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Eden I&R is an indispensable part of the Alameda County community in the East Bay area of Northern California.
Eden I&R does a lot with a little. This small nonprofit with an annual budget of just over $2 million, handles over 60,000 contacts annual, helps 350 HIV/AIDS clients find housing and other services, maintains a database of 73,000 rental units and a list of 3,100 services available from other agencies.
Alison DeJung, a nonprofit veteran with 22 years of experience, took the helm of Eden I&R in 2017 and is working to expand its funding and services.
Dayton Thorpe, my son, recently joined the Board of Eden I&R.
Interview with Alison DeJung, the Executive Director of Eden I&R.
The following is the pre-interview with Alison DeJung. Be sure to watch the recorded interview above.
For-profit/Nonprofit: 501(c)3 Nonprofit
Revenue model:
Eden I&R receives just over 2/3 of its funding from government sources--all 14 cities in Alameda County and several county departments. Most of the remainder comes from foundations and corporations. The agency receives less than 1% of its funding from individual donors but we are trying to dramatically grow our individual donor base over the next couple of years. Finally, we receive a small portion of funding from fee for service such as creating specialized resource directories and online portals for clients and providing subscriptions to our housing database.
Scale:
In FY 18/19, Eden I&R raised just over $2 million and spent nearly all of it on our program operations. 211 handled over 61,000 contacts (calls and two-way text messages) and provided nearly 93,000 health, housing and human service referrals. The AIDS Housing & Information Program served over 350 unduplicated clients living with HIV/AIDS obtain housing and supportive services. The Housing Department updated the 73,000+ rental units in the housing database and added close to 3,000 new units. The Information Management Department updated the 3,100+ programs in our Services Database. The Disaster Preparedness Coordinator delivered 34 disaster preparedness trainings. Staff attended 70 outreach events and community fairs throughout the county to promote 211 and Eden I&R's programs. Eden I&R currently has 32 employees, not all of whom are full-time.
What is the problem you solve and how do you solve it?
Eden I&R is often the entree to the safety net for our clients; the first step they take in figuring out how to navigate the complex and ever changing maze of community-based and government services. Some clients are not fluent in English, some grapple with mental health issues and a host of other challenges. By continually updating our two rich databases of social service information and housing units and keeping apprised of the various programs (and any changes) that can assist our clients, Eden I&R's staff is well equipped to conduct an intake and provide the most relevant and comprehensive referrals to resources that can assist, sometimes conducting three-way calls and doing other sorts of advocacy on behalf of clients as needed.
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The population of Africa could almost double to 2.3 billion people by 2050 with a huge portion of that population being prime working age. The UN Resident Coordinator to Kenya, Siddharth Chatterjee, sees this as an opportunity Africa can harness to accelerate economic growth and lift hundreds of millions of people now living in extreme poverty out of it.
Sid, a passionate advocate for both women and the people of Africa, sees the opportunity to employ this population in productive work as a key to a prosperous future.
Interview with Siddharth Chatterjee, the United Nations Resident Coordinator to Kenya. of United Nations Kenya.
The following is the pre-interview with Siddharth Chatterjee. Be sure to watch the recorded interview above.
We’ll be discussing Promise or Peril-Africas’s 830 million youth by 2050 with Siddharth Chatterjee.
How are you personally affected by Africas’s 830 million youth by 2050?
Africa’s population is expected to reach around 2.3 billion by 2050. The accompanying increase in its working-age population creates a window of opportunity, which if properly harnessed, can translate into higher growth and yield a demographic dividend.
In the wake of the Second World War, the Marshall Plan helped to rebuild shattered European economies in the interests of growth and stability. We need a plan of similar ambition that places youth employment in Africa at the center of development.
What is your take on Africas’s 830 million youth by 2050? Whether the future of Africa is promising or perilous will depend on how the continent and the international community move from stated intent to urgent action and must give special priority to those SDGs that will give the continent a competitive edge through its youth.
The core SDGs of ending poverty, ensuring healthy lives and ensuring inclusive and equitable quality education all have particular resonance with the challenge of empowering youth and making them effective economic citizens.
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In 2014, when the epidemic of Ebola was running wild in Liberia, Guinea and Sierra Leone, a few cases of the frequently lethal hemorrhagic disease popped up in nearby Nigeria. This was scary because Nigeria is so much more populous than the other affected countries--almost 200 million people were suddenly at risk.
Health officials tapped the existing polio-fighting infrastructure in Nigeria to quickly organize an effective effort to prevent the spread of the disease there.
Dr. Tunji Funsho, chair of the PolioPlus Committee of Rotary International in Nigeria was a first-person witness to the effort. During my recent visit to Rotary headquarters in Evanston, Illinois, I visited with Tunji about the Ebola experience.
It is worth noting that fighting Ebola did not unduly distract from fighting polio. The country has now been three years without a single case of polio from the wild poliovirus.
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The Women’s Bean Project doesn’t just make chili, it makes a difference. It also makes a variety of other products, many that feature beans. The nonprofit doesn’t exist to make its products, it works to change the lives of the women who make them.
Tamra Ryan, CEO, and Miranda Zamora, a production supervisor, joined me to talk about the program’s products and its impact. Miranda is a prime example of the life-changing impact of the work at the Women’s Bean Project.
Miranda came to work there a bit over two years ago with the encouragement of a case manager. She has four kids, the youngest of whom is now two years old. She was completely lacking in self-confidence and hadn’t finished high school.
She flourished in the program, overcoming challenges with transportation and daycare to become a dependable employee. When she was ready to graduate from the program, a permanent position came open as a supervisor and she was offered the position.
Now six months into her tenure as a boss, she’s helping other women—many of whom have a history of incarceration, drug abuse and/or homelessness—build self-confidence and job skills so they can achieve their full potential.
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Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most complex and aggressive type of cancer that originates in the brain. There hasn’t been a new FDA approved treatment brought to market in 15 years, and survival rates for GBM have not changed in 30 years - 90% of those diagnosed succumbing to the disease within five years. For the 1.4 million people worldwide living with malignant brain tumors, and an estimated 256,000 that will be diagnosed by the end of the year, this is a grim reality.
Venturing where others have not, the Ivy Brain Tumor Center is taking a completely different approach to personalized care with industry-first clinical trials that are based on:
Advanced genetic testing that matches each patient with the best possible treatment. Micro-dosing, which reduces short-term side effects. The combining of FDA approved treatments for GBM with other FDA approved cancer drugs that have never-before been used for brain tumors.
As a result, the Ivy Brain Tumor Center can now determine if any given course of treatment is working in as little as seven days, versus the months it traditionally takes. If a tumor does not respond within seven to 10 days, patients are then quickly put on a new path, which saves valuable time and reduces the cost of care.
Interview with Catherine Ivy, the Founder and Board President, Ben and Catherine Ivy Foundation of Ivy Brain Tumor Center.
The following is the pre-interview with Catherine Ivy. Be sure to watch the recorded interview above.
For-profit/Nonprofit: Operating under a 501(c)3.
Revenue model: The Ivy Brain Tumor Center is a non-profit clinical trials program. It was established through a $50 million grant from the Ben and Catherine Ivy Foundation, in collaboration with the Barrow Neurological Institute.
Scale: As a non-profit, the Ivy Brain Tumor Center does not generate revenue. There are currently 40 staff members and scientists dedicated to the program.
More about Ivy Brain Tumor Center:
Twitter: @IvyBrainTumCtr Facebook: facebook.com/IvyBrainTumorCenter LInkedin: linkedin.com/company/ivy-brain-tumor-center Instagram: @theivybraintumorcenter Website: www.ivybraintumorcenter.org
The Ivy Brain Tumor Center at the Barrow Neurological Institute in Phoenix, AZ is a non-profit translational research program that employs a bold, early-phase clinical trials strategy to identify new treatments for aggressive brain tumors, including glioblastoma. The Ivy Center’s Phase 0 clinical trials program is the largest of its kind in the world and enables personalized care in a fraction of the time and cost associated with traditional drug development. Unlike conventional clinical trials focusing on single drugs, its accelerated trials program tests therapeutic combinations matched to individual patients.
Catherine Ivy. Photo Credit: Ivy Brain Tumor Center
Catherine Ivy’s bio:
Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/catherineivy/
Catherine Ivy is responsible for the administration, investment management and charitable grant-making of the Ben and Catherine Ivy Foundation. She monitors and participates in the design of the overall grant-making strategies and policies emphasizing the needs of brain tumor research.
A Certified Financial Planner, Catherine worked in the financial planning industry for over 24 years. Prior to becoming involved in the brain tumor community, she served as owner and president of Ivy Financial Planning and Associates in Palo Alto, California. She has a Master of Science degree in personal financial planning from Golden Gate University and a Bachelor of Science degree in finance from Arizona State University.
Catherine has a very personal interest in this work. She became involved in the brain tumor community when her husband, Ben Ivy, lost his battle with glioblastoma brain cancer in 2005. Since 2005, Catherine has led the effort of the Ivy Foundation contributing over $91 million to brain cancer research. She currently continues her efforts to support research on brain cancer, leading to the development of better diagnostics and treatments that offer long-term survival and a high quality of life for patients with brain tumors.
Catherine serves as a member of the Mayo Clinic Arizona Leadership Council, a board member of the Board of Directors of the Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen) Foundation and is a member of The Philanthropy Workshop (TPW). Catherine has been on the Advisory Board of the Barrow Neurological Institute, the Advisory Council of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul and the Advisory Board of PathNorth. She also had been on the Advisory Board of the National Brain Tumor Society and served on the External Scientific Committee for The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) with the National Institutes of Health.
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Carol Pandak, director of PolioPlus for Rotary International announced in this episode of the Your Mark on the World Show recorded on October 22, 2019 that wild poliovirus type three has been officially eradicated.
“The achievement of polio eradication will be a milestone for global health. Commitment from partners and countries, coupled with innovation, means of the three wild polio serotypes, only type one remains,” said Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the World Health Organization and Chair of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) Polio Oversight Board in a statement.
“We remain fully committed to ensuring that all necessary resources are made available to eradicate all poliovirus strains. We urge all our other stakeholders and partners to also stay the course until final success is achieved,” he added.
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MAP International is a nonprofit that accepts mostly in-kind donations of drugs from pharmaceutical companies and delivers them to people in developing countries who cannot afford them. Each year, the organization receives about $500 million in donated pharmaceuticals.
Cash donations from foundations and individuals provide the funding for logistics to move the drugs to where they are most needed with the result that millions of people are receiving life-saving drugs they otherwise could not afford.
President and CEO, Steve Stirling, leads the organization. He is the author of The Crutch of Success: From Polio to Purpose, Bringing Health & Hope to the World. Yesterday, the Global Polio Eradication Initiative marked its annual World Polio Day, celebrating the progress toward eradication of polio. The GPEI is led by Rotary International; Steve is a member of his local Rotary club.
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Dr. Scott Leckman is a dear friend, so yes, this is personal. If we are known by the company we keep, I certainly want to keep his company.
Rotary connected us, specifically the Salt Lake Rotary Club where he is a past president. For the year ended June 30, 2019, Scott served as the district governor for the state of Utah. (District 5420 is, I believe, the only Rotary district to cover exactly one U.S. state.) He has been the district’s leading voice on polio eradication for at least a decade, often leading immunization trips to India.
It turns out, Rotary is just the tip of Scott’s iceberg. He served for years on the international nonprofit Results board with Mohammed Yunus and Sam Daley-Harris fighting extreme poverty globally. He served as the Chairman for a year.
He presently serves as the Chairman of the board for Citizens’ Climate Education, the 501(c)(3) educational nonprofit affiliate of the 501(c)(4) advocacy organization Citizens’ Climate Lobby. The organizations jointly work toward finding common ground in the political arguments around climate change.
He also helped to found the Health Access Project, an effort to organize doctors to provide volunteer care for low-income, uninsured people living in Salt Lake County. To date, the organization has provided more than $20 million of free medical care.
There is more but suffice it to say, Scott is an extraordinary humanitarian. It is my honor to call him a friend and a privilege to share his story with you.
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Alissa Sears, co-founder of the adVenturesAcademy, has seen it over again: entrepreneurs and investors bond in the outdoors, in challenging circumstances, in ways they never could in the boardroom. Just as importantly, sometimes they discover that they don’t want to be in business with someone when the chips are down.
Trips with Alissa’s adVenturesAcademy don’t just build character, they reveal character as well. For entrepreneurs looking for investors, learning who can handle challenges without flipping out is important. Vitally important. And the same is true for investors evaluating entrepreneurs—they simply can’t afford to invest in an entrepreneur who will cut and run at the first sign of trouble.
adVenturesAcademy involves mostly mission-driven entrepreneurs, investors and advisors in the outdoor and natural products industries.
Trips are rigorous trips from climbing to surfing in places as varied as Ecuador, California and Colorado.
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The United Nations recently suggested that reversing climate change before global warming reaches 2 degrees Celsius would require annual investment of $2.4 trillion. Impact Assets is one of the players working to close the funding gap.
The need likely exceeds $2.4 trillion as that estimate includes only climate-related investment requirements. Other pressing social issues, including extreme poverty and related problems identified in the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals or SDGs will require additional investment.
Impact Assets is a nonprofit that funnels philanthropic capital into impact investments that provide social and environmental impacts as well as financial returns.
“Our goal is to accelerate the velocity of capital to impact investing,” says Margret Trilli, president and chief investment officer.
Read the full Forbes article and watch the interview here: http://bit.ly/2MLfuX8.
Author Doug White says in his new book, Wounded Charity, that the CBS and New York Times reports of malfeasance and wrongdoing at the Wounded Warrior Project were not accurate. Much of their reporting, Doug says, came from a Facebook group.
With a national scale of operation, there were disgruntled former employees who had created a Facebook group where they shared their experiences and perceptions of mismanagement. The story was rushed to press when the two highly-reputable organizations got wind that they were both working on it.
After exhaustive research, Doug concludes in his book that there was nothing fundamentally amiss at the Wounded Warrior Project.
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Valerie Red-Horse Mohl, the executive director for Social Venture Circle, got her first job out of film school working on the team of notorious investment banker, Michael Milken who created the modern high-yield bond market and later spent 22 months in prison for securities fraud.
Val later applied her skills running her own investment banking firm, completing $3 billion in transactions, mostly serving the native American community.
Never forgetting her filmmaking studies, she has directed and produced films, including the PBS film Mankiller, a film about Wilma Mankiller, the first woman elected principal chief of the Cherokee Nation.
Val also teaches a course in race and ethnicity at Stanford and sites on the board of the Center for Race and Ethnicity. Her daughter plays on the beach volleyball team for Stanford.
Much of Val’s success and positive social impact relates to the skills and lessons she learned directly from Michael Milken in the 1980s, suggesting that finance and capitalism aren’t inherently good or bad but serve as tools that can be wielded for good and bad. Michael seems to have learned the lesson himself, having devoted much of his post-prison career to social impact.
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Upaya Social Ventures is a nonprofit impact investing firm that answers the question, “How do you help people too poor for microloans?” The answer is both easy and challenging: jobs. The presumption of microlending programs often seems to be that everyone can or should be an entrepreneur. Entrepreneurship is a powerful economic driver, but most people lack the skills to thrive as entrepreneurs even in wealthy countries. It certainly can’t be fair to expect people in developing countries to be better at entrepreneurship with even fewer tools. Kate Cochran, 51, CEO of Upaya, says she is “a fierce believer that global poverty is not inevitable and entrepreneurial energy and individual resolve are some of the sharpest tools available to us in that fight.” The group of founders who launched Upaya recognized that by carefully selecting entrepreneurs to back Upaya could indirectly create jobs for those living in extreme poverty, allowing them to lift themselves out of it.
Read the full Forbes article and watch the interview here: http://bit.ly/2B2gfFO.
Larry Sherwood, president and CEO of Interstate Renewable Energy Council reminds us that once solar panels are paid for, all the electricity that results is free. Wind energy, similarly, is virtually free after you buy the turbine. Neither requires fuel.
For decades, the Interstate Renewable Energy Council has been working to help states and municipalities implement rules and regulations that support renewable energy.
Larry, what is the problem you solve and how do you solve it?
Distributed energy resources such as solar, storage, and energy efficiency do not have the infrastructure and policies to enable a large number of installations.
IREC builds the foundation for rapid adoption of clean energy and energy efficiency to benefit people, the economy and the planet. IREC works to change state regulatory policies, publishes model rules and guidebooks, trains allied industry representatives, accredited clean energy training centers, and support consumer empowerment.
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Steve Klass founded the nonprofit P3 Utah to help Utah businesses adopt triple-bottom-line practices to better respect people and the planet along with profits. The influence of P3 Utah continues to grow.
Interview with Steve Klass, the Executive Director of P3 Utah.
The following is the pre-interview with Steve Klass. Be sure to watch the recorded interview above.
For-profit/Nonprofit: 501(c)3 Nonprofit
Revenue model: Executive director's family followed by event registration and membership fees, followed by limited corporate sponsorship
Scale: One full time employee, four part time contractors and a half dozen university student internsNe
What is the problem you solve and how do you solve it?
Deficit of conscious business effort to generate more positive impacts and limited availability of simple powerful tools to allow businesses of any size to comprehensively manage social and environmental impacts. In Utah, we created a marketplace for sustainable triple bottom line business by making us the fourth US state to allow both benefit corporation and benefit LLC registration. We created a simple six cell matrix based toolkit to support managing, measuring and communicating social and environmental impacts to all stakeholders, including employees, investors, customers and general community in all six official UN languages.
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Sandra Rey, 29, was participating in a student design competition with the theme “biology” and got to watching videos on YouTube of bioluminescent sea creatures when she thought there must be a way to replicate that natural technology. Five years later, her startup, called Glowee, is creating brilliant luminescent art installations for hotels and public spaces.
While she admits, “We'll never replace the lights in your kitchen,” she hopes to create enough light and enough beauty to play a role in the world’s lighting mix to help reduce reliance on electric lighting.
When she first started producing light, she says she’d have to get her lights in a completely dark room for ten to 15 minutes before she could begin to see the light. She’s made dramatic progress since.
Read the full Forbes article and watch the interview here: http://bit.ly/2OjJNq3.
Patricia Mertz was forced to cut short her two-and-a-half year term of service with the Peace Corps in Cote d’Ivoire. She talked about her desire to return and help so much over the next seven years that her niece finally promised to give her $10,000 from the prize money of a singing contest she entered.
She didn’t win the contest but the promise had catalyzed Patricia to take action, form a 501(c)(3) nonprofit and get work saving the lives of mothers and children in the West African country.
The following is a brief pre-interview that provides context for the recorded interview you may watch or listen to at the top of this article.
Patricia Mertz is a Founder and Executive Director for Ivory Coast Mothers and Children.
Crowdfunding page: caringcrowd.org/provide-children-west-africa-lifesaving-vaccines
What is the purpose of your crowdfunding campaign?
Vaccinate 300 children for tetanus, meningitis and typhoid.
What has been your experience using CaringCrowd?
We have raised money for the installation of about 80 sinks in the classrooms in 2 villages to promote proper hand washing, money to buy vaccines, medical supplies and equipment and aid for the orphans, the most vulnerable children.
The matching and also sharing with their employees and working with the capable experienced people at CaringCrowd.
How much have you raised on CaringCrowd? About $15,000
More about Ivory Coast Mothers and Children:
Twitter: @ivorycoastaid Facebook: Facebook.com/IvoryCoastMothersAndChildren Instagram: @ivorycoastaid Website: www.ivorycoastaid.org
ICMC Ivory Coast Mothers and Children is a 501(c)3 organization that works in partnership with The Patricia Nau Clinic, a community-based maternal health clinic located in the village of Braffoueby, Cote d’Ivoire. Through funding and capacity building support, we are building healthier communities by advancing quality medical care for safe births and access to disease treatment and prevention, especially for mothers, newborns, and children under five
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Marc Blumenthal joins me to talk about Social Ventures Foundation’s work in launching V’ice in Haiti. V’ice is basically a snow cone with added nutrition. These sorts of products are popular in Haiti and V’ice is both superior and price competitive. It is intended to be sold by microfranchisees so the profits mostly stay in the community.
Interview with Marc Blumenthal, the Executive Director of Social Ventures Foundation.
The following is the pre-interview with Marc Blumenthal. Be sure to watch the recorded interview above.
For-profit/Nonprofit: 501(c)3 Nonprofit
Revenue model: Grants, revenues and Social Impact Investment
Scale: The Social Ventures Foundation is currently scaling V'ice in Haiti from its first Hub which is currently providing jobs for 8 Haitians in Management, MicroFranchising and manufacturing. An additional 20 MicroFranchisees will be added this Fall. Over 20,000 V’ice cones and V’bars (protein bars made from locally sourced corn flakes and peanuts) have been sold with additional projected sales of over 75,000 V’ice cones and V’bars this Fall. Both products are sold at affordable prices for the poor --10 gourds (10 cents) for V’ice and 5 Gourds (5 cents) for V’bars. Revenues reflect these prices.
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Laurent Lamothe, 47, former Prime Minister of Haiti, says Haiti—and other low-income countries—can thrive by implementing new taxes on telecom and banking transactions. Lamothe, who resigned as the PM in December of 2014 after serving two and a half years—longer than any PM since the Haiti earthquake in 2010—says micro levies on small transactions provide an opportunity for countries like Haiti to begin collecting revenues and investing them in infrastructure and projects that will help their people lift themselves from poverty. Today, Lamothe operates LSL Worldwide Initiative, advising low- and moderate-income countries. He points to Singapore and Estonia as countries that have successfully accelerated their economies through digitization. Read the full Forbes article and watch the interview here: http://bit.ly/2neNlhX
Raising capital is almost never easy for entrepreneurs but data suggests it can be more difficult for some than others. Minorities and women are much less likely to receive VC investments. People living outside California, New York and Boston are also much less likely to receive venture capital.
Enter Beta Boom, with Managing Partner Kimmy Paluch, herself a minority, based in Salt Lake City and focused on investing in these underserved communities.
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Igor Belagorudsky, president of FastCTO, joined me to explain his company’s new tool for rating crowdfunding issues to make them more appealing to large investors. Increasingly, investors of all stripes are looking at deals on investment crowdfunding websites like Wefunder, Republic and Crowdfund Mainstreet. The score is intended to help both novice and expert institutional investors better understand the investment opportunity.
Issuers, that is the companies selling shares on a crowdfunding site, can hire FastCTO to provide the review and rating.
Preliminary Interview with Igor Belagorudsky, the President Of FastCTO.
Expert tips for crowdfunding or fundraising:
Tip 1: Make your listing attractive to not just the individual that might be willing to invest $100 (or $88 as that's the average donation) but to the one that might be writing a $20,000 check (there aren't that many of those yet but we're looking to change that). The bigger the check sizes, the less investors you need to convince and the less time you need to spend to nurture your raise.
Tip 2: Assume, even though it's not always the case, that people writing bigger checks have more experience investing overall and use different metrics to decide whether to invest or not. As a trivial example, an investor contributing $100 might be thinking, "this is something I'd like to have/own/put my name behind" and never once opening the SEC filing you had to submit as part of your listing. On the other hand, an investor contributing $10,000 will definitely open the SEC filing, have their advisor(s) look at it, confirm your predictions, validate your business plan, etc. Now imagine the rigor with which someone considering a $100,000 investment might be looking at your listing with. Make sure you provide the resources that have the best chance of satisfying someone like that.
Tip 3: The goal of what we're doing is that more sophisticated investors will be attracted to the crowdfunding space and be willing to make big investments in companies that pass their sniff test. For "traditional" private security investments (angel rounds, VC, PE, etc), investors use a due diligence process to validate their decision to invest or not. Depending on your industry and the type of company you have, the due diligence might have several sections - finance, legal and IP, technical, organizational, etc. For crowdfunding companies, your SEC filing is meant to satisfy the finance section of a due diligence and your various warranties you make when listing are meant to satisfy the legal, but there's nothing besides your listing that satisfies the rest - especially the technical part of a due diligence which, for companies with any technology, is an essential part of the process.
The FastCTO Score aims to fix that - we want crowdfunding companies to have access to a technical due diligence they can share with sophisticated (and all) investors so they can check the tech checkbox and confidently invest. Not every company going the crowdfunding round might need that - you might not have any technology or software or systems that set your company apart, but for those that do, it's now an option.
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Beginning with English language training, Utah-based FluentWorlds is delivering its immersive 3D experience to your phone. Available for both Android phones and iPhones, the technology is winning fans.
CEO, David Bradford, 68, leads the company with his wife, Dr. Linda Bradford, who has a PhD in instructional psychology and technology. She serves as the chief product officer. Their son, also David, is the VP of finance and business development.
This isn’t your typical family business. The senior Bradford has a proven tech background. He served as the CEO of both Fusion IO and HireVue, companies that achieved significant scale. Bradford recruited Steve Wozniak to Fusion IO as the chief scientist. Fusion-io went public and was later acquired by SanDisk. Bradford started his career at Novell, where he worked with Eric Schmidt. In November of 2017, David was honored with the “LifeTime Achievement Award” by Utah Business Magazine. Read the full Forbes article and watch the interview here: http://bit.ly/2lUM2Eq.
In 2012, Congress passed and President Obama signed the JOBS Act, a law that authorized investment crowdfunding. A wide variety of for-profit businesses, many of them having a social mission, have taken advantage of the law to raise money from small investors under either Title III, implemented as Regulation Crowdfunding or Title VI, implemented as Regulation A+.
TechSoup is an international nonprofit that helps deliver technology to other nonprofits around the world. This innovative organization is using Regulation A+ to offer securities in the form of low-interest loans to the public.
CEO Rebecca Masisak joined me for this conversation to explain important details around the $11.5 million offering. Institutional investors are participating with investments in the millions of dollars. Small investors are participating in increments of just $50.
This is an innovative application of the JOBS Act and a rare opportunity for ordinary investors to participate in an impact investment opportunity.
CaringCrowd.org, by Johnson & Johnson Global Public Health, is a sponsor of the Your Mark on the World Center and GoodCrowd.info.
Rehema Home is an orphanage in Kenya that cares for children, about half of whom are HIV positive. These wonderful children are often in need of medical care. Rehema Home raised over $10,000 on CaringCrowd, Johnson & Johnson’s global health crowdfunding platform.
J&J generously matches individual donations up to $250. Of the $10,647 raised on CaringCrowd, $3,576 came from J&J in the form of matching funds.
Bill Drayton, founder and CEO of Ashoka, literally coined the term “social entrepreneur” when he founded the nonprofit back in 1980, almost 40 years ago. He also decided that changemaker was one word and not two, something the Oxford dictionary now recognizes (though Webster’s does not, to the Drayton’s consternation). Drayton says, “We all sense that society is at a profound, indeed historic turning point.”
Before we explore the turning point, he’s talking about, let’s briefly review some of the history of Ashoka and social entrepreneurship.
The kernel of the idea for Ashoka came to Drayton, he says, when he was visiting India at age 18. On this journey, he began to appreciate that an entrepreneur could make systemic changes that could have profound implications in the lives of large numbers of people. He also began to appreciate how difficult it is to make that leap at almost any point in one’s life.
Read the full Forbes article and watch the interview here: http://bit.ly/34G2L03.
Personally impacted by wildfires in her Northern California community, Julia Jackson saw the impact of climate change and recognized that the time for talk was long past and went to work.
Julia created the nonprofit Grounded to accelerate the work of climate change reversing technologies. An admirer of Paul Hawken and his work at Project Drawdown, she has sought to accelerate some of the very technologies Paul and his team identified.
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LifeNet International is working to save lives in sub-Saharan Africa by building capacity within the existing health care infrastructure. By equipping the facilities and training the people there, the organization hopes to transform them, allowing them to save more lives.
Maggie Ehrenfried, managing director of development for LifeNet, joined me to talk about the organization’s impactful work and its success raising over $25,000 via CaringCrowd by Johnson & Johnson. She notes that nearly half of the funds raised came from the J&J match.
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"I am on a mission to provide clean and affordable energy to women and girls in African rural communities through the use of modern technologies like AI,” says Monique Ntumngia, 29, founder of the Green Girls Organisation working in Sub-Saharan Africa.
The organization uses a unique scoring algorithm called MNKB92 to optimize energy strategies for villages where they train women and girls to assemble and sell solar lamps and to deploy biodigesters to create methane for cooking and organic fertilizer for crops.
The organization provides the materials for free but receives a 40% cut of the revenue from the sale of fertilizer and solar lamps. The organization helps women find markets for the fertilizer.
Read the full Forbes article and watch the interview here: http://bit.ly/2jXKWqE.
Having created a technology for nonprofits that has the potential to accelerate their fundraising and their impact using artificial intelligence and machine learning, Art Komarov has learned a few things about the adoption of new technology. He shares some powerful insights to help nonprofit leaders implement the latest and greatest tech for good.
Interview with Artiom (Art) Komarov, the Co-Founder and CEO of Wisely.
The following is the pre-interview with Artiom (Art) Komarov. Be sure to watch the recorded interview above.
Expert Tips: Adopting new technology? Here are some thoughts on how to get everyone in your organization on board:
Tip 1: Everyone has an “accidental technologist” in their organization: someone that ends up being a technical resource for their colleagues, without an official IT title. When you’re incorporating new technology into your organization, work closely with your ''accidental technologist'' to get buy-in and show the product's value. The rest of the team will follow.
Tip 2: Reinforce why you made the decision to implement new technology: Always come back to how the technology enables your mission and goals for the year. Employees need to see the technology as a tool that helps them achieve their daily, weekly and monthly goals, and hit their targets.
Tip 3: Embrace change! But acknowledge and recognize that fears about technology, old and new, are usually (secret) fears about change. Talk openly about it with your team and encourage their feedback along the way. Successful change management is the core of successful technology adoption and will help your organization achieve its goals more successfully and efficiently.
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Wendy Burton has been planting Empress Splendor trees for about two decades. With help from crowdfunded investors from Wefunder, along with accredited investors participating in a Regulation D 506(c) offering, her company, World Tree, will plant thousands of these carbon sucking trees across the western hemisphere.
She says the tree is the fastest-growing hardwood tree on the planet. While it grows in a range of climates, its method of reproduction limits its threat as an invasive species. Because the tree grows so quickly, it sequesters more carbon than other trees.
Investors typically buy an acre’s worth of trees—110 trees—but rather than receive the revenue from a particular acre of trees, investors get a pro-rata share of all the trees planted in the current year’s crop when harvested in ten years. Farmers who plant and care for the trees receive half the revenue; investors and World Tree split the other half of the revenue.
The first harvest, she says, could produce a financial return of nine to ten times the initial investment. The Wefunder campaign raised almost $1 million; the investment proceeds from the Reg D offering are larger.
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Having created the fastest growing fintech company in Pakistan by on-boarding more than 70,000 people, Naureen Hyat, 33, co-founder and head of Tez Financial Services has a long way to go to reach her goal of financially empowering the 100 million people in her country who are unbanked or under-banked.
Visa recently held a Shark Tank-style competition for women entrepreneurs in around the world in two categories, fintech and social impact. Hyat won the $100,000 prize in the fintech arena—despite a genuine integration of social impact in her model. The prize also included mentorship and access to Visa products and services.
“Financial inclusion in Pakistan is extremely low. The World Bank estimates 100 million adults, out of a total population of 189 million, lack access to formal financial services. Low-income consumers in particular struggle to access credit, smooth cash flows, manage bumps and shocks, and save to meet their future goals,” says Tahira Dosani, managing director of Accion Venture Lab, a seed-stage fintech investor that has invested in Tez Financial Services and now serves on the board.
Read the full Forbes article and watch the interview here: http://bit.ly/30GMFAY.
The processes corporations use to find candidates to fill open positions is fraught with weaknesses that perpetuate bias. Arthur Woods of Mathison.io is hoping to change that for good.
Woods, despite being a white, not-yet middle-aged man, counts himself among diverse individuals. Like Alan Mathison Turing, the inventor of the first electronic computer for whom the company is named, Woods is gay.
Mathison.io provides a platform that applicants can quickly use to create a profile that allows them to identify all the ways they might be considered diverse, from ethnicity to gender identity and religion. It’s all there—with the goal of making sure everyone is represented.
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Dr. Eric Liguori, executive director of the Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship at Rowan University is passionate about doing good in the world.
Under Liguori’s leadership, Rowan University will be hosting crowdfunding training for nonprofits, sponsored by Johnson & Johnson’s CaringCrowd with me as the trainer on September 24, 2019. Register here.
Liguori is a remarkable educator. Named educator of the year by the United States Association for Small Business and Entrepreneurship, he was later chosen as the youngest president ever elected to lead the organization.
He thinks of entrepreneurship as a tool for solving social problems. A kind, family-focused person by nature, he’s seen his students create solutions to homelessness and environmental problems and the impact they have.
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Playing on the adage that it is better to teach someone to fish than to give them a fish, Joseph Carbone, 66, founder and CEO of the Utah-based non-profit Eye Care 4 Kids, says you have to ensure they can see the fishing pole. “That is what we do at EC4K,” he says. In under 20 years, the organization has helped about 300,000 people obtain free or affordable eyeglasses. While most of those kids live in Utah, the organization began working with partners internationally almost from the beginning. Every year, Carbone leads a trip to the Navajo reservation that includes parts of southeastern Utah.
Read the full Forbes article and watch the interview here: http://bit.ly/2Pa3liP. Today, the nonprofit operates nine clinics and serves 50,000 people annually.
Mike Jacobs of IBM’s corporate social responsibility team, joined me to talk about the ways IBM is using its technology for good, especially water scarcity. All the technology that is being used by corporations for business purposes is now being deployed, often on concessionary terms, to address social problems.
Interview with Mike Jacobs, the Business Strategy Leader & Chief of Staff, Corporate Social Responsibility at IBM of IBM.
How are you personally affected by Using Technology to Combat Freshwater Scarcity?
I am lucky to have access to fresh, running water. What’s most important to me is that IBM is making a real impact for others who don’t have access to clean water. My background is in disaster relief and helping communities build resiliency, so I know how important it is to deliver tailored and localized solutions that drive meaningful impact. IBM combines leading artificial intelligence (AI), cloud, Internet of Things (IoT) and blockchain technology to predict extreme weather and help people and businesses prepare and respond to the changing climate which endangers freshwater supplies around the globe. The world at large needs to mobilize quickly and in deep and meaningful ways on environmental challenges, clean water access in particular. This is an area where IBM can provide unique strategic support given our expertise in solutions-oriented technologies.
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Kevin White spent 20 years in the Marines. In 2004, he was stationed at the European Command (EUCOM) as the humanitarian assistance program manager. He witnessed efforts to provide eyeglasses to people who needed them. The process was cumbersome and inefficient.
For the past 15 years, White has been working to develop a better process for helping people who can’t afford glasses to get them. He has invented a revolutionary process for diagnosing the lenses people need and preparing them on-the-spot for a price of $5.
The system relies on volunteers who receive three hours of training and are then prepared to help people diagnose themselves and build them a pair of glasses almost instantly. The system works well when organizations who are already making humanitarian efforts add the system to their efforts.
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Greg Brodsky, 42, founder of Start.coop, a startup accelerator for co-ops, says the interesting thing about co-ops is that people love them but don’t know what they are. He’s working to keep the former and change the latter by helping social entrepreneurs launch successful ones.
“Co-op is this funny word that most people have heard, but really very few people can accurately define,” Brodsky says. “We've actually done some research that around 76 percent of people would be more likely to support a co-op, everything else being equal, but only about 10 percent of people can accurately define it.”
Traditionally, a business is owned by entrepreneur founders and investors. A co-op may be owned instead by either workers or by customers—or both.
Read the full Forbes article and watch the interview here: http://bit.ly/2YPqCLe.
On our current path, 40 percent of demand for water is likely to be unmet in 2030. We’re talking about water shortages of biblical scale!
Mindy Lubber, the CEO and President of Ceres, is working to prevent that. Focusing on actors with the most to lose—corporations that have the most exposure to water—she moves investors to advocate for greater accountability.
The results are dramatic. Companies are beginning to report on their use of water and have begun to invest in protecting and preserving clean water sources. There is far to go but Ceres is on the case.
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Social entrepreneur Leesa McGregor, was thinking not only about how to teach her three-year-old Max the alphabet but also how to teach him values. She hit on the idea to create an alphabet book that used values rather nouns like apple, book and cat.
The book, A New Alphabet for Humanity, beautifully illustrated, is ready for publication. To raise the funds necessary for publication, Leesa is running a crowdfunding campaign on Kickstarter. She hopes to build a social enterprise around the book to help more people.
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Mohammed Faisal has not been thwarted by the random accident that nearly killed him in January. He passionately continues his work, using his struggle to regain his life as an inspiration for others.
Mohammed is the founder of The Money Hub, which works with kids in New York City high schools to help them learn basic and important financial literacy skills. He saw his home life transformed by his parents’ purchase of a home when he was young. He wants everyone to start out on a path to financial security.
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Dr. Jonathan Foley, 50, executive director for Project Drawdown, joined me for a discussion about climate change (watch in the video player above). His statement, “This may be the single biggest business opportunity in human history,” sounds like hyperbole but there may be no one better qualified to make that statement correctly.
With a PhD in atmospheric sciences from the University of Wisconsin and having spent three decades doing and managing research into climate change, he is certainly qualified on the science. His case that the business opportunity is there hinges on this key premise:
We literally have to reinvent our energy systems, our food systems, our manufacturing, our cities. Everything! You can look at that is like, ‘Crap, that's a really big problem.’
I think we have to look at as “Wow, what a great opportunity!” especially if we do it right. We can improve lives. We can reduce inequity. We could solve some of our other social ills if we do it wisely. And we could build a better world for future generations and for ourselves.
Read the full Forbes article and watch the interview here: http://bit.ly/2yKm35v.
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Candice Whitely joined Sewing New Futures four years ago when she visited New Delhi and saw the work the nonprofit was doing there to help women make a transition from prostitute to seamstress.
In the community of Najafgarh in the suburbs of Delhi, the residue of India’s infamous caste system condemns women to marry young and into sex work to feed their families and pay their own bride price.
Sewing New Futures helps women develop an alternative career path, not only for themeselves but for their daughters as well, saving them from a tragic fate most cannot even imagine.
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Michael Dash is taking a step back from the hard-charging life he led for so long to re-center. In the process, he’s dealt with his own addictions and gained some powerful perspectives. He shares his insights in he book Chasing the High.
He also shares some powerful insights in our conversation, which you can watch above.
Interview with Michael Dash, the CEO of FATE - From Addict To Entrepreneur .
The following is the pre-interview with Michael Dash. Be sure to watch the recorded interview above.
Expert Tips:
Tip 1: Do not make emotional decisions in business or your personal life. Emotional reactions cause frustration for both parties involved and usually involve an outpouring of negative energy. This usually leads to an uncomfortable conversation that needs to take place after the fact to heal any hurt feelings and ends up being a complete drain of time.
Tip 2: Change is actually easy. Too often people equate change to the result they are expecting from change but these two ideas actually have no correlation. Anyone who wants to change any behavior can easily do it today. If they tie themselves to the result of the change they may hold themselves back from taking that first step of action. You can build a plan to achieve the results you want along the way and do not need to wait for that to make the actual change right now.
Tip 3: Explore your positive curiosity and try new activities that can bring fulfillment into your lives. Sometimes we form opinions about certain activities or groups of people in life and we then incorporate those opinions as our own without even giving certain things a chance. Activities like yoga, meditation, sound baths, breath-work we may all have heard one thing or another about but until you actually try them out you will not know if they resonate with you and can help you achieve a fulfilled life.
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“Tegu takes us back to the joy of play,” says Jose Zelaya, the Honduran toy manufacturer’s accounting manager. More importantly, the creator of wooden blocks with embedded magnets that fascinate and engage children, is employing people in a country stressed by poverty, unemployment and violence.
Tegu, founded by Chris and Will Haughey a decade ago, with the mission to create jobs in a country that desperately needed them. Along the way, they’ve proven that Honduras, less than three hours and just $233 (roundtrip, according to Google) by air from Houston, can be competitive with manufacturing in China and other Asian countries.
Ana Sauceda, an industrial engineer for Tegu, visited with me during my on-site research trip. You can view our discussion in the video player at the top of this article. She says the company is now shipping product to a variety of countries around the world, including China, Japan, Malaysia, Switzerland, Argentina, Uruguay and Chile. The company’s biggest market remains the United States.
Read the full Forbes article and watch the interview here: http://bit.ly/2GBSHL6.
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In 1998, Kurt Ver Beek had been living in Honduras for nearly a decade when he and four Hondurans founded the Association for a More Just Society, initially with the primary goal of delivering aid to vulnerable families. Quickly, however, they realized that little progress could be made without addressing the violence and corruption that then plagued and continue to plague the Central American country. Fighting those twin demons became their mission.
By 2012, Honduras had the highest homicide rate of any country in the world. Evidence was building that corruption and violence were closely related.
The son of the president of the National University was murdered by two uniformed policemen who were attempting to steal his car. The Association for a More Just Society helped to investigate and advocate for the prosecution of the guilty in that case.
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For nearly two decades, Christie’s Place has been a refuge and a resource for women living with HIV/AIDS in San Diego. While the organization receives funding from a variety of sources, some of the funding comes with constraints and limitations.
Recently, Christie’s Place raised money via CaringCrowd, Johnson & Johnson’s global public health crowdfunding site, because it allowed the nonprofit to fill some critical gaps in its funding so that the organization can continue serving its community.
Executive Director Rhea Van Brocklin noted that J&J matched donations up to $250 during the campaign, dramatically easing the effort required to hit the funding goal of $5,000 in the most recent campaign. Over the years, Christie’s Place has raised over $14,000 on CaringCrowd.
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Spoonful Apparel, founded by Susan Elwer, to end child hunger, sells comfortable clothing with inspiring messages and donates 50 percent of the proceeds to the effort.
With slogans like “I choose kindness” emblazoned on the front, the clothing is virtually a living advertisement for doing good. The social enterprise sells the merchandise through online retail, to corporations and for events.
To date, the company has provided 65,000 meals to kids!
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Generous by nature and raised in a vulnerable circumstance, Elisa Torres, now a marketing manager at J&J’s Ethicon, is passionate about ending human trafficking. Recently, she raised money for A21 Campaign, a nonprofit that rescues women from slavery, using CaringCrowd, J&J’s global health crowdfunding platform.
By making human trafficking more difficult, profit margins are squeezed and perpetrators are encouraged to move on to other endeavors with less damage to human beings.
Elisa raised a total of more than $15,000 for the nonprofit using CaringCrowd in two separate campaigns. The site is easy to use and she notes that J&J matched virtually the donations in her campaigns, doubling her impact.
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One of the most remarkable social enterprises I’ve encountered in recent years is Ejido Verde, in Michoacan, Mexico, now run by CEO Shaul Paul. By reestablishing pine forest where they were once universal, Ejido Verde will grow a pine resin industry with the potential to employ thousands of people, lifting them into the middle class.
Ejido Verde is helping indigenous people to cultivate and care for trees for a decade before they begin to produce resin. Once they begin to produce, Ejido Verde will accept repayment in the form of raw resin--just 10 percent of the production. Ejido Verde also guarantee the purchase of the remaining resin at market prices.
Pine resin is a big business globally, totalling about $10 billion USD. The resin is used in all sorts of products, including colas.
After twenty years, the indigenous people will have the option to begin logging their trees or to continue harvesting resin--for up to 60 more years until the trees die naturally. Carbon credits are expected to supplement the income for the farmers.
One notable observation. A few people who had emigrated to the United States have now returned to their homes to work in the pine resin industry.
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“Hunger is a year-round struggle,” Jane Leal, Vice-Chair for Feeding Middlesex County, says. She’s grateful for the fundraising help offered by Johnson & Johnson’s CaringCrowd crowdfunding site that helped raise much-needed flexible funding to help close gaps in the community’s effort to feed those who are food-insecure.
Jane helped raise almost $7,000 using CaringCrowd, nearly half of which was donated by J&J as a match.
CaringCrowd is a crowdfunding platform for nonprofits that serve public health needs; food is a public health need.
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Brian Meece, co-creator of WingaDoos, likes to say that WingaDoos is “Sesame Street for healthy money habit."
Research shows that our relationship to money is established long before we have to start making financial decisions for ourselves. By the time we’re about eight years old, our concept of money is pretty fixed. This means that teaching high schoolers good money habits can be difficult.
WingaDoos is built around the model that teaching good money habits must start when children are in pre-school and get serious in the early grades of elementary school. Of course, to teach concepts to children that young, a fun and entertaining model is required.
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As a girl, while living in Jamaica, Davinia James once faced an extraordinary experience on her way home from school with her brother. Held at gunpoint, her brother faced the young gunman and yelled for his sister to run.
Frozen by fear, she didn’t move even as the gunman held his gun to her brother’s chest.
“Run,” he screamed. And she did.
Frantic, she screamed as she entered her home, “He’s dead! He’s dead!” Her mother “went into superwoman mode.”
Following her mother, they ran back to find her brother still with the barrel of a gun in his chest. Their mother pulled the gun away from his chest and placed it on hers, saying, “If you want him, you’re going to have to go through me.”
The gunman, shamed or afraid of the consequences of killing a woman, walked away.
This experience fixed in Davinia’s mind the importance of education to lift women, girls and communities out of the dual traps of poverty and violence.
She founded Pennies4Girls to fund education for girls.
That's why she is called a global citizen.
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Damon West started using drugs by age 12 and before his 30th birthday was sentenced to 65 years in prison. After serving seven years, he emerged from prison completely changed. The key lesson he learned in prison was that you can change your environment. Now, as a motivational speaker, he teaches others how to do the same.
Interview with Damon West, the of Damon West, LLC.
The following is the pre-interview with Damon West. Be sure to watch the recorded interview above.
How are you personally affected by overcoming adversity?
I am an addict and convicted felon, living a life in long-term recovery. I had to become the coffee bean to be where I am today.
What is your take on Positively changing your environment around you, like the coffee bean?
Each of us has the power to change the environment around us.
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Increasingly, we recognize that mental health is like physical health. It must be regularly assessed and treated. Still, we in the west often asssume that it is a problem only in the most developed countries.
In fact, not surprisingly, mental health issues plague every country from rich to poor without regard to income.
Sachin Chaudhry, an Ashoka Fellow, has developed an app using AI to help regularly assess mental health. The app can even be used to help people maintain a healthier mental outlook.
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In the past 48 hours, there have been two major earthquakes in Southern California with an epicenter near the town of Ridgecrest. The quakes hit on July 4 and 5th, with the largest and most recent reaching a 7.1 on the Richter scale. In part due to the remote location, no deaths have been attributed to the quakes, but property damage across the region will ultimately be substantial.
Kate Stillwell, CEO of Jumpstart Insurance, a novel insurance company that provides coverage that pays out quickly following a quake, joined me for a conversation about the quake and the insurance her company provides.
Here in Salt Lake City, where I’m based, I felt the quake in my high-rise condominium and videotaped the lamps swinging as the wave rolled through our community—providing evidence of the power of the most recent quake. You can see a bit of that video with the video of the interview in the player at the top of the article. Note that I was a bit “discombobulated” by the quake, which is evident in the video. I can only imagine how devasting the quake was for people whose homes, businesses and personal property were damaged or destroyed.
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“Biomimicry is the practice of solving problems by learn asking the question, ‘What would nature do?” says Boston Impact Initiative Fund founder and President Deborah Frieze. Her answer to that question has her flipping conventional investing wisdom on its head to close the racial wealth divide in Boston.
While she hopes the fund will serve as a model for other communities, she notes that the wealth divide in Boston is on par with Atlanta for the worst in the country. “The median net worth for a white family in Boston is $247,000, which is way above the national. The median net worth for a black family in Boston is $8. It's not $8,000 it's not $800 it's $8.”
Even in the context of impact investing generally, she says, “We’re heading in the wrong direction where the wealth divide continues to get larger.”
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Donnetta Johnson lost her son Jonah to depression in 2009. Her experience was as life-changing as it was heartbreaking. She founded the My Son, Your Daughter, The Jonah Johnson Youth Scholarship Fund to raise money to help parents prevent the needless deaths that depression causes.
Johnson says she thought she knew about depression and thought she and her family could “work through” the issues with her son. Now she knows different and is working to help other parents better understand the risks of depression and the need to treat it with a full family effort--in addition to help from medical professionals.
Johnson successfully raised $3,000 on CaringCrowd.org, to help prevent more suicides. CaringCrowd is operated by Johnson & Johnson, which typically matches individual donations of up to $250, effectively reducing the effort required to raise money.
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Pia Wilson-Body, president of Intel Foundation says the Intel Foundation is working to make STEM education more accessible to disadvantaged students, especially young women. “A zip code doesn’t determine brilliance but it does determine access,” she says.
The Intel Foundation, under her leadership, is working to break down barriers and create a bridge to equity. She hopes to create not just consumers but creators.
One example is a program called “She Will Connect,” specifically focusing on encouraging more female students to pursue STEM education.
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Due to improved treatments, the number of annual HIV infections in the U.S. declined steadily for years until about 2013, but the latest statistics at HIV.gov show no improvement since. About 39,000 people annually are infected.
One of the leading players in the fight to eradicate AIDS has been the M·A·C AIDS Fund, which recently rebranded as the M·A·C Viva Glam Fund, redoubling its efforts to fight AIDS by focusing more on LGBTQ equality. Over the past 25 years, the fund has raised and spent over $500 million. All the money comes from the sale of Viva Glam lipstick products where 100% of proceeds go directly to the fund to fight HIV/AIDS.
Nancy Mahon, Estée Lauder’s senior vice president of global corporate citizenship and global executive director for the M·A·C Viva Glam Fund, explains the strategy shift—the theory of change—that motivated the rebranding.
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When I asked Josh Silver, co-founder and director of RepresentUs, to tell us what is wrong with politics in America, he responded with a question of his own.
“Devin, what’s not wrong with the government?”
He cites a Princeton paper that concludes, in Silver’s words, “the average American has a statistically insignificant effect on public policy. Laws written supposedly for the benefit of the American people, in reality, are written by and for special interests and lobbyists.”
“America’s political crisis has reached a breaking point. Our laws are no longer determined by civil discourse, evidence-based policymaking, or the will of the people,” he says.
It may not sound like it, but Silver is an optimist. He thinks we can fix what is wrong with the system. “All is not lost,” he says, noting that a movement began to take hold four years ago.
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CaringCrowd, sponsored by Johnson & Johnson is a, sponsor of the Your Mark on the World Center.
Robyn Shumer discovered the power of storytelling in her own life when she began to share her experience dealing with an eating disorder. She began with a TEDx talk but couldn’t stop telling her story.
She organized What’s Your Story USA, an organization built around helping people to tell their stories. Dillan DiGiovanni is a two-time TEDx speaker who has participated in the events.
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What Sweden is doing about the refugee crisis is impressive. This country of about 10 million has received more refugees in recent years than any other rich country. Still, refugees face a difficult time running the bureaucratic immigration policy gantlet and integrating fully.
Jean Pierre Candiotti, 33, an immigrant from Peru, leads the Refugees Transition Lab in the UNECSO-protected seaport town of Karlskrona with a population of about 36,000 people. Much of his effort focuses on helping refugees and other immigrants learn to become entrepreneurs.
Most of the refugees he helps are from Iraq, Afghanistan, Iran, Syria and Kuwait. “They come to find their dream life, to find a better life, to find peace,” Candiotti said in an interview we conducted in his office in Karlskrona during my visit.
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Tori Lyon, the CEO of the Jericho Project, which operates supportive housing units for 2,500 for formerly homeless individuals in New York City, joined me for a discussion about her work. She asserts simply that “Supportive housing is the solution to homelessness.”
She explains how operating supportive housing is less expensive than having people live on the streets, where they are frequent flyers in shelters, emergency rooms and jail cells--all of which are expensive to operate.
Tory is passionate about finding ways to help even the most challenging residents. She explained how she worked with four different agencies to convince a man living in the woods on Staten Island with five pets to move--with all the animals--into one of the Jericho Project’s housing units. It has been a challenging 18 months. The animals are now gone and he remains housed.
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When Charlotte Hughes Huntley, an epidemiologist, began to write and produce a podcast about her experiences finding her way in a challenging career field, she quickly developed a following. Today, she is as respected as a career guide as she as an epidemiologist.
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Charlotte Hommel was touched by the death of a friend’s child and decided to do something about the suicide epidemic in America. She used her employer’s crowdfunding site, CaringCrowd (which is open to the public) to raise money. Over two campaigns, she was successful in raising over $15,000.
A longtime employee of J&J, Charlotte applies her passion for solving social problems as a volunteer, often by raising money. She is a big fan of crowdfunding and CaringCrowd especially. She offers some tips for users below.
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Eleonore Pauwels, a research fellow on emerging cybertechnologies at the United Nations University Centre for Policy Research, recently published a report highlighting the threats and opportunities for global policy makers.
The threats should scare you. It isn’t that the machines will take over; rather, it is that people can use AI maliciously and in ways we cannot detect. For instance, people can use AI to make a CT scan convincingly appear to show a healthy person has a cancerous tumor. Imagine what could be done to your credit rating or your bank account--or to everyone’s credit rating or bank account at once.
Conversely, AI can be used to improve peace and conflict resolution efforts, she says. By monitoring public radio communications in local languages using AI trained translation tools, threats can be identified and addressed earlier.
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Increasingly, people want to be seen as making impact investments. Some in the socially responsible investing sphere, for instance, have started to describe their practice as a subset of a broader theme of impact investing. If there isn’t an agreed-upon definition, it is hard to measure its growth or much else about it.
This makes the definition used by the nonprofit Global Impact Investing Network, almost always referred to simply as the GIIN (pronounced like the drink), important. Speaking with co-founder and CEO, Amit Bouri, I asked for his definition. (You can watch our full interview in the player at the top of this article.)
“Impact investments are investments made into companies, organizations, and funds with the intention to generate social and environmental impact alongside a financial return. Impact investments can be made in both emerging and developed markets and target a range of returns from below market to market rate, depending upon investors’ objectives,” he said.
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When I asked Bill Gates, 63, co-chair of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, why polio, he began, “Polio is a terrible disease.” An hour later, speaking to a group of Rotarians in Spokane, Washington, he said, “You know, we're going to get to the end of this and Rotary will be the reason that will happen.”
Before continuing, I must note I am a Rotarian who has occasionally been paid to speak at Rotary events. Even for me—perhaps especially for me—the pairing of the Gates Foundation with Rotary seems unlikely, almost akin to the well-known viral story of the elephant who befriended a dog.
The Gates Foundation has nearly 40 times the assets of the Rotary Foundation’s $1.25 billion. While Rotary engages in a variety of global public health initiatives it does not have the expertise of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, the World Health Organization or UNICEF—the three organizations that round out the five key members of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative.
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Reginald Swift, CEO and founder of Rubix LS, is working to accelerate cures for rare diseases by utilizing new technology and increasing transparency between patients and companies.
Interview with Reginald Swift, the CEO of Rubix LS.
The following is the pre-interview with Reginald Swift. Be sure to watch the recorded interview above.
For-profit/Nonprofit: For-profit
Revenue model: Currently providing consultation services to commercial entities as well as providing innovation towards the federal government via grants and contracts.
Scale: Our devices are currently in clinical trials, but our commercial entity has reached a network of 60 subject matter experts in a number of regions that have supported the industry through various capacities.
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Recently, Chris Federer led an expedition of CHOICE Humanitarian volunteers from Utah on an expedition to Bolivia. While there, the volunteers worked to add a new room and roof to a school.
Following the volunteer expedition, Chris led the Bolivian staff of CHOICE through an exercise to help them develop new fundraising capacity. The goal is to enable each in-country team around the world to develop some fundraising capacity that is independent of the headquarters team in Utah.
Be sure to tune in to the recorded interview with Chris to learn more about his experiences in Bolivia. Below, he shares some of his insights for facilitating meetings and planning sessions using design thinking.
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“In 30 years, nine billion people around the world will need clean water and food on a planet that will only be able to adequately supply an amount sufficient for a third of us,” Dr. Ku McMahan, 37, says. Lacking a silver bullet solution, he leads a four-country collaboration called Securing Water for Food.
SWFF, pronounced swiff, is a $35 million partnership among the US Government agency called USAID, the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency, the Government of South Africa and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
SWFF makes grants to social entrepreneurs around the world working to help farmers grow more food using less water, to enhance water storage or to improve the use of saline water to produce food.
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Using blockchain technology and data science, Victor Santos, the CEO and co-founder of Airfox, is working to improve financial inclusion for the 1.8 billion people living on the planet without access to traditional banking services--a prerequisite to truly emerging from poverty.
Interview with Victor Santos, the CEO and co-founder of Airfox.
The following is the pre-interview with Victor Santos. Be sure to watch the recorded interview above.
We’ll be discussing Financial inequality:
Low-income individuals constitute the majority of the “unbanked” who do not have accounts at deposit institutions and lack access to mainstream financial services. Globally, 1.7 billion adults remain unbanked. These people often have no choice but to rely on high-fee payday lenders, check-cashing stores, and other expensive alternatives to manage their money. with Victor Santos.
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“I firmly believe that wealth means very little in a planet that is dying, ” says Ibrahim AlHusseini, 45, founder and CEO of FullCycle, an investment firm that seeks to reverse climate change profitably.
AlHusseini, an immigrant to the United States who grew up in Saudi Arabia, points out that immigrants have contributed to the U.S. economy, noting that Steve Jobs’ father was an immigrant as is Google founder Sergey Brin. AlHusseini says his perspective as an immigrant helps him to appreciate American capitalism’s meritocracy. Similarly, he gained his appreciation for nature scuba diving near his hometown of Jeddah.
FullCycle, which launched in 2018 and has made a single investment in Synova Power, a company that is scaling proven waste to energy technology. The company’s process converts solid municipal waste to syngas, which can be used as fuel.
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Nancy Davis was diagnosed with MS nearly three decades ago. Initially debilitated, she has not only found a way to survive with her relapsing-remitting form of the disease, she founded an organization, Race to Erase MS, with the singular goal of finding a cure. Along the way, the organization has funded research resulting in 17 new MS treatments, helping many with MS to thrive like her.
Interview with Nancy Davis, the COO of Race to Erase MS.
The following is the pre-interview with Nancy Davis. Be sure to watch the recorded interview above.
What is the problem you solve and how do you solve it?
We want to find a cure for MS and increase the quality of life for everyone afflicted with this disease. We accomplish this by funding cutting-edge research through our Center Without Wall program which is a unique collaboration of eight of the best MS research centers in the country which participate with them of always communication and never duplicating research.
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Bubba O’Keefe stands on the stage of the Paramount Theater, backed by the banker who financed his acquisition, Darrin Williams, CEO of Southern Bancorp, appraising the damage, as if conjuring a poorly formed vision of what could be.
Shortly after acquiring the old vaudeville theater which had been sitting empty in the center of Clarksdale, Mississippi, the roof collapsed, filling the theater with debris and opening it to the sky.
O’Keefe is a big deal in this small town in the heart of the Mississippi Delta. Once home to millionaire cotton farmers, Clarksdale is, like the rest of the Delta, about 80% African American. Its population of about 16,000 to 18,000 people, has been declining for decades.
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Applying for a government grant, especially from the U.S. Federal Government, can be daunting, so much so that many worth applicants are disuaded even from applying. Sedale Turbovsky, a social entrepreneur based in Sacramento, is using artificial intelligence to reinvent the paradigm, hoping to make it easier to find and ultimately to apply for such funding.
The new venture, called Egeria Corporation, is in the development stage. Sedale is actively seeking input from nonprofit leaders and social entrepreneurs who may want to use the new database--which will be free for those seeking funds. Those wishing to contribute ideas should visit egeria.io.
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A trio of remarkable teenagers, with support from remarkable parents, have been crowdfunding on Johnson & Johnson’s CaringCrowd to improve the health and education of children in India.
The young people, Abhay Basireddy, Harun Vemulapalli and Harsha Vatsavayi, are youth ambassadors for Ekam USA, which was founded by Abhay’s mother, Neelima Reddy, a gastroenterologist, as a sister organization to Ekam Foundation, which was founded by Sai Lakshmi Balijepally.
CaringCrowd is a simple-to-use crowdfunding platform that enables the Youth Ambassadors to quickly set up campaigns to raise money for specific Ekam projects.
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Kate Stillwell, founder and CEO of Jumpstart, is by background a civil engineer who has spent much of her career figuring out how to reduce damage and injury resulting from earthquakes. Along the way, she observed that communities that lack a genuine sense of community are more vulnerable to a slow or missing recovery than those that do.
She has created a new insurance program, available only in California, that triggers a $10,000 payout whenever an earthquake of a minimum impact is recorded. This puts money in the hands of the insured more quickly and enables them to start the recovery process more quickly.
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Taynaah Reis, CEO of Moeda, has deployed a successful blockchain company with operations around the world focusing on helping startups targeting one of the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
Born in the class notorious crypto class of 2017, Moeda’s success is even more remarkable. Be sure to tune in to the full recorded interview at the top of this article.
Preliminary Interview with Taynaah Reis, the Taynaah Reis, CEO of Moeda.
Moeda created a technology platform based on blockchain and its own cryptocurrency to facilitate access to financing and technical support to businesses through the Moeda Seed Program while adhering to the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Moeda seed projects help support the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals program, ensuring viable economic opportunities for women in rural areas.
The following is a brief pre-interview that provides context for the recorded interview you may watch or listen to at the top of this article.
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Consider these sobering statistics. About 15 million children or 21% of all kids living in the United States are being raised in homes with incomes below the federal poverty threshold. Around the globe, 385 million children live in poverty. An estimated 8,500 children die every single day as a result of poor nutrition.
It is difficult to think of a more serious subject or of one more deserving of attention and immediate action. Comic Relief USA, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organized as an offshoot of the Comic Relief organization founded in 1985 in the United Kingdom.
Founded in 2014 with support from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Comic Relief USA, echoing the work of its UK partner, hosts Red Nose Day each year on the last Thursday of May (this year, May 23) as a fun kick-off to summer. The show airs on NBC and this year will feature a new short sequel to Four Weddings and a Funeral called One Red Nose Day and a Wedding, by the writer-director of Love Actually and Notting Hill, Richard Curtis. The short film will feature Hugh Grant, Andie MacDowell, Kristin Scott Thomas and other stars from the original.
The timing of the show coincides with the end of the school year for most children, a time when reliable school lunches disappear and food insecurity peaks for many.
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Carter Malloy, founder and CEO of AcreTrader, has created a crowdfunding platform to allow investors to purchase interests in farmland. An asset class that has eluded most investors, the platform makes it easy to gain exposure to farmland.
Farmland increases in value and generates revenue, in combination providing an attractive return over the long haul.
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For decades, unaccompanied minors have been arriving at the United States border as refugees or seeking asylum. Once processed, they quickly need to find foster homes where they can receive the support they need to thrive in their new country.
Catholic Community Services of Utah is the agency that manages foster care placements in Utah--one of only 13 participating states. At the moment, the organization is looking to find 90 more families in Utah to host arriving foster children.
Tune in to this discussion to learn more about how you can go beyond the rhetoric to make a difference in the life of a child.
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Andrew Leon Hanna, 27, and David Delaney Mayer, also 27, became fast friends at Duke, based, at least in part, on their shared status as descendants of immigrants they have known. After years of searching, the pair settled on starting a social enterprise called DreamxAmerica to write an empowering narrative of immigrants, creating a film production company that would tell the story of immigrant entrepreneurs and invest in their businesses.
Hanna, a Harvard Law student, is a first-generation Egyptian-American. Mayer’s grandfather was a refugee from Germany following World War II; his great grandfather was killed in Auschwitz.
The new enterprise is not only personal but timely. “Immigrants are too often portrayed in the media one-dimensionally as victims or villains—not as the strong, creative, inspiring human beings they truly are,” Hanna notes. Media narratives around immigration are often highly polarized.
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Since she launched her business five years ago, we’ve been following Lisa Curtis and her social enterprise Kuli Kuli, the superfood business built around moringa. She continues to impress.
In April, she closed a $6.2 million financing round. Kuli Kuli has done $10 million in revenue since inception. More importantly, at least to me and the farmers who are growing the moringa, she has remained true to her social mission.
The three-fold mission of Kuli Kuli is to 1) reduce poverty by empowering smallholder farmers in the developing world, 2) fight climate change and 3) improve global health through better nutrition.
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The first lesson Conrad Weaver learned about heroin as he worked to produce his new film Heroin’s Grip was that no one is immune. Addiction captures rich and poor alike.
Another key insight from his research is that the most dangerous drugs on the street are the most sought after. When someone dies from taking heroin laced with fentanyl, the reaction on the street is often to find the dealer not to avoid their stuff but to get it.
The tragic result is as we’ve seen in recent years that sometimes several people--if not several dozen--die in a series as one after another seeks the ultimate high.
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When anyone seeks to reinvent the grocery business in light of both the wreckage left by WebVan and the presence of Amazon with Whole Foods in the market, it is hard to conceive success for a well-capitalized upstart. When the entrepreneur is a 24-year-old college dropout, the temptation to dismiss him grows. Chai Mishra is launching a consumer-owned cooperative to provide online groceries with confidence bordering on hubris, but backers including Y Combinator and the San Francisco 49ers are betting on his new platform, simply called Move.
Mishra sees two primary problems with the current food distribution business. First is unequal access to food. Second is the exploitation of food producers, especially smallholder farmers both in the U.S. and around the world.
He argues that the existing supply chain for food makes it unnecessarily expensive to consumers and rewards producers inadequately. He notes that coffee growers are paid as little as 7 cents per pound for raw coffee beans and consumers pay $15 per pound in stores.
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Two 7th graders, inspired by a student project led by their 6th grade teacher Ms. Nikki Ferringo, created a nonprofit organization to rid the world of disposable plastics one town at a time, starting in their hometown of Highland Park, New Jersey.
Andrew Dalton and Mac Jones have already marked success by getting the school district to switch from plastic to biodegradable cutlery in school lunch rooms. They have also been advocating for and getting restaurants to commit to making plastic straws available only upon request.
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Radius CEO Joel Carusone saw that clients were beginning to use its data tools for disaster relief outreach and saw an opportunity to help more people do more good. It launched a program it calls “Data for Good” to help clients use their software tools at no charge for creating positive social impact.
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Geoff Cook, the CEO and co-founder of The Meet Group, Inc. (Nasdaq: MEET)--the company that markets the MeetMe, Lovoo, Skout, Tagged and Growlr--joined me for a conversation about the social impact of dating apps and the challenges of entrepreneurship.
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Gunnar Lovelace, founder and CEO of Good Money, was raised in a “hippie commune” in California. He doesn’t think much of the banking system in the U.S., so he’s launched Good Money, a consumer banking platform structured as a customer-owned cooperative, to change things--radically.
In the video player above, you can watch our full interview. This is how he framed our discussion:
Just to clearly frame the problem--the average U.S. consumer today spends $360 a year for a s****y banking product where banks pay practically zero on your money as a customer then leverage your money on a 10x ratio to go fund things like the Dakota Access Pipeline and private prisons and make a bunch of money on that and then pay you nothing. As a consumer you kind of say that out loud that “I'm going to give you money to make money on my money, messing things up while paying me nothing” is the definition of insanity. You double click even a little bit further than that. The top banks today make $30 billion a year in overdraft fees just out of people's checking accounts and they will run a large check first so that all of the small checks in a check clearing cycle cause an overdraft fee. They then run and share a blacklist amongst each other so that if you don't pay the overdraft fees you get blacklisted out of the traditional banking system into a much more predatory and pernicious prepaid debit market and payroll market system.
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Melissa Danielsen and Melanie Fountaine launched a drop-in day-care center for special needs loved ones after they lost their brother, a special needs person. It gave the twin sisters a chance to be a continuing part of a community they loved.
Over the years, they realized, however, that their operation served only their Twin Cities community. They hoped to help many more people in their national and global communities. Recently, they formed a new company and launched an app to find qualified and vetted on-demand care for people with special needs--about 70 percent of whom are on the autism spectrum.
Today, the app serves only the Twin Cities but they are hoping to expand quickly and are trying to identify the best next market.
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The difference between community redevelopment and gentrification isn’t entirely a subjective judgment left to the eye of the beholder, say Fran Seegull and Jen Collins. Fran is the executive director for the U.S. Impact Investment Alliance and Jen is a fellow-in-residence at the Beeck Center at Georgetown University. They are leading minds on community-based impact investing under Opportunity Zones created by the 2017 Tax Cut and Jobs Act.
The law that created Opportunity Zones did not limit the investments to those with demonstrable social impact. The U.S. Impact Investment Alliance and the Beeck Center have partnered to develop a framework for investing in Opportunity Zones intended to be a defining difference between community redevelopment and gentrification.
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For decades, Sam Daley-Harris has quietly gone about changing the world. Much of the global success in eradicating extreme poverty can be credited in part to him and his leadership at RESULTS. His secret has been to train and empower ordinary citizens to be effective activists.
He helps organizations learn the secrets to empowering a group’s membership to act independently and effectively to drive change. This requires organizations to train their membership with the skills they need and at the same time to step back and allow the membership to act on their behalf--even when members might muddle the message.
His approach has proven effective not only with RESULTS on poverty but also with the Citizens Climate Lobby. Today, Sam is focused on a new organization called Civic Courage, teaching other organizations how to empower their members.
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Pact is a large NGO that isn’t content to do things the way they’ve always been done because it’s the way things have always been done. Amidst a global impact investing and social entrepreneurship boom, Pact created Pact Ventures and tapped experienced impact investor Brian Vo to lead the effort.
Using funds from its own balance sheet, Pact is seeking to prove that invested capital can be returned and recycled for future impact when funds are used to scale proven interventions.
Already reaching millions of people each year with a 2018 budget of $200 million, PACT seeks to increase its reach by strategically applying an investment approach in certain circumstances.
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“Brilliant” is the word one source used to describe Project Drawdown’s ranked list of 100 climate change solutions, begging the meta question, should the list be on the list.
Having a variety of climate change solution options is only useful if everyone who should know they exist does know, making a credible list of climate solutions potentially as important as the solutions on the list.
In 2017, Project Drawdown, published the New York Times bestseller Drawdown, edited by the founder, Paul Hawken, 72. (Be sure to watch the full interview with Hawken in the player at the top of the article.)
Hehjabeen Abidi Habib, the author of Water in the Wilderness, based in Pakistan, the seventh most vulnerable country to climate change effects, serves on the Project Drawdown advisory board. She sees the effort as evidence “that it is not too late to make choices to change our world view and the actions that arise from the current paradigm.”
Jason F. McLennan, founder and chair of the International Living Future Institute and CEO of McLennan Design has known Hawken for years and notes that his work was mentioned in Drawdown. “I think it’s brilliant is the short answer,” he says. “It doesn’t spend time and energy on pointing fingers or criticizing things. It focuses on positive solutions.”
Congressman Tim Ryan (D-OH) who counts Hawken as a friend notes that the project is intended “not just to slow down climate change but reverse it.”
Daniel J. Siegel, MD, author of Aware: The Science and Practice of Presence and a clinical professor at UCLA School of Medicine agrees with the Congressman, adding, “My take on Project Drawdown is that it is a scientifically solid, insightful guide to some of the most important and effective steps we are taking to reverse global warming.”
Habib highlights the optimism embedded in the project. She notes that Hawken says in the introduction that climate change is “happening for us” to help us create a better world.
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Village Capital was founded to invest in social entrepreneurs using a novel, peer-selected methodology. A decade later, under new leadership, it remains committed to those principles.
Allie Burns recently succeeded Ross Baird (who left to start Blueprint Local) as the CEO of Village Capital. She joined Village Capital nearly three years ago after leaving the Case Foundation, working closely with Jean Case on communications surrounding impact investing initiatives.
Allie joined me to talk about three key ideas. First, she noted that investors need to look beyond equity as the primary structure for startup finance. Second, she noted the success of the peer-selection model at Village Capital. Finally, she noted that the peer-selection model not only yields good investments it eliminates gender bias.
Be sure to tune in to the full interview in the players above.
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Shri Ajvalia, Global Medical Affairs, Project Management at Janssen Pharmaceuticals (a subsidiary of our sponsor Johnson & Johnson), has conducted two successful crowdfunding campaigns on CaringCrowd. He joined us to share his passion and insights.
In two separate campaigns, Shri raised money to fight human trafficking and gun violence. Neither is a top of mind public health issue, but both certainly are health issues that are impacting the public.
CaringCrowd, a crowdfunding site sponsored by Johnson & Johnson, is focused exclusively on public health nonprofits. That definition focuses not on interventions and activities but on outcomes, allowing for a broad range of nonprofits to raise money on the platform.
In our discussion, Shri shared some insights about what he’s learned from his crowdfunding success. Learn more by tuning in to the full interview above.
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Inspired by Visa’s cooperative ownership structure, Michael Dillhyon, founder and board member of Healthbank Cooperative, has created a novel way for people to keep and own their health and medical records. Envisioned as a global solution and based in Switzerland, the co-op has 270,000 members, giving it a credible start.
The members of the co-op each have one vote in corporate decisions, regardless of their ownership. The co-op itself owns the data and an operating subsidiary that is working actively to grow the business. The co-op controls the subsidiary, but some financial returns will go to investors.
Co-op member, Otto Philipp Braun, who is the managing director for Metamorphoses, says, “The cooperative offers an individual, safe and transparent way to use healthcare data.” He also expressed appreciation for the oversight the co-op provides to the corporate subsidiary.
Healthbank CEO, Reto Schegg, 49, joined me for a recorded discussion, which you can watch in the player at the top of this article. He describes Healthbank as a “data for good” project. “We deliver trust and enable world-changing services under the full control of the user.”
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Jason Lewis, an expert nonprofit fundraiser and author of The War for Fundraising Talent and How Small Shops Can Win, joined me for a disscussion about his insights from the book.
Jason encourages nonprofits to build real relationships with donors who can give significant amounts of money, sharing a story of a career highlight when he mentored a small nonprofit that had established a weak relationship with a big donor and was on the brink of losing her.
With his help, the nonprofit was successful in strengthening the relationship and in obtaining additional funds to support its mission.
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One of the world’s leading experts on philanthropy, Phil Buchanan, president of the Center for Effective Philanthropy and author of the book Giving Done Right, joined me to share insights about philanthropy. His fundamental premise is that giving effectively is more difficult than getting money for most philanthropists.
He first notes that while the nonprofit sector is much maligned--perhaps because there are still problems in the world--it’s work is both important and generally effective. Philanthropy is different from investing--in many ways more difficult--and requires a unique set of skills. He also argues that nonprofits must by their nature collaborate rather than compete.
Tune in to watch the entire interview in the video player at the top of this article.
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Jaclyn Lindsey knows more about kindness than any living human.
Her organization, Kindness.org, seeks to be the singular authority on kindness, including scientific research on the benefits and results of kindness.
Her goal is to catalyze more kindness everywhere. Her theory of change concludes that all social problems--even environmental problems--can be positively impacted by greater kindness.
Be sure to watch the full interview with Jaclyn in the player at the top of this article.
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Stephen McKeon joined us to talk about security tokens. As the chief strategy advisor for Security Token Academy, he is an expert in the issuance of security tokens.
Stephen explains that security tokens are digital securities, built on blockchain technology.
The advantages of security tokens include the ability to trade them more efficiently than traditional securities because they incorporate security, including a universally accepted record of ownership such that even after lots of trading, everyone agrees on who owns the securties.
The market around security tokens really only began to develop about two years ago but it is accelerating quickly now as the use case for blockchain technology for trading securities really works.
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Dr. Heidi Stieglitz Ham, an expert in cognitive psychology with a focus on autism, is working to put adults on the autism spectrum in greater control of their lives. The nonprofit she founded, Spectrum Fusion, works to help provide meaningful, strategic connections to people who often feel isolated and alone.
She calls the experience a Reactor Room. By working with an adult on the spectrum to identify a dream, goal, business idea or creative desire, the organization builds a team of reactors to hear and react to the idea.
The reactors, as the audience members are called, then work to help the individual develop or refine a plan to bring the vision into reality. The exercise serves to transform lives both by helping the individual to realize their full potential and by connecting them with a community of support so they are no longer isolated.
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Novica is delivering handmade items from artisans around the world to customers here in the United States. This has enabled them to send almost $90 million to those producers in the developed world, creating a sustainable model and impact on diverse communites around the globe.
The business started with a focus on serving the artisans. The company operates offices scattered around the globe to provide a presence that allows locals to have direct access to an affluent market.
Founder Roberto Milk partnered with National Geographic to launch Novica. The partnership continues today.
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Impact Shares is an innovative nonprofit financial firm that has created several exchange traded funds or ETFs that ordinary investors to easily purchase in their existing stock portfolios.
I am so excited about this opportunity I intend to add these to my personal investment portfolio. While my purchases will be small, I’ll wait a few days before I make my investments to avoid any suggestion of front-running--a serious Wall Street “no-no.”
The funds are designed to align with specific development goals. The mission of each fund is developed in partnership with a nonprofit working on that issue area.
Impact Shares has issued exchanged traded funds in collaboration with The NAACP Minority Empowerment ETF (Ticker: NACP), the YWCA Women’s Empowerment (Ticker: WOMN) and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (Ticker: SDGA).
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Arlene Cogen, author, certified financial planner and philanthropy consultant, joined me to discuss her three tips for better philanthropy. She suggests working with your advisor to find a simple way to endow a gift--and to lead by example. Be sure to tune in the hear all her great advice.
The following is the pre-interview with Arlene Cogen, CFP. Be sure to watch the recorded interview above. She provides three tips for being a better philanthropist.
Tip 1: Work with your advisor - comprehensive plan
Tip 2: Endow a gift - make a gift you never imagined.
Tip 3: Lead by example
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Paula Froehle, co-founder and CEO of Chicago Media Project, joined me to discuss the organization’s work. The group starts as an angel investor group for documentary film but it doesn’t stop there. The group also helps to drive innovation in the field and hosts both public and member-only events.
The following is the pre-interview with Paula Froehle. Be sure to watch the recorded interview above.
For-profit/Nonprofit: Both- our ecosystem includes CMP the nonprofit & CMP Invest/Impact, our for-profit equity fund.
Revenue model: We are funded by member donations. We have revenue-generating events like Doc10 that supplement.
Scale: We have 55+ members. 4 staff. We have provided $4.5 million in funding support for documentary films.
What is the problem you solve and how do you solve it?
We support media to power social change.
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Isabelle Hau, a former investment banker at Morgan Stanley (where I originally met her more than a decade ago), now serves as the investment partner for US Education at Omidyar Network. She joined me to discuss a recent report showing the importance of educational intervention at a remarkably early age.
Beginning at 18 months, researchers can identify vocabulary differences in children raised by parents with a college education compared with those who are not. By age five, when children start kindergarten, the difference can be almost too great to overcome.
Children who are not reading and speaking on grade level by the third grade are shown to face greater challenges throughout their lives.
Hau sees an opportunity to invest in children before they start school to level the playing field and give every child an equal opportunity at success in life.
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Mark Durstewitz, the vice president and creative director for MadElf Arts and Education, discovered the power of music to spread a message when he wrote a rock musical about divorce that resonated with audiences.
Or the past two decades, he’s been applying his skills to create and share a musical that encourages discussion about the environment. The story is about a farm sitting atop the last clean, freshwater aquifer and the intrigue around the fight over it.
By sharing the musical in schools, he’s helping the next generation to develop skills in understanding and discussion difficult environmental issues.
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Read the full Forbes article and watch the interview here: http://bit.ly/2U0SxBN.
John Kluge, 35, founder and managing director for the Refugee Investment Network or the RIN, created this matchmaking service between impact investors and impact actors in the refugee space with a key group of people in mind: the 70 million refugees and internally displaced people in the world.
With refugees spending an average of 26 years in camps, he says, this is a global crisis that is growing. Millions of refugees were born in camps and have never lived anywhere else. Without a change in current trends, the number of refugees globally could approach the current population of the United States by 2030.
“If you're displaced for decades and you are not allowed to work and not allowed to move freely (as is the case for millions of refugees and displaced people around the world), you are not living. You are surviving,” Kluge says, noting that he sees this as a social justice issue.
Read the full Forbes article and watch the interview here: http://bit.ly/2U0SxBN.
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Amy Eisenstein, the CEO of Capital Campaign Toolkit, says there are three keys to a successful campaign. One will surprise you. She says you don’t need a campaign consultant to reach your fundraising goal.
Tip 1: You can raise major gifts without any "new" donors.
Tip 2: You don't need a capital campaign consultant to lead a successful capital campaign.
Tip 3: Capital campaigns are the most effective way to transform your organization.
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Dr. Joanna Rubinstin, president and CEO of World Childhood Foundation USA, joined me for a discussion about a newly issued report that shows child sexual abuse and exploitation is a hidden public health epidemic. Tune in to hear why we need to be talking about this.
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Bob Dalton, the CEO and founder of Sackcloth & Ashes, started the business after seeing his own mother experience homelessness. Suddenly, he appreciated how easily good people fall into homelessness through no fault of their own.
Sackcloth & Ashes is a social enterprise that sells beautiful blankets. For each blanket sold, it donates a blanket to the local homeless shelter of the purchaser.
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Suzanne DiBianca, chief philanthropy officer and executive vice president of corporate relations at Salesforce, was among the first employees at the company and has championed social impact from the beginning. Building a $50 million impact investing portfolio is her latest initiative.
She led the creation of Pledge 1%, an effort to get corporations, with Salesforce in the lead, to commit 1% of their equity, time, product or profit. More than 8,500 companies in 100 countries have joined the pledge, she says. Those companies have donated more than $250 million and even more in the value of product donations.
In that spirit, DiBianca has led the effort to build an impact investment portfolio within the larger Salesforce venture fund of more than $1 billion. She notes that Salesforce is typically a series A or B round investor and won’t lead deals.
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Open Road Alliance is perhaps unique in the philanthropic and impact investing world. The organization is a private philanthropic initiative that funds solutions to roadblocks in social projects.
Maya Winkelstein, executive director, and Caroline Bressan, director of social investments, explain that Open Road Alliance funds solutions to problems that pop up in otherwise fully-funded projects.
Given that almost every project involves unforeseen problems, learning more about Open Road Alliance seems like an important investment for nonprofit leaders and social entrepreneurs.
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Ludovic Grosjean, the founder and principal consultant at OceanX Group has launched a nonprofit effort leveraging his relationship with Rotary International and its clubs to use technology to identify and remove pollution from the ocean.
He was recognized by Rotary at its annual event at the United Nations for his innovative work.
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Kristin Nimsigner, CEO of Social Solutions, may be typical of hard-charging Silicon Valley CEO’s, driving an actual racecar to work every day, but she’s less typical of young mothers racing at the track. Her competitive spirit has helped Social Solutions to attract a $59 million investment from Microsoft founder Steve Ballmer’s investment fund.
Social Solutions provides software to nonprofits to help them measure and increase their impact.
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Michael Leoni didn’t set out to make a documentary film. A playwright, he had produced a play about homeless teens and would occasionally invite young people from the street to see the play and provide feedback to keep the show authentic.
Two of the young women he’d come to know were murdered. He decided there was a story to tell and a need to compel others to be of more help. He planned to produce a short public service announcement and took his gear out to the streets and began filming, one at a time, each with permission, the members of a street “family.”
After spending almost 24 hours with them with the camera running, he realized there was too much to share in a two-minute PSA. Ultimately, Leoni’s documentary, American Street Kid, was filmed over a seven-year span. Along the way, he launched a nonprofit called Spare Some Change to help young people find a way off the streets.
Read the full Forbes article and watch the interview here: http://bit.ly/2SwImr4.
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Samson Williams, who serves on the Crowdfunding Professionals Association board of directors with me and is an anthropologist at Axes and Eggs who focuses on cryptocurrencies, joined me to share some tips for successful offerings.
He suggests you never forget you are crowdfunding--which is a regulated activity, to avoid puffery and to deliver what you promise.
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ShariaPortfolio, Inc., operates a halal compliant investment platform that provides a socially responsible investment screen, excluding a variety of “sin” stocks, including alcohol, tobacco and gaming. The investment criteria also exclude highly levered stocks, resulting in some measurable downside protection.
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Aditya Kasana, founder of Josh Pano, a socia enterrpise selling affordable, titanium eye glasses and working to prevent or cure blindness by funding cataract surgeries in India. The frames manufactured in Japan, are stylish and contemporary. For every ten pair sold, Josh Pano funds a cataract surgery.
Josh Pano is seeking funding on Kickstarter.
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Dr. Paul Polak, 85, is working with the zeal and enthusiasm of a freshly-minted college graduate, but he combines his passion with decades of experience to create outcomes at scale.
Polak’s first success was in delivering treadle pumps to farmers in India. Tens of millions of people have used the devices in the 30+ years since he organized a distribution channel around walk-up outdoor movies—think drive-in movies without cars.
At a time when most poor Indians did not have televisions at home, an opportunity to watch a film in the evening was quite a novelty. The plot of the film revolved around a father seeking to come up with the dowry for his daughter to marry. It only became possible after he purchased a treadle pump to irrigate his tiny farm.
Read the full Forbes article and watch the interview here: http://bit.ly/2WyoyTa.
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Daryl Hatton, the founder and CEO of Fundrazr, joined me to talk about the ways in which nonprofits can most effectively use crowdfunding.
He shares insights about the idea of micro-campaigns, targeting specific projects and outcomes with tiny fundraising goals of just a few hundred dollars. For instance, a pet adoption nonprofit will have more success, he says, raising money $500 at a time for a single pet adoption than raising tens of thousands to run the same program.
The key, of course, is to have a crowdfunding site that makes setting up new campaigns remarkably easy. Daryl says, look no further than FundRazr.
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Chiara Savage Schwatz, a teenage changemaker, is working to raise money to help families in South Africa obtain Wonderbag slow cookers. These ingenious products require no energy! Families use them by bringing a pot of food up to a high temperature over a fire or stove and then by inserting the pot into the superinsulated bag to finish cooking, reducing the total energy required to cook the food.
This single tool helps reduce fuel consumption and indoor smoke. By reducing fuel, usually charcoal or wood, she is helping to reduce deforestation and to slow climate change. By reducing indoor smoke, she is improving the health of everyone inside the home, especially the women in children who tend to spend the most time there.
By using donations to make the devices free or affordable to low-income families, she is helping to address global poverty. When low-income families can spend less on fuel, more money is available for clean water, food and education.
So, the Wonderbag is one intervention that addresses three key problems: poverty, global health and climate change. Chiara is one powerful teenager!
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With help from Producer Alicia Gettys, Zach Atherton, the star of the new web-based show Solution Time, hopes to bring comedy to solutions journalism. In other words, you might say he hopes to be a clean and solutions-oriented version of Jon Oliver.
Interview with Alicia Gettys, the Producer of Solution Time.
For-profit/Nonprofit: For-profit
Revenue model: Currently our funding has come from sponsorships. In the future, we will pursue ad revenue, sales from branded items, and memberships.
Scale: We have produced three episodes on Ending Veteran Homelessness, Food Waste, and the Cliff Effect.
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Unreasonable Impact, a collaboration between Unreasonable Group and Barclays, has its sites set on advancing social entrepreneurship at massive—even unreasonable—scale.
Unreasonable Group founder and CEO, Daniel Epstein, 32, says the world needs to create 212 million new jobs over the next four years to bring idle, mostly young people into the work force and to absorb lost employment from automation and other economic shifts.
At the same time, he notes that the world faces a variety of other societal and environmental challenges.
Read the full Forbes article and watch the interview here: http://bit.ly/2BcVnMH.
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Simo Elalj, based in Paris, wanted to help educate girls in his home country of Morocco. He found a way to have fun and impact at once, selling plastic toy goats to raise money for the nonprofit Education for All Morocco.
Khadija Id Ahmed Ouali, one of the girls educated, in part, by the proceeds from Simo’s program, joined us from Morocco for a conversation about the impact of the program on her life.
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No one has more fun doing good than Gwen Allen. She is constantly in motion, running her coffee shop and her growing entertainment and media business. In her heart, she’s all about doing good.
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Eric Piscini, CEO of Citizens Reserve, joined me to discuss the startup's efforts to revolutionize global logistics.
He envisions the ability to scan a code on a toothpick flag on your perfectly prepared steak, to see where exactly it came from, all the way back to the birth of the cow. In addition, he says, the device can even track the temperature controls along the logistics chain, to know that the meat is safe to eat.
Improving logistics can significantly improve the way that we validate the safety and efficacy of drugs and vaccines, potentially improving global health.
Streamlining logistics could also drive reductions in transportation costs, reducing carbon emissions.
Citizens Reserve is raising money via a Regulation D 506 C offering, available only to accredited investors. Eric hopes to raise another $40 million, having already raised about $12 million.
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Much of the attention the blockchain and cryptocurrency markets received in 2017 and 2018 as waned as Bitcoin’s price has fallen about 75% from its peak. One area within the space that is growing in favor despite the broader negativity is securitized tokens.
In this case, the word securitized refers to turning blockchain tokens into legally compliant securities rather than, as some of us with finance experience would naturally infer, a bundling of assets (or tokens) to be sold as securities.
The value of all publicly traded stocks is on the order of $300 trillion. That measure doesn’t include privately traded stocks or any other security, like bonds (which exceed stocks in value) and derivatives. Reversing the nomenclature, the business of tokenizing securities has the potential to be big business.
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Sara Jones is perhaps the most American-sounding name one can imagine. She is as American as her name sounds. Raised in the United States by her adoptive white family, she admits that because of her Korean heritage she has been accused of being a banana--yellow on the outside but white on the inside.
Last year began, however, with an itch to find her biological family. Knowing little more than that she had been adopted from Korea, she began her search. The one other clue she had was a faint scar from having a tattoo removed from her arm when she came to the U.S. Recreating the tattoo with a marker, she shared photos of her arm with the markings on social media.
Much faster than she anticipated, she connected with her brother, who has the same tattoo on his arm. She learned that her father had given her up for adoption after her mother left. He had tattooed himself and the three children with the same, simple tattoo: a cross above four dots, representing a father and three children.
The experience of connecting with her biological family has provided her with a whole new perspective on life, one the recognizes the reality of a completely different path her life might taken.
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Samyr Qureshi, the co-founder and CEO of Knack, is scaling up the tutoring platform to serve more students. Knack helps schools to match students who have recently completed a course successfully with students who are taking the course to get the help they need to learn the material. Both students benefit from the experience and schools find this to be an affordable way to improve student outcomes.
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As a young professional--a trader at Citigroup--Rhoden Monrose felt a tug to do more good in the world at real scale. He also recognized that others in the Millennial generation had a similar passion for good but weren’t always getting the same opportunities older professionals did.
He created CariClub to match young professionals with nonprofits to serve as associate board members, offering the same sort of counsel and connections that their older peers provide on traditional board.
The innovative model provides a win to employers (who pay a fee for their employees to participate) in that they get more engaged employees who are building valuable experience at the same time they give back. Young professionals win as they get an opportunity to learn and develop new skills and a broader network even as they give back to their communities. Nonprofits win as they receive an infusion of young talent and perspective.
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Most teenages find themselves facing important life decisions about where to go to college or trade school. Kids who find themselves on the wrong side of the law or in the foster care system often face starker questions, like where to sleep tonight or how to find food to eat.
Such youth face additional challenges in the form of drugs and alcohol that allow them to self-medicate to avoid the pain associated with lives turned upside down, often by circumstances beyond their control.
More Than Words is a social enterprise that sells books but does so much more. The nonprofit employs youth who have been involved with the criminal justice system or foster care, teaching them life skills that can mean the difference between surviving as an adult outside the system and not.
Founded by Jodi Rosenbaum, the organization is proving to be such an effective intervention that when Boston brought Amazon executives to the city to show off all it had going for it in a failed attempt to woo the company’s second headquarters to the city, a stop at More Than Words was on the agenda.
Be sure to watch the full interview with Jodi in the video at the top of this article.
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Michelle Thimesch, 55, CEO of Crowdfund Mainstreet and her business partner Jenny Kassan, both attorneys, have a track record of social entrepreneurship themselves. They are passionate about reducing the funding disparities between male and female-led companies and between white and minority-led companies in America.
So, when Thimesch invited Kassan to join her in launching Crowdfund Mainstreet, a Regulation Crowdfunding platform governed by FINRA, it was an easy decision. Their mission is to help triple-bottom-line companies and small businesses, especially female-led and minority-led ones, to raise the money they need to be successful.
Kassan, for her part, has a long history of working with female entrepreneurs to raise money from nontraditional sources, using whatever exemption from registration made the most sense. Sometimes she helped entrepreneurs raise money under infrequently used exemptions like Regulation D 504, allowing issuers to raise money state-by-state from ordinary investors. Regulation Crowdfunding or Reg CF at it is commonly known, was implemented in 2016 after being written into law in 2012 during the middle of the Obama administration.
Thimesch, alongside her law practice, has been working as the executive director of East Bay Revitalization, an organization working to improve access to affordable housing and reducing unemployment.
Read the full Forbes article and watch the interview here: http://bit.ly/2FkG0of.
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Dr. Kevin Shurtleff, a tenured professor at Utah Valley University, has developed a prototype of a system that will remove algae from water during an algal bloom and then convert it to energy. While the energy produced cannot financially support the operation, there are reasons governments would pay to remove the algae.
Public safety and environmental benefits may justify paying to have the algae removed. Once removed, it can be converted to energy.
Kevin is looking for partners to commercialize the idea.
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Uniti CEO Lewis Horne, 34, thinks selling his nimble little electric cars will be like offering sneakers to a world full of people walking around in big, clunky clown shoes.
With the UN’s October IPCC report suggesting we may have less than 12 years to radically reduce carbon emissions to avoid the worst effects of climate change, finding ways to make wholesale shifts in consumer behavior is a central premise for this Swedish startup.
To make that shift over the next decade, Horne notes that hundreds of millions of internal combustion engine-driven cars will need to be removed from the roads and replaced with efficient electric ones.
Uniti, which has 18 employees and is pre-revenue, is in the midst of a £30 million (about $38.1 million) capital raise, including about £1 million (about $1.27 million) available to the public via a crowdfunding campaign on UK-based CrowdCube. As of this writing, the goal has been exceeded but the site continues to accept investment pledges.
The shares are being sold at a valuation of £97 million (about $123 million) even as a parallel private offering to large investors at that valuation is ongoing. U.S.-based investors must be accredited and invest at least $10,000 but investors elsewhere are not required to meet accreditation standards and may invest smaller amounts.
Read the full Forbes article and watch the interview here: http://bit.ly/2Rs9QgY.
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Regenerative agriculture is suddenly sexy. Practitioners have been advocating its use for more than a decade but only recently has it begun to catch media attention and with it the public imagination. Why now? Some might say that it is because we are just waking up to the gloomy reality that the planet and every person on it are at risk even if regenerative agriculture is successfully implemented and are almost certainly doomed if we don’t.
Kevin Doyle Jones, co-founder of GatherLab and John Steven Bianucci, director of impact for Earth’s New Ways, are among the activists preaching the gospel of regenerative agriculture and they are finding an increasing number of adherents.
Regenerative agriculture is not just organic but involves other techniques, like no-till planting and rotating grazing animals on the land, to help the soil retain moisture and carbon, improving yields and
Be sure to watch the full interview with Kevin and John Steven in the player at the top of this article.
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When Jake Teitelbaum was fighting cancer, he hated wearing the hospital-issued socks and instead brought bright socks from home. It gave him a way to manifest his fighting spirit.
Having recovered, he’s launched a social enterprise called Resilience Gives, which helps people like Jake himself to design a flashy pair of socks and then sell them to their friends to raise money for a charity of their choice.
So far, he reports raising $117,000 from the sale of more than 14,000 pairs of socks in 72 different designs, each one for a charity.
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On November 27, 2018, I hosted the second annual #GivingTuesday #GTstreamathon. We had five segments with CaringCrowd or people raising money on the platform. I am proud to be associated with CaringCrowd because its global health mission aligns so well with mine.
John Brennick, the co-founder of CaringCrowd joined me to talk about CaringCrowd and together we visited with two of the people who were raising money on #GivingTuesday.
First, Philemon Padenou joined us to talk about his work with Code to Hope. “Our mission is to fight poverty by giving future leaders the tools they need to empower their communities.”
Next, John and I visited with Stephanie Bowers, the founder of Jakes Diapers, an organization that provides reusable cloth diapers to mothers in the developing world who are often forced to make difficult choices between food and disposable diapers.
Later, I visited with Ethel Yang of Operation ASHA. Operation ASHA uses a data and technology-driven approach to deliver last-mile care to the world's most vulnerable. OpASHA is boldly and rigorously tackling tuberculosis (TB), the world's leading infectious disease killer, across India and Cambodia.
Finally, I visited with Joanne Chiwaula, the founder of African Mothers Health Initiative. “We are supporting home-based care for critically ill women after delivery and vulnerable babies in Malawi.”
Be sure to visit CaringCrowd.org and search for these organizations to find their current campaigns.
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Mark Courtney, CEO and founder of 121Giving, which helps nonprofits raise money and in-kind donations. The platform gives nonprofits an opportunity to buy goods they need at a discount as well.
The company is presently raising investment funds using its own platform.
Preliminary Interview with Mark Courtney, the Founder and CEO Of 121Giving.
Crowdfunding Page: https://goo.gl/41Tk5Z
Facebook: facebook.com/121Giving/ Website: 121giving.com
121Giving supports crowdfunding or fundraising for Donations, Pre-sales/Rewards, Equity or other investment instruments excluding coins or tokens, Coins or tokens, We are considering all factors right now which are private.
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Noah Gainsburg has been volunteering at the St. Francis Neighborhood Center for years, mentoring and tutoring youth there. In recent years, he’s become a star fundraiser as well.
Christi Green, the executive director at the Center, says Noah is an extraordinary young person who is making a big difference. She particularly admires the confident way he interacts with and tutors the younger kids who are so differently situated.
Noah explains that he believes his experiencing the challenges of dyslexia helps him to relate to others, regardless of their trials.
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Water.org, the nonprofit resulting from the 2009 merger of Matt Damon’s H2O Africa and Gary White’s WaterPartners, has completed an $11 million impact investing pilot project and has already closed on $33 million in a new fund that they hope will reach $50 million.
The transition from an entirely philanthropic approach built around drilling wells and building toilets to an investment model is motivated by a desire to reach more people, White, 55, the CEO says. “Frustration with the pace of our impact led me to try something entirely new.”
The resulting model does not require Water.org—or WaterEquity, the new entity it formed to make and receive water, sanitation and hygiene or WASH-related impact investments—to make individual loans to consumers in their target markets. Instead, WaterEquity provides investment capital to microfinance companies that provide loans to low-income consumers at affordable rates for WASH upgrades in their homes.
Read the full Forbes article and watch the interview here: http://bit.ly/2Sa1mYW.
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Dr. Michelle Harrison, the founder of Shisur Sevay, says, “There was a moment where I said to myself, ‘So, you’ve always been a critic, see if you can do any better.’”
After visiting Kolkata, she repeatedly heard that there was a category of unadoptable girls for whom nothing could be done and short, miserable lives are all that they could hope to experience. Harrison couldn’t believe that “nothing” was the best that could be done and set out to prove it.
Her home, which she describes as “non-institutional,” suggesting a smaller scale and more homelike atmosphere, now houses about 15 girls, about half of whom have a significant disability.
Read the full Forbes article and watch the interview here: http://bit.ly/2EpM26y.
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Nicholas Metropulos, 19, leads Fishing for Families in Need, a nonprofit organization founded by his brother more than a decade ago. The organization teaches children about the environment and responsible angling. As the name suggests, the 501(c)(3) nonprofit also provides fish to hungry families.
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Cynthia English founded Global Scribes to create an international peace movement for youth that empowers them to make a difference starting wherever they are. With members in 44 countries, the organization is off to a good start.
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Investing in regenerative agriculture has the potential to address not only the food supply but also climate change, peace and conflict resolution and the water supply to boot. This impact investing strategy could be the biggest lever for creating positive change available to investors today. It also appears to generate healthy financial returns.
Craig Wichner, 49, founder and managing partner for Farmland LP, a fund manager that invests in converting conventional farmland to regenerative, organic farming. “It has so many benefits to the environment, to human society,” he says. “But we're also demonstrating that you can grow a great, healthy, wonderful food and be more profitable than conventional agriculture systems.”
Farmland LP acquires traditionally managed farmland, typically used to produce commodity crops and converts it to organic using regenerative practices. Wichner reports generating gross margins of 40 to 50% on wine grapes. Margins hover around single digits for conventionally-grown commodity
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Nonprofit Providence St. Joseph Health, the third largest health care system in the United States, traces its roots back to the Sisters of Providence and the Sisters of t. Joseph of Orange. Their missions were to serve all members of their communities, “especially the poor and vulnerable,” says Aaron Martin, 49, executive vice president and chief digital officer. That motivation now guides the system’s $150 million health care impact investment fund.
Martin, who had no health care experience before joining Providence, now leads its efforts to improve health outcomes and improve service levels using technology. Investments are made via Providence Ventures, a fund created by the parent and funded entirely by it to accelerate the digital mission.
So far, the fund has invested in 13 companies, two of which were Providence innovations that are being spun out in hopes that they will grow more quickly and benefit not only Providence but all health care providers.
Venrock, which raised $450 million in its latest fund, has co-invested with Providence Ventures on two companies: Kyruus and Lyraa Health. Venrock partner Bryan Roberts says, “Aaron is terrific; he has the knowledge of a technology and growth savvy operator with the scale of a health system at his disposal. This allows him to bring a new lens to the change-resistant, defensive technology approach of the healthcare industry while still being grounded in the current practices and having a large sandbox in which to pressure test these new ideas.”
Read the full Forbes article and watch the interview here: http://bit.ly/2SGOidw
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As the plant-based economy booms, Måns Ullerstam’s vision of a cleaner, more sustainable environment that is no longer threatened by climate change is beginning to gain credibility and legitimacy.
Måns is raising funds on FundedByMe to allow his Kale United to invest directly in and provide other support to startups focused on the vegan community. Investments may go to virtually any player in that ecosystem from the farmers to app developers if they enhance the movement.
For Måns, the important impact of a vegan lifestyle is environmental. He acknowledges that not killing animals to eat them tends to extend their lives and that a vegan diet is recognized by many scientists as being more healthy, but his focus is on the environmental benefits--especially climate change.
Agriculture produces more carbon than any other sector of the global economy. Reducing consumption of meat and dairy has more potential to mitigate climate change than any other change humans can make he says.
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Christian Harrison was still a child when his older sister Kasee went missing. It would be decades before it was determined that she was one of Gary Ridgway’s 71 victims. Regarded as the most prolific serial killer in American history, he received a sentence of life in prision in exchange for information about unsolved murders, including the location of remains.
While many of the victims’ family members decried the deal as failing to adequately punish him for his heinous crimes, Christian arrived at a different conclusion. He argues that “closure” is not an event that survivors experience upon execution of a perpetrator but that it is a process that occurs largely independent of the perpetrator’s punishment.
Please be sure to watch the full interview in the player at the top of the article to understand Christian’s perspective on the death penalty.
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Sometimes it seems that big banks have treat customers more like victims. Banks make it difficult to understand when money is available for withdrawal and the “float” on checks makes it difficult to know what the checking account balance really is. This makes it difficult to avoid overdraft fees.
Increasingly, moderate income people are turning to payday lenders and check cashing services to avoid high banking fees, often leaving them no bettr off.
Enter Motiv. This new banking service provides customers with a no fee debit card. Motiv makes its money off of the fees merchants invisibly pay when customers use their Motiv cards.
Motiv also offers a savings accout structured to build credit for customers who need to establish or re-establish credit.
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Lilly Platt moved to Holland where her grandfather began teaching her to speak Dutch. To help her learn numbers, they collected pieces of plastic trash and counted them.
She no longer needs the practice but she’s still picking up plastic. She calls her effort “Lilly’s Plastic Pickup”
She hopes her efforts not only help to reduce plastic in the oceans directly but also to inspire other people to refuse single-use plastic and to pick up plastic waste for recycling.
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John Nanni, as most people who contract polio do, got it as a baby, just one year before the vaccine became widely available. Although he recovered from the paralysis as a child and even played sports, John has been plagued in adulthood by Post Polio Syndrome.
John is an active polio fighter who nobly uses his own situation as a living object lesson for ending the horrific disease once and for all. On the back of his wheelchair, he keeps a sign that says, “64 Years Later: This is what a Polio looks like when a child is not vaccinated.”
His unsurpassed passion for eradicating the disease primarily benefits children in the developing world. Without intervention from Rotary with help from its partners in the Global Polio Eradication Initiative, hundreds of thousands of children would be crippled every year.
Still, polio is just a plane ride away. Every child in the world should be vaccinated.
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Read the full Forbes article and watch the interview here: http://bit.ly/2QLhDCZ.
The nonprofit fundraising platform Classy recently announced it had reached $1 billion in funding raised for its clients and their causes. Scot Chisholm, co-founder and CEO, visited with me to share some of his insights about reaching this “BHAG, big, hairy, audacious goal” set when the company was founded.
You can watch the full interview with Chisholm in the player at the top of this article.
Chisholm noted that it took six years to reach $500 million in funds raised but only 14 months to double than mark. “So, the growth is still happening which is really exciting.”
He was prompted to launch Classy after organizing a pub crawl to raise money to fight breast cancer in honor of his mother—a two-time survivor. The nonprofit he chose refused to accept the money! He knew then there had to be a better way.
Read the full Forbes article and watch the interview here: http://bit.ly/2QLhDCZ.
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Leta Greene has built a happy, productive life as a mother and a professional speaker and makeup artist. She is proud of this. She is particularly proud that no one in her professional circle--many of whom she counts as friends--knew that she is a survivor of sexual abuse as a child.
As the #metoo movement gained steam over the past few years, Leta realized that it was time to share her story. She posted her experience on Facebook, went to bed and awoke to an overwhelming show of support--and an invitation from a publisher to write a book.
Her book, Love Me Too, doesn’t wallow in self-pity nor does it reveal the most intimate details of her abuse. Much of the book is a guide for other survivors, whom she hopes to help achieve the sort of profound happiness she enjoys.
She also shares some parenting tips that can help protect children from abuse, at surprisingly young ages--without scaring them.
You don’t want to miss one second of my discussion with Leta.
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Andrea Demichelis has created a new search engine at ElliotForWater.com where revenue is used in part to provide clean water to people who need it. The search engine uses Bing search results.
As with all search engines, the first few search results are paid advertisements. When a user clicks on these links, a portion of the revenue is directed to fund water projects.
The first projects are in a small village in the small West African country of Guinea-Bissau. Check it out and consider bookmark the search engine.
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In 1988, Rotary formally kicked off its PolioPlus program, in concert with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control. UNICEF and the World Health Organization became the implementation partners in what became the Global Polio Eradication Initiative, a unique collaboration in the world of global health.
About ten years ago, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation joined the partnership, committing its substantial resources to the fight. Already more than $1 billion in, the Gates Foundation maintains its commitment to see this through.
Suchita Guntakatta, deputy director of global development over polio eradication at the Gates Foundation, joined me to talk about the progress toward eradication and the Foundation’s commitment to see this through to the end.
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Dr. Ujala Nayyar, the surveillance officer for polio at the World Health Organization in Pakistan, says the country is doing its “level best” to eradicate polio, even as she issues a challenge to her colleagues to do even more to eradicate the disease.
She is proud of having implemented an effective process for detecting polio, especially in the environment. Identifying when the virus is circulating in the environment allows UNICEF, WHO and Rotary to implement measures to prevent the spread of the disease.
Dr. Ujala is a powerful woman in Pakistan. She acknowledged that at times she faces discrimination, noting that less well-educated women in other parts of the society in Pakistan face much greater challenges. Still, she uses her power and influence to advocate for Pakistan’s children and simultaneously demonstrates that women can contribute more.
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Read the full Forbes article and watch the interview here: http://bit.ly/2QlPty4.
In a wide-ranging conversation with author and filmmaker Josh Tickell, 43, he shared two key observations. First, he said that cows get a bad rap for their contribution to global warming. Second, he says millennials are key to solving climate change.
Tickell, a self-described environmentalist, is the author Kiss the Ground and The Revolution Generation. Films by the same titles are also pending release. Tickell’s first film, Fuel, still available on Netflix, won him a Sundance Film Festival award.
As a social entrepreneur, co-founder of Big Picture Ranch, his production company, he says his four-person team operates the business on a break-even basis.
Read the full Forbes article and watch the interview here: http://bit.ly/2QlPty4.
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Ann Lee Hussey is a polio survivor and a veterinary technician who travels the world leading other volunteers on trips to vaccinate children against polio. She’s been on 30 such trips, having led 26 to remote and exotic places. She and the other volunteers from the U.S. participate in National Immunization Days supported by diverse countries.
The NIDs are organized by governments in collaboration with Rotary International, the World Health Organization, UNICEF and the US Centers for Disease Control with financial support from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation
These organizations comprise the Global Polio Eradication Initiative, a massive and unique collaboration that has successfully reduced the number of polio cases from 350,000 in 1988 to just 22 in 2018.
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Akhil Iyer now leads UNICEF”s global polio eradication effort; he’s spent most of his three-decade career fight polio. He acknowledges that ending polio has proven more difficult than hoped and expected, but he remains optimistic about eradication.
Akhil also shared his thoughts on vaccine safety, noting that millions of people are alive because of vaccines. Speaking to Rotarians who may be concerned about vaccine safety or effectiveness, he said there are millions of children who are not paralyzed today precisely because they have been vaccinated.
Learning from heading up the polio fight in Afghanistan, his last assignment, Akhil remains convinced that we can eradicate polio even there. He notes that the Taliban--nervous about vaccinations for a variety of reasons--has been willing to accommodate vaccination campaigns.
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A generation ago, most people in the U.S. knew a polio survivor. Today, there are so few left, there are very few so many people can’t name an acquaintance, let alone family member, who has been afflicted.
Ina Pinkney was infected in 1944, during World War II, more than a decade before the Salk Vaccine became available, stemming the annual summer epidemics that paralyzed communities almost like it paralyzed children.
Because parents didn’t know how the virus spread or why it did only in summer months, parents avoided many summer activities from ice cream to swimming pools.
Ina shared her touching story with me on World Polio Day, an annual event hosted by Rotary and the other members of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative. You can watch it in the video player at the top of this article.
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Carol Pandak, the director of PolioPlus for Rotary International, acknowledged that the fight against polio is difficult. Rooting out polio from conflict regions in Afghanistan especially is challenging. Still, she says, she is not discouraged.
Rotary has increased its annual fundraising commitment from $35 million to $50 million per year to make finishing the job possible. Carol says, “We made a commitment to the world and we haven’t completed it, yet.”
“We hope the end is coming soon,” Carol adds.
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Read the full Forbes article and watch the interview here: http://bit.ly/2D9ZPhx.
Jed Emerson, 59, widely recognized in the impact investing community, recently published a new book, The Purpose of Capital: Elements of Impact, Financial Flows and Natural Being, that calls into question some of the fundamental precepts of the movement, the very underpinnings of capitalism. Impact investors seek to solve social problems from poverty to climate change by making investments that will not only mitigate the ills but will provide a financial return. Early in his book, Emerson observes, “There is a central challenge in this effort to ‘do well and do good’ in that at its core is a commitment to making use of the very financial tools that have failed to create a just, equitable and sustainable world in the pursuit of creating a more just, equitable and sustainable world.” He’s suggesting we may be treating burn victims with fire because we depend on the light it provides. He may also be questioning our sanity by suggesting we're hoping to solve a problem by continuing to do much the same thing that created it.
Read the full Forbes article and watch the interview here: http://bit.ly/2D9ZPhx.
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The Johnson & Johnson “credo” was written 75 years ago. Putting the needs of doctors, nurses and patients first has guided the company ever since.
CaringCrowd, sponsored by J&J, is an example of credo-thinking. John Brennick and Derek Fetzer, the co-founders of CaringCrowd--both J&J employees at the time--conceived of a platform where nonprofits, and individuals raising money for nonprofits, could advance their work.
J&J not only supports the platform without charge but often matches donations on the platform--which recently topped $1 million. Brennick says he hopes the second million dollars in donations will come much faster.
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Everest, a blockchain startup that began generating revenue in 2017 and now has 12 employees, is working to provide people in the developing world with a blockchain identity that will connect everyone to the 21st-century economy.
Founder Bob Reid, 48, says, “Everest gives the average person the ability to prove who they are, exchange value with another individual or institution, and utilize technology provided by an organization, facility, or agent army.”
There are two social issues the team hopes to address with their technology, he says.
Human Trafficking: By creating an identity utility for humanity, Everest aims to combat human trafficking by supplying a simple means for parents to enroll their children, then, in the case something bad happens, the parent has the ability to flag their children as “missing.” Further, by providing a simple mobile phone app, first responders and healthcare workers are able to screen individuals to make sure that they have not been reported as missing. Borrowing Costs for Low-Income People: In frontier and developing
Read the full Forbes article and watch the interview here: http://bit.ly/2z3IaUq.
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Thomas Doochin has created a completely different sort of crowdfunding platform for nonprofits. He’s set up a store where donors can purchase items for specific children sponsored by agencies that support them.
The site, called Daymaker, bridges two gaps that traditional nonprofit crowdfunding sites have, by first allowing donors to give to a specific child and second giving the donor the opportunity to purchase a specific item so that the nonprofit has no discretion about how to use their money.
With the same ease as giving a small donation, donors can now give an item. For some donors, this may be just what they need to allow them to feel comfortable giving to a nonprofit organization.
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Samuel Dameus, a social entrepreneur from Haiti, says the world’s perception of Haiti is malformed, by what we read about Haiti in the media. The Caribbean country rivals its peers for sheer beauty as a destination.
While not without its problems, Haiti’s reputation has become a sort of self-fulfilling prophecy. Samuel is working to change the narrative, to help the world reimagine Haiti less as a destination for aid and more as a tourist destination.
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Nathan Ogden broke his neck twice--the second time when he was dropped off an x-ray table a year after being paralyzed. He turned tragedy into triumph, building a successful career as a speaker.
In recent years, he’s turned his attention and his focus to others less fortunate than himself. He’s created a nonprofit organization, Chair the Hope, to provide wheelchairs to people, typically in the developing world, who lack access to this life-changing device.
Watch Nathan’s story in the video player above.
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Four students at University College London who launched aptly named Rice Inc. have been awarded the $1 million Hult Prize to meet the official challenge to “build a scalable, sustainable social enterprise that harnesses the power of energy to transform the lives of 10 million people by 2025.”
Their plan is to make fast, effective and affordable rice drying available to smallholder farmers who, lacking the technology, typically lose about 20% of their harvest in the drying process. Today, those farmers simply spread their rice on the ground in the sun, where is it vulnerable to weather, birds and other pests that may eat or contaminate the rice.
“We solve inefficiencies in the rice supply chain caused by an existing power imbalance between smallholder farmers and millers,” says Kisum Chan, the team’s chief marketing officer. “We solve this by providing farmers with access to drying and storage facilities which can potentially unlock the true value of their harvest.”
Read the full Forbes article and watch the interview here: http://bit.ly/2pZSuZs.
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Amy Stanton, the CEO of Stanton & Company, an agency that focuses on sports and lifestyle businesses, mostly run by women, co-authored The Feminine Revolution with Catherine Connors. Their thesis: women’s feminine traits don’t make women weak, they make them powerful.
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Adam Treiser wanted to do something to make a difference in the world. A lawyer by training, he was unsatisfied with the work he was doing, so he immersed himself in artificial intelligence. He developed a way to help nonprofits optimize the ask to every donor.
If you ask a donor who is willing to give you $250 for $25, you’ll likely get the $25. On the other hand, if you ask a donor who is ready to give you only $50 for $250, you’ll likely get zero! Knowing just the right ask is a game changer.
Using only information that you already have, his company, Arjuna Solutions can help you increase donations from your existing donors. Their experience to date suggests a first-year bump of 19 percent and a second-year increase of 72 percent.
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Lakisha Simmons holds a PhD in Management Information Systems, seeming to make her an unlikely candidate to tackle a distinctly non-business, non-technological social issues. But that didn’t stop her.
Simmons recognized that too many young women here in America struggle to afford feminine hygiene products. To address the issue, Simmons launched the Period Project, to ensure that every young woman has access to period products.
Interview with Lakisha L. Simmons, Ph.D., the Executive Director of The Achiever Academy; Founder Homework Suite App; Associate Professor of MIS at the Jack C. Massey College of Business at Belmont University of The Achiever Academy.
The following is the pre-interview with Lakisha L. Simmons, Ph.D.. Be sure to watch the recorded interview above.
What is the problem you solve and how do you solve it?
We tackle issues that are obstacles for girls and young women when striving for success. We found that college women, especially minorities, had difficulties with climbing the corporate ladder and achieving personal and professional success. So we provide networking opportunities and soft skills workshops to bridge those gaps. We also know that period poverty is an issue that prevents economically disadvantaged girls from attending school and therefore host a number of product drives each year.
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Read the full Forbes article and watch the interview here: http://bit.ly/2EasuEs.
“I was living in Tokyo at the time and working for a Wall Street bank when the earthquake hit; I was on the trading floor literally when this huge earthquake hit,” says Wendy Hapgood, 40, now chief operating officer for the Wild Tomorrow Fund.
She goes on to explain that it wasn’t the earthquake that rattled her so much or even the ensuing tsunami. Rather, it was the nuclear crisis that developed in the following days.
“A lot of people commented at the time of the disaster, ‘Well, you know, it wasn't that bad; nobody died [from the radiation].” And I really thought—because I was there on the ground and I experienced it personally—that they were missing a crucial part of the environmental destruction and the poisoning of our Earth,” she explains.
Read the full Forbes article and watch the interview here: http://bit.ly/2EasuEs.
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Heather (not her real name) was working consensually at an escort service as a sex worker when she realized that a human trafficking ring was trying to trap her. “She was completely panicked,” says Sherrie Caltagirone, to whom Heather reached out.
Caltagirone leads the Global Emancipation Network, a young, nonprofit organization that utilizes data to identify both traffickers and victims. Their weapon is Minerva, named for the Roman goddess of wisdom and strategic warfare, which puts the big data to work.
Studies about the number of people being trafficked today yield different results, ranging from 20 to 45 million, giving the estimates a margin of error greater than 100%. The trafficking problem is huge but so is the lack of good data. The Global Emancipation Network is out to fix that.
“Human traffickers are reliant on current technology to increase their revenue. But the same technology can be used against them,” Caltagirone says, explaining the fundamental premise of her work.
Read the full Forbes article and watch the interview here: http://bit.ly/2IMwWYL.
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Sly Young sees communities commonly called “at risk” differently. He sees “opportunity communities,” places where positive change saves lives and creates new possibilities for people in that place.
Interview with S. L. "Sly" Young, the Founder and President of Saving Our Communities at Risk Through Educational Services (SOCARTES) and Beyond SPRH, LLC.
What is the problem you solve and how do you solve it?
SOCARTES is committed to providing individuals access to personal development opportunities, which can lead to these individuals reaching their career potential and goals.
Beyond SPRH's goal is to deliver quality services with minimal time, effort, and cost with an objective of highly satisfied customers and measurable performance outcomes.
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Mike Domitrz began training audiences on safe and respectful behavior in the workplace and elsewhere long before #MeToo was a hashtag--long before there were hashtags.
On the eve of the Senate vote on the confirmation of Justice Brett Kavanaugh, following the hearing with Dr. Christine Blasey Ford last week, Mike and I connected for a perilous discussion about #MeToo--perilous because the #MeToo discussion should include women.
(For the record, I have spoken to women about these issues and have written about their perspectives here.)
Mike says we need to work together to create safer, most respectful spaces for the people in our lives, both at home and at the office. He draws a close parallel, suggesting that developing a safe, respectful environment at work requires drawing on some of the lessons we learn about having safe, respectful relationships at home.
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Nick Arquette was still a kid when his mother was diagnosed with cancer. The experience tore him apart, at once wanting to help his mom and still wanting to be with and like all the other kids who weren’t worried about their parents.
Ultimately, his mother succumbed to the cancer. As the years went by and her memory faded, Nick increasingly wanted to do something in her honor. Reflecting on his childhood, he launched Walk With Sally in her name to mentor children of cancer patients so they can enjoy more normal lives.
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Ending malaria will require making high-quality medication available universally in the most remote and isolated villages around the malaria-infected world. It will also require eliminating fake and substandard meds, Dr. Benjamin Rolfe, the Chief Executive Officer of Asia Pacific Leaders’ Malaria Alliance, says.
Though malaria has been eliminated from virtually all of the developed world, it remains a scourge in much of the developing world, killing 445,000 in 2016 and infecting millions every year.
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John Porter will never forget the call ten years ago. With some of the key members of his team on a service mission with CHOICE Humanitarian to Guatemala, a survivor called to say the plane had crashed killing ten people, most John’s employees.
Chris Johnson and his wife Liz had devoted themselves to helping those living in extreme poverty to successfully build a path to a brighter future through CHOICE. Liz had taken time off to focus on their small children before getting back into the field on that fateful trip. She survived the crash but succombed to her injuries while being treated in Guatemala city.
Faced with excruciating decisions about how to move forward, Chris remained at CHOICE. John rebuilt his team and grew his company while cotinuing to support service. CHOICE continued its work in Guatemala. Ten years on, the community has been dramatically reshaped, with improved literacy and job training, including IT training in the Central American jungle.
Everyone involved committed to making the work and its impact on the people Liz and the others served the living memorial to those who died.
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Ellis Lucas is literally on a mission to save souls, sharing his personal faith in Jesus Christ with incarcerated addicts. A recovering addict himself, Ellis now uses the book he wrote to help struggling addicts develop a sense of personal worth and dignity.
The book started as a letter to his estranged son. The words just poured out of him as he sought to share his faith and hope with his adult son. They are still working to heal their relationship, but the book, The Potter and the Clay, has helped many others.
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Shane McKenna is a visionary entrepreneur and inventor who has turned his time and attention to ending world hunger. He’s created a patent-pending hydroponic gardening system that can help urban and rural people alike raise more food.
Now he’s raising money on Indiegogo to bring it to life, helping him to bring the device to market.
Ultimately, he plans to produce the devices in the developing countries where they will be sold. He sees a variety of uses but is most excited for the applications for people with the least access to adequate food, like refugees who not only may not have enough food but have nowhere to grow it either.
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Joanne Chiwaula, founder and director of the US-based nonprofit African Mothers Health Initiative and its sister organization Joyful Motherhood based in Malawi, works to save at risk babies. These include multiple births, babies who lost their mothers in childbirth and low birth weight babies.
So many babies born to mothers who die during childbirth die that a local tradition holds that they simply “choose to follow their mothers.” In fact, they fail to receive the vital nutrition that would come from nursing.
Similarly, low birth-weight babies may need more nutrition than they can get from a poorly nourished mother. Twins and triplets are also at risk as under-fed mothers may not be able to produce enough milk to multiple children.
To combat these problems--while always encouraging nursing where possible--African Mothers Health Initiative raises money to buy baby formula that is distributed in Malawi by Joyful Motherhood.
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You’ve probably heard of Kiva, but if you aren’t among the 1.7 million people who have made loans on the platform, you may not really know what it is. This crowdfunding platform is, in effect, a bank funded by people who lend their money with an expectation of losing only a little, to 2.9 million people who stand to gain a lot.
Kiva co-founder and president Premal Shah, 42, joined me for a conversation about the site and how it works to not just make loans but also to change lives in 85 countries around the world—including here in the US. Watch the interview in the player at top of the article.
Kiva lenders receive on average about 96% of their money back and agree not to receive interest. “It is done philanthropically,” Shah says. For many, presumably, it is their first impact investment.
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Still weak from her cancer treatment, 29-year-old Jenna Benn Shersher, now 36, asked her family, friends and followers to help her fight cancer. Wanting to dance but unable to do much on the dance floor, she made a quick video of herself doing the twist and challenged others to do the same. Thousands did.
That launched a movement that became a nonprofit organization she calls Twist Out Cancer.
The 501(c)(3) now has programs in Chicago, Toronto, Montreal, Ann Arbor, Philadelphia and Tel Aviv.
While cancer-free for nearly seven years, Shersher describes her experience with cancer as “horrible.” Despite having the best medical care and a strong network of family and friends, she felt “this sort of overwhelming sense of isolation and loneliness even though I had everything in my favor.”
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Shelby Hintze, a television producer for NBC-affiliate KSL’s “The Browser” and “Sunday Edition,” called on nonprofits to engage those they serve in leadership, including paid positions.
Hintze is a powerful, successful leader at KSL, but she acknowledges her vulnerabilities as a person with a form of muscular dystrophy. She notes that organizations sometimes miss the obvious because they fail to adequately engage those they serve.
If members of the community were serving on boards or in executive leadership, she says, the organizations would make better decisions for the people they hope to serve.
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Wind turbines are getting bigger and more efficient, now representing the cheapest form of energy on earth! In one corner of the industry, however, Dr. Daniel Farb has been working on little decorative turbines that can be installed on your roof.
These little guys aren’t as efficient as the big ones, but you can’t put a big one on your roof! His “flowers” can. And in some situations, he says, they may be as cost efficient--or more so--than rooftop solar.
To bring these to market, Farb has launched a crowdfunding campaign on StartEngine and has already raised over $130,000. He’s hoping now to raise over $1 million.
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Abby Levin and Lexi Thomas have devoted themselves to their nonprofit, Flowers for Powers, delivering flowers to people who need a lift. Inspired by the loss of both her grandmothers ten years ago, Abby and Lexi decided to spread joy.
Jumping on a trampoline in the backyard, they spotted flowers, crystallizing an idea. With donated flowers and low-cost vases, they deliver sunshine, most often to seniors, people in hospice care and others with grave diseases.
Their flowers bring joy but not because the flowers are so beautiful, it’s because they remind the recipient of the beautiful smiles of two remarkable girls who delivered them.
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Crowdfunding is no longer a novelty. It is part of the fabric of the global economy. Within that fabric, one of the brightly colored threads is Indiegogo, having helped entrepreneurs to raise over $1.5 billion.
As I’ve followed the company and its work over the years, I’ve had some favorite social impact projects. One stands out: Solar Roadways. Scott and Julie Brusaw of Sandpoint, Idaho—as small and remote a town as you might imagine—came up with the idea to make solar panels rugged enough to drive on, while incorporating a variety of features like snow melting and LED lighting that would allow an operator to change traffic patterns. The idea was too novel (read, crazy) for any traditional investor, the sort of person the Brusaws had likely never met, anyway. So, in 2014, they launched a campaign on Indiegogo and raised $2,284,774. Today, the solar panels are in production.
Indiegogo has created a platform for entrepreneurs of all stripes—including social entrepreneurs like the Brusaws—to fund projects that would likely have been funded in no other way. Not everyone who tries to raise money is successful. Not everyone who raises money is successful at accomplishing what they set out to do. Still, the entrepreneurial ecosystem has been forever changed by Indiegogo and crowdfunding.
Scott McIntyre, president of the Crowdfunding Profe
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Kestrel Linder, now 34, and his friends got chatting about how successful they were as they reached their 30s and yet were still not giving back to their alma maters. “That seemed odd to us,” he said.
“We had high paying jobs few of us had debt and if we did have debt paying off the debt was not a particularly big challenge for us and we all loved school or schools that we went to,” he continued. So, he did some research and found that over the past 20 years, a declining percentage of people in virtually every demographic have been giving to educational institutions.
“That struck us as a pretty big problem,” he said, as he described his motivation for creating GiveCampus, a “digital fundraising” platform as he calls it; the users interviewed for this article all describe it as a crowdfunding platform. Semantics aside, he and his team wanted to increase giving to education.
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Piyush Jain and his wife Khushboo Jain always wanted to be entrepreneurs. Four years ago, they saw the need they could fill, helping to organize crowdfunding campaigns for social needs in their country of India.
Preliminary Interview with Khushboo Jain, the Co-Founder and COO of Impact Guru Technology Ventures Pvt. Ltd.
What is the purpose of your crowdfunding site?
● The ability to impact 100,000 lives, mobilize the business to over 1.3 billion Rupees across 15 countries and train over 1,000 nonprofits to crowdfund is our greatest accomplishment. ● ImpactGuru.com is on a mission to make healthcare accessible to all and save more lives. We aim to raise crowdfunding awareness among hospitals, doctors, medical practitioners and build partnerships with healthcare startups. This community can thereby empower thousands of patients with the funds they need. ● A dedicated crowdfunding helpdesk service next to the billing department at hospitals will help us increase the level of awareness of medical crowdfunding solutions as they refer their patients to us - particularly cancer, transplant, and pediatric cases. ● Say in a decade from now, we hope for crowdfunding to become mainstream and be easily accessed by anyone in India. We hope we can continue to help individuals raise medical treatment costs and aid NGOs with project-based financial support to eradicate poverty, educate our children, empower girls and women and support other causes.
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When Carolynn Cameron was prevented from adopting a child in Uganda by a change in the law, she quickly shifted her focus and found another way to serve the people there.
Cameron, a volunteer leader at Cherysh America Foundation, recently raised $50,000 to deploy an advanced, solar-powered microgrid at an orphanage there. The system is designed to be safe and sustainable for many years.
She raised the money on CaringCrowd, a global health crowdfunding site sponsored by Johnson & Johnson. Every project is screened by a panel of experts to confirm that each will have an impact on global health. The site is made available as a public service; J&J derives no revenue from projects funded on the site.
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Daniella Jacques has recognized from her earliest memories that women face challenges in the world that men don’t face, don’t understand and seem not to care about. Women are often not even in the room when men do talk about their issues.
She says it is time that women were part of the discussion. She launched Women’s Dophen News to be a platform for news relevant to women, not only in Haiti but around the world. She is already publishing in four languages, Haitian Creole, French, Spanish and English.
My take: Daniella Jacques will change the world and her name will become very familiar.
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CaringCrowd, proudly sponsored by Johnson & Johnson, is a sponsor of the Your Mark on the World Center and GoodCrowd.info.
Italian architect Arturo Vittori is creating beautiful structures that collect the humidity from the air to provide clean drinking water to communities that lack it. His organization, Warka Water, is working in developing countries around the world to change lives and improve global health.
Warka Water has successfully raised money via crowdfunding on CaringCrowd, a global health-oriented crowdfunding site proudly sponsored by Johnson & Johnson.
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Many people living paycheck to paycheck fall into a financial tailspin for lack of $500 or $1,000. A desperately needed but unanticipated car repair is enough to start a family on a collision course with financial ruin.
PayDay loans are so expensive that customers often end up simply revolving the balance for months, paying weekly or bi-weekly fees to renew the loan and over the course of a year end up paying multiples of the original loan principal--sometimes without ever paying off the loan.
Ennie Lim at HoneyBee developed an alternative. Let people borrow against their accrued paid time off--PTO. This virtually eliminates the risk for the lender and allows the loan to be made for a single 5 percent origination fee.
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“The humanitarian flag that we had been waving was a privilege that we could no longer afford,” Sera Bonds, 44, says as her board and staff at Circle of Health International decided to increase their activism for women’s rights following the 2016 election.
Activism is in her blood. As a teenager in 1992, with her parents, she attended a National Organization for Women march in Washington, DC. “There was one issue in our family that was abortion and both my parents were very pro-choice,” she explains.
But when she launched the nonprofit, one of her early lessons was that she would have to choose between leading a humanitarian organization or human rights organization.
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Rick Ulfik, the founder and board chair of We, The World, says the impact of organizations acting independently is limited. He argues for active collaboration among the world’s leading NGOs so they can have greater impact.
He says organizations working alone have “horizontal impact” but when they work together they have “vertical impact.” He observes too much of the former and not enough of the latter.
Coming up in September, We, the World is leading an event it calls 11 Days of Global Unity, part of an ongoing series, focused on bringing organizations together to tackle the world’s big problems collaboratively and strategically.
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Built around the premise that it should be easy to donate your car, boat or RV to a charity, the iDonate donor engagement platform has become a full service product suite to help nonprofits make donations easier for their donors.
Preliminary Interview with Ray Gary, the CEO of iDonate.
The following is a brief pre-interview that provides context for the recorded interview you may watch or listen to at the top of this article.
Crowdfunding page:
What is the purpose of your crowdfunding campaign?
iDonate was born out of a higher call to unlock giving potential and make nonprofit operations easier and more effective. We were inspired to make it possible and easy to give out of cash and out of wealth, using both vehicles to help move the 2 percent.
We invented the world’s first noncash gateway where we electronically process vehicles, boats, stock, and many unique assets such as grain and collectibles – even llamas!!! To date, we’ve processed millions in noncash donations for many different causes.
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Monica Kang is an expert on creativity and passionate about solving the world’s big problems. She shares how to be more creative in her new book, Rethink Creativity.
Interview with Monica Kang, the Founder & CEO of InnovatorsBox.
The following is the pre-interview with Monica Kang. Be sure to watch the recorded interview above.
What is the problem you solve and how do you solve it?
Making creative thinking accessible and relatable for all. 87% of the global workforce believes that they cannot be creative and feel stuck at work. We want to change this narrative and show how you can live your full potential.
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Echoing Green has been investing in social entrepreneurs and innovation for nearly three decades. One lesson stands out, says President Cheryl Dorsey: “The leader is the secret sauce of any great social enterprise.”
Throughout its history, Echoing Green has been granting fellowships to innovators who had little more than an idea to change the world. Its accumulated data suggests it’s working.
The nonprofit organization approaches its grantmaking with the mentality of a venture fund, seeking to invest in leaders who will have a big impact. Since 1987, the organization has backed 798 “fellows” who have done work in 85 countries and 39 US states. Those fellows and their organizations have gone on to raise over $5 billion.
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No, an impact investor, a social entrepreneur and a sea turtle didn’t literally walk into a bar, but the way their lives intersected is no joke.
Three years ago this week, a Texas A&M marine biologist, Christine Figgener, uploaded a video of her team removing a four-inch plastic straw from the nostril of a sea turtle. The evocative video immediately went viral and now has 32.6 million views on YouTube.
The video not only inspired the current activism around plastic straws that has me carrying around paper straws and a law banning plastic straws in Seattle, but it has people thinking about all single-use plastic more critically. That movement has provided a catalyst for impact investors and social entrepreneurs who have solutions to ocean plastic.
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Jean Guo, CEO, and Binta Jammeh, COO, of Konexio are working to provide digital skills training to improve the educational and career potential to some of the 200,000 refugees living in Paris. Just as important, they are strategically helping them to connect to the broader Paris community to help them fully integrate into their new community.
Launched less than two years ago, Konexio is already showing results, with most of the participants reporting that they use the skills they learned. Almost three quarters report getting jobs!
Interview with Jean Guo, the CEO, co-founder of Konexio.
The following is the pre-interview with Jean Guo. Be sure to watch the recorded interview above.
What is the problem you solve and how do you solve it?
The problem that Konexio seeks to solve is the pressing issue of integration and employment for vulnerable populations, notably refugees and migrants. This problem revolves around three key facts:
There are currently 65 million displaced persons globally. In France, where Konexio operates, there are over 200,000 refugees and asylum seekers, and the unemployment rate within this group is over 50%. On average it takes 20 years for refugees to reach the same employment level as nationals.
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John Hanrahan, co-founder and medical director of the People’s Health Clinic in Park City, Utah will provide 9,000 patient visits this year to uninsured members of the community. Business is absolutely booming and John says, “that’s a bad thing.”
Don’t misunderstand, he’s thrilled to do the work and proud of the service the organization offers as the primary health care provide for thousands of residents in this small, affluent resort town. His concern stems from the fact that but for this small, nonprofit organization, many of these people would go untreated--some would certainly die.
Hanrahan is also the incoming District Governor for Rotary for the district encompassing the entire state of Utah, including 46 clubs and about 1750 Rotarians. I’m not finished. He’s also the founder of the Hope Alliance, a humanitarian organization serving communities in the developing world.
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After creating the top-selling organic baby food company, Happy Family, and selling it to Groupe Danone in 2013, Jessica Rolph, 43, is ready to go big again.
Joined by Rod Morris, 46, co-founder and President, Rolph, who serves as CEO, has launched Lovevery, a toy company employing scientific research about early childhood development to create toys that help babies learn.
Lauren Loktev, a partner at Collaborative Fund, which invested in Lovery through its partnership with Sesame Workshop, Collab+Sesame, says she was impressed by the products.
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Cody Nystrom, 35, is a venture capitalist who makes healthcare investments for SJF Ventures where she is a Managing Director. For her, it was important for her work to align with her values.
“I was raised by two hippie parents in a remote area of Alaska about 45 minutes from Fairbanks. They would have probably died at the time if they had been told I would end up in a career in finance,” Nystrom says.
She graduated at the top of her high school class and then from her engineering class at the University of Virginia. Still, she says, “I was a first-generation college student with no idea about professional jobs in the real world.”
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Kathleen Fritz has been working to teach K-12 teachers how to teach design thinking skills to their students. Along the way, she’s helped them learn skills that improve their teaching in all areas.
Interview with KATHLEEN FRITZ, the Founder/CEO/Instructional Coach of CREATOMbuilder, INC.
The following is the pre-interview with KATHLEEN FRITZ. Be sure to watch the recorded interview above.
What is the problem you solve and how do you solve it?
I started this project five years ago to address the challenge, " How do you make design thinking accessible to kids?" I realized that you have to start with teachers first: without them there is no rigor. But this raised a bigger question, "How do you help teachers to make the shift from direct instruction to innovators and facilitators of learning?"
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After about eight cups of coffee, chatting about the idea of creating a company where they could employ people with disabilities, the pair suddenly hit upon the obvious. They started a coffee shop.
Aspire Chicago works with about 1,000 differently-abled people. To prove how capable they are of succeeding on the job, they created a coffee shop to employ a few. The project seeks to prove that those with disabilities can be well qualified for the job.
Interview with Jim Kales, the CEO of Aspire CoffeeWorks.
What is the problem you solve and how do you solve it?
Currently, two-thirds of people with developmental disabilities are unemployed. When you combine that with the insufficient funding the state of Illinois provides for employment services for people with developmental disabilities (Illinois’ spending is among the lowest in the nation), the problem is further complicated. Worse yet is that only a small portion of people with developmental disabilities who are employed are actually working in integrated and inclusive workplaces, as opposed to workshops or other types of segregated workplaces.
Aspire CoffeeWorks provides employment opportunities for adults with developmental disabilities, currently employing five team members with disabilities. Additionally, through our partnerships with companies like Canteen Vending, our distribution partner, this number is expanded to eight team members with disabilities – and counting. In both of these situations, adults with disabilities work in fully integrated environments, side by side with people without disabilities. Lastly, Aspire CoffeeWorks provides crucial additional funding for nonprofit Aspire’s programming to lift up over 1,000 kids and adults with disabilities at Aspire. It’s our hope that through initiatives like Aspire CoffeeWorks, we can break barriers for adults with disabilities in the workforce and show companies the benefits that come along with a diverse workforce.
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Animal agriculture as practiced today is not only cruel to the animals but also harsh on the environment, requiring huge tracts of land, vast quantities of water and producing millions of tons of carbon every year. Could eating bugs be the solution to save the environment?
Rose Wang founded Chirps to make tortilla chips out of crickets. These high-protein snacks taste great--say the daring kids who eat them.
Already for sale across the country, Chirps require less water and land to produce per pound than beef and produces only a tiny fraction of the carbon.
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Mo Sbai lost his brother to a tragic accident that left him struggling for years to regain full capacity. The loss inspired him to open a neurorehabilitation clinic in Marrakech. It has become one of the leading clinics of its type in all of Africa.
Mo lives and works in Salt Lake City but hails from Morocco. Working with his Salt Lake Rotary Club, he obtained multiple grants that include funds from the Rotary Foundation that have enabled him to launch this important piece of the health care system in his native country.
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CaringCrowd, proudly sponsored by Johnson & Johnson, is a sponsor of GoodCrowd.info.
Sophia Monaghan used CaringCrowd to raise the money she needed to live nine months in Ethiopia researching the plight of women with mental illness. Sophia is a researcher and project manager for Project Mercy.
CaringCrowd co-founder John Brennick joined us for a conversation (watch the full interview at the top of this article) about Sophia’s work, the needs of the women in Ethiopia and the role of CaringCrowd.
Preliminary Interview with Sophia Monaghan, the Mental Health Researcher of Project Mercy.
The following is a brief pre-interview that provides context for the recorded interview you may watch or listen to at the top of this article.
Crowdfunding page: caringcrowd.org/provide-mental-health-services-400-mothers-ethiopia
What is the purpose of your crowdfunding campaign?
Allow mothers in rural Ethiopia access to psychiatric services.
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Bhavya Rehani, 37, and her husband, Ankur Bharija, also 37, are physicians at the top of their professions but that isn’t what inspires them. Harvard-trained Rehani practices at University of California San Francisco while Bharija is on the faculty at Stanford to the south. She is also the CEO of a nonprofit they founded, Health4TheWorld.
The 100% volunteer-led organization is working to share health information with doctors and patients around the world to improve health outcomes. Everything they offer is entirely free to the doctors, other healthcare professionals and the patients.
The pair is off to a good start. By localizing the tools for a variety of circumstances, the organization has in its first year of operation begun reaching people in 22 countries, touching 3,500 lives.
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Zach Adamson and David Monhait, co-founders of DIVERTbrands, have found a way to do what they love, have fun, do good and make money. They are living the dream!
Interview with Zach Adamson, the Founder and CEO, and David Monhait, the Co-Founder & President of DIVERTbrands.
The following is the pre-interview with Zach Adamson and David Monhait. Be sure to watch the recorded interview above.
What is the problem you solve and how do you solve it?
While interest has never been higher, action sports as they currently exist are out of reach to many due to geographic and financial barriers to participation. Concurrently, traditional education continues to exclude education in desired creative fields like music, art, media, and more.
These barriers and exclusions make at-risk youth more susceptible to negative influences and life choices.
DIVERT removes these barriers, making both the athletics and creative lifestyles more accessible to anyone. We DIVERT their attention away from negative influences and towards positive ones that align with the interest of today's youth culture.
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It is only a slight exaggeration to say that impact measurement is something of a holy grail for impact investors with an impact first approach. Shaun Conway is building a new blockchain and tokens to be used in measuring and monetizing impact.
There are at least $228 billion of impact investments now under management. Virtually all the investors are looking to measure impact with the same clarity they currently measure financial returns. A variety of helpful tools are already being implemented. Tokenizing impact measurement is a logical and exciting step forward.
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A Kickstarter campaign for a commercial version of the nonprofit Because International’s “the shoe that grows” donated by the thousands to kids in the developing world called “Expandels” is growing quickly well past the goal of $10,000.
Kenton Lee, co-founder of GroFive and inventor of the shoe that grows explains that when you buy a pair of Expandels via Kickstarter you can choose to donate a pair to a kid in the developing world who can’t afford to buy one.
The donated shoes are manufactured in Ethiopia to ensure that donated shoes aren’t displacing net jobs in the places that most need them.
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When Mari Kuraishi and Dennis Whittle, 57, launched what became GlobalGiving back in the late 1990s, the term “crowdfunding” was not in use—and wouldn’t come into vogue for nearly a decade. These two are clearly on the short list of candidates for those who can credibly make the claim to have invented internet-based crowdfunding.
Today, the term crowdfunding means many things to many people. All those things have in common the idea of gathering funds from many people and most of those meanings include the use of the internet as a central feature. GlobalGiving gathers donations for international nonprofits.
According to Kuraishi, who married Whittle while both were working at the World Bank, before leaving together to launch the site, “GlobalGiving has delivered $332 million to nearly 20,000 projects in 170 countries supporting community-led projects since 2002. We've also helped 780,000 donors find vetted nonprofits.”
Read the full Forbes article and watch the interview here: http://bit.ly/2upxsGo.
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Rachel Blank and her wife saw a need for the LGBTQ community to have its own crowdfunding platform so they created PridePocket.
If you aren’t a member of the community, you may not understand why this is necessary. With many trans-related medical treatments and procedures treated by health insurance companies as elective, they are frequently not covered. The LGBTQ+ community can come together to help shoulder these costs.
Check out my free webinar where I share the secrets of successful nonprofit crowdfunding at http://crowdfundingforsocialgood.org.
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Read the full Forbes article and watch the interview here: http://bit.ly/2L5eMSn
Last December, I reported here that NPX, Inc., had developed a new concept for financing nonprofits called an “impact security.” In May, the nonprofit The Last Mile closed on $800,000 of financing using the new instrument.
How it works:
According to Princeton educated Catarina Schwab, 43, NPX’s co-founder, “The Impact Security allows a nonprofit to issue performance-based debt to investors and make required payments on the debt over time with donations from the established donor fund.”
The funds came from a group of investors who hope to get their money back with interest. Having an impact priority in mind, they don’t have an interest in financial outcomes. Instead, they want their return to be entirely dependent on achieving a measurable outcome.
Read the full Forbes article and watch the interview here: http://bit.ly/2L5eMSn.
Check out my free webinar where I share the secrets of successful nonprofit crowdfunding at http://crowdfundingforsocialgood.org.
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Dr. John Patterson was the first president of his Liverpool-based Rotary Club. He is also the principal at St. Vincent’s, a school for visually impaired and blind children. Working with the children, they developed SightBox, a collection of games and educational tools for kids like themselves in the developing world.
Working with his Rotary Club, they share the SightBox kits with students who would otherwise have no access to such things.
Interview with Dr. John Adam Patterson, the Dr John Patterson Principal and Charter President Rotary St.Vincents of St. Vincent’s School for the Blind.
What is the problem you solve and how do you solve it?
In the UK, Visually Impaired unemployment is at 85% with 5-6 less friends than sighted peers; this is much higher in developing countries. We design access to sports equipment and send this equipment with a surround curriculum to VI schools weaving in technology teaching and learning innovation generating VI friend groups and access to learning /support for new venture creation.
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One of the groups facing the highest unemployment rate in the United States is those who are formerly incarcerated. Richard Bronson, who served two years in prison for securities violations in the 90s, has launched a venture he calls 70 Million Jobs.
You see, there are about 70 million formerly incarcerated Americans. That represents about one in every three adults. Richard sees this not only as a problem but as an opportunity. He launched his for-profit enterprise to act as a placement agent for this marginalized population.
Now, Richard is raising money for the venture on equity crowdfunding site Wefunder using Title III of the 2012 JOBS Act. Virtually anyone can invest.
Check out my free webinar where I share the secrets of successful nonprofit crowdfunding at http://crowdfundingforsocialgood.org.
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Jaclyn “Jacque” Zoccoli started her career in the Peace Corps. That experience has shaped her life and career ever since, giving her a desire to always have an impact for good in the world. She works today to connect people to all those who can help them.
Interview with Jaclyn "Jacque" Zoccoli, the Global Collaborator of Network Builders Arizona.
What is the problem you solve and how do you solve it?
The problem solved is the lack of resources, (thus impact of groups), because they do not partner with others going the same direction. Through the building of alliances, and teams of them, there is an increase in commerce and growth. This eventually builds more love, prosperity and peace worldwide, the total solution.
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Newday Investing has created a new investment firm where you can begin investing with just $5. Not only can you start today with such a tiny balance, you can investing in up to six different mission-driven portfolios that align with the view of the future you’d like to help build.
Interview with Doug Heske, CEO, and Alex Meek, president of Newday Investing.
The following is the pre-interview with Doug Heske. Be sure to watch the recorded interview above.
What is the problem you solve and how do you solve it?
Interest in socially responsible or “impact investing” continues to grow: between 2014 and 2016, US assets under professional management using sustainable, socially responsible, and impact strategies grew 33% to reach $8.7 trillion.
This type of investing is especially popular among millennials who are focused on making values-based and socially responsible financial decisions. More than $60 trillion of wealth will be transferred to more than 75 million US-based millennials by 2040 (the global opportunity is even greater as millennials worldwide exceed 2 billion people).
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Felix W. Ortiz III, 34, is a U.S. Army veteran who is working to reinvent the process of employment for salaried positions, especially in the tech sector, by focusing on skills rather than degrees. Working with companies, colleges and candidates, the social enterprise he leads as CEO and founder, Viridis Learning, Inc., has built a platform for all three to use to better match people with opportunities.
Mark Thain, director of social innovation at Barclays, explains the challenges that inspired the bank to back Acumen’s Workforce Development portfolio, which includes an investment in Viridis. “We recognize that to have a meaningful impact on employability we need to look towards entrepreneurial models in the workforce development sector and support those innovators who are coming at this problem with scalable, self-sustaining solutions.”
Read the full Forbes article and watch the interview here: http://bit.ly/2lRfdEU.
Read the full Forbes article and watch the interview here: http://bit.ly/2lRfdEU.
Check out my free webinar where I share the secrets of successful nonprofit crowdfunding at http://crowdfundingforsocialgood.org.
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Humanity and Hope United, a nonprofit working in rural Honduras, raised $37,000 in 36 hours on crowdfunding site CaringCrowd. The site, sponsored by Johnson & Johnson, offers genuinely free crowdfunding services for global, public health related projects, charging only credit card processing.
Unlike some crowdfunding sites, CaringCrowd does not ask your donors to fund the operation. Johnson & Johnson funds that so it is truly free.
Humanity and Hope United is using the money it raised to drill a well in a remote Honduran village that lacks a source of clean water. Most people there are sick most of the time because of it. Dr. Rodrigo Diaz, a volunteer, explains that clean water to significantly reduce the incidence of diarrhea and other gastrointestinal diseases that hamper learning in school and productivity at work.
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The mission of the Your Mark on the World Center is to end extreme poverty, improve health and mitigate climate change. I asked U.S. Senate candidate Jenny Wilson--who faces a daunting challenge in popular Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney--for her take on each of these issues.
Poverty: Wilson acknowledged that even here in Utah, many children live in poverty, aren’t sure where their next meal will come from and that chronic homelessness continues in Utah. She asserts that she is in touch with these issues by virtue of her work on the Salt Lake County Council where she dealt directly with issues facing the homeless and other low-income Utahns.
Health: After leaving the County Council, Wilson took a job with the University of Utah Health Care system. She has been a vocal advocate for medicaid expansion in Utah, helping to organize a campaign to get a ballot initiative approved for this November.
Climate: Wilson acknowledges that there are many climate skeptics in Utah but says such views are out of touch with reality. She promises to advocate for returning the United States to international efforts to reduce carbon emissions and to otherwise protect the environment. She highlights her concern that the current administration will deregulate air quality leaving those living along Utah’s Wasatch Front with dangerously polluted air.
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More than a decade in development, Lice Clinics of America has opened 200 clinics in just five years. The company uses a patented technology that uses no chemicals to treat the itchy and highly contagious condition. The secret: hot air. Tune in to the full interview with CEO Claire Roberts to learn more.
Interview with Claire Roberts, the CEO of Lice Clinics of America.
The following is the pre-interview with Claire Roberts. Be sure to watch the recorded interview above.
What is the problem you solve and how do you solve it?
While it may seem like a benign issue, head lice is the second-most transmittable condition among school aged children (behind the common cold), meaning that most families will have to spend money they might not have on head lice treatment. As OTC treatment becomes less and less effective, Lice Clinics of America offers affordable, one and done treatment so families can get on with their lives. During our Annual Egg Hunt, treatments are free.
Lice Clinics of America®, the world's largest network of urgent care clinics for head lice treatment and providers of leading head lice-removal services and products provides annual "Egg Hunts". This year, the Egg Hunt was held over 2 days, and provided $35,700 worth of free head lice treatment to consumers throughout the country.
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Women and minorities have traditionally been underfunded in the venture community. Two years since the implementation of the Security and Exchange Commission’s Regulation Crowdfunding, data is beginning to show a shift.
Republic CEO and co-founder, Kendrick Nguyen, observes, “If you look at the number of women founders who represent almost 50/50 of entrepreneurs in the U.S. and the venture capital that goes to women founders is in the single digits in certain years and hovering around 10 11 to 14 percent in some other years which reflects a great inequality. And on our platform today as you know some 45 percent of capital invested on Republic has gone to teams with a women founder.”
With respect to minorities, he says that 30 percent of the capital raised on the Republic crowdfunding platform goes to founding teams that include an African American or Latino founder.
Read the full Forbes article and watch the interview here: http://bit.ly/2IqKeIS.
Read the full Forbes article and watch the interview here: http://bit.ly/2IqKeIS.
Check out my free webinar where I share the secrets of successful nonprofit crowdfunding at http://crowdfundingforsocialgood.org.
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Max and Jake Klein, now 14, remember being told they were too young to volunteer when they were just seven or eight years old. That frustration ultimately inspired them to launch a matching service to help kids--and adults--find service opportunities.
Recently, Verizon recognized their work with its Service Through STEM Award, which encourages young people to use science, technology, engineering and math to do service. So far, 30,000 people have used the site to find a service opportunity.
What is the problem you solve and how do you solve it?
We are a non-profit website that helps connect kids and adults to volunteering opportunities in over 80 markets across the country. We also offer ideas for charitable events you can do on your own. This way kids can make a difference in their communities no matter what their age is. It’s never too early to think about helping others.
Check out my free webinar where I share the secrets of successful nonprofit crowdfunding at http://crowdfundingforsocialgood.org.
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JP Morgan Chase Foundation recently announced that it would be increasing it grantmaking to $1.75 billion over the next five years. Much of their philanthropic giving is paired with supportive lending as well, potentially increasing the impact. (Disclosure: I have a small investment in JPM stock.)
Foundation president Janis Bowdler said in our interview (watch the full interview in the player at the top of the article) that the increase in funding is part of a broad corporate strategy to increase equality.
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CaringCrowd, proudly sponsored by Johnson & Johnson, is a sponsor of GoodCrowd.info.
Lindsey Hagen is an executive producer at Stept Studios, where she produces commercials and other short films. Recently, she turned her lens on amputees in Ecuador, where many do not receive the care they need. She successfully raised $10,000 on CaringCrowd for the film.
Now, she’s raising money again using CaringCrowd, for the Range of Motion Project or ROMP, for a pilot program in Guatemala. Be sure to watch the full interview with Lindsey at in the player at the top of this article.
Check out my free webinar where I share the secrets of successful nonprofit crowdfunding at http://crowdfundingforsocialgood.org.
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Travis Holoway and Rodney Williams hit upon a brilliant strategy to disrupt the payday lending business with a tool that would be much more borrower-friendly. That tool is the SoLo Funds app, available from both the App Store and Google Play.
The app lets borrowers set the terms. Remarkably, lenders are generous. That may have something to do with the fact that in the company’s short operating history they’ve seen the same people become both borrowers and lenders. The community they are building can completely change the short-term lending business.
One key to their success is a new credit scoring model the company developed to measure a borrower’s ability to repay a short-term loan according to the terms they propose.
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Durell Coleman wanted to be an inventor since he was a young child. His brother, five years his senior, died from cancer after graduating from high school. Before he did, he challenged his younger brother to make cancer treatments better. That request was seared into Durell’s memory and changed the direction of his life.
Today, the two-time Stanford grad combines his passion for invention with the spirit of his brother’s challenge. He employs human-centered design skills to develop processes, system and technology that improve people’s lives. Watch the full interview in the player at the top of this article.
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Read the full Forbes article and watch the interview here: http://bit.ly/2l7BCxn.
On May 25, the European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation went into effect. These rules effectively apply to almost every website operated in the world—including your nonprofit or social venture. If you haven’t figured out compliance yet, take a few minutes to read this article to learn how. Let’s start by pointing out that for a small nonprofit or social venture, failing to comply with the GDPR rules could cost up to 10 million euro, almost $12 million. Just hiring a lawyer to defend a case brought by someone in Europe could wipe out all the funds you plan to spend on your mission for years to come. Have I got your attention now? If you haven’t fixed your site to comply, it’s not too late. Amber Hinds, the CEO of Road Warrior Creative, works primarily with social entrepreneurs and nonprofits to build websites. Much of her work over the past two years has been preparing for the implementation of GDPR rules. She joined me for a live interview, which you can watch in the player at the top of this article, and provided additional information to help me understand the rules.
Read the full Forbes article and watch the interview here: http://bit.ly/2l7BCxn.
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Teen suicide risk in Utah is multiples of the national average. During the school year just ended, seven students at one Utah high school died at their own hand. The problem isn’t new this year. Many people are working at strategies to end the pattern. One initiative is the SafeUT app.
Utah kids are encouraged to download the app to their phones and to keep it where they can see it in hopes that the constant reminder will get them to use it when they need it--when they’re thinking about harming themselves.
Anecdotal evidence suggests the app is working. One youth, contemplating a suicide attempt, decided to text a last note to a loved one. Upon opening the phone, he saw the app, opened it and engaged with a professional counselor and decided not to harm himself. He’s thriving today.
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Read the full Forbes article and watch the interview here: http://bit.ly/2LLU4Xw.
The assumption that Philippe Cousteau, 38, had no choice but to follow in the footsteps—er, wake—of his famous, sea-exploring grandfather Jacques Cousteau is wrong. While the younger Cousteau revere’s his grandfather, it was his own experience exploring that connected him to his grandfather’s work.
The senior explorer died in 1997 at the age of 87. By the time the grandson was ready to explore the world, the grandfather was resigned to the role of “elder statesman” rather than intrepid explorer.
An expedition to New Guinea at age 16, with Eugenie Clark, known as the Shark Lady, convinced Philippe Cousteau that there was simply no other way to live.
Read the full Forbes article and watch the interview here: http://bit.ly/2LLU4Xw.
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Rayaan Arif is a serial entrepreneur who has joined the crypto community, seeking now to play a role in matchmaking between funders and new ventures in the space. We spoke about crypto in general to get a better picture of latest trends and issues. Be sure to tune in to the recording.
Preliminary Interview with Rayaan Arif, the Founder - CEO of FundingTree.
The following is a brief pre-interview that provides context for the recorded interview you may watch or listen to at the top of this article.
What is the purpose of your crowdfunding campaign?
We are currently self funded and will be able to complete MVP and launch by end of 2nd Qtr. We plan to raise Series A after that time. The money will be used for Phase 2 Technology build. Market outreach and adding more team members.
Check out my free webinar where I share the secrets of successful nonprofit crowdfunding at http://crowdfundingforsocialgood.org.
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Read the full Forbes article and watch the interview here: http://bit.ly/2LmUq6S.
Scott Stiles, 29, began learning about modern slavery while attending school at Brigham Young University – Hawaii. He decided to simply put slave traders out of business by competing with them in Hong Kong.
His thesis: both the workers caught in debt bondage and their domestic employers there are unsatisfied by the typical arrangements so why not provide competing services that both parties value? The new Fair Employment Agency was born.
The International Labour Organization estimates that 40 million people globally are subjected to some form of modern slavery, about 25 million of whom are subjected to forced labor. The other 15 million are in forced marriages.
Read the full Forbes article and watch the interview here: http://bit.ly/2LmUq6S.
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Read the full Forbes article and watch the interview here: http://bit.ly/2LZNn5k.
Eva Yazhari, co-founder and CEO of Beyond Capital, a nonprofit organization that makes profitable, seed-stage investments in India and East Africa, says the nonprofit status “is vitally important for us.”
Operating as a nonprofit has allowed the organization to attract pro bono resources that made the fund operationally possible.
“If you think about a fund of our size, the economics don't work when you're taking a two and twenty,” she says referring to the standard venture fund model of charging investors a 2% management fee plus a carried interest of 20% of the profits.
The Beyond Capital fund is just $1.8 million, meaning that a 2% management fee would pay only $36,000.
Read the full Forbes article and watch the interview here: http://bit.ly/2LZNn5k.
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Karen Palmer uses kindness and compassion to guide every decision she makes and every action she takes.
Interview with Karen Palmer, the President and Founder of Globalkindness GoingViral.
The following is the pre-interview with Karen Palmer. Be sure to watch the recorded interview above.
What is the problem you solve and how do you solve it?
We bring the power of compassion and kindness to all areas of life. Helping people see the benefits of being compassionate, kind, grateful, and peaceful.
Check out my free webinar where I share the secrets of successful nonprofit crowdfunding at http://crowdfundingforsocialgood.org.
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Read the full Forbes article and watch the interview here: http://bit.ly/2IIz5UB.
Resenting the prevailing narrative about poverty in Haiti, Marc Alain Boucicault, a Fulbright Scholar, and a former economist for the World Bank and Inter-American Development Bank, is putting his experience to work as a social entrepreneur, hoping to change the story and the economy.
Boucicault recently launched Haiti’s first coworking space for technology entrepreneurs in Haiti. He kicked off Banj, as he calls the new venture, with a tech conference that included representatives from Facebook and Google. He hopes to see technology infuse the traditional economy, giving more farmers and business owners access to international markets, eventually narrowing the country’s overwhelming trade deficit.
Banj already has 100 members with four of 13 available offices rented—and it’s profitable, according to Boucicault. He’s built the business with sponsorships rather than loans or equity. The members and tenants cover the infrastructure costs and the partners fund program costs.
Read the full Forbes article and watch the interview here: http://bit.ly/2IIz5UB.
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Joyce Mattera started helping out in her Brooklyn neighbor when she moved there almost four decades ago. Her organization, Children of the City, now serves 1,000 kids every year. She measures success in the accomplishments of the tens of thousands of kids she’s helped along the way.
Interview with Joyce Mattera, the Executive Director of Children of the City.
The following is the pre-interview with Joyce Mattera. Be sure to watch the recorded interview above.
What is the problem you solve and how do you solve it?
Breaking cycles of poverty through education and outreach.
Check out my free webinar where I share the secrets of successful nonprofit crowdfunding at http://crowdfundingforsocialgood.org.
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Read the full Forbes article and watch the interview here: http://bit.ly/2KEPdXC.
Robert Rubinstein, 66, founder of the TBLI Group, has been advocating for sustainable, responsible or impact investing since the mid-1990s. One of the key lessons he’s learned: start big.
“I always focus on irresponsible investors and criminals. And I always communicated in their tribal language, so I only showed them self-interest, opportunity and money flows,” Rubinstein jokes enthusiastically, referring to the investors who didn’t already employ some form of responsible investing.
Those money flows were key. He says others in the space have made the mistake of focusing on the “moral imperative.” Money managers face targets, he notes. If they don’t meet their benchmarks they get fired. The only way to get through to them is to speak their language and to focus on financial returns.
Read the full Forbes article and watch the interview here: http://bit.ly/2KEPdXC.
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Jenny Kassan, a Yale-trained lawyer in California has carved out a niche, working for more than a decade to help women and social entrepreneurs use every legal means to access entrepreneur-friendly, patient capital.
Today, using Regulation CF, along with Regulation D sections 504 and 506(c) along with Regulation A+, she is helping for-profit and nonprofit social entrepreneurs access affordable sources of capital to fund a social mission.
Check out my free webinar where I share the secrets of successful nonprofit crowdfunding at http://crowdfundingforsocialgood.org.
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Scott and Angela Uhland were as sad and afraid as any parents when their three-year-old Lucia was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia. Two years of treatment left her healthy and starting school with her peers.
Scott always hoped to find a way to give back to the team of people who treated Lucia. He was especially fond of the caring people who structured fun experiences for her in the hospital during treatment. It made the whole experience tolerable. So tolerable, in fact, that her memories of the hospital include many positives, including, he admits, some of her favorite foods.
When Scott learned about Johnson & Johnson’s CaringCrowd global health crowdfunding platform, he realized he’d found the way he could give back. Scott is a PhD scientist at J&J. He decided to raise money for the Bass Center for Childhood Cancer and Blood Diseases at the Lucille Packard Children's Hospital at Stanford, specifically targeting their programs supporting fun for cancer patients.
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Kate Hayes joined Echoing Green with a clean mission in mind: help nonprofits build better boards. Too many boards are untrained, lack diversity and aren’t fully engaged. She’s developed programs to help nonprofits and board candidates alike to be more effective.
What is the problem you solve and how do you solve it?
Nonprofit boards are ineffective - members do not reflect the communities they serve, they are not active enough in fundraising, and they are not focused on strategy. Only 16% of board members are under the age of 40; 80% of board members have received no training; and 65% of board members don't think their fellow board members are engaged. At the same time, very few training programs exist, so we are stuck in the cycle of bad boards.
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Fresh, clean water is one of the scarcest resources on the planet and much what we use to water our yards is wasted. Conserva Irrigation is employing technology to shut your system down when the soil contains enough moisture--and much more.
Founder and vice president, Russ Jundt, explains how the technology can reduce water usage by 40 to 60 percent. The systems work well for commercial and residential real estate in the U.S. and around the world.
The company, part of the Outdoor Living Brands, family of franchise companies is working to find new franchisees who want to be a part of saving this scarce resource.
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Sheeza Shah has built a global crowdfunding platform called UpEffect just for social entrepreneurs. Sheeza says her Islamic faith teaches and inspires her to make the world a better place.
Preliminary Interview with Sheeza Shah, the of UpEffect.
The following is a brief pre-interview that provides context for the recorded interview you may watch or listen to at the top of this article.
Website: https://www.theupeffect.com
Check out my free webinar where I share the secrets of successful nonprofit crowdfunding at http://crowdfundingforsocialgood.org.
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Read the full Forbes article and watch the interview here: http://bit.ly/2I71x1X.
Vince Bertram, 50, CEO of Project Lead the Way, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that provides STEM education, curriculum and training to schools, districts and teachers for millions of students across the country, says operating as a mission-driven business is key to having impact.
With $73.2 million in 2017 revenue and programs in 10,500 schools in all 50 states, Project Lead the Way—PLTW—serves millions of kindergarten through 12th-grade students.
Bertram says, “We are a business and if we don’t have a sustainable business model, we can’t provide the service to schools.”
Read the full Forbes article and watch the interview here: http://bit.ly/2I71x1X.
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Read the full Forbes article and watch the interview here: http://bit.ly/2rqqIGr.
“The reason I get up in the morning is to be able to truly give back to humanity. I think we've been given a responsibility to do that, ” says Emily Wright, co-founder of dōTERRA, the private manufacturer and distributor of essential oils.
The scale of the business gives her an unusual ability to have an impact. She notes that the company generates a profit on more than $1 billion in annual revenue. Her current title is founding executive, sales and marketing.
Working with a founding team of six men, she says of women, “I think we think a bit differently.” Of working with an all-male team, she adds, “I love the way they think and everything they contribute; I think they appreciate what I contribute.”
Read the full Forbes article and watch the interview here: http://bit.ly/2rqqIGr.
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Michael Dash, founder and CEO of Parallel HR could use any number of excuses for not making time to give back. He doesn’t. Instead, he travels the world doing good.
Interview with Michael Dash, the CEO/President of Parallel HR Solutions, Inc.
The following is the pre-interview with Michael Dash. Be sure to watch the recorded interview above.
What is the problem you solve and how do you solve it?
At Parallel I help companies identify, attract and hire niche IT talent from around the country. Personally, I have started an addiction support group called FATE - From Addict to Entrepreneur bringing addiction and recovery into the spotlight. I am also a founding member of #Activation group which inspires others to be positive, authentic, passionate, empathetic and resilient people day in and day out.
Check out my free webinar where I share the secrets of successful nonprofit crowdfunding at http://crowdfundingforsocialgood.org.
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With the support of their respective organizations, three women in the nonprofit sector are seeking to shake things up a bit to call attention to inadequate respect, compensation and opportunity.
Heba Mahmoud at the Association of Fundraising Professionals, Emily Rose Patz at Donor Perfect (a division of Softerware) and Tycely Williams of the YWCA have joined forces to bring attention to #metoo issues in a sector where at least some of us didn’t expect to find them.
Many philanthropists are powerful, wealthy men who are accustomed to getting their way. Many fundraising professionals in the nonprofit sector are women whose careers depend upon their ability to get philanthropists to open their wallets. This is a situation ripe with potential for abuse.
Futhermore, the three note that while 73 percent of all nonprofit employees are women, only 45 percent of CEOs are women and only 21 percent of CEOs of nonprofits with $25 million plus budgets are women. Women of color make up only 14 percent of board members.
Be sure to watch this powerful discussion with these three women who educate me on women’s issues in the nonprofit sector.
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This episode is unusually visual. Please consider watching this episode on YouTube here: https://youtu.be/TNrwrwEQdRg.
Eric Hatch thought photographing volunteers from the community of people addicted to alcohol, meth and heroin would make for an interesting artistic challenge. Once he started meeting them and seeing them as human beings, his artistic project became a crusade.
The impact of being seen as a real, three-dimensional person with value to society changes the subjects in a subtle way as well. Having photographed just 50, he’s already found one that quickly decided to get clean and sober, checking herself into rehab.
Be sure to watch the entire interview in the player above to see a sample of the photos as well as to hear about the human beings Eric photographs.
Check out my free webinar where I share the secrets of successful nonprofit crowdfunding at http://crowdfundingforsocialgood.org.
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Read the full Forbes article and watch the interview here: http://bit.ly/2JCt4J2.
Customers at Even Stevens, which promises to give a sandwich for each one it sells, may envision a kitchen in the back where employees make sandwiches for homeless people, but co-founder Sara Day, 28, explains it doesn’t work that way.
Day, the cause director for the 20-store chain operating in six states, says they scrapped the idea of making sandwiches before the company opened its first store in June of 2014.
The team decided against making sandwiches for two reasons.
First, they quickly recognized that making sandwiches at exactly the moment that nonprofit partners would want them would be impossibly difficult. The result of not doing so would be lots of wasted food.
Read the full Forbes article and watch the interview here: http://bit.ly/2JCt4J2.
Check out my free webinar where I share the secrets of successful nonprofit crowdfunding at http://crowdfundingforsocialgood.org.
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Richard Marker has been advising philanthropists for 25 years. Today, he took time to share his insights with us! He not only shares some best practices for philanthropy he offers tips for nonprofits who seek money from them (hint: don’t waste your time building relationships with philanthropists who don’t have an interest in your cause!)
Interview with Richard Marker, the Co-principal/founder of Wise Philanthropy / Wise Philanthropy Institute.
The following is the pre-interview with Richard Marker. Be sure to watch the recorded interview above.
What is the problem you solve and how do you solve it?
We help philanthropists and foundations make wise and informed decisions about their philanthropy strategy - as educators, advisors, writers, speakers.
Check out my free webinar where I share the secrets of successful nonprofit crowdfunding at http://crowdfundingforsocialgood.org.
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Read the full Forbes article and watch the interview here: http://bit.ly/2K8CNIh.
David Shrier left MIT after adopting the school’s mission and applying it to his artificial intelligence startup, Distilled Analytics. He’s hoping to disrupt impact measurement for companies and investors alike with the company’s new product, Distilled Impact.
“MIT's mission is to solve the world's biggest problems through technology,” Shrier says. “We spun out of MIT to look at how can we apply the tools of data and analytics and AI to help address the world's biggest problems.”
“Distilled Analytics is applying data science to critical issues of activating private capital to build a better world,” he says.
Read the full Forbes article and watch the interview here: http://bit.ly/2K8CNIh.
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Read the full Forbes article and watch the interview here: http://bit.ly/2JmRw17.
The youth you hope to help as a social entrepreneur or nonprofit leader may be your most powerful tool for helping them. This message comes from a recent report published by the United Nations University called “Cradled by Conflict.”
The report’s author, Siobhan O’Neil, 39, points out that youth discussed in the report about kids who have been recruited or coerced into joining militant groups are vulnerable but also capable of helping to define and manage their own recovery.
O’Neil, the project lead for children and extreme violence at the U.N.-based think tank, says that studies show that when children are engaged in finding solutions, the solutions can be effective. As an example, she says that students in a high school experiencing violence were asked to help design a program to reduce violence in the schools. The result: violence dropped significantly within a year.
Read the full Forbes article and watch the interview here: http://bit.ly/2JmRw17.
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Offering banking services to unbanked, vulnerable populations is a model for lifting people out of poverty. It is also a model for indentured servitude and even modern day slavery.
Microvest Capital Manages has invested over $1 billion in in microlending firms. Candace Smith, the firm’s head of risk, joined me to talk about how the firm ensures that it invests only on microlending companies that improve lives with a sustainable business model.
Check out my free webinar where I share the secrets of successful nonprofit crowdfunding at http://crowdfundingforsocialgood.org.
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Sebastien Duffillot says he was drawn first to Laos by its people but quickly became an activist for conserving the few remaining elephants in a place known as “the land of a million elephants.”
The Elephant Conservation Center houses 30 asian elephants. They are not required to perform or give rides. They live in a protected forest and are allowed to just enjoy being elephants.
Check out my free webinar where I share the secrets of successful nonprofit crowdfunding at http://crowdfundingforsocialgood.org.
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Read the full Forbes article and watch the interview here: http://bit.ly/2GKqm7j.
Three physicians who are appalled by the mountain of student debt in America have developed a plan to help students pay off their student loans early. Their plan would also provide free services to nonprofit organizations. The trio is now putting their plan into action in the form of a social enterprise.
NanaEfua B. Afoh-Manin, a physician who describes herself as a dancer and simply exudes energy, generally abbreviates her last three names as B.A.M., pronounced bam! As CEO of the Shared Harvest Fund, she is joined by two other female African American medical doctors as co-founders. Briana DeCuir joined B.A.M. for a discussion you can watch in the video player above. Joanne Moreau is the third member of the founding group.
The plan works like this: “debtfreelancers” who are people with student loans willing to volunteer for nonprofits find those opportunities on the Shared Harvest Fund Social Impact Job Board. Both the nonprofit and the debtfreelancers pay modest subscription fees to the Shared Harvest Fund. Additionally, sponsors and donors contribute to the fund. The funds pay down the student loans of the debtfreelancers.
Read the full Forbes article and watch the interview here: http://bit.ly/2GKqm7j.
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Merrilee Buchanan and Carol Storey working to empower women around the globe. Merrilee runs Villa Leadership Group, working to consult, train and coach women to successfully take on greater leadership roles. Carol writes their stores on the Villa Blog.
What is the problem you solve and how do you solve it?
Many women feel isolated today and do not have a community to connect with or realistic relatable role models to turn to for inspiration and guidance. The Villa blog provides a forum for all women who are looking for answers and direction to support their goals and needs.
Check out my free webinar where I share the secrets of successful nonprofit crowdfunding at http://crowdfundingforsocialgood.org.
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Andrew Jewett, Co-CEO of Aperture, is writing a new script for raising money for the firm’s new real estate fund. The firm will issue a new cryptocurrency with each coin representing a share of the fund. The funds raised will be used to rehabilitate homes lost to foreclosure to make them habitable and ready for families to occupy them.
The use of a coin to represent a share of a fund is new. The SEC has argued for some time that the issuance of a new cryptocurrency may constitute the issuance of a security. Many coin issuers have avoided this by issuing their coins outside the U.S. Jewett chose to issue the firm’s new coin as a security under Regulation D section 506(c).
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Bruno Marino, PhD, founder of Planet Alpha Corp, is working to finance projects to preserve, protect and expand forests in cooperation with local communities. Using modern technology, the new company can actually measure the amount of carbon sequestered by the forest. The company is conducting a $50 million Regulation A+ offering that is open to the public.
Preliminary Interview with Bruno D.V. Marino, the founder and CEO of Planet Alpha Corp.
The following is a brief pre-interview that provides context for the recorded interview you may watch or listen to at the top of this article.
What is the purpose of your crowdfunding campaign?
PαC will develop forest carbon storage projects across the planet with a mission to reduce emissions of CO2 and greenhouse gases (“GHG”). We do good by supporting forest landowners and communities for their reduction of CO2 emissions through forest tree planting, growth, conservation and management. The ultimate mission of our company is to reverse and slow deforestation, one of the most challenging global and humanitarian issues of our time and of our future. PαC will develop innovative forest carbon sequestration projects resulting in unique measurement based products that are sold to buyers worldwide, creating revenue while ultimately fulfilling its mission of supporting landowners, reversing deforestation and reducing the burden of atmospheric GHGs. As a for-profit company in what is sometimes perceived as a non-profit endeavor we strive to be seen as a signal of positivism for humanity. Our mission as a successful corporate business is to pursue lofty goals such as improvement of the human condition and the sustainability of the planet for future generations. Science (e.g., monitoring and analysis) will likely not save us but people making choices that restore and defragment nature have great potential to manage the Earth for future generations. Our core principle is embodied in leaving a “legacy” of forest sustainability and vibrant communities that manage forests. Every individual and entity can participate and build a legacy for all.
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Jeff Nash was a resident in this program. Now he’s the executive director of Habilitat. He knows first hand how hard it is to overcome addiction. His insights help him to more effectively help others who are following behind.
Habilitat is a unique rehabilitation program that is funded entirely by enterprises run by the residents to generate the funds to run the programs, including Oahu’s largest Christmas Tree farm. Work not only provides needed funding and makes the program affordable even for those who can’t pay, it also provides an essential element of the recovery program.
Check out my free webinar where I share the secrets of successful nonprofit crowdfunding at http://crowdfundingforsocialgood.org.
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Most people think it’s a typo when they read that Holly Tree Richardson has 25 children. It’s not.
Everyone would agree that raising 25 kids is enough, but not her. She served in the Utah House of Representatives and has been a political activist for decades. She is now a newspaper columnist and works for a nonprofit in Utah as well.
Recently, she visited Bangladesh to see how she and her organization could help the nearly 1 million Rohingya people who are now living in a refugee camp, having just escaped genocide with only their lives. She’s returning next week to start delivering relief.
Check out my free webinar where I share the secrets of successful nonprofit crowdfunding at http://crowdfundingforsocialgood.org.
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Read the full Forbes article and watch the interview here: http://bit.ly/2pMxvcP.
When LeAnn Thieman’s kids were moving out of the house twenty years ago, she says her husband, Mark Thieman, “had this wonderful ideal thing that I was going to stay home and start quilting.” Instead, her “hobby” of writing and speaking took her down another path to becoming a bestselling author.
Working as a nurse for more than two decades, Thieman, now 68, was an unlikely candidate to become a sought-after motivational speaker and author of 21 books that have sold more than 3 million copies. What brought her into the spotlight was a story she didn’t tell publicly for almost two decades after her visit to Vietnam at the end of the war.
Thieman decided to buy a dozen cupcakes at a bake sale benefitting an organization called Friends of Children of Vietnam.” The organization primarily worked to help orphans who were fathered by American soldiers with a goal of finding them homes in the U.S. Before long, Thieman had not only joined the group but had organized a chapter in her home and was planning to adopt one of the children.
Read the full Forbes article and watch the interview here: http://bit.ly/2pMxvcP.
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Read the full Forbes article and watch the interview here: http://bit.ly/2GxPQnq.
Entering a new school in an unfamiliar community, feeling alone and isolated, then 13-year-old Shane Feldman took the advice of a mentor to get involved with school clubs and service organizations. He enjoyed it so much, he organized an event across seven high schools to engage other kids who felt as isolated as he had.
That event, where he hoped to get 50 students to participate, ultimately brought together 400. The following year, the event attracted over 1,000 students from 30 schools.
Those humble, but promising beginnings to Count Me In have now reached over 10 million people around the world. Feldman, now 23, describes it as the “largest youth-led organization in the world.”
Read the full Forbes article and watch the interview here: http://bit.ly/2GxPQnq.
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Pete Martin was challenged to come up with an idea to impact 1 billion people in a way that would positively impact their lives. He decided to reinvent voting by using blockchain technology to create immutable, auditable records of your votes.
He is building a system that will allow you to verify that your vote was counted at the same time the government can verify that you voted--while preserving the anonymity of your vote. No one will know who you voted for except you.
Interview with Pete Martin, the Founder & CEO of Votem.
The following is the pre-interview with Pete Martin. Be sure to watch the recorded interview above.
What is the problem you solve and how do you solve it?
We provide more secure, verifiable, and transparent voting events with better access than paper-based/in-person voting.
Check out my free webinar where I share the secrets of successful nonprofit crowdfunding at http://crowdfundingforsocialgood.org.
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Read the full Forbes article and watch the interview here: http://bit.ly/2p7Ogyb.
Read the full Forbes article and watch the interview here: http://bit.ly/2p7Ogyb.
“Getting mail in prison is like hitting the lottery,” says successful entrepreneur and “returning citizen” Marcus Bullock, 36. That knowledge inspired him to launch Flikshop, a simple app for your phone that allows you to send a postcard to an incarcerated friend or family member.
Bullock’s first post-release enterprise, which he continues to operate, is a contracting firm that employs returning citizens. The firm employs 31 full-time staff, most of whom had been incarcerated.
Because people in youth detention facilities, jails and prisons don’t have access to phones and the internet, receiving mail is important. “That's the one thing that you have to know that someone on the planet cares about you,” Bullock says.
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Stephanie Bowers launched her nonprofit seven years ago after seeing mothers reusing disposable diapers in a struggling community in Peru. She really hit her stride after she found CaringCrowd and started crowdfunding for her organization. With 25 campaigns under her belt, she’s learned to ask for what she needs and to get what she asks for.
Preliminary Interview with Stephanie Bowers, the Founder of Jake’s Diapers.
The following is a brief pre-interview that provides context for the recorded interview you may watch or listen to at the top of this article.
Crowdfunding page: https://www.caringcrowd.org/empower-250-mothers-haiti
What is the purpose of your crowdfunding campaign?
Living in extreme poverty, most Haitian mothers are forced to choose between food & diapers. This has devastating consequences not only for basic sanitation and hygiene, but also on the empowerment of mothers. Diapers are an overlooked, yet so crucial basic need.
This project will provide cloth diaper kits that contain a supply of cloth diapers to last from birth to potty training to Haitian mothers in need.
Check out my free webinar where I share the secrets of successful nonprofit crowdfunding at http://crowdfundingforsocialgood.org.
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Read the full Forbes article and watch the interview here: http://bit.ly/2Fay7li.
Just back from Korea where he served as an NBC commentator on the Winter Olympics, Apolo Ohno joined me for a discussion about skating and his new venture in cryptocurrencies.
Ohno, who won a total of eight medals, including two gold medals, as a short track speed skater in three Olympics, beginning with the 2002 games in my home town of Salt Lake City, worked as an NBC commentator for the first time in Sochi.
Of the just completed games in PyeongChang, he said, “The overall experience was phenomenal,” adding, “I feel blessed to be a part of them. I love going to the Olympics.”
Read the full Forbes article and watch the interview here: http://bit.ly/2Fay7li.
Check out my free webinar where I share the secrets of successful nonprofit crowdfunding at http://crowdfundingforsocialgood.org.
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John Popel joined me to tell me about his new app, Chummy, that helps you ask for help when you need it and give help when you can. It is available both in app store for IOS devices and in Google Play for Android devices.
Interview with John Popel, the Head of Growth of Chummy.
The following is the pre-interview with John Popel. Be sure to watch the recorded interview above.
What is the problem you solve and how do you solve it?
In fact, Chummy serves to solve a set of personal social problems:
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In modern cities, people face daily problems alone. Gone are the days when people borrowed a cup of sugar from the neighbor or shared a cold beer with a thirsty stranger.
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6/10 Americans gravitate toward paying it forward and helping like-minded people. The issue is there’s been no way to identify the kind, like-minded fellows in the city. There’s been no safe and fun tool for engaging in daily random acts of kindness.
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Even having hundreds of virtual “friends,” people feel the lack of real chums who matter and on whom they can rely. The “friends” we make online nowadays are often inauthentic and have no value in real life.
Check out my free webinar where I share the secrets of successful nonprofit crowdfunding at http://crowdfundingforsocialgood.org.
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Read the full Forbes article and watch the interview here: http://bit.ly/2Cfbnjd.
Nancy Mahon, SVP of global philanthropy and corporate citizenship for The Estee Lauder Companies and global executive director for the MAC AIDS Fund, has some counsel for social entrepreneurs and other business leaders interested in impact. It begins with context. We are in “the golden age of purpose.”
“We are seeing an acceleration of a trend that has been in motion for some time where consumers are voting with their dollars and they are saying yes we care that you care. We share your values and we want not only a good financial model, but great products and a place to work and a great stock to invest in, we want a sustainable business. You have to make the world a better place,” Mahon says.
MAC Cosmetics, an Estée Lauder brand, has been selling Viva Glam lipstick for more than 20 years and giving every penny of the retail revenue to the MAC AIDS Fund to fight AIDS. At the end of 2017, the lifetime total raised reached $480 million with $25 million raised in 2017.
Read the full Forbes article and watch the interview here: http://bit.ly/2Cfbnjd.
Check out my free webinar where I share the secrets of successful nonprofit crowdfunding at http://crowdfundingforsocialgood.org.
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Robyn Shumer didn’t ever want to weigh 40 pounds. Before she was ten years old, she developed anorexia. To this day, she faces the effects of the disease. Courageously, she recently opened up about her story to help raise more than $10,000 for Project Heal on CaringCrowd.org.
Preliminary Interview with Robyn Shumer Who Raised Over $10K for Project Heal.
The following is a brief pre-interview that provides context for the recorded interview you may watch or listen to at the top of this article.
Crowdfunding page: https://www.caringcrowd.org/heal-people-eating-disorders
What is the purpose of your crowdfunding campaign?
Our goal is to provide treatment assistance to as many applicants as possible.
Project HEAL’s financial assistance program is their trademark service. They fund both inpatient, residential, intensive outpatient/partial hospitalization, as well as outpatient treatment for individuals who wish to recover from eating disorders but find their financial means lacking. Project HEAL’s primary criteria for selecting grant recipients is motivation. They fund applicants who want to recover from their eating disorders, and are ready to do the hard work required.
Check out my free webinar where I share the secrets of successful nonprofit crowdfunding at http://crowdfundingforsocialgood.org.
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Read the full Forbes article and watch the interview here: http://bit.ly/2BqpYXU.
Even as India is increasingly recognized as a global power, the developing country continues to wrestle with vexing challenges. Some of the country’s leading entrepreneurs and corporate executives have come together to help scale solutions.
Atul Satija, 40, is leading the charge through an organization called The/Nudge Foundation. He says, “In India, we are adding 1 million people every month to the labor market. Roughly 50% come from poor backgrounds; more than 25% are school dropouts and 50% lack skills to be employable. At the same time, there is a skill deficit of 400 million people in the country in the foreseeable future.”
After just a few years of addressing this problem head on with a program called Gurukul, the leaders recognized that the social challenges in the country required additional interventions if poverty is to be eliminated. In response, they created another program called N/Core to incubate high-potential nonprofits to accelerate their scale in reaching millions of people.
Read the full Forbes article and watch the interview here: http://bit.ly/2BqpYXU.
Check out my free webinar where I share the secrets of successful nonprofit crowdfunding at http://crowdfundingforsocialgood.org.
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Read the full Forbes article and watch the interview here: http://bit.ly/2BqpYXU.
Even as India is increasingly recognized as a global power, the developing country continues to wrestle with vexing challenges. Some of the country’s leading entrepreneurs and corporate executives have come together to help scale solutions.
Atul Satija, 40, is leading the charge through an organization called The/Nudge Foundation. He says, “In India, we are adding 1 million people every month to the labor market. Roughly 50% come from poor backgrounds; more than 25% are school dropouts and 50% lack skills to be employable. At the same time, there is a skill deficit of 400 million people in the country in the foreseeable future.”
After just a few years of addressing this problem head on with a program called Gurukul, the leaders recognized that the social challenges in the country required additional interventions if poverty is to be eliminated. In response, they created another program called N/Core to incubate high-potential nonprofits to accelerate their scale in reaching millions of people.
Read the full Forbes article and watch the interview here: http://bit.ly/2BqpYXU.
Check out my free webinar where I share the secrets of successful nonprofit crowdfunding at http://crowdfundingforsocialgood.org.
Never miss another interview! Join Devin here: http://bit.ly/joindevin.
Serial entrepreneur Mark Jeffrey has developed a new platform using mobile devices that could give billions of people in the world access to emergency response for the first time.
Available today, the Guardian Circle app allows you to build a network of friends who may be willing to come to your aid when you’re in a pickle or even have a real emergency.
The platform incorporates five functions the use blockchain technology. The company is launching an ICO or initial coin offering now to fund the growth of the platform.
Check out my free webinar where I share the secrets of successful nonprofit crowdfunding at http://crowdfundingforsocialgood.org.
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When Ken Martin left “Wall Street” to make a dent on “Main Street” he really wanted to make a difference. With so much of the economy still operating in small businesses in the old economy, he saw a need--and when an entrepreneur sees a need he sees an opportunity--small business lending for established companies.
Regulation CF, the new crowdfunding investment rules issued by the SEC effective in 2016, create a new opportunity for ordinary investors to put their money to work in the businesses they frequent.
For these businesses, a debt approach makes more sense than equity. As Martin says, “What good are seven shares of the local hardware store?” More to the point, the hardware store can afford to pay back a loan with interest. That’s a deal that is relatively easy for investors to grasp as well.
Check out my free webinar where I share the secrets of successful nonprofit crowdfunding at http://crowdfundingforsocialgood.org.
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Read the full Forbes article and watch the interview here: http://bit.ly/2FViACL.
James Hagen admits his health wasn’t great while working as a hedge fund analyst. The stress and a chronic disease diagnosed as a kid left him looking for answers.
When his parents decided to retire from their catalog dental supply business, he recognized the old catalog business needed to be converted to an e-commerce model and hoped to find a lower-stress environment. He decided it was time to head for home in Minnesota.
His research into better health, not surprisingly led him to focus on diet, exercise and sleep. Then, attuned to the dental industry, he began finding evidence that better oral care can improve whole-body health.
Read the full Forbes article and watch the interview here: http://bit.ly/2FViACL.
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Kevin Adair and Franz “Franky Fanfan started working on the Island of Hispañola in 2005, hoping to bring solar cooking to the Dominican Republic. Slowly, over the years, their focus has shifted to Haiti, where they are working to eliminate charcoal in favor of briquettes made from recycled paper, cardboard and sawdust.
Up to 90 percent of the energy present in wood is lost when it is turned into charcoal. When you light a piece of charcoal, you are left with only 10 percent of the energy present in the wood used to make it.
Adair and Fanfan are using a process for making briquettes that doesn’t start with burning away most of the energy. Instead, the briquettes are made in a slurry, formed and dried and can then be burned efficiently in special, highly efficient wood-burning stoves.
Their approach is to convert institutional kitchens from charcoal stoves to their briquettes and high-efficiency stoves. Once done, a kitchen can cook more quickly and efficiently at lower cost, with fewer health effects on those cooking and far superior outcomes for the environment.
Check out my free webinar where I share the secrets of successful nonprofit crowdfunding at http://crowdfundingforsocialgood.org.
With most community college students hoping to transfer to a four-year college, statistics show that most don’t transfer and only half of those who do, finish. The Kaplan Educational Foundation, headed by Nancy Lee Sanchez, is working to help community college students transfer successfully to universities and earn bachelor's degrees.
Interview with Nancy Lee Sánchez, the Executive Director of Kaplan Educational Foundation.
The following is the pre-interview with Nancy Lee Sánchez. Be sure to watch the recorded interview above.
What is the problem you solve and how do you solve it?
Problem: 81% of first-time beginning community college students from the bottom income quartile aspire to complete a bachelor’s degree, but only 21% transfer to four year institutions within 5 years, and only 10% attain a bachelor’s degree. (Horn & Skomsvold (2011); Shapiro et al. (2013)). Bachelor’s degree holders earn 31% more than those with an associate’s degree and 84% more than those with just a high school diploma. (Carnevale, Rose, and Cheah, 2011).
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After a health crisis in her family, Margaux Khoury began working to create a healthy, environmentally friendly deodorant for herself and her family. After developing one that worked, she decided to share it with the world. She calls it The Best Deodorant In The World and hopes it really is the best deodorant for the world.
Interview with Margaux Khoury, the CEO of The Best Deodorant In The World.
The following is the pre-interview with Margaux Khoury. Be sure to watch the recorded interview above.
What is the problem you solve and how do you solve it?
Two problems in the natural deodorant industry:
Problem 1: Natural deodorants don't work or they irritate pits Problem 2: packaging is plastic or glass (not eco)
We solve both these problems: Solution 1: our natural deodorant works even in hot weather (really effective) Solution 2: we custom created a 100% biodegradable packaging that you could literally throw right in your compost.
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Ann Webb envisioned herself on stage, making a fortune and changing the world. She set out to do just that. Then an “impression” inspired her to head in another direction.
Unsure if it would work, Webb decided to take her life skills training that had been helping people in the US to be more successful and apply the same techniques to helping people in Africa to envision and live more abundant lives. It worked.
Over the past five years, she’s taken hundreds of people to Africa in a dual mission to help the people in Kenya, Rwanda, Uganda and Ghana to become more prosperous. At the same time, she focuses on helping the people she takes to become real humanitarians, capable of changing even more lives.
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Halal investing forbids investing in debt, making many traditional investment vehicles off-limits to Muslims seeking to follow Sharia guidance. As a result, many in the Muslim community have limited their investments to cash savings and real estate, leaving them poorly diversified. Junaid Wahedna decided to fix that.
Wahedna, who graduated from Columbia University and spent years working in finance in New York City, was in a good position to launch Wahed Invest, making Halal investing easy.
“I've been very, very fortunate to have a good education, the resources and wherewithal to be able to do something and so I felt quite personally responsible to give back,” Wahenda says. “What right do I have not to actually go in there and fix this problem?”
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Zachary Schleien lost a friend, Louis, who suffered from schizophrenia, in a tragic and unnecessary death. His friend’s passing inspired him to do something.
Having just been introduced at work to CaringCrowd, Johnson & Johnson’s crowdfunding platform to support global public health efforts, Zach launched a campaign to raise money to help train hundreds of parents of children with schizoaffective disorder. The training, NAMI Basics, is led by the National Alliance on Mental Illness.
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Kathleen Kelly Janus, Stanford Lecturer and author of Social Startup Success, began her education in social entrepreneurship as a child, skipping church with her parents to help the homeless. That foundation led her to start a nonprofit called Spark alongside her legal career. The book is about how to scale a nonprofit, with a focus on helping one reach a key milestone of sustainability: a $2 million annual budget. Written from the perspective of 100 nonprofits who did just that, the fresh take on growth in this key sector of the economy, the book is a must-read for nonprofit leaders.
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BDC is the only bank in Canada focused entirely on serving entrepreneurs. The bank is so excited about serving social entrepreneurs that it has a wide-ranging program to support them and provide the same banking services they provide to other entrepreneurs. They don’t stop there. Craig Rayan, Director of Social Entrepreneurship says, the bank became a certified B Corp five years ago.
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Originally from inner-city Baltimore, Maryland, successful tech entrepreneur Clarence Wooten, 46, got into tech and computers through video games as a kid. He played on the old Atari, ColecoVision and Commodore platforms.
From those modest beginnings, a career blossomed. As a youth, Wooten looked up to people like Bill Gates and Reginald Lewis as role models. Lewis, the richest African American in the 1980s was born and raised in Baltimore. He died in 1993 after taking control of and subsequently growing Beatrice—the first African American-owned billion-dollar company. The power of role models would stay with Wooten throughout his career.
Still in Baltimore in the late 90s, Wooten founded ImageCafe, a startup that provided website templates for small businesses, something like what Wix and Squarespace do today.
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At 29, Brett Durbin went to Tegucigalpa, Honduras to find a cause for his church to support. He’d never imagined how this would change his life. The organization he ultimately founded, Trash Mountain Project, serves the people who make their living—such as it is—by scavenging in the developing world’s trash dumps.
With fires constantly smoldering, burning a mix of toxic and noxious materials, these are literally hellish places, Durbin, now 37, explains. Toddlers, adults and the aged—entire multi-generational families—hunt for food to eat and anything of value to sell crawling and clawing through everything from animal to industrial waste.
After visiting Honduras, Durbin looked for an organization focused on serving the trash dump communities he’d seen. A professor counseled him, “The last thing we need is another nonprofit organization.”
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Fresh out of college, Rob Gitin took a job working in homeless services along with one of his classmates, Mumtaz Mustapha. One day, she said, “Wouldn’t it be wonderful if one day someone started a program that was specifically focused on the kids who either got kicked out of our program or who tell us that they’ve known about it for five years before they ever set foot in it?”
Over the months that followed, the conversation turned from someone else doing it to the two of them. One day, twenty years ago, with an Echoing Green Foundation grant deadline coming the next day, the two decided to apply for the funds to launch At The Crossroads, serving the youth no one else could or would in San Francisco.
Twenty years later, Gitin, now 43, is still at it. Mustapha left after four years to go to medical school and has become a financial supporter. Today, the organization has an annual budget of $1.7 million.
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Chris Soukup, 38, is a third-generation member of the deaf community. As a child, he remembers his paternal grandparents visiting each week with a list of phone calls to be made by his mother, who could hear. In those days, before the relay services offered by companies like Communication Service for the Deaf, or CSD, the nonprofit that Soukup now runs, members of the deaf community were effectively prevented from communicating by phone.
Soukup’s life was also influenced by injustice. His grandfather lost his farm when a banker explained he didn’t believe a deaf man could operate a farm.
There are approximately 1 million functionally deaf people in the United States. As many as 14% of adults are deaf or hard of hearing, many of them over the age of 65. About 8 million are hard of hearing, that is, they have difficulty hearing a normal conversation even when wearing a hearing aid. About 70% of deaf people are unemployed or underemployed.
For more insights, be sure to watch my interview with Soukup in the video player above.
About 40 years ago, CSD was founded by Soukup’s father, Ben Soukup, who was also deaf. While many people assumed that the younger Soukup would follow in his father’s footsteps at the helm of the organization, he did not, at least not until he got to college.
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Marty Tate, partner at Carman Lenhoff Israelsen, explains in this interview what a SAFE or Simple Agreement for Future Equity is and just how safe it is for both issuers and investors. If you’ve ever wanted to invest in an equity crowdfunding campaign, you do not want to miss this episode.
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Catarina Schwab, 43, and Lindsay Beck have set out to completely revolutionize philanthropy. Their firm, NPX, Inc., has introduced a new security to Wall Street called the “Impact security,” which they hope will end the practice of funding nonprofits without impact.
Problems in philanthropy
Ted Williams, Managing Partner at Springbok Partners and an advisor to NPX, explained the problems in philanthropy today. “The nonprofit sector is woefully lacking creative destruction. Mediocre and weak organizations are still attracting funding and the best organizations are not accessing the funding they need to achieve real impact. The only way to get to a more efficient and robust nonprofit market is to reward good organizations and penalize bad ones. This will only occur when there are economic consequences tied to impact.”
For her part, Schwab says, “The nonprofit capital market is opaque and inefficient. It is a trillion-dollar industry and the money is being wasted. And it's being wasted at the expense of human lives and the environment.” Watch the interview with Schwab in the video player above.”
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Type 1 Diabetics, those who typically contract the disease as children and not as a result of a lack of diet or exercise, are entirely dependent upon insulin. Today’s insulin delivery and blood glucose monitoring use devices--insulin pumps and continuous glucose monitors--that must be connected to them all the time. Finding a comfortable, invisible, convenient place to hold those devices is a relatively new challenge that Pocket Innerwear is helping to solve.
Interview with Laurel Bloomfield, the Co-Founder VP of Pocket Innerwear.
The following is the pre-interview with Laurel Bloomfield. Be sure to watch the recorded interview above.
What is the problem you solve and how do you solve it?
We strive to make life with Diabetes easier. While insulin pump therapy provides greater diabetes control, it also causes complications and questions. Where do I put this thing? Can I wear my regular clothes? What if I drop it? What if I pull out my site too early? Can I run, jump and play? What about night time? What is the PumpPocket by Pocket Innerwear? This patented design was created so people who are insulin dependent would have a clever place to put their insulin pump. There is an outlet to allow the pump's tubing to safely be fed through the back and connect to the infusion site. Your pump remains safe, secure and concealed while preventing your tubing from getting caught or tangled. All of this in discreet layering undergarments!
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Toshiharu Kano, 71, was born seven months after the United States dropped the bomb on Hiroshima on August 6, 1945. Pregnant with Kano and living less than 1 kilometer or about half a mile from the center of the blast, his mother Shizzue Neomoto miraculously survived. She took her two children to a nearby military base. His brother, just 18 months old, died within 60 days of the bombing.
As a survivor, Kano endured a variety of physical challenges. His immune system was impaired and got mumps seven times. Labeled by society as defective, Kano and his family were spurned. By age ten, he felt so rejected that he seriously contemplated suicide. He was repeatedly told he was damaged goods.
Ultimately, Kano and his family immigrated to the United States. Here in the U.S., Kano thrived. He says he's missed only 10 days of work or school in the past 47 years. He attended the University of Utah and earned a BS in mechanical engineering.
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Dontello Antonio, 27, is a filmmaker who is bringing attention to taboo subjects, from drug abuse to sex trafficking in his new short film "The Hopeless Journey." While not strictly autobiographical, the story incorporates personal life experiences.
The following is the pre-interview with Dontell Antonio. Be sure to watch the recorded interview above.
What is the problem you solve and how do you solve it?
Everything I do is to empower the people to be great at what they love and feel they should strive very hard at what they love.
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Vivien Hoexter said she had trouble getting up in the morning to sell consumer goods so she sought out an opportunity to lead a more mission-driven, fulfilling life. Along the way, she’s helped nonprofits raise $1.5 billion.
The following is the pre-interview with Vivien Hoexter. Be sure to watch the recorded interview above.
What is the problem you solve and how do you solve it?
Nonprofits, like businesses, need revenue to grow and thrive. With more than 1 million nonprofits in the United States, there is increasing competition for philanthropic dollars. We empower nonprofits to articulate their visions and goals in a compelling way, create plans to achieve those goals and generate the philanthropic revenue needed to implement the plans.
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Interview with Karli Sue VerHoef, the Director of Sunshine Heroes Foundation.
As a child, Karli Sue VerHoef was a quadriplegic. At the time, she was told she always would be. She came to appreciate how she depended on others for help. When she recovered, she considered it such a gift that she has devoted her life to serving children.
On January 15, 2018, VerHoef will be leading a community service project for the Children’s Justice Centers in both Salt Lake County and Utah County. The event includes the Utah Chapter of the Cornell Alumni Association and the All Ivy Plus community as well as the Your Mark on the World Center community (that means you if you’re reading this). Learn more and register here: http://bit.ly/CJCproject.
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Interview with Jacob Allen, the Managing Director of Cicero Social Impact.
For nearly a year, Jacob Allen has been working on a comprehensive report about philanthropy in the State of Utah. While some of the lessons are unique to Utah--the most philanthropically generous state in the nation--most of the insights are generally applicable to charitable giving and the operation of nonprofits anywhere.
What is the problem you solve and how do you solve it?
We help mission-driven individuals and organizations maximize their impact rather than simply providing funding or services. We leverage the best analytic, strategic, measurement, and performance practices from business and apply them to solving social needs.
Download the Giving State Report here: http://www.cicerosocialimpact.org/givingstate/
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Interview with Gabriela Porras, the Project Manager / Student Lead of Pangea Empowerment and Paul Wilson of Brigham Young University-Hawaii.
Gabriela Porras and a team of students at Brigham Young University of Hawaii are raising money to help an entrepreneur in Ghana raise the money she needs to launch a business selling handicrafts via the web to consumers in the developed world.
Crowdfunding page: https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/pangea-empowerment-patience-s-beads/x/17606703#/
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“We have grown far too tolerant of businesses not acting in alignment with the public good,” said Derek Fetzer, director of Johnson and Johnson’s CaringCrowd crowdfunding site for global health. “Shouldn’t all business, all entrepreneurship be for the public good?”
“The spirit of social entrepreneurs is crucial in solving global health challenges, and has been a driving force in uncovering innovative solutions to tackle the ever-changing global health landscape,” Carol Pandak, PolioPlus director for Rotary International, said. (I am a member of Rotary and once wrote an article for the Rotarian Magazine.)
Pandak noted that global health issues hold a unique space on the plant. “It could be easy to diagnose many global health challenges as problems of individual regions and nations.” After all, it has been decades since anyone in the Americas got polio.
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Jennifer Williams, a school teacher in Arkansas, has now paid off all nine of her payday loans and hasn’t had one outstanding now for two years. She’s a success story for Southern Bancorp.
Modeled on Shore Bank, which failed during the Great Recession, Southern Bancorp was organized by a collection of Arkansas’s most prominent people, including then Governor Clinton and Rob Walton, a member of the Walton family. Unlike Shore Bank, Southern Bancorp is profitable and growing today.
“Governor Clinton wanted to create economic opportunities and stimulate the economy in Arkansas’s delta region, one of the most persistently poor communities in all of America,” says today’s CEO Darrin Williams. He notes that Hillary Clinton served on the founding board of directors for the bank.
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Everyone seems to want in on it. Even my septuagenarian neighbor who recently retired from her position as a clerk has taken up trading cryptocurrencies. Bitcoin jumped in value more than 50% in October alone. Hundreds of millions of dollars are being raised in new coin offerings every month. This surprising source of capital may be a natural match for social entrepreneurs.
Dan Bates, 60, the founder, president and CEO of ImpactPPA is now conducting presales in anticipation of a $50 million initial coin offering or ICO in the coming weeks. Bates has been doing clean energy projects in the developing world for a decade but ImpactPPA is a new business.
It will use not one but two cryptocurrencies. The first, a utility token, it calls NRG will be used to sell the electricity it produces on micro-grids and small utility-scale solar and wind projects. The second token, MPAQ, the one that will be offered in the ICO, will give the holders a voice in selecting the next projects. In part to avoid securities issues, MPAQ holders will not receive ownership or dividends.
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"I look for a great communicator who can tell some of the most important stories in the world. Also, someone who won't complain about staying in a $2-a-night room with rats and roaches," New York Times columnist Nick Kristof summarized by email what he looks for in his annual "Win-a-Trip" contest.
Each year, Kristof of the New York Times holds a "Win-a-Trip" contest to find a student journalist to travel with him on a reporting trip. For 2017, he selected Aneri Pattani to accompany him to Liberia.
Pattani, 22, described her experience as a "one of the best" she's had.
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We’re all familiar with payday lenders who are providing loans to people who can least afford it at interest rates that shock the greediest of corporate bankers. Can a fintech company that lends at rates up to 200% annual percentage rates ever be considered ethical? In this piece, I’m going to share my conclusion.
To help me make this evaluation, I turned to Morgan Simon, a vocal advocate for using a social justice lens for impact investing. She is the author of Real Impact: The New Economics of Social Change and Managing Director of Candide Group. She framed the question for me:
In general, when we think about fintech, from microfinance in the global south to financial services for working class populations in the US, we think a lot about the question of fairness. It’s common for a social enterprise to focus on providing better rates to a customer compared to what they had access to. But better does not always mean fair. So, we always look at a company and try to assess--is the financing non-extractive, meaning the customer receives more value than the company? Is the operating margin reasonable compared to the consumer value created? Does the product help build assets as opposed to focusing predominately on consumption? Each company and case is different, and hence it’s impossible to say that a certain range of APRs enables fairness. It’s important to take each company case-by-case and try to assess its particular impact.
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One of the most controversial topics in impact investing is whether it is possible or fair to expect market returns on investments that do good. Gloria Nelund, chairman and CEO of TriLinc Global, says yes.
Nelund says her firm, which manages about $320 million, is designed to prove it. “The whole firm is really dedicated to creating and sponsoring funds that will prove to investors that they don't have to give up investment returns to do good.”
TriLinc is a private investment fund that lends money to small businesses, including businesses in the developing world. To do business effectively in frontier and emerging markets, the firm partners with local experts.
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Fifty bucks and five minutes will make you an impact investor. I did it. So can you.
Swell Investing is a new impact investing platform created by social intrapreneur Dave Fanger, 40, of Pacific Life. The idea came, Fanger says, five years ago, thinking about how consumers were increasingly making buying decisions based on social impact and thought there ought to be a way for investors to do the same.
What he came up with incorporated the latest fintech tools for investing, commonly known as robo-advisors paired with impact data to make informed decisions about impact. The technology allows for accounts as small as $50 with annual fees of just 75 basis points or 37.5 cents on a $50 account.
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Meghan Waldron is 15 years old, runs track for her high school, plays in the school orchestra and is working on a novel. She is remarkable in many ways. One way is that she has progeria, a condition so rare only about 300 kids in the world have it; few are expected to live past their 20th birthday--unless promising new treatments are found.
Waldron recently completed her first book, a children's book called Running on the Wind about a bird born under a rock that doesn't learn to fly but instead to run.
The book was published by The Red Fred Project, a nonprofit publishing company that helps "children who live in extraordinary circumstances" like Waldron's to create a children's book that will both serve as an adult-like achievement to bring a sense of fulfillment to their lives and as a lasting legacy, evidence that their short lives mattered. The company has now published ten books, is working on an 11th and on a plan to publish many more in the future.
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The fleeting memories of her childhood didn’t make sense until her mother told her the story of the poverty they’d experienced when Sheryle Gillihan was just a toddler. Now a CEO serving people experiencing poverty, she says she’s “come full circle.”
As the head of Causelabs, a public benefit corporation that provides strategy, design, prototyping and software development services, she is focusing the social enterprise on reaching profitability while staying true to the mission and values of the business.
The company finished 2016 with $1.7 million in revenue, an office in Denver and 16 employees. She says the company has pared expenses, including the office in Denver to give the firm a fighting chance at 2017 profitability.
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Alex Scott, the second child and only daughter among four children, must have been born in 1996 with the genes of a social entrepreneur. Her resilience and her perseverance are the hallmarks of almost all successful entrepreneurs.
Born prematurely, she manifested her fighting spirit immediately, defying the odds and quickly earning the right to leave the hospital. Her mother, Liz Scott, now 47, says it was a glimpse of what was to come.
Before her first birthday, Alex was diagnosed with neuroblastoma, a pediatric cancer. She would battle the cancer for the rest of her short life, about seven and a half more years.
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Three impact investment players provide an interesting view of the broader impact investing ecosystem and how all the parts work together. Their approach helps to make capital more available to social entrepreneurs and investment opportunities open to more investors, including some ordinary investors.
The three include Impact Assets, New Media Ventures and Better Ventures. Impact Assets, a nonprofit asset manager holding exclusively philanthropic capital, serves as a hub in this part of the impact investing world. New Media Ventures and Better Ventures use Impact Assets in strategic but almost opposite ways.
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The Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN estimates that "roughly one-third of the food produced in the world for human consumption every year gets lost or wasted."
Recognizing the journalistic injunction to avoid hyperbole, that truly is an enormous problem.
Justin Kamine, his brother Matthew and his father Hal determined that was just what they were looking for: an enormous opportunity. The Kamines have been developing infrastructure scale-projects since the senior Hal got into the cogeneration business in the mid-80s.
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Around the world, local parks and recreation leaders serve without much notoriety or attention. You will immediately recognize the value parks bring to your community the moment you think of your city, town or neighborhood without them.
Beyond the parks, the activities within them provide a lifeline to underserved and at-risk community members. The hydro therapy pool in the Town of Parker in suburban Denver is an example of a community resource that is making a difference there without making much of a splash.
Deni Parker, 25, runs the therapy pool programs. The classes--and for now she teaches them all herself--serve only up to a handful at a time. Many of the sessions are one-on-one. A six-week course meeting twice per week costs just $30--about the cost of one session of physical therapy. In other words, the Parker therapy program costs just about one-twelfth as much.
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“Social entrepreneurship has proven to provide impactful innovations for poverty alleviation ,” says Abby Maxman, President of OxFam America. Maxman was among a diverse group of people working on poverty eradication who contributed to a recent roundtable discussion on ending extreme poverty and homelessness.
The idea of ending poverty seemed absurd a generation ago. Today, the idea has been enshrined officially in the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals or SDGs as something the world should achieve by 2030. The roundtable participants addressed a range of topics, including a focus on how social entrepreneurs would help achieve the SDGs. Watch the 80-minute discussion in the video player above.
Judith Walker, the chief operating officer for African Clean Energy, which sells clean cookstoves that generate electricity, explains the need for social entrepreneurs to see problems as opportunities. “Energy costs are very high compared to income in the markets we deal with, meaning its either not realistically accessible or almost certainly not reliable. This should be seen as an opportunity to improve the goods and services available in order to relieve burden and create other options for those struggling with any or consistent income.”
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Devin Thorpe Host - YMOTW Mark Horvath Invisible People James Mayfield CHOICE Humanitarian John Hewko Rotary International Anne Kjear Riichert REDI School of Digital Integration Eytan Stibbe Vital Capital Laurent Lamothe LSL World Initiative Morgan Simon Transform Finance Arlene Samen One Heart World-Wide Judith Joan Walker African Clean Energy Alicia Wallace All Across Africa Katie Meyler More Than Me Renana Unknown Vital Capital
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Have you ever had a question you wanted to ask a doctor but couldn't find one to ask? Have you ever wanted a second opinion but decided it would take too long or cost too much?
Alice Crisci did. Unlike the rest of us who'd had such problems, she decided to do something about it. She founded Ovum Medical to provide MedAnswers, an iPhone app that gives patients direct access to doctors and other experts to answer questions. Crisci plans to launch Android and web versions of the service before the end of 2017.
She traces the history of the company to her own scare with cancer. "I was diagnosed with breast cancer when I was only 31 years old." Three weeks after her cancer diagnosis she launched a nonprofit called Fertile Action.
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Michael Trainer, 40, one of the founders of the successful Global Citizen events in Central Park in New York City, had a life-altering experience following the third concert. His father was diagnosed with dementia.
Trainer had been focused almost exclusively on Global Citizen, an event that people earn the right to attend by doing good deeds, activating tremendous cumulative impact through collective advocacy, donations and volunteerism. The shock of his father's diagnosis caused him to reassess his priorities.
Recognizing that Global Citizen was in good hands, he left and began researching dementia, its causes and treatments. He came away determined to help people achieve "Peak Mind" and so created a new social enterprise that would encourage people to improve their health with an eye on preventing dementia.
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A lesson all successful entrepreneurs seem to learn quickly is that they must solve a problem. For social entrepreneurs, this is even more important. If people are literally dying as they wait for a solution, the ones who show up to help have a greater obligation to do so something that will solve the problem—at least for some of those experiencing it.
Classy, which operates a crowdfunding platform for nonprofits and social entrepreneurs, has created an award the company calls the Collaborative + Classy Award to recognize social entrepreneurs who “are tackling some of the world’s most complex problems,” according to a company press release. The awards were presented on June 16, 2017 in Boston.
For this article, the ten winners and Classy co-founder Pat Walsh, the company’s chief impact officer, came together to record a discussion about the problems they solve and the work they are doing to solve them. You can watch the entire discussion with the winners in the video player at the top of this article.
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Imagine Dragons lead singer Dan Reynolds is hosting the LoveLoud music Festival in Orem, Utah on August 26 to benefit LGBTQ youth with the explicit blessing of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
The singer, acknowledging that his life as a musician requires him to be an entrepreneur, says he avoids the business side as much as possible to focus on the creative side, adding that the mission of bringing people together influences his work.
In a face-to-face conversation you can watch in the video player at the top of the article, Reynolds says the mission of the music festival is "to provide a platform--a place--where the community can all come together from all different political climates--religion, non-religion, whatever it is--where everyone from all different cultures come together and agree on one thing."
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Chris Bray, a fixture in Utah's nonprofit community, has launched a social enterprise she hopes will power the rest of her career with still greater impact.
Chris recognized that nonprofits are always looking for more funding, especially from funding partners that understand their mission and objectives and will support them appropriately. She decided to become such a funder.
She created Upscale Purse, an online retailer that sells new and used high-quality purses and gives 10 percent to charity. The upstart is already breaking even and she's excited to see it grow.
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Sometimes it takes the perspective of a kid to see problems that impact children and find a solution.
When Jack Griffin, then 16 years old, saw a news story about two kids living out of a truck in Florida who were homeless as a result of their late mother's medical bills, he recognized a problem he hadn't seen before.
He began researching and watching. He discovered that "there are so many kids across the nation that are, you know, getting ready for school in the bathrooms of libraries and gas stations. I realized that it's so prevalent and yet still so hard to see if you're not directly impacted by it."
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Ryan Scott, 48, CEO and founder of Causecast, is working to make corporate social responsibility easier for everyone involved, from the corporation and the employees to the nonprofits they support.
Causecast, a Certified B Corporation, operates a web service that matches corporate volunteers to nonprofit projects. The system provides a comprehensive reporting and management system.
Causecast allows both management and rank-and-file employees to put projects into the system to garner volunteer support.
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Sagegreenlife is bringing living walls to a growing market with new technologies that allow people to bring the outside inside.
The company builds its living, green plant walls on a patented hydroponic system without any soil. The "Biotile" stone was developed by UK-based Biotecture, Ltd.
Sagegreenlife's founder, Richard Kincaid explains that LED plant lights provide an enabling technology by allowing plants to grow without direct sunlight.
Kincaid estimates the 2015 market for living walls at about $100 million. He hopes to see Sagegreenlife achieve revenue of $3 to $5 million for 2017. The business generates gross margins of about 60% but is not yet profitable.
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Jason Trager is more than a throwback to the sixties or a cliche. He may have earned a PhD at Berkeley with a focus on improving the energy efficiency in buildings by applying statistical process controls, but he's also a hard core entrepreneur who relishes profit--so long as it doesn't adversely impact others.
He calls himself and his firm "Sustainabilist." He says that unlike a capitalist who hordes profits and socializes externalities like pollution and carbon, a Sustainabilist hordes profits without socializing externalities. He says, "Our quest is carbon reduction. Every dollar that we make can be linked to some amount of carbon that does not make it into the atmosphere."
Sustainabilist, the firm, is working on a number of projects, but one key area of focus is on applying statistical process controls to the process of solar installation. By doing so, he hopes to not only improve the quality of solar installations but also to reduce costs, thereby accelerating adoption.
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Andrew Yakub may be onto something. Big. Sliced bread big.
Yakub, 30, is the CEO and founder of Rayton Solar. A physicist who had used particle accelerators for cutting silicon had launched a solar installation business. Fearing the end of Federal tax incentives that might slow his business, he was thinking about ways to cut the cost of solar enough to make it economical without them. He surmised that the silicon in solar panels could be sliced with a particle accelerator rather than with blades, radically reducing wasted silicon.
From that foundation, Yakub has built a promising startup. Targeting a 60% reduction in manufacturing costs, he hopes to both lower costs to customers and operate with better-than-industry average margins. In addition, he expects the solar panels to be 25% more efficient. With those goals, he raised $2.8 million in seed funding.
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Twice a year, the streets of downtown Salt Lake City are overrun by princesses, storm troopers and superheroes of every variety. Salt Lake ComicCon reports that 120,000 people attended the last event. That it is profitable is surprise enough. That it serves the community may be the real surprise.
Bryan Brandenburg, 58, co-founder and chief marketing officer of Salt Lake ComicCon, has strategically sought to use the event to build the community. Since its founding, the event has donated about $2 million of cash and in-kind donations--mostly in the form of tickets, but also including celebrity photos, signatures and experiences.
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Eric McCallum says he likes to invest in "simple and elegant business models that have multiple impacts." A startup called Himalayan Wild Fibers fit the bill and he led a round of financing.
Founder and CEO, Ellie Skeele, has been working in Nepal for nearly two decades to commercialize her idea.
"Himalayan Wild Fibers is a company that is commercializing a textile fiber that's extracted from a wild growing plant, a form of stinging nettle that grows in the forests of the Himalayas. It is wild harvested. We extract from that a fiber, we refine it and then we sell into existing developed supply chains," she explains.
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It may be no secret that Google is giving away $10,000 per month in free Google Ads to nonprofits, but many are still not taking full advantage of the opportunity.
Daniela Larsen, who leads both a for-profit marketing agency called Navanas Agency and a nonprofit called the Navanas Institute doing economic development work and education online and around the world, shares insights on how to get and use the monthly grant.
Daniela says most active nonprofits qualify. View eligibility details here. The basic guidelines require that you have a substantive website and that you be a legitimate nonprofit. Hospitals and universities are not eligible.
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As Americans head to the beach or the mountains to celebrate Independence Day they may give some thought to the freedoms they enjoy. With a bit of prompting from some patriotic music accompanying fireworks tonight, they may even give some thought to the soldiers who have fought and died to make those freedoms possible.
Former Miss America Sharlene Hawkes, 53, never forgets. In 2005, she helped found the Remember My Service Military Production division of StoryRock. Remember My Service, RMS, produces videos and books about the service of America's armed forces.
The division got started "kind of accidentally," Hawkes says. StoryRock produces a variety of personal and group history products, using a digital approach. The products include video yearbooks and scrapbooks that include video. The profitable division employs six people full time and another five on a part-time basis.
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Last summer, at a meeting of Seattle impact investors, one of the members said she didn't have need for additional deal flow--investment opportunities--what she needed, she said, according to Nancy Reid, director of the Seattle Impact Investing Group, is a way to build an investor syndicate. "What we need is investor flow."
Enter Luni Libes, 47, and Matt Eldridge, 48, who heard that need and set out to create a nonprofit, online platform called Investorflow.org to address the concern.
"Impact investors are spread around the world, investing all around the globe. This makes it incredibly difficult for those seeking funding to find these investors. It also means that investors tend not to know each other," Libes said, framing the discussion.
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Plastic pollution in our oceans represents an "Eco-genocide" according to Bonnie Monteleone, Executive Director and Director of Science Research and Academic Partnerships at Plastic Ocean Project, Inc.
Priyanka Bakaya, 34, founder and CEO of PK Clean, invented a scalable process to convert plastics back into the diesel fuel they came from, not quite spinning straw into gold but the process does convert garbage into fuel profitably.
When Monteleone had learned that plastics could be converted back into oil. She saw that as a way to emulate nature by creating a circular system where plastics removed from the oceans could be converted back into fuel. When she looked for partners, she was worried about the contaminants in the plastics extracted from the oceans.
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“Our nation is in the midst of a true affordability crisis.” Daryl Carter, founder, chairman and CEO of Avanath Capital Management, sees that as both a problem and an opportunity. He’s found a way to deliver returns to investors while serving working families at the same time, that is, without being evil.
Let’s start by looking at the problem. “The median income of a renter in the United States is $36,000. To be considered affordable, renters should be spending no more than a third of their income toward rent. However,” Carter says, “in many coastal markets such as Los Angeles and New York, over half of all renter households are allocating more than 50% of their income toward rent.”
That threshold matters, because if you are paying more than half of your income in rent, it is difficult to also provide food, healthcare and education for the people living under that roof. “Historically, the reason that many neighborhoods have declined, whether it’s Detroit or Oakland, is not because of who lives there, but rather because there is a lack of investment in those areas,” Carter says.
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"In a recent survey of 1,400 adults believing in climate change caused by humans, 75% agree that there is something they can personally do to help the planet, but yet only 40% have taken action," says Marisa de Belloy, CEO of Cool Effect, the crowdfunding site that helps people buy carbon credits simply and affordably.
Americans produce an average of 17 tons of carbon per year, she says. The remarkable thing is how affordable it is to offset that production at CoolEffect.com. The site provides a clear price for a one-ton carbon credit for each project on the site. The lowest price per credit: $4.12. At that price, Americans can offset their entire year's carbon production for just $70.04.
De Belloy hopes to get the nonprofit site's users to look past their own carbon offset requirements and to focus instead on supporting great projects, most of which provide a variety of social and environmental benefits aside from carbon offsets.
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In 2010, between 500 and 700 families were being turned away from the Ronald McDonald House in Salt Lake City every year because the home lacked the rooms to care for all of the families with sick children being treated at area hospitals. To fix that problem, a major expansion requiring a significant capital campaign would be required. That, in turn, would require new leadership.
Enter Carrie Romano, who was recruited to serve as the CEO of the Ronald McDonald House Charities Intermountain Area largely because she had recently led a $20 million capital campaign for the local YWCA.
If you are fortunate, you've never had occasion to stay at a Ronald McDonald House. Romano explains, " We provide a home-away-from-home to ease daily burdens and empower families of hospitalized children with meaningful experiences and quality time together."
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Tony Loyd is a podcaster who interviews social entrepreneurs. He has just been invited to host a weekly, drive-time radio show. He's also finishing up a book. To launch all of this, Tony is running a crowdfunding campaign on StartSomeGood.com.
Tony lives by the mantra "miracles happen when you are in motion." He says, the radio show came about because he was out and about, was producing a podcast and another host of the radio show connected him to the producer.
His book, Crazy Good Advice, features ten lessons from the 150 episodes of his show, extracting patterns and insights from the great social entrepreneurs he's interviewed.
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Justin Huggard died last December. In April, the Deseret News ran a 4,000-word story about him. The remarkable thing was not that the News took four months to write his obituary, rather it was that they wrote anything at all.
Justin was homeless. Addicted. Invisible.
While he died on Main Street in the heart of downtown Salt Lake City; his passing was so anonymous that even those good-hearted activists who track the casualties of homelessness each year missed his death. At the annual vigil for the homeless who die in Salt Lake, the names of the year's victims are read, remembered and honored fleetingly. But not Justin.
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Kelli Kelley is a reluctant social entrepreneur.
She was 24 weeks pregnant--16 weeks before her due date--when a sharp pain in her abdomen signaled something was wrong. She called her mother and mother-in-law for guidance and they told her to call 911.
It was a good thing she did. In the ambulance, they confirmed she was in labor and that they wouldn't be able to stop it. At the time, 24 weeks was the medical limit for delivering a baby that could survive.
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Susannah Schaefer, CEO of the International nonprofit Smile Train, says, "It is a nonprofit, but it is a business." This attitude for leading the enterprise guides much of what it does.
Consistent with the vision of the founder and Chairman, Charles B. Wang, the business started with a teach-a-man-to-fish model for providing free cleft-correcting surgeries to children in the developing world.
That approach has led to impressive scale since the enterprise was launched in 1999. Last year, 120,000 children were treated by Smile Train trained surgeons. Schaefer is quick to point out that about 170,000 cleft births occur each year in the developing world, possibly leaving 50,000 new children every year without needed treatment.
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While working on her master's degree in Civil and Environmental Engineering at California Polytechnic State University, Tricia Compas-Markman, 32, helped to invent the Waterbag, a "water treatment plant in a backpack." Having distributed 20,000 units around the world following disasters, she is focusing now on scaling DayOne Response by at least one order of magnitude.
Kellee Joost invested in the business and joined the board of directors after hearing Compas-Markman's pitch. There were two reasons she invested, she says. First, "DayOne Response set out to solve a big, hairy problem." Second, "the co-founders of DayOneResponse had a good balance of experience and background, but even more important for me was that they were fearless."
The Waterbag works by filling the bag with fresh water from a river or stream, adding a chemical water purification pack produced by P&G and then pouring the water through a filter. The bag holds about ten liters, enough for a family to survive. The bag is reusable for about a year so long as the supply of water purification packets lasts.
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Erik Melang, 52, the CEO and co-founder of Distributive Solar, says now is the time for business owners to put solar panels on their facilities. He should know; in under one year since he launched the business, his team has 75 megawatts of solar projects in the pipeline.
Erik recently made the case for investing in solar now in a post on Linkedin and joined me for a quick conversation (watch it at the top of this article) to talk about the reasons.
He offers four primary reasons for considering solar now:
- The investment tax credit on solar installations will begin to expire in 2020. Given the time required to evaluate, design and install solar, there isn't much cushion in the calendar to take advantage of the tax benefits.
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Felicity Conrad only worked for Skadden, one of the world's most prominent law firms, for about two years but while she was there she had the opportunity to litigate a pro bono asylum case. She won. And in the bargain, she changed the lives of the family she represented--and her own. She left the firm to launch a site she says is "like Match.com for lawyers" and their pro bono clients.
As a first year associate, Conrad says she was afraid to take on the asylum case. It was her first time in a court room. After winning the case, to celebrate, the family took her out to dinner at McDonalds. "The children--the whole family was there. You can see the fruits of your labor in a way that most lawyers never see," she said of the experience.
A vegetarian, Conrad describes eating french fries and being thankful "I had said 'yes' to something outside my comfort zone. Now I get to go through life knowing that somewhere out there something is a little bit better because I was able to be a part of it."
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Leslie Heyer, the founder and president of Cycle Technologies, reports that women using her CycleBeads to count the days since their menstrual cycle began have successfully delivered about 1.5 million babies and have avoided about 5 million unwanted pregnancies. Her latest product is an app that she hopes will help even more than the 6 million who have used her beads.
Heyer, a Harvard-educated social entrepreneur, recently launched a new app called Dot that helps women understand when pregnancy is most--and least--likely to occur during the month, based principally on the date a woman starts her monthly cycle.
Cycle Technologies, with revenues of $1 million annually from product sales and consulting, has been producing its CycleBeads for nearly a decade. The beads are distributed through partnerships with NGOs to women around the developing world.
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Renewable energy projects are the primary weapon in the war on climate change, but that shouldn't exempt these projects in the developing world from United Nations' standards on human rights, argues a new briefing report.
As I explored the briefing, "Renewable Energy: Managing Investors' Risks and Responsibilities," with two of the co-authors, Andrea Armeni of Transform Finance and Meredith Benton (see my interview with them at the top of this article), I began to see clean energy projects through a new lens.
Armeni points out that when a wind or solar project is built to provide power to an aluminum smelter there is no question that powering the smelter with clean energy is better than powering it with fossil fuels, but there may still be a negative impact on a local community--which may or may not benefit much from the project.
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"We're starting in the wrong place," Mara Bolis, 45, senior advisor for market systems at Oxfam America, says of the approach most impact investors are using today.
The problem she highlights is that investors are starting with an analysis of their own requirements, which are primarily financial rather than with a deep understanding of a problem they wish to solve.
"Impact is a pretty diluted term at this point," she adds. "We're not doing the important upfront work to diagnose the problem."
Read the full Forbes article and watch the interview here: http://bit.ly/2qUdKPE.
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Read the full GoodCrowdinfo article and watch the interview here: http://bit.ly/2oZ1HD2.
Salvador Briggman, author of Nonprofit Crowdfunding Explained, says he shares all you need to know to succeed with your nonprofit crowdfunding goals.
Salvador says his goal was to share the insights that for-profit crowdfunders are using so that nonprofits could get those benefits, too. He's excited by the potential for crowdfunding to help nonprofits get the word out about their inspiring work.
He notes that peer-to-peer fundraising is a better model for crowdfunding than a traditional, centralized approach. By empowering supporters to do the fundraising for your organization, you let them reach their friends directly and expand your reach infinitely.
Read the full GoodCrowdinfo article and watch the interview here: http://bit.ly/2oZ1HD2.
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Read the full Your Mark on the World article and watch the interview here: http://bit.ly/2pzQLL9.
Kathryn Pisco's world changed when with her husband she circumnavigated the globe, volunteering along the way.
She realized, "Life was too short to fit back into what I was doing before." So, rather than go back to work in a regular job, she launched a social enterprise called Unearth the World to help volunteers travel and have real impact.
She notes that there are three big problems in the voluntourism industry that she hoped to fix.
Read the full Your Mark on the World article and watch the interview here: http://bit.ly/2pzQLL9.
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Read the full Forbes article and watch the interview here: http://bit.ly/2pDpUMy.
Time's 2014 Person of the Year was "The Ebola Fighters." Among the front line people profiled was the aptly described "tornado of energy" Katie Meyler, now 34 and the founder of the educational NGO More Than Me.
Meyler, who says empathy is her superpower, founded the organization while visiting Liberia years before the Ebola epidemic swept the country. She was there doing volunteer work and came across an 11-year-old girl named Abigail who was prostituting herself for school fees. Meyler began paying her fees so Abigail could attend school.
Abigail had some friends that needed help, too. Soon, the number of girls she was helping outstripped Meyler's meager resources so she began fundraising via social media to help more girls.
Read the full Forbes article and watch the interview here: http://bit.ly/2pDpUMy.
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If your business evaluated solar power as a way to reduce costs more than a year ago and rejected it, it is time to look again, says Jason Loyet, CEO of Solar Site Design.
Solar Site Design has a national network of independent contractors who work as solar originators. The company also has a network of client contractors who pay for the opportunity to bid on the projects the originators find. This competitive marketplace is helping to accelerate projects and reduce the cost of solar installations.
The result, Jason says, is installed costs of solar power that are years ahead of recent expectations at under $2.00 per watt. That means that in most parts of the country, a business can install solar and save enough to on utility bills to justify the expense.
Read the full Your Mark on the World article and watch the interview here: http://bit.ly/2qbVLCT.
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Feel Rich, started with the question, "What if we create a brand that makes health sexy?"
Feel Rich, a "culturally relevant" health and wellness brand for the multicultural, urban community, is a led by Shawn Ullman and Quincy D. Jones, III, son of the multi-Grammy-award-winning artist. Ullman has worked for Jones for years, helping to produce documentary films. Jones has left his father's shadow but not his legacy and has produced several gold, platinum and multi-platinum albums.
Read the full Forbes article and watch the interview here: http://bit.ly/2pjLG9W.
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With the "dot com crash" in 2000, largely by regulatory design, small company IPOs all but disappeared from the American economic landscape.
A scarcely noticed part or title of the 2012 JOBS Act sought to address that directly by reinvigorating Regulation A, raising the cap from $5 million to $50 million and creating a path for a Reg A offering to be an effective IPO (initial public offering). The new rule is commonly called Reg A+.
In early 2016, Elio Motors went public using Regulation A.
The rules weren't effective until mid 2015 and the market is just beginning to mature. Rod Turner is the founder and CEO of Manhattan Street Capital, one of the players in this nascent marketplace.
Read the full GoodCrowdinfo article and watch the interview here: http://bit.ly/2pezZ4p.
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Read the full Forbes article and watch the interview here: http://bit.ly/2pHMMdq.
While some businesses seem to make profit both coming and going, RecylceForce seems to have impact both coming and going.
Launched in 2006, the social enterprise employs people who are transitioning out of prison to help recycle electronics and other materials. The nonprofit is having an environmental impact on the one hand and helping disadvantaged people gain job skills and experience on the other.
The organization generates most of its revenue from the recycling business, but also receives some philanthropic support and government grants. The revenue from recycling makes the nonprofit more stable and sustainable than some that depend entirely on charitable donations.
Read the full Forbes article and watch the interview here: http://bit.ly/2pHMMdq.
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The country's fascination with tiny homes has led to a nascent movement using shipping containers for low-income housing. With some tiny homes and apartments having fewer than 200 square feet, the 40-foot shipping container and its approximately 320 square feet could feel relatively spacious.
Wanona Satcher, the CEO and founder of ReJuve Corp based in Atlanta, is launching a new initiative to create "Plug-In Pods" using shipping containers. She hopes to create a flexible model for l0w-income housing that addresses need of a range of people, from millennial minimalists to seniors who may want or need to live backyard-close to family caregivers.
Read the full GoodCrowdinfo article and watch the interview here: http://bit.ly/2oLeRAB.
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Sarina Prabasi, born in Nepal, and her husband, Elias Gurmu, born in Ethiopia, launched Buunni Coffee, selling fair-trade Ethiopian coffee in New York City. The enterprise, their social entrepreneurship and indeed their relationship, grew out of Prabasi's work in international development.
Today, she serves as the CEO of WaterAid America, a position she assumed in 2014. With an annual budget of $7.1 million, the NGO is a leader in the "WASH" or water, sanitation and hygiene community. She's spent a total of 20 years working in the field.
Watch my interview with Prabasi at the top of this article.
Prabasi reports that the organization was originally focused on clean water and has helped 24.9 million gain access to clean water. Another 24 million people have gained access to toilets and sanitation.
Read the full Forbes article and watch the interview here: http://bit.ly/2oZnGtg.
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Read the full Forbes article and watch the interview here: http://bit.ly/2opUnyv.
Read the full Forbes article and watch the interview here: http://bit.ly/2opUnyv.
Jean Krisle sold her home, bought a 40-foot RV and hit the road for a year. What would you be willing to do for your nonprofit?
Krisle launched 10,000 Beds in 2014. The "beds" are addiction treatment beds, typically for 30 days, in treatment centers across the country. Her goal is to get 10,000 people in treatment by 2020.
In 2016, 10,000 Beds awarded more than $1 million of scholarship beds to people seeking treatment, she reports. And she expects to more than double that amount in 2017, having already received more applications in the first quarter of this year than she did in all of last year.
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Oliver Thornton says his Aspergers is his super power. His brother, who is also on the autism spectrum, serves as a role model. Because autism hits close to home, he wanted to do something to address the unemployment rate for those with autism, which approaches 85 percent, he says. So, he launched Coding Autism with Austen Weinhart.
Oliver, who serves as the company's CEO, says, "Although we are pre-revenue, we just recently launched our crowdfunding campaign with the goal of fundraising a minimum of $50,000 on StartSomeGood. If we are successful with fundraising $50,000 on that platform, we will be able to cover the minimum costs to make the Coding Autism ASPIRE program happen."
The money they are raising will go to pay the instructor, an assistant instructor, an occupational therapist, a social skills intervention expert, a career counselor and to pay for the space where the intensive 15-week course will be taught. Those who complete the course are expected to have sufficient skills to be able to begin a career as a software developer.
Read the full GoodCrowdinfo article and watch the interview here: http://bit.ly/2oZu5S5.
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Read the full Forbes article and watch the interview here: http://bit.ly/2om3pKT.
Young men thrown into the national spotlight for their athletic prowess in the NBA are also taking time to give back.
Sherrie Deans, the Executive Director of the National Basketball Players Association Foundation visited with me to share insights about the efforts of extraordinary athletes to make a difference, especially in the communities of their roots.
Deans points to the “current Isaiah Thomas” of the Boston Celtics, clarifying that she’s not talking about the Detroit Pistons legend of the same name, as one who has given back. Of the 5’ 9” Thomas, she says, “He is a tiny guy. He is not supposed to be in the league, by all accounts.”
Read the full Forbes article and watch the interview here: http://bit.ly/2om3pKT.
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Lots of people hold themselves out to be crowdfunding experts. I haven’t met anyone who has raised more money in on Kickstarter and Indiegogo than Funded Today’s Zach Smith. He reports raising over $110 million total across hundreds of campaigns.
Smith visited with me (watch the video recording of the interview above) to talk about how to apply his experience and insights for social entrepreneurs.
He thinks of himself as a social entrepreneur, helping other entrepreneurs to be successful. He is almost a prototypical entrepreneur. Young, confident—even brash—he has built his company to 50 employees and reports “eight figures plus” in revenue. Funded Today charges 25 to 35 percent of funds raised, so in its short three-year history, we’d expect it to have generated over $30 million in revenue.
Read the full Forbes article and watch the interview here: http://bit.ly/2nKyWsg.
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Clean Energy Advisors announced a major new financing that will take the firm from having invested about $140 million in solar energy projects to about $800 million. CEA President Scott Hill also notes that building on this success, the firm will establish a foundation to fund more charitable initiatives. (Watch or listen to my discussion with Scott using the players above.)Scott explains that the unnamed financing partners, two "multinational families," have committed about $350 million. Combined with additional debt financing, the firm anticipates reaching $800 million in financed projects, "completing the pipeline of projects in North Carolina." He anticipates that deploying the capital will take 18 to 24 months.
Scott explains that the unnamed financing partners, two "multinational families," have committed about $350 million. Combined with additional debt financing, the firm anticipates reaching $800 million in financed projects, "completing the pipeline of projects in North Carolina." He anticipates that deploying the capital will take 18 to 24 months.
He notes that the cost of installation for small utility scale projects is about $1.50 or $1.60 per watt, yielding a cost of about $1.5 million per megawatt. The new financing should allow CEA to install another 400 MW in North Carolina. He also notes that the scale they are achieving should allow the firm to look beyond their traditional structure where Duke Energy is the primary "off-taker" or buyer of the energy from the projects financed.
Read the full Your Mark on the World article and watch the interview here: http://bit.ly/2o3l3Gfb.
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"If you do a gesture for charity, you should always make sure that it’s from not a press spin, but a natural, organic effort," John Travolta said at the City Summit and Gala organized by social entrepreneur Ryan Long.
The City Gala held around the Grammys raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for charities, including Travolta's own Jett Travolta Foundation, named for his son, who passed away in 2009.
Travolta said his interest in philanthropy began with Katrina. "It was organic. It really was. When Haiti happened, when Hurricane Katrina happened, I had a plane. Nobody was helping them. Why wouldn’t you do it?"
Read the full Forbes article and watch the interview here: http://bit.ly/2mnHofJ.
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The Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab, commonly referred to as J-PAL, is based at MIT and seeks to reduce poverty by providing academic research on interventions by social entrepreneurs and others working in the space.
Quentin Palfrey, the executive director of J-PAL North America, worked for the Obama Administration before taking on the role at J-PAL. He notes that the center receives its funding from MIT and other philanthropic donors. The center has a staff of more than 30 full-time employees. He says, "J-PAL North America does not charge for services or generate sales revenue."
J-PAL works on global poverty. J-PAL North America focuses on poverty in the United States.
A lawyer by training, Palfrey thinks about the work in terms of policy implications. The lessons from J-PAL may be more relevant to social entrepreneurs who may be betting more than some public funding on their ventures.
Read the full Forbes article and watch the interview here: http://bit.ly/2mdnSRv.
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Lauren Sullivan and her husband Adam Gardner, a touring musician, wanted to make the concert scene more environmentally friendly. They’ve created Reverb, a nonprofit, to help the industry get its green on.
Adam explains, “The live music industry has historically been highly disposable, creating large amounts of landfill, energy and water waste. Think of all the plastic cups on the ground at the end of a concert or a weekend long festival, for example. Tour busses and trucks guzzle fuel carrying large crews, and large amounts of equipment across long distances every day on a tour. Tens of thousands of fans commute to a venue typically located 40 miles outside of major city centers, contributing to over 80 percent of a concert’s carbon footprint.”
Adam recognized that other nonprofits face that Reverb could overcome. “Local and national enviro nonprofit organizations have had variable experiences ‘tabling’ at concerts because they aren’t directly connected to the band or they don’t have the capacity to compete against all the other attractions at a show to get concertgoers’ attention.”
Working directly with the bands, Adam says, they can make a big difference. “Because I’m a touring musician myself, I’m able to speak to artists and their managers directly about how we can help make their tours more green while mobilizing and inspiring their fans to take action that adds up to real change.”
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Collaboration is a word that gets thrown around a lot more than it actually happens. Pledgeling, a small social enterprise, proved the power of collaboration when it signed Evite as a customer and delivered over $1 million in donations in the first year.
Pledgeling is a mobile-centric donation processing company with fifteen employees. CEO James Citron says the company hopes to double the staff within 18 months.
He rattles off early milestones:
-Powered over 30,000 fundraising campaigns -Raised $3 million in donations for 4,000 nonprofits -Had 10,000 nonprofits join their network
Read the full Forbes article and watch the interview here: http://bit.ly/2lKlcKr.
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Lindsey Tropf, CEO and founder of Immersed Games, is working with her team to create a massively multiplayer online role-playing game that is as entertaining as World of Warcraft and as educational as school.
Their core product is Tyto Online, is expected to launch soon. One module of the game, Tyto Ecology, is available for sale and has generated $140,000 of revenue to date. This module is a single-player game that has sold 18,000 units.
The Immersed Games team includes 13 full-time staff members plus others working from a "local labor grant." The startup isn't yet profitable, but does generate 70 percent gross margins on sales today and expects to ramp that up with volume.
Read the full Forbes article and watch the interview here: http://bit.ly/2kpOgs0.
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Why do some corporate social responsibility programs seem to backfire? There are lots of reasons, but University of Kansas Assistant Professor Jessica Li recently published a paper that explains why some do.
Her research shows that people in some countries have distinct reactions to two companies engaging in the same behavior when one of the companies is foreign and the other domestic.
Jessica has provided us with three tips for creating a corporate social responsibility program that works.
- Consumer attributions are key. It is important to understand that CSR is not always perceived positively by consumers. Consumers make attributions about why a company is engaging in CSR, ant these attributions influence their attitudes and behaviors.
Read the full Your Mark on the World article and watch the interview here: http://bit.ly/2kiHDWK.
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The University of Southern California has recently created the Center on Artificial Intelligence for Social Solutions or CAISS, specifically to develop uses of artificial intelligence--AI--for use cases of interest to social entrepreneurs.
The Center is a collaboration between the USC Viterbi School of Engineering and the USC Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work. Eric Rice, an Associate Professor from the School of Social Work, has been tapped to lead CAISS.
The potential for AI to be an effective tool for entrepreneurs with no background in technology is confirmed by Rice himself. When asked about his LinkedIn profile URL, he acknowledged not only that he doesn't have one, but also said, "I'm a bit of a Luddite."
Read the full Forbes article and watch the interview here: http://bit.ly/2kxuKbG.
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John Lee Dumas is one of the most successful podcasters on iTunes. Last year, when he decided to launch a crowdfunding campaign for his "Freedom Journal," he partnered with Pencils of Promise. He raised $453,000 on Kickstarter and donated $75,000 to the nonprofit. Now he's at it again.
Dumas boasts over 1 million listens to his "Entrepreneur on Fire" podcast every month. You wouldn't think he "needs" to partner with Pencils of Promise in order to be successful with his campaign. Dumas is a savvy entrepreneur. He's clearly figured that this is an important part of the strategy.
His last campaign for the "Freedom Journal" raised enough to build three schools in Ghana, Guatemala or Laos, the three countries where the nonprofit operates. For his current campaign launched this morning for his "Mastery Journal," he hopes to raise $100,000, enough for Pencils of Promise to build four schools.
Read the full Forbes article and watch the interview here: http://bit.ly/2keFgVa.
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Back in the 1930s, the United States remained largely a rural country, with almost half of the population still living in rural communities–without electricity. Electrifying rural America was a key part of the New Deal. The key then was distribution of electricity generated in utility-scale plants.
Today, the world is in a race to electrify rural communities in the developing world. This presents an opportunity for entrepreneurs and investors around the world, say Chris Warren, CEO of Clean Energy Advisors, and Erik Melang, co-founder of Distributive Solar.
Unlike the New Deal-era effort to electrify rural America, today’s electrification efforts run the full gamut from solar lamps charged by day and used at night to utility-scale projects that connect to the grid.
Entrepreneurs around the world are getting in on the act. India has organized incentives and entrepreneurial support programs to for solar projects.
Read the full Your Mark on the World article and watch the interview here: http://bit.ly/2iEGHJZ.
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The international development community learned decades ago that when relief organizations bring in donated goods that are distributed for free to people in need, one of the outcomes is often the death of local businesses that provided those goods. Why then are NGOs continuing to employ this model in Haiti, asks author, entrepreneur, investor and professor Daniel Jean-Louis.
Jean-Louis is based in Haiti. His firm, Bridge Capital provides small loans to businesses that otherwise don't qualify for loans from Haiti's conservative banking sector. His 100,000 jobs initiative is working across sectors with NGOs, governments and the private sector to create 100,000 jobs by 2020. He reports having helped to create more than 10,000 jobs so far, though he worries Hurricane Matthew may have destroyed some of those jobs when it destroyed so much else in Haiti.
Bridge Capital is small by almost any standard, with just $1 million in capital. In Haiti, where a $10,000 loan can have more impact, that represents the potential to help 100 companies. Jean-Louis hopes to triple the capital base in the coming year, allowing him to reach a level of profitability. Profits come from the 7 to 8 percent net interest margin on its loans.
Read the full Forbes article and watch the interview here: http://bit.ly/2k7Pq9T.
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How many times have you wanted to give some money to help solve a crisis somewhere in the world but didn't simply because you didn't know to whom to give the money? The problem wasn't likely that you didn't have some candidates; more likely, you found too many candidates and couldn't determine which would do the most good with your money.
Enter Iguacu.
Iguacu screens nonprofits working to address crises around the world to identify those that are having the best impact. Iguacu is a social enterprise that is so new it hasn't yet set up its own 501(c)(3) organization, but that is the plan, according to founder Katherine Davies.
To date, Davies has funded the operations of Iguacu, but she is looking to establish a nonprofit entity so that she can collect donations and corporate sponsorships. Today, the organization has ten employees, including several analysts that Davies describes as "world-class" researchers.
Read the full Forbes article and watch the interview here: http://bit.ly/2jazXIW.
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Georg Kell might not have anticipated the global reach of his work when he started his career more than 30 years ago. After joining the United Nations in 1987, the opportunity for global influence presented itself. Georg took full advantage.
Georg started his career as a research fellow in engineering at the Fraunhofer Institute for Production Technology and Innovation in Berlin. He then spent a few years working as a financial analyst in various countries in Africa and Asia, helping him to gain a global perspective.
After joining the UN in 1987, he became “obsessed with modernizing the UN from within and working with the private sector,” he says.
A key point in his career came 12 years after joining the UN. “In 1999, I helped craft a speech for Kofi Annan, then UN secretary-general, calling on business to look beyond profit and to contribute to society, the environmental and global governance,” he says. “The reaction overwhelmed us. It made the front pages in major papers. That’s where the real story of building the Global Compact started.”
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Stephenie Larsen and Andrea Smardon have each found their own way to help others cope with challenges. Their work intersected last fall when Andrea produced and reported a story about Encircle, Stephenie’s LGBT outreach center in Provo, Utah, for NPR.
The NPR story highlights the odd juxtaposition of Encircle’s new center located within sight of the Provo Temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, noting that in the fall of 2015, the Church implemented a new policy toward married gay couples and their children that excludes them from full participation.
Stephenie sees an urgent need for helping the LGBT community in densely Mormon Provo. “Utah has the fifth highest rate of youth suicide nationwide, with LGBTQ youth who experience rejection from their parents having an eight times greater risk of suicide. Those that are LDS experience even greater depression, suicidal ideation and family alienation, often losing their faith and spiritual community along the way.”
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The calendar’s juxtaposition of Martin Luther King’s birthday and the Presidential inauguration have never seemed so ironic as in 2017. In a single week, America will celebrate the person who gave his life for civil rights and the inauguration of Donald Trump, whom New York Times columnist Nick Kristof called a racist.
One person developed a plan to unify people this week. Aria Finger, CEO and “Chief Old Person” of DoSomething.org, is yet to turn 40 and so qualifies as young in my book. As CEO, she founded the affiliated agency TMI Strategy and serves as its president. This week, DoSomething.org leads a social campaign to engage its 5.5 million young followers, creating “Resolution Walls” in public to commit to improving their local communities this year.
Introducing DoSomething.org, Finger says, “We are a mission-driven not-for-profit and we are one of the most entrepreneurial brands in the youth space.” The organization has engaged young people in every state and 131 countries. The nonprofit works to address local and global social problems, and boasts of having organized the collection of 3.7 million cigarette butts from the streets and a drive that clothed half of the homeless teens in the United States.
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Amy Cortese is a rare bird indeed. She is almost alone in focusing her pen on crowdfunding’s ability to build underserved communities. She is equally interested in the place-based communities and demographic communities. Her book, Locavesting, is the definitive book on the topic.
Amy’s business, also called Locavesting, serves as a source of information for communities seeking greater access to capital.
Amy explains her view of the problem, “We live in an age of massive wealth inequality and lack of economic access, especially for women, people of color and those in underserved areas. How do we create an economy that works for all, instead of the few? The first thing is to tackle finance and channel more resources into communities.”
Access to capital for underserved communities is one of the great promises of crowdfunding. By reducing the dependence of women and minorities on traditional sources of capital like banks and venture capital that have not met their needs, crowdfunding hold the potential to lift communities.
Amy says, “Locavesting has chronicled and championed the rise of community capital.”
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Ricardo Jose Bueso has a brother named Ricardo Juan Bueso. Really. His parents did that. To some, they are known as the two Ricardos.
Perhaps it was this unusual situation that inspired Bueso to look for ways to stand out and apart, to chart a unique course. He's traveled the world, studying business administration in Texas, completing a degree as "Chef de Cuisine" in Guatemala, teaching English in Yemen, and then studying in both Miami, Florida and Shanghai.
Two years ago, Bueso and his brother Ricardo Juan, assembled a team and began developing a unique concept in social entrepreneurship. Their model is to sell responsibly-sourced, crafted products like soaps and candles via the web (nothing unique so far--wait for it) and let consumers set the price and then give the profits above a cost threshold to charity.
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« Support Christopher’s Haven and Escape with Chris EvansVote For Your Favorite NCAA Coach To Raise Money In The “INFINITI Coaches’… » Mother of Quads Faces Cancer; Receives Outpouring of Support Published January 10, 2017 | By Devin Thorpe | Edit
Kayla Gaytan, the wife of a soldier, was expecting four healthy babies–conceived naturally–when something went wrong. She began recognizing the symptoms of her Hodgkin’s lymphoma. The doctors confirmed her worst fears and quickly delivered the babies at 30 weeks so she could begin chemo–again.
Pegine Echevarria, CEO of Team Pegine, a keynote speaker and mother of two servicemen, quickly recognized that Kayla and her husband Charles, who is stationed at Fort Campbell, were going to need a lot of help. She found their GoFundMe page asking for $5,000 and immediately realized that the family would need much, much more. She’s made it her personal crusade to help the family raise $100,000.
Pegine’s efforts, combined with some great media exposure, are helping. As of January 9, 2017, the crowdfunding campaign has raised $15,365.
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Robert Frost suggested that taking the road less traveled made all the difference. The Women's Bean Project, a nonprofit in Denver, Colorado, employs only women generally considered unemployable. For nearly 30 years, the social enterprise has worked to help women learn to work by giving them jobs; that is how they make a difference.
The "Bean," as insiders know it, was recently selected by REDF, a national organization that supports social enterprises like the Bean, that "provide jobs, support, and training to people who would otherwise have a tough time getting into the workforce," for a growth investment, according to Carla Javits, President and CEO of REDF.
The Bean, according to CEO Tamra Ryan, generates $2.2 million in revenue and employs 75 women. The business generates a modest gross margin on sales of gourmet dried food products of just 8 percent. The organization's other costs are funded by grants and donations.
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B Cavello is a key part of the brains and brilliance behind the Exploding Kittens’ $8.8 million success on Kickstarter. Having moved on from that project, B is now working as a crowdfunding consultant through B is for Business. B, who prefers the personal pronoun “they,” will share a bit of their genius with us.
According to Fox Business, Exploding Kittens raised $8.8 million on Kickstarter from 219,382 backers. This Wikipedia page ranks Exploding Kittens 15th biggest in the history of crowdfunding.
Here are B’s insights:
“Don’t even think about crowdfunding without doing these 3 things first.” 1. Know your audience. It’s easy to focus on funding, but to run a successful crowdfunding campaign, you must focus on the crowd. You must honestly evaluate your reach and your network. Optimism works against you, here. Work with what you KNOW you have.
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Kathleen Minogue is passionate about using crowdfunding for social good. She created her business, Crowdfund Better, to help social entrepreneurs and nonprofits raise more money via crowdfunding.
Kathleen is a former teacher. She puts those skills to work today by helping people learn how to crowdfund for their cause or business.
Kathleen shared three tips with me that I’m honored to pass along to you.
To crowdfund successfully, think about more than money 1. It’s all about the network. Crowdfunding is about the network, not the funding. This is what I find most people get backward. They focus on the funding and they miss the potential of their current crowdfunding efforts to fuel their social, creative or financial capital needs long beyond this initial campaign.
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According to the Washington Post, the U.S. solar industry is expecting to shatter records for new solar power, with 4,143 megawatts of photo-voltaic solar capacity added in the third quarter alone.
The Solar Energy Industries Association and market analysis firm GTM Research, just published its “U.S. Solar Market Insight” report. The executive summary is available for free here.
The summary notes, “Between Q1 and Q3 2016, solar accounted for 39% of all new electric generating capacity brought on-line in the U.S, ranking second only to natural gas as the largest source of new capacity additions.”
Most of the growth, according to the report, is in utility scale projects rather than retail rooftop solar.
Clean Energy Advisors, or CEA, invests in small utility-scale solar projects in North Carolina.
Despite the rosy report, people reasonably wonder about the prospect for renewable energy under President-Elect Trump, who has appointed climate change skeptics to head both the EPA and the Department of Energy.
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London-based ClearlySo is an investment banking firm that helps social enterprises raise capital from impact investors, those who seek a social impact along with a financial return. Last week, ClearlySo announced a new impact measurement service for private equity and venture capital funds.
Founder and CEO, Rodney Schwartz, is excited about the new product, which he says will make impact reporting easier. He says, “We launched our impact assessment tool, which, for the first time, specifically addresses the needs of PE/VC firms to measure and report on the impact of their privately held portfolio companies. It does so in a way that is portal-based, efficient, robust, easy-to-use, inexpensive and requires no lengthy questionnaires to be filled out by fund managers or investees.”
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Six women, all undergraduate students at MIT, have invented a text to braille scanner that significantly advances the state of the art for text scanners, most of which convert text to speech. The patent-pending device is not yet available in the marketplace, but the inventors are committed to the project, called Tactile, full time upon graduation in the spring. (Disclosure: My wife owns fewer than 100 shares of Microsoft.)
The team comprises three students in Mechanical Engineering, Jialin Shi, Charlene Xia and Grace Li; two students in Electrical Engineering, Tania Yu and Chandani Doshi; and Bonnie Wang, who studies Materials Sciences.
A spokesperson for Microsoft points out that women hold just 5.5 percent of commercial patents in the United States. The company is trying to change that by providing pro bono legal support to female inventors. Team Tactile has been accepted into this program.
Keely Swan, IDEAS Global Challenge Administrator at MIT, boasts, "The Tactile team won a $10,000 grant in last year’s MIT IDEAS Global Challenge, an annual innovation, service, and social entrepreneurship program run by MIT’s Priscilla King Gray Public Service Center. The program helps students take what they learn in the classroom and apply it to real-world challenges. As one of our winning teams, Tactile received a 15-month grant, and we’ll work with them through summer 2017 as they refine their project."
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Jessie Funk is one of those people that lights up a room by walking into it. She brings a palpable, positive energy to the stage when she speaks or sings. In recent months, I’ve heard her speak and sing to two different audiences, one of youth and another of adults, with equal brilliance.
Jessie’s message is as powerful as her personality. She helps people to see bullying through a clear lens and provides simple, easy to execute tools for coping with it.
She doesn’t stop there. Jessie is channeling her passion for helping girls into a nonprofit called Ivy Girl Academy.
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Devin Thorpe , CONTRIBUTOR I cover social entrepreneurship and impact investing.
Opinions expressed by Forbes Contributors are their own.
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In the Spring of 2014, Prudential Financial, Inc., announced a commitment in double its impact investment portfolio from about $500 million to $1 billion by 2020. Half way through that period, the financial giant reports it is making progress, with much of the investment going to redevelopment efforts in Newark.
Prudential was founded 140 years ago in Newark, New Jersey and remains there today. Lata Reddy, Vice President of Corporate Social Responsibility, says that the decision to stay in Newark was not simply "inertia." She says, the company has repeatedly decided to stay in the community and to invest in it as part of its social mission.
Prudential reports investing more than $400 million in Newark's civic infrastructure, to help create new jobs and attract more consumers. Projects include:
The redevelopment of the historic Hahne & Co. building into a mixed-use development featuring street-level retail, which will include a Whole Foods Market, mixed-income apartments, and space for Rutgers University.
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Upstart Co-Lab is a nonprofit that has partnered with the Calvert Foundation and Artspace Projects to facilitate impact investments that support artists.
Upstart Co-Lab is a startup itself, launching earlier this year. The Calvert Foundation is a leader in impact investing, making such investments accessible to ordinary investors–not just the wealthy. Artspace, also a nonprofit, develops live/work projects for artists around the country.
While not seeking to invest directly in works of art, the new partnership is intended to fund businesses that artists often own, being social entrepreneurs by nature.
Laura Callanan, Founding Partner of Upstart Co-Lab, says, art is a big part of the economy but not enough investment is being made there. “The creative economy is more than 4 percent of the US GDP. But JP Morgan and the GIIN report that art and culture are 0% of impact investing. There are currently no tools, funds or manager strategies enabling impact investors to align their capital with the creative sector.”
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Johnson & Johnson, the pharmaceutical behemoth, operates CaringCrowd, a crowdfunding site for global public health initiatives. The platform provides a way for nonprofits and others working in public health to seek funding for their projects.
Derek Fetzer, the Director of the program, notes that public health initiatives are chronically underfunded. “A considerable portion of the world does not have access to health care and many local organizations are ideally positioned to help. They possess unique knowledge of the communities they work with, thus understanding which interventions will truly make an impact on the lives of vulnerable populations. However, these organizations face a critical challenge: funding.”
Derek explains that the goal isn’t just to scale up what’s already working, but to drive innovation. “We developed CaringCrowd, a crowdfunding platform, to enable collaboration on global public health challenges, foster innovation, and support funding that can help get needed resources to people faster and more efficiently.”
The J&J team screens the projects to ensure that they align with corporate values. “All submitted projects are reviewed by a team of advisors to ensure they fall within our definition of public health. CaringCrowd is sponsored by Johnson & Johnson and does not charge a fee.”
As the effort is relatively new, the challenge they face is building the critical mass needed have the intended impact, Derek says. “The platform has recently launched and we are diligently building awareness of the platform. Towards this end, we are active on social media and get involved in events (e.g., we were present at the Global Citizen Festival in September 2016).”
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Dr. Paula Fellingham is remarkable for many reasons. Not only has she earned a Doctorate of Education Degree, she did it while she raised eight children and 24 grandchildren. She has also been a talk show host. She is the founder of the Women’s Information Network and of the nonprofit Equity Serve Foundation. She is the author of six books. She seems unstoppable!
Never daunted by a challenge, she’s tackled what could be described as the world’s biggest: peace and prosperity.
Paula says, “Although hundreds of millions in nations worldwide lack love, prosperity, and peace in their lives, there has never been a better time in history to implement a Global Prosperity and Peace Initiative whose mission is ‘to increase the love, prosperity and peace on Earth.'”
So Paula is making it happen. “We have created a Master Action Plan (a MAP) to fulfill our mission. We have developed systems and processes. We have valuable content that can strengthen hearts, homes, and all of humanity. Additionally, we have Regional Directors, Peace Ambassadors, National Peace Ambassadors and hundreds of volunteers who are ready to implement our Global Prosperity and Peace Initiative in 196 nations, beginning in January, 2017.”
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You don’t sail across the world’s seven seas and summit the world’s tallest mountains without learning something. Martin Frey, the Guinness World Record holder for being the first person to do it, sums up the key to success in one word: “relentless.”
Frey, a highly successful business leader who was an early employee at Cisco, says, “I've been an angel investor but am currently transitioning my time and focus towards projects that drive social innovation, and my portfolio towards investments that have a social impact.”
He explained key lessons from his adventures that have meaning for social entrepreneurs and nonprofit leaders.
Climbing the seven summits, the highest peaks on all seven continents, and sailing across the seven major oceans of the world of the world took 11 years. He began in 2005 and finished on April 17, 2016.
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Nicholas Kristof is a big deal. He is the winner of two Pulitzer prizes, author of two bestselling books, and is a New York Times columnist. He has almost two million followers on Twitter, putting him on a level of Twitter fame with Hollywood actors.
Nick covers politics, with a focus on social issues.
Each year, Nick holds a contest to choose a journalism student to travel with him to write stories for the New York Times. This year’s winner is Cassidy McDonald. Winning is a big deal. Now she is a big deal.
Last year’s winner, Austin Meyer, was a student at Stanford. Like past winners, Austin and Nick traveled to the developing world.
Nick Kristof, Larica Compton and Cassidy McDonald Nick Kristof, Larica Compton and Cassidy McDonald Cassidy is a student at Notre Dame. Her Twitter following, with 295 followers, doesn’t match Nick’s, yet. She may need a couple of Pulitzer’s to catch him, but there may be nothing like being the “Win-a-trip” winner to put her on the right path.
Cassidy says, “I’ve always been interested in the subject matter of Nick’s columns and books, but I decided to apply only after encouragement from my fantastic mentor, Tom Bettag (former Executive Producer of CBS Evening News, ABC Nightline, Discovery channel and CNN — and one of the nicest people in the world).”
The seeds were likely planted long before Tom encouraged her. She worked and attended school with the 2014 winner, Nicole Sganga.
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Todd Sylvester overcame addiction to create a successful life. Now as a speaker and mentor he helps others trapped by addiction or other behavioral challenges to overcome them. The lessons could be relevant for anyone seeking to overcome any self-limiting challenge.
Todd offers three keys to overcoming the challenges in our lives.
First, he says, “You’re OK.” “Understanding that you are OK is one of the most empowering truths we can and should embrace,” he says.
People are trapped by their self image, he says. “I have found with my clients that the three most common limiting beliefs they hold onto is that they are powerless, broken or damaged, and they are a victim of their circumstances. This keeps them in a self-made prison.”
“These belief systems create a story they tell themselves about themselves and this story is a fairy tale,” he continues. “The fairy tale keeps them wallowing in their own misery but when they become aware that they are OK and have always been OK, the self-made prison is shattered. When they understand this simple yet powerful truth, they laugh themselves silly!”
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Former model Traci Lynn Johnson, wife of Tiki Barber, is making a difference for the autism nonprofit KultureCity. She’s leading the new campaign to help everyone understand that even though those with autism may struggle to use words to express love, they still do.
Traci says, “KC is launching a new national campaign called Love Without Words. This campaign is designed to show that while people with autism sometimes have difficulty demonstrating love verbally, it does not mean that they are not capable of love.”
Traci Johnson, courtesy of Kulture City Traci Johnson, courtesy of Kulture City “We have launched this campaign with different celebrities, influencers and companies,” she continues. “In this campaign, we are having these celebrities and influencers show how they demonstrate love on a daily basis without using words. We then have a call to action to ask everyone that we are reaching how they, too, show love without words. And of course, there is also a donation aspect as well.”
Traci notes that people with autism are often poorly understood. “We often face the challenge of people not realizing that children (and adults) with autism are a lot like able-bodied individuals, as well. People often think that just because someone has autism means that they don’t have feelings or emotions. This could not be further from the truth.”
The misunderstandings people have, lead to conscious and sometimes unintended discrimination, she says. “We live in a world where there is still racism, bigotry and discrimination and these feelings often are directed towards people with disabilities, such as autism.”
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Social entrepreneur Erik Melang is excited about opportunities in renewable energy and his attitude is not dampened by the election of a President who has not been friendly to the environment. Erik is the founder of Distributive Solar and is partnering with Solar Site Design to accelerate growth in the renewable energy industry.
Erik is excited to share “the phenomenal opportunity to participate in the new energy economy.” He says, “This transition [to renewable energy] is providing a ground floor opportunity to participate in one of the fastest growing sectors on the globe.”
He shares some numbers to make his point: “In fact solar, wind and [energy efficiency] has provided 1 out of 30 [new] jobs in the US since 2009. Solar alone has provided 1 of 80 jobs.”
The transition from fossil fuel to renewable energy will also bring another big shift to distributed power, he says. “We are and will continue to witness the disruptive effects of transitioning from a fossil fuel driven economy to a renewable energy driven economy. This transition will be distributive, where energy will be produced where it is utilized.”
“We will see an end to the monopoly where utilities control the production and distribution of energy,” he continues. “This transition is underway and we are seeing parabolic growth in energy efficiency, wind and solar across the globe. However we are still in the early stages of this transition and this is where the opportunity lies.”
Read the full Your Mark on the World article and watch the interview here: http://bit.ly/2g02rAN.
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Per L. Saxegaard of Norway recognized years ago that there was no Nobel Prize for Business. The closest that one comes is the prize for Economics. Saxegaard decided not only to create a prize modeled on the Nobel Prizes, but to focus it on social responsibility, what he calls being “businessworthy.” (Disclosure: I recently wrote an unrelated piece for the Rotarian Magazine, affiliated with Rotary International, which is mentioned in this article.)
A former investment banker, Saxegaard founded the Business for Peace Foundation and assembled a team of past Nobel Laureates in Peace and Economics to serve as a the panel of judges. Ten years and dozens of winners later, the Business for Peace Awards are internationally recognized.
Past winners include Jeffrey R. Immelt, CEO of GE and Sir Richard Branson of Virgin. The 2016 winners included Tore Lærdal, founder of Lærdal Medical and and Dr Jennifer Nkuene Riria who launched a successful microfinance institution in Kenya.
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When you hear the stories of some people, you are simply impressed. Other times, you hear a story of someone doing something good and you are torn between being amazed and feeling guilty for not having done more.
Stephanie Woollard, a Rotarian from Melbourne Australia will receive the Rotary Responsible Business Award at the United Nations on Saturday, November 12, 2016.
A Rotary statement says, “In the last 10 years, Seven Women has trained and employed more than 1,000 disadvantaged women in Kathmandu and remote villages of Nepal and impacted 5,000 women through outreach programs.”
To better understand how this came about, I asked her how she got started.
“As a young girl touring the world like many of us do, I was leading groups of architects to Nepal, through a tour company called Duke of Edinburgh, when I came across seven disabled women operating in a tin shed in the backstreets of Kathmandu. I saw these women were living in dirt, poverty stricken and unable to make an income. I heard their stories of social isolation and struggle because of reasons they could not change and I felt their pain and suffering.”
You’re probably like me. After seeing this, I would have shaken my head and said, what a tragedy, before heading on my way. Stephanie did something else.
Read the full Your Mark on the World article and watch the interview here: http://bit.ly/2fhLTp8.
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Last summer in Dallas, I met a remarkable mother and daughter pair of social entrepreneurs. While each heads in her own direction, both are having an impact.
Hannah Kerchner is a high school student who recognized the difficulty some students had in acquiring a band instrument and that many who were interested couldn’t join simply for lack of a few hundred dollars to buy or rent one.
Hannah says, “Around the United States there have been an increasing number of budget cuts in schools and an increasing number of low income families. Due to these cuts music programs have been cut of their funds sometimes completely. Student’s aren’t having the opportunity to be in band any more.”
Hannah launched Hannah’s Musical Hope to provide students with instruments. She explains, “To make sure every student has the opportunity to be in band Hannah’s Musical Hope provides instruments to low income students and schools. We take old instruments collecting dust in people’s attics, garages, or houses, refurbish them then donate them.”
Hannah’s impact goes beyond music. “Everything is run by high school students so that students also have the opportunity to make an impact in their community,” she notes.
Read the full Your Mark on the World article and watch the interview here: http://bit.ly/2eBEmkX.
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With 700 million people on this planet lacking access to clean water, Ryan Phillips-Page, founder of Operation Water, felt that he address water access at scale.
He explains that access to water goes well beyond the need for an adequate supply of clean drinking water. “Almost 1 in 10 people globally lack access to clean drinking water, with women and children disproportionately suffering. The ripple effect of poor health, inadequate hygiene, and lost educational and economic opportunities, traps the most marginalized in a cycle of poverty and disease.”
Operation Water is using innovative financing structures to implement large scale water projects. Ryan says, “We engage governments, utilities and contractors to execute scalable, socially critical water infrastructure projects on a Public-Private Partnership basis, utilizing an innovative funding structure that raises debt at attractive rates from Development Finance Institutions and Export Credit Agencies. From project sourcing to deal execution to construction, the goal is ultimately the provision of sustainable, affordable access to potable water.”
Ryan identifies two big challenges. The first challenge is that of breaking a new trail. “Our vision is ambitious in size and scope; we are charting a path that has not been walked before in terms of social impact water infrastructure development.”
Read the full Your Mark on the World article and watch the interview here: http://bit.ly/2eBSeMk.
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Tim Kachuriak, founder and CEO of NextAfter, one of the 500 fastest growing private companies in the U.S., is helping nonprofits raise more money using sophisticated data analysis.
Kachuriak expects to hit $4 million in revenue this year with 77 percent gross margins and 31 percent net margins, making the fast growing company highly profitable as well. Launched little more than five years ago, the company is listed as number 422 on the Inc. 500 list.
Kachuriak explains NextAfter’s approach to helping nonprofits increase online donations. “Our business exists to create a more generous world by using behavioral economics and applied research testing to discover what inspires people to give.” This allows nonprofits to increase donations by constantly A-B testing—comparing nearly identical ad copy to determine whether the difference between two ads will make a difference in giving.
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f you are a regular GoodCrowd.info reader, you know that you can now invest in startups via FINRA-registered web portals. You can now be a venture capitalist, “shark” or perhaps, more benignly, an angel investor.
In May, the Securities and Exchange Commission implemented rules for investment crowdfunding under the 2012 JOBS Act. Alon Goren and Josef Holm have organized the first conference, the Crowd Invest Summit, focused exclusively on investment crowdfunding since the rules went into operation.
Alon has provided GoodCrowd.info readers with a special discount on registration. Use the discount code “GOODCROWD” to receive 30 percent off the registration fee! The speakers will include Robert Herjavec, star of ABC’s “Shark Tank”; James Altucher, the famed author and entrepreneur; Tim Draper, one of Silicon Valley’s leading venture capitalists and long-term crowdfunding advocate; and, Dara Albright, one of the leading minds in crowdfinance. Conference organizers have also invited me, Devin Thorpe, to speak.
Read the full GoodCrowdinfo article and watch the interview here: http://bit.ly/2eD5LUR.
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Peter Fusaro, Founder Global Change Associates, is an environmental pioneer. Beginning in 1970, he has been working and advocating for the environment. Much of his work has been focused on finding the opportunities to save and make money by doing the right thing for Mother Nature.
He says, “I have been ardently committed to sustainability by focusing on practical solutions to complex problems through books, mentorship, lectures, interviews and insights on five continents. After a while, the ideas take root and get disseminated. Sort of like, Johnny Appleseed.”
It may be that his biggest challenge is what ultimately gave him the ability to influence so many. He got started before the race began. He says, “Being early” is the biggest challenge he’s faced. “One of my colleagues calls me ‘before early.’ When people are not ready to change behavior, there is much resistance.”
He overcame that challenge by finding ways to understand and collaborate with people. He says, “The way forward has been to find common ground and not scare people.”
When you jump the gun, you have to be patient. Peter says, the keys to his success are: “Tenacity, perseverance and vision.”
Read the full Your Mark on the World article and watch the interview here: http://bit.ly/2elIx5r.
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It is almost as if the earth shifted a few degrees on its axis and no one noticed. The finance and nonprofit worlds have come together to create a financing model that literally allows investors to earn a positive financial return on programs that lead to reductions in homelessness–and no one seems to care.
Salt Lake County is leading the way with a new financing vehicle known variously as “Pay For Success,” “social impact bonds” or “social impact financing.” While some will quibble over distinctions, I’ll use or quote people using these terms as if they all mean the same thing.
Jeremy Keele, who previously worked for Salt Lake County and now serves as Managing Director for the Sorenson Impact Center at the David Eccles School of Business as the University of Utah, explains how it works.
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Each year the Hult Prize committee sets what Jim Collins would call a big, hairy, audacious goal or BHAG for student teams of social entrepreneurs. This year, the challenge was to double the income of 1 million people in the developing world. The winning team created a texting system that optimizes the inefficient public transportation market in Kenya.
The $1 million prize was announced at the Clinton Global Initiative last month. The Clinton Foundation has announced that this will be the last such event and most of the employees have been given notice that that they will be laid off at the end of the year. The CGI was founded in 2005 to help find solutions to the world’s biggest problems. Being recognized at the final CGI is a historic footnote.
Karim Samra, Chief Operating Officer of the Hult Prize Foundation, was closely involved with the judging process. He explains why the Magic Bus Ticketing team won. “Magic Bus Ticketing launched a startup that clearly meets a number of critical success factors including raising income levels for local drivers and conductors, a focus on significantly improving outcomes for millions through more efficient and effective transportation options, demonstrable financial and technical feasibility, a novel and unique approach that leverages technology appropriately for the market (sms-based), and embedded mechanisms for fast scale (financial rewards).”
Read the full Forbes article and watch the interview here: http://bit.ly/2edIuc0.
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One of the most inspiring stories in my book Crowdfunding for Social Good features Martha Griffin’s campaign to raise money to publish Sam’s Birthmark, a book about a boy born with a birthmark on his face. The book has impacted countless lives since, including her own son Barron, helping kids born with port wine stain birthmarks like Barron’s to feel special.
For the book, Martha explained that she learned four key lessons from her Kickstarter campaign where she successfully raised $31,763.
- Would the birthmark community embrace or see a need for the book?
- Would the message appeal to our network and outside the birthmark community?
- Could we “market” the book through a viral campaign like Kickstarter?
- What would be the response to our story? Today, I caught up with Martha to learn more about her ongoing effort to build a movement that protects kids against bullying and builds their self-confidence.
Read the full GoodCrowdinfo article and watch the interview here: http://bit.ly/2dPhShg.
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Kirsten Henry Fox is an executive sommelier and entrepreneur who survived breast cancer in 2014. The cancer scare inspired her newest venture, Uplift Gift, a company launched on October 1st that sends gift boxes, typically including just the right wine for the occasion, to people experiencing cancer or other challenge.
Fox says, “For our launch, we are offering two types of gift boxes: one without wine, one with wine. Each gift box contains the following: a soft, ivory pashmina, hand-crafted chocolates, gourmet tea sampler, velvety sipping cocoa, three essential oils and a custom, hand-written greeting card. Optionally, if desired and legal to ship into the distressed friend’s state, the customer can add a bottle of white or red wine.”
“The gift boxes we will be offering at our launch,” she says, “include items that personally were meaningful for me when I was going through the trauma of diagnosis of stage 2 breast cancer. These are similar to packages my friends brought to me.”
Read the full Forbes article and watch the interview here: http://bit.ly/2e67Ecu.
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Billions of people are crippled because they lack a computer at home.
Matt Dalio spent years talking to people overcoming poverty without computers.
It was really three months of travel through China, India, Indonesia, Bangladesh, Thailand…
…seeing the reactions of people to his technology that convinced Matt he had to do this.
He learned they don’t want the cheapest computer he could make; they want the best computer they can afford.
So he set out to build it.
He launched with a Kickstarter campaign raising $176,538.
Today, the provocative Endless Computer starts at just $79.
The operating system can be downloaded free for use on any computer.
It includes an abundance of content and dozens of apps that don’t rely on the Internet!
Matt’s epic effort could bring a billion people into the information age.
Learn more here.
Visit Endless Computers.
Read the full GoodCrowdinfo article and watch the story here: http://bit.ly/2dPrDw0.
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Kindness. You’ve probably thought of kindness as a key to good personal relationships. You may have even applied kindness to your daily interactions with coworkers. Have you ever thought kindness was the key to success in business?
Westminster College professor Dr. Vicki Whiting says it is. In a powerful TEDx talk at her college, she makes the case that WalMart may one day cease to exist because it lacks the kindness its founder once imbued into the organization.
- Kindness is powerful. Kindness is the most powerful tool leaders have at their disposal if they desire to create the connection and commitment necessary to afford long term success. Leaders as far back as Aristotle teach us that kindness sits at the heart of meaningful relationships. It is through meaningful relationship that customers are loyal to an organization, that employees are committed to an organization’s vision, that co-workers trust one another to work productively to achieve an organization’s goals. Success is predicated on meaningful relationships, and meaningful relationships are based on the principles of kindness.
Read the full Your Mark on the World article and watch the interview here: http://bit.ly/2dq9Wmp.
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Sana Butler, founder of Transformative Tourism, wants wealthy tourists to travel with her to Africa to drive positive impact. Her innovative model for tourism is intended to help protect UNESCO World Heritage sites that are underfunded, to protect the environment and to help low-income people and communities lift themselves out of poverty.
There is a fundamental flaw in the existing tourism model in Africa; most of the money that goes in flows out, she says.
Sana says, “The problem is that visitors spend about $40 billion a year in Sub-Saharan Africa; as much as 90% of it ‘leaks out’ to bank accounts of multi-national companies.”
This isn’t just a problem that slows economic growth-though it is that, too, she says. “As a result, significant local sustainable tourism development options like UNESCO World Heritage sites are left to deteriorate due to lack of investment funds; locals living in poverty in and around sites are left out of an opportunity to bring in as much as $100 million in annual visitor revenue. The base of the pyramid continues to suffer and grow in the region not because money doesn’t flow into host communities; everyday Africans remain poor because the money never stays.”
Sana’s model for Transformative Tourism is to cater to small numbers of high income travelers, providing them with luxury experiences, provided by local communities.
Read the full Your Mark on the World article and watch the interview here: http://bit.ly/2dtMa9b.
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Many people are looking for practical ways to participate in the booming solar energy industry. Clean Energy Advisors, our sponsor, offers a way for accredited investors to participate in solar energy projects.
Read the full Your Mark on the World article and watch the interview here: http://bit.ly/2du5pPL.
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Ordinary investors can now invest in startups as a result of the belated implementation of the JOBS Act in May. As you start thinking about investing in startups, one key is to identify an entrepreneur you can back.
Todd Crosland, CEO of our sponsor Seed Equity Ventures, invests in startups along with investors who use the platform. He is an accomplished entrepreneur himself. He recently wrote a blog post about the five key attributes to look for in a startup founder. I’m sharing them here with permission.
- Passion When an entrepreneur is pitching you his or her business, their passion for the venture should be apparent from the time they open their mouth. They need to be fully committed to the mission and exemplify that they will do whatever it takes to see it succeed.
- Experience Has the founder started a company before? How successful was it? If he or she was able to grow a successful business prior to this venture, they know the ropes better than a first-time founder and have proven they have the dedication it takes to see a company endure.
- Adaptability Plans and challenges change frequently while building a company. Someone who can adapt and focus on the need of the customer, rather than refuse to abandon the original idea, will be more suited to build a winning company.
Read the full GoodCrowdinfo article and watch the interview here: http://bit.ly/2dusYYO.
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Vivienne Harr, age 9: “I saw a picture of two boys with big rocks strapped across their heads. To feel better, they were holding hands. I learned that these boys are brothers… and slaves. I thought slavery ended with Abraham Lincoln. But it still happens. I wanted to do something about it, because compassion is not compassion without action.” “We need to help these boys,” she told her parents. Vivienne set up a lemonade stand to raise money to end slavery. She earned so much money for the fight that she wanted to do it again. And then again and again. “I want to help a lot of these kids. I want to raise a whole $100,000.” Then Vivienne hit upon a new pricing strategy. “Why not let people pay what’s in their hearts?” From then on, her lemonade was officially “free because every child should be free.” The average amount collected for the lemonade jumped from $2 to $18 per cup. One person even paid $1,000. On day #173, Vivienne reached her goal and wrote a check to Not For Sale for $101,320. “You don’t have to be big or powerful to change the world. You can be just like me.”
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Have you ever conducted a toy drive, trying to gather items for a cause? The logistics of such an effort can be overwhelming. Lisa Tomasi has created a way that removes most of the logistical challenges for the nonprofit and makes donating new items easier for the giver as well. Her company YouGiveGoods allows the donor to buy products for a drive and have them delivered directly to the charity.
Lisa says, “By removing the cumbersome logistics of a typical, collection box drive, more people can donate and get more goods into the hands of those who need them. Our business directly helps more people receive tangible aid and support when they need it most.”
It’s easy, she says. “Our work at YouGiveGoods is simple – people use our platform to start a charity drive (toy drive, school supply drive, food drive, animal shelter drive…and many more), supporters of these drives buy needed products (actual items – not a cash donation) from us as an online retailer and then we ship those goods directly to the charity.”
It’s also free! “Our service and platform is free to use — it does not cost the charity or the drive organizer anything to have friends, family, and coworkers help a charity in need.”
Read the full Your Mark on the World article and watch the interview here: http://bit.ly/2cRKsyo.
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“Somebody ought to do something about that.” If you’re like me, you’ve said that–if only to yourself–on occasion. The most successful people in the world seem to be the ones who don’t. Instead, they do something.
Most of us aren’t willing to give up our careers to “do something” to solve a social problem, especially if there is no good answer to the partner question, “What’s in it for me?” Mellanie True Hills, a professional speaker who has earned the National Speakers Association’s Certified Speaking Professional designation, recognized a problem and created a nonprofit to address it without giving up her career.
Hills launched her nonprofit, American Foundation for Women’s Health, which in turn runs StopAfib.org, after having a near-death experience resulting from atrial fibrillation or “Afib.” StopAfib.org is a patient-to-patient organization that works to help those experiencing Afib to advocate for themselves with the healthcare community to get the best possible outcomes.
StopAfib.org operates on an annual budget of approximately $500,000, she says. The revenue comes from donations from individuals, corporations and foundations. With a small staff, the organization has been able to drive significant impact by partnering with other organizations and advocating at the national level. For instance, Hills was a driving force in the creating and national recognition of Atrial Fibrillation Awareness Month.
Read the full Forbes article and watch the interview here: http://bit.ly/2czVfcP.
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Improving public health in the developing world faces seemingly insurmountable odds. The Task Force for Global Health, or TFGH, is working to change those odds. Last month, CEO Dave Ross accepted on behalf of the organization a $2 million prize from the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation for its annual Humanitarian Prize.
“The Task Force is about compassion, collaboration, and smart solutions,” said Hilton Foundation CEO Peter Laugharn upon granting the award. “The organization and its partners roll up their sleeves and solve massive global health problems, and they do it without fanfare. This is an organization that, with its partners, is on track to help eliminate three diseases in the next decade. That is something we should all celebrate.”
Dave frames the problem this way: “People who live in extreme poverty survive on less than $1.25 a day and lack access to food, clean water, and basic health services, including immunizations and medicines. Because of their impoverished status, they also are preferentially targeted by infectious diseases that cause blindness, disfigurement, impaired cognition, stunted growth, paralysis, and even death.”
Read the full Your Mark on the World article and watch the interview here: http://bit.ly/2cRS6sK.
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Bobbi Rebell, Reuters financial news television anchor and author of the new book How to Be a Financial Grownup, is launching the book with a fully funded crowdfunding campaign for teachers and students via DonorsChoose. You get to give without giving!
Here’s how it works. 1) You buy a copy of the book. 2) You post about it the purchase on social media including a link to the crowdfunding campaign on DonorsChoose. 3) Send screen grabs of your receipt and your post to Bobbie here. 4) You will receive a gift code for $18 allowing you to back a teacher’s project to benefit students without using any of your own money! (Of course, there are some teachers who are hoping you might add a few bucks of your own.) See complete rules here.
Bobbi wrote her new book to be of help to more than just teachers and their students. As a financial news reporter, she sees a crisis brewing in America.
“We are in an economic crisis because so few of us know the basics about how to manage our financial lives as adults. Americans want to get better at paying attention to—and managing—their money, but with a lack of financial literacy education and information overload thanks to the internet, it has become a daunting and overwhelming task. We need to make financial education accessible, compelling and inviting so we can finally start acting like financial grownups,” she says.
It was important to her that her book be accessible to readers. “I wrote How to Be a Financial Grownup specifically as a book people would actually read. It is fun. At first it even might be mistaken for a personal finance ‘beach read,’ but it is anything but. The advice is serious and specific.”
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Laura Dunn, who reports being a victim of sexual assault by two men from her University of Wisconsin-Madison crew team, was fueled by her experience to not only earn a JD but also to launch SurvJustice, a national organization working to support other victims of campus rape. Dunn is an accidental social entrepreneur driven by a passion to make America’s campuses safer.
The scale of the operation at SurvJustice, with just three people on staff, doesn’t do justice to the work of the organization. Operating on a shoe-string budget, the nonprofit has impact beyond what you’d expect.
Dunn leverages volunteer interns and a small but impressive board to expand the organization’s reach.
Board member Lilibet Hagel, wife of the former Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel, says she was impressed by Laura and SurvJustice. “I was impressed that SurvJustice offers valuable ‘nuts and bolts’ legal assistance to survivors and good, well-informed advice on how to navigate the crazy campus landscapes, none of which seem to be the same.”
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The Pan-Mass Challenge 200 mile bike-a-thon in Massachussetts appears to be the biggest athletic-based nonprofit fundraiser in the world. Founded by Billy Starr in 1980, the just completed 2016 event will raise about $46 million for the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.
According to Starr, the PMC has an annual operating budget of about $4 million. Another $5 million of in-kind donations make it possible for 100 percent of donations to go to Dana-Farber. PMC funds the operating budget with event sponsorships and registrations so that 100 percent of funds donated can go directly to Dana-Farber for cancer research and treatment.
Riders are required to pay a registration fee of up to $230 in addition to raising $4,500 in donations. On average, the 6,300 riders each raise $7,500, according to Starr.
He started the PMC in 1980 after losing his mother, a cousin and an uncle to cancer in the 70s. He started, he says, “before biking was popular.” The goal was to raise money. The first event raised about $10,000 from 36 riders, including Starr, who continues to ride every year.
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To paraphrase the great philosopher Forest Gump, impact investing is like a box of chocolates; you never know what impact you’re going to get.
One of the foremost experts on impact investing, Cathy Clark, Director of CASE i3 at Duke University, is working on that problem. She is focusing on labeling impact into categories that will be recognized by investors and issuers alike.
Sasha Dichter, Chief Innovation Officer at Acumen, sits on the advisory board for CASE i3. Of Clark, he says, “She understands where the field is and where it is going, and her thinking and writing consistently push the field forward.”
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Andrea Barnes has spent her entire career doing nonprofit fundraising. She now runs AB Funding, a consulting practice focused on helping nonprofits raise money. She’s worked the past year to prepare “The Giving Principles Global Nonprofit Telesummit | Investing in Human Solutions” September 12 – 30, 2016.
The conference will bring together 15 nonprofit leaders to share insights into sustainable impact and the fundraising strategies that support them. “Our speakers represent proven, world-class organizations,” Andrea says. “They are thought leaders in support of social good. Their charities are tested and their results are proven. Each has a vital story to share.”
Some of the themes that will be developed by the speakers include:
Taking a local charity and scaling it to operate throughout the country Asking the provocative question — How do we eliminate chronic hunger? And then evolving your charity to do just that. Taking a stand for the greatness of women and girls Challenging corporations to thrive while doing good Developing future leaders for sustainable change Changing the way we understand and use money Engaging your entire team in raising money for your cause
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Solar Site Design, winner of the U.S. Department of Energy’s 2015 Sunshot Catalyst Award, will unveil its Solar Commercial Marketplace for its industrial solar power site planning software at Solar Power International in Las Vegas on September 12 through 15th, 2016.
The trade show is the largest solar industry event of the year. Jason Loyet, President and Founder of Solar Site Design or SSD, says, “We are excited to introduce this enhancement to our platform that will revolutionize the cost of solar energy across the United States.”
Jason adds, “Our mission is to drive down the cost of solar and keep all coal in the ground. We are excited to be a part of the solution for driving down the cost of solar across the world.”
Solar energy isn’t just good for the environment. It is good business. Jason Says, “Solar energy is expected to grow to a $155 billion dollar global market by 2018. The solar industry is on track to install 100 GW worldwide by 2015. That is doubling the capacity in two-and-a-half years.”
Because virtually the entire cost of solar power is in the form of up front capital costs, the only way to bring down the long term cost of energy is to reduce the total capital cost of the installation. While solar panels are falling in price, the proportion of total cost represented by panels is also falling, meaning that reducing costs further will have to come from other aspects of the business.
Erik Melang, Senior Managing Director for Clean Energy Advisors [one of our sponsors], explains, “One of the biggest impediments to solar adoption is the soft cost of the installation. Large developers are paying over $.50 watt to find projects. Distributive generation requires distributive origination at the local level. SSD provides the platform to make that happen. SSD’s collaborative model is an impact capital model that is disrupting how the sales process is generally carried out. SSD is bringing down the cost of solar installations and making it easier for developers to find the projects that best fit their project profile.”
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Eclat Impact is building the global platform for impact investing. In order to bring institutional scale to the impact marketplace, there needs to be a marketplace that operates within the international regulatory framework. Eclat Impact is working to be that platform.
Brace Young, the recently appointed CEO of Eclat Impact, explains, “We are solving for the need for a financial institution with the standing to allow both institutions and individuals to have the confidence to make investments in both private debt and Equity with a focus not only on risk and return but impact as well.”
Creating that confidence will require more than a flashy website, Brace notes. “We are building an internet based sourcing, due diligence and distribution platform for private impact investments to connect individuals and institutions around the world that is approved by the major financial regulators.”
Eclat Impact faces challenges, Brace acknowledges. “The major challenges are establishing a cost effective, collaborative process for sourcing and due diligence and getting global approval from the major financial regulators. We will need to help clients to be willing to execute away from the historical Brokerage and fund model.”
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What if there were a way that you could give without giving? That is, what if you could make a donation to charity without actually giving any of your own money? Many people have tried to create meaningful ways to accomplish this, especially since the internet became a ubiquitous part of our lives. Loftii is one of the latest entrants into this field.
Most people give to charity. In fact, most people give a lot. On average, about $3,000 per year per household. Many people would like to give even more. Loftii has created a way for you to give without giving by taking a slice of your online purchases from the merchants and giving that to charity. You pay nothing and your charity gets real cash. It’s almost like magic.
Amy Larson, Chief Marketing Officer, explains, “Loftii is helping people who want to do more. Today’s consumer is more active in their desire to make a positive impact on the world, however, they often lack the means. Loftii enables them to support their favorite cause regardless of their current financial situation.”
Having tried it, I can attest that the process is really as easy as it sounds.
Amy says, “We enable people to select their cause, then have up to 10% of their online purchases through over 700 retailers donated to that cause. We make it simple through the use of our browser extension – just a click of a button to tell the retailer what charity to support.”
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Devin Thorpe , CONTRIBUTOR I cover social entrepreneurship and impact investing.
Opinions expressed by Forbes Contributors are their own.
Microsoft MSFT -0.24% reported doing over $1 billion of corporate giving, mostly in-kind, for fiscal year 2015. The software giant is making giving a more integral part of its strategy, as I explored here. One current initiative is a drive to encourage more STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) education, a three-year, $75 million program called YouthSpark. [Full disclosure: I own an embarrassingly small number of shares in Microsoft.]
Here’s the thing, Microsoft Philanthropies President, Mary Snapp (the first female lawyer at the company back in 1988), says, “No single organization or company can close the global computer science education gap. ” This may be the best lesson social entrepreneurs can take from Microsoft’s massive giving budget. When entrepreneurs set out to solve big problems, they need to partner with organizations who can help.
Microsoft has partnered with the Boys and Girls Clubs of America to expose a broader range of kids to computer science careers. The program provides a “Computer Science Pathway” with four modules, each one building on skills taught in the prior module. This builds upon Microsoft’s longstanding support of BCGA which includes more than $100 Million in cash and software donations.
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Hundreds of millions of Americans who have been statutorily and practically prohibited from investing in startups are now allowed to do just that under two new regulations. The 2012 JOBS Act created new rules for Regulation A offerings and Regulation Crowdfunding. Neither requires investors t o meet a specific net worth or experience requirement. Common sense suggests it is time to ask the expert how to do “due diligence” on a startup investment. Todd Crosland, CEO and Founder of Seed Equity Ventures, offers some advice on conducting proper due diligence. He suggests exploring each of the following questions:
Is there at least a minimum viable product or prototype with proof of concept?
If possible, you’ll want to use the product. If not, you should at least see it. If there isn’t a working prototype, be sure to ask yourself if you are prepared to invest at such an early stage. The answers to the other questions should be overwhelmingly favorable before investing in what amounts to a business plan.
Is there any initial traction with active users?
It is possible to have an active community without a product, but generally some type of minimum viable product will have to be in the market to prove the concept in the market. If the product is available and there isn’t an active user community, it may be time to move along.
Are there at least two full time team members?
Experienced investors have seen this movie before. A lone wolf entrepreneur fails because he can’t share credit, can’t delegate, can’t work well with other people or just thinks he can do it all himself. Look for a solid, committed team before you commit your hard-earned money to the deal.
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Angela Parker, co-founder and President of Realized Worth, has built a profitable, $1 million revenue consulting practice helping companies like Mcdonalds, TD Bank, and even the UN with volunteering programs. She will share five guidelines for corporate volunteering below.
The firm designs custom volunteer programs for its clients and then works with them to implement them successfully.
Parker earned an MBA, but that may be where her typical corporate consulting background ends. She worked in a variety of social services efforts, including disaster relief, managing volunteers for nonprofits and helping at-risk kids, she says. While not the typical path for corporate work, it was perfect for the firm she launched with her business partner Chris Jarvis. Both she and Jarvis have written respected pieces on corporate volunteering and giving.
Parker approaches volunteering programs more as a corporate training function to develop leaders than as a corporate social responsibility program to meet those standards.
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Anne Kjaer Riechert, a young, Danish entrepreneur living in Germany saw the flood of refugees arriving in 2015 and did something about it. [Full disclosure: I have written about polio eradication for Rotarian Magazine.]
Riechert, a past Rotary Peace Fellow, moved to Berlin in 2012 to set up the Berlin Peace Innovation Lab in collaboration with Stanford University. When she observed what ultimately became 1.1 million asylum seekers, mostly from Syria, she saw an opportunity. ”Currently, there are 43,000 open jobs in IT in Germany,” she says.
John Hewko, general secretary of Rotary International, who spent much of his career in Europe, commenting on the refugee situation there, says, “If we don’t act now to build the conditions for sustainable peace, then the likelihood of events that undermine it, such as profound social instability, a lack of integration of migrant populations into their new host countries, and failures of national governance will only increase.”
So, she created a coding school called ReDI School of Digital Integration to train refugees to fill some of those jobs. Partnering with German companies, including Daimler AG, she is providing training in coding languages “like Ruby on Rails, CSS, HTML, Python” along with “skills like entrepreneurship and business intelligence,” she says.
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Howard Leonhardt is the co-inventor of the TALENT stent acquired by Medtronic MDT +0.58% and used to treat over 200,000 patients. With boundless optimism, 20 patents issued and more pending, he has launched Leonhardt Ventures to form and incubate dozens of companies intended to collectively extend human life expectancy by 30 years. [While I have no business relationship with Leonhardt at present, he has invited me to join his advisory board.]
Most of the technologies in the portfolio are at the intersection of electrical stimulation and stem cells. Jeremy Koff, an entrepreneur with a deep background in medical devices himself has signed on as an advisor to Leonhardt’s California Stock Exchange, an early stage effort at creating a stock market for socially conscious companies.
Koff calls Leonhardt’s work “pioneering.” The two became acquainted over the music scene Koff helped to create, but bonded over medical devices when Koff learned that Leonhardt was inspired for the former’s uncle Alfred Mann, a giant in the medical device industry.
Koff notes that Leonhardt is “combining two approaches that haven’t been combined before.” He adds, “Using electrical stimulation with stem cells is quite a novel approach.”
When I asked what Leonhard would ultimately need to do to be successful, Koff harked back to his uncle, explaining that Mann needed twenty years and $100 million to develop Second Sight, which won approval for the first artificial retina in 2013. In other words, Leonhardt needs time and money to bring his advanced technologies to market.
Leonhardt’s business model is to build small companies until they are commercially viable and then to sell them to strategic buyers. He’s hoping to reprise his success with the TALENT Stent over and over again, each time retaining a small piece of future revenues.
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Emmy Award winner Shane DeRolf has launched an effort he calls the Big Word Club to help disadvantaged children catch up with their more affluent peers.
Shane says, “A child’s vocabulary at age 5 is the single best predictor of his or her success in school and in life yet by the time they enter kindergarten, children from lower to middle socioeconomic families will know 400-700 fewer words than their wealthier classmates. This is called the ‘word gap’ and without effective intervention (i.e. improving their vocabularies at a young age), the word gap only gets wider as the child gets older.”
The real problem, he says, comes later. “Left unchecked, the word gap evolves into the ‘achievement gap,’ impacting the child’s academic and earning potential for the rest of his or her life.”
Until now, there hasn’t been an efficient way to address the problem, he says. “Though much research has been done about the causes of the Word Gap, until Big Word Club, no low-cost and scalable intervention existed. If we are going to improve the vocabularies of millions of children in America–and we need to–we need to provide busy parents and teachers with better tools to teach vocabulary to media-savvy kids in fast, fun and effective ways.”
“Big Word Club uses books, songs, animation and dance to help preschool and elementary school kids learn one new ‘big‘ word every day of the school year–in less than one minute a day! Big Word Club makes it easy for parents and teachers to improve their kids’ vocabularies and because Big Word Club is fun and entertaining, kids love learning,” Shane says.
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Maria De La Croix may one day prove to be the biggest mistake Starbucks SBUX +0.83% ever made. You see, the blue-haired young woman applied for a job as a barista with the global leader in high-end coffee shops and was turned down, she says, because her hair was “too blue.”
Lest anyone at Starbucks feel bad about the decision, no one could have guessed what would happen next. Suffice it to say, there is a mic drop coming.
With the help of some friends, De La Croix built a solar powered coffee shop on a bicycle and completely reinvented the coffee shop business. She calls her company Wheelys Cafe.
Her stores on wheels cost just $5,900, on which she makes a profit margin of 50 percent, she says. The shop is the key. By mass producing the bike-based shops, the company has reduced the production costs to about $3,000.
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This changemaker raised in the former Czechoslovakia, Iva Dior, became an activist as a small child. Today, in the United States, the singer and activist continues to advocate for change, working primarily to educate children and families on good nutrition.
She explains how she got her start. “I got to know families who were desperate to change their lifestyle, but didn’t know where to start. I took them shopping, shared a few recipes and realized there’s away to do this on a budget. It’s the moms and dads who needed to feel empowered to change their families’ eating habits.”
Along the way, Iva has faced significant challenges. “Having been raised in communist Czechoslovakia, one of the greatest challenges has been always going against the current. I never quite fit in, because I saw challenges and I wanted to solve them. Being a dreamer and a changemaker wasn’t encouraged, yet I felt my purpose was to live a purpose-driven life.”
She credits her grandfather for her success, even though she never met him. “My grandfather Otto, whom I never got to meet, but who’s presence I feel daily in my life is my hero. He was a community leader and an activist during the Soviet occupation during Prague Spring of 1968. I seem to have inherited his altruistic, activist and working-to-make-the-world-a-better-place gene.”
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Colleen Copple, a social entrepreneur from what was once a gang-threatened neighborhood in Salt Lake City, is threading the needle between people that fear the police and the cops who protect them. She has created a business mending communities to reduce violence of all kinds.
Copple is the C0-Founder of Strategic Applications International or SAI as well as of Servant Forge, a nonprofit that provides similar services in Africa. The firm typically contracts with governmental agencies to facilitate community engagement and communications. In 2015, in SAI facilitated the production of the Obama administration’s response to community violence in Ferguson and elsewhere.
Twenty-five years earlier, in about 1990, Copple was living in the Glendale neighborhood of Salt Lake City when a sudden rash of gang violence erupted, related to closure of one of the city’s four high schools. Drive-by shootings increased from 1 to 200 from one year to the next.
Copple, still in her twenties, was serving on the local school board and felt responsible to do something about the crime in her neighborhood. She organized the community, worked with the police and helped to restore peace to her neighborhood.
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The world’s coral reefs are threatened by rising sea temperatures, destructive fishing, coastal development, invasive species, damage from marine recreation, storm damage and higher acidity. Melody Saunders Brenna is an entrepreneur with a plan to restore damaged reefs using nanotechnology.
Melody notes that the reefs are critical for humans as 1 in 10 people rely on reefs for food. Furthermore, she estimates that $350+ billion annual income is at risk. Something needs to be done.
She has launched Reef Life Restoration and Reef Life Foundation to help create new, living, thriving reefs. The literal foundation of the plan is “cast marine cell structures” that look and feel like lightweight concrete blocks, some formed with embedded nano-particles that foster rapid coral growth.
“Our diverse nano science coral cell matrices provide faster growth for food, fish, minerals, medicines and pH balance.”
The concrete pieces can be designed into almost any shape and configuration. She can optimize the blocks for deployment from a vessel so as to be able to maximize the amount of reef that can be restored in a single trip by the fewest people. Using the same technology, she can create beautiful underwater structures, imagine a reconstructed Atlantis at a resort, that would appear to be a beautiful concrete structure on the day it is installed but that will become a vibrant, living coral reef within two years.
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Bernard Loyd, an MIT-educated activist born on Chicago’s West Side and raised in Liberia, has returned to Chicago to lead the rebuilding of a historically black community.
“Despite being the historic center of Black Chicago, a former cultural and commercial hub of Black America, and located only minutes from downtown Chicago and Lake Michigan, Bronzeville is one of the most economically-challenged communities in the United States and a food and jobs ‘desert,'” Bernard says.
With that as motivation, Bernard and his company, Urban Juncture, is out doing something about the problems he sees.
He says, “We are developing a culinary district celebrating unique Black cuisine from around the world in order to provide delicious food for residents, a one-of-a-kind dining destination for visitors, a significant number of locally accessible jobs, and wealth creation opportunities for restaurateurs and investors. We’ve also started development of a companion cultural district highlighting Bronzeville performance arts and hospitality.”
Rebuilding won’t be easy. Money is the biggest constraint on success, he says. “Accessing the capital needed to build culinary enterprises is our most difficult challenge.”
Bernard is raising $100,000 using crowdfunding site Wefunder today. Readers can learn more about the offering here.
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Gordon Gund was blinded by retinitis pigmentosa in 1970 at the age of 31. He has spent the 45 years since working to defeat that disease, to prevent related blindness and even to restore sight to the blind. Over $700 million later, he now hopes that “within a generation we will be able to eradicate blindness caused by retinal disease!”
In 2013, I first connected with Gordon for a Forbes piece that included a live interview we conducted then.
It is hard to imagine how one copes with the complete loss of one’s vision. Gordon partnered with his wife. He says, “After coming to terms with how our lives would be altered by the disease, my wife and I committed ourselves to a comprehensive research effort that would make something positive for others out of our own difficult experiences.”
“When I was diagnosed with RP almost 50 years ago very little was known about the retina. There was very little research and no evidence-based treatments for retinal disease,” he adds.
Gordon continues, “We recognized that first building a critical mass of sound scientific knowledge about the retina and retinal diseases was essential to finding treatments and cures. That year we teamed with a number of other families affected by retinal disease to create the Retinitis Pigmentosa Foundation, now called the Foundation Fighting Blindness. Our collective dream was to drive the research that would find treatments and cures for all retinal degenerative diseases.”
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Following the passage of the 2012 JOBS Act, the greatest excitement in the startup finance community was on Title III, which has now been implemented by the SEC as Regulation Crowdfunding. Title IV of the Act, however, is proving to be where the real action is.
The SEC’s implemented the rules for Regulation A+ on June 19. An article by Amy Wan at Crowdfund Insider provides some key statistics about offerings being conducted under the act. 105 offerings were filed, 44 of which were “qualified” by the SEC.
Elio Motors raised almost $17 million earlier this year. Paul Elio joined me twice in the last year to discuss his offering, here and here. The scale of that offering suggests appropriately that Reg A+ offerings are not intended for idea-stage or seed-stage transactions. They may be best seen as a path to an early and more affordable IPO, as the shares of a company that has completed a Reg A+ offering can be listed.
Seed Equity Ventures, a sponsor of our work here at GoodCrowd.info, is a FINRA-registered broker dealer providing investment banking services to early-stage companies. Founder and CEO Todd Crosland has indicated that the firm hopes to make it easier and more affordable for small companies to raise money with a Reg A+ offering.
Todd notes that Seed Equity’s inside legal counsel will work with companies and their legal advisors to ensure complete and affordable regulatory compliance. The firm will help with the company’s offering materials, the closing process and “everything in between,” he says.
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“Some of the world’s most intractable social and environmental problems are in need of new solutions. From climate change to resource scarcity to exploding global population growth, the traditional levers of change, including philanthropy and government aid, are insufficient to address the critical issues of our time,” says Fran Seegull.
Seegull, Chief Investment Officer and Managing Director for ImpactAssets, says impact investing may be the key to solving global problems. Impact investing is the practice of investing funds for both a financial return and social impact.
ImpactAssets is a nonprofit financial services firm that earns fees from managing donor advised funds and other investment products. It also receives grant support, largely to help with its advocacy work for the field of impact investing. The nonprofit has $292 million under management and has 17 employees. It was originally founded under the wings of the Calvert Foundation.
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Clean Energy Advisors is lighting up cell phones at concerts of Dead & Company (the band includes members of the Grateful Dead) around the country this summer. The concerts are context for a lot of good.
Chris Warren, CEO of Clean Energy Advisors, our sponsor, explains, “The CEA Solar Tour is currently touring the country in support of the Dead & Company’s Participation Row. Working with the band, HeadCount.org (a non-partisan voter registration organization) and Reverb (a non-profit organization that works to make tours and events more environmentally friendly) we are providing cell phone charging stations at every show an powering Participation Row. Participation Row is an area where local non-profits from each community are given an opportunity to come out and share their message with fans.”
The effort is proving to have tremendous reach. “During the tour we will educate and inform tens of thousands of concert goers about climate change and what each person can do to make a positive impact. In addition, approximately 15,000 fans will take actions on Participation Row that directly benefit our non-profit partners, Chris says.
“We are about halfway through the summer and so far the excitement and engagement has far exceeded our expectations. We are seeing some amazing things out there and raising awareness and money for good causes as diverse as environmental action and music education,” he concludes.
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The new Spotfund app is taking an interesting approach to fundraising for charity by capping donations at $3. The theory seems to be that if you are only allowed to give a little, everyone will. The cap removes the social pressure to give until it hurts!
Co-founder and CEO Sanford Kunkel says, “There is a disconnect between a problem and its call to action. Say you’re watching the news on the Flint Water Crisis and want to help. First, you have to get up off the couch, get to your laptop and register for the one of the many organizations or GoFundMe pages open to this. Then you have to determine how much you want to give to really make a difference and which charity to donate to.”
Spotfund, only available for Apple’s ios devices, simplifies donating by allowing you to do it from your phone–if you’re like me you have it with you all the time–and by placing a ridiculously low cap on donations. Using the app removes the fear that you’ll discover a cause to which you’ll want to give next month’s rent and allows you the comfort that you can come back and make a donation to any cause that moves you any time.
Sanford says that Spotfund takes the worry out of donating. “It’s part of our core values to vet and identify the single best charities to include. There was a need for a product that’s conducive with the lifestyle of mobile first today and Spotfund provides that. We’re putting democracy into charity – it’s not just a donation platform, it’s an awareness platform.”
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Zach Hagopian, co-founder and COO for Accelevents, a provider of silent auction app for nonprofit fundraisers, shares tips from his experience in helping nonprofits optimize their fundraising.
He says nonprofits need to make fundraising “accessible, easy and engaging” for both organizers and donors.
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Use Technology. My first tip is to utilize the amazing online and mobile tools that are prevalent in today’s society, and focus these tools on fundraising. Online and mobile technology have improved many facets of everyday life – now is the time for these tools to improve fundraising too!
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Reduce Barriers. My second tip is to make fundraising easier by reducing barriers to donation. There are many people around the world who are interested in supporting a great cause, but may find the donation process old-fashioned or difficult in nature. Using technology to reduce donation barriers is a win-win for causes and donors.
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Serial entrepreneur Molly Hayward has a fresh take on feminine hygiene, reimagining everything from the absorbent materials to the packaging. With a deep commitment to social justice, she has paired her new products with a program to get girls in the developing world back to school by providing appropriate monthly products for them, too.
Hayward’s new venture, Cora, was launched early this year and with just four employees isn’t yet profitable. Hayward declined to provide margin specifics, but notes that unit sales of the product are profitable.
Entrepreneur Dave Heath, founder of social venture and sock maker Bombas, is an advisor to Cora. He say, “Cora is a off to a very promising start as a business, with a dedicated core customer base and strong month over month growth since its launch earlier this year.”
Hayward’s commitment to actually helping young women in the developing world–starting with India–is already being seen, Heath says. “Even at its early stage, the company has already started purchasing and distributing pads to economically underprivileged girls and women there.”
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Martin Shulze is artist and social entrepreneur who is working to make the world a better place with tea. The pu’er tea comes from the Yunnan Province in China and is sold by Misty Peak Teas.
But, we’re getting a little ahead of ourselves.
Martin explains his early career in the art world. “I started in 2004 by working at Sprueth Magers, one of the world’s leading contemporary art galleries. After running a commercial gallery, a non-profit art space and working at Germany’s most visited museums, I founded the art non-profit Public Delivery, in hopes of finding a new model on how art can be produced and shared.”
He’s working to connect more people to the art world, giving people direct access to art in their lives. “I’m trying to bridge the gap between everyday people and institutions by empowering individuals, groups and communities to take part in art projects and become artists themselves, as well as then showing these results in established institutions.”
The transition from commercial art to nonprofit was difficult, he says. “The biggest challenge to overcome was leaving the commercial (art) world and its stability and believing in my own vision.”
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With equity crowdfunding less than 60 days old, measuring from the date the SEC’s Regulation CF became effective in May, the marketplace is beginning to take shape. Flashfunders is one of the players offering a crowdfunding portal.
Vincent Bradley, the CEO of Flashfunders, shared his take on the emerging crowdfunding market.
Vincent sees two related problems in the market. “Historically, there have been large hurdles in both the fundraising and investing spaces, namely a lack of accessibility. Startups and small businesses have had limited options for financing, many of which were expensive and time consuming to pursue. Additionally, those startups have often been unable to offer equity to investors who are truly passionate about their business model.”
The JOBS Act, which directed the SEC to implement crowdfunding, was passed four years before the SEC rules became effective.
With respect to the second problem, Vincent notes, “Before Title III went into effect giving power to average investors, there were very few investment options available. Private investing was a right reserved only for the 1 percent, the accredited investors.”
Crowdfunding fundamentally addresses both problems. Vincent explains the company’s international approach, saying, “FlashFunders’ equity crowdfunding platform is giving startups and small businesses a progressive financing option. It empowers companies to raise capital from all types of investors – the crowd, international, and accredited- in a single fundraising round. The platform also provides everyday investors with the tools they need identify and invest in innovative businesses that they believe in.”
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The USDA estimates that nearly half the food grown and produced in the US goes to waste. At the same time, more than 50 million Americans face hunger and need help from their local food banks to fill the gaps near the end of the month when their paychecks and food benefits run out,” explains David Bobanick, Executive Director of Rotary First Harvest.
David’s Seattle-based, innovative nonprofit “works with farmers, truckers, volunteers, food banks and other partners to develop collaborative programs that capture millions of pounds of pounds of cosmetically imperfect but highly nutritious produce for distribution to those in need.”
While he acknowledges that Rotary First Harvest, which is a project led by Rotary District 5030, isn’t the single solution to hunger in the world, it has distributed nearly 200 million pounds of food since its founding in 1982.
He says, “One of our greatest challenges we face is the actual time it takes to coordinate, harvest, transport and distribute perishable produce before it spoils, rots or goes to waste. There is no one-size-fits all solution, so creativity and adaptability must be critical parts of an effective food recovery equation.”
David is able to see some challenges as opportunities; perhaps that is what defines an effective social entrepreneur. “We’ve learned that every bit of food that is wasted has a critical point at which it went from being potentially nutritious to being a costly challenge with negative environmental and human impacts. Our work is focused on finding that critical point, and creating a program or solution that redirects the food for good.”
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If you run a nonprofit, your life can be overwhelmed by an endless cycle of demands from the people you serve and the donors who enable you to serve them. Take a few minutes to contemplate these three critical insights from Liz Baker, Executive Director of GreaterGood.org, a grant-making organization that supports 150 nonprofits around the world.
Liz says the key to making a real difference is in the three I’s of a nonprofit: impact, imagination and innovation.
In her own words:
I-1. Impact Define your desired impact before starting a new nonprofit program. If you don’t take this “working backwards” approach, you will not have a clear path to reaching your end goal. The impact can be as narrow as “we want to ensure shelters participating in this program see a 20% lift in adoption rates each month” or as broad as “we want to deliver quality reading material into the hands of as many underserved youth as possible”. Understanding your impact is necessary to successfully imagine solutions and innovate processes. I-2. Imagination Once your impact is defined, you have to be able to imagine the problem is solvable. Sometimes this is a simple exercise, and sometimes it’s not. In order to tackle big issues, you need to exercise your imagination and be okay with exploring different possible solutions. With our Girls’ Voices Program, we imagined a way to allow girls in developing countries to tell their story to supporters around the world who could help them overcome barriers to a quality education.
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Over the past few years, countless people have told me how important it is to learn from and partner with those we hope to serve in order to serve them effectively. Celeste Mergens, founder of the nonprofit Days for Girls, is the best case study for proving that principle that I’ve encountered in years of reporting on social impact.
Days for Girls works to provide girls and young women with feminine hygiene products to enable them to attend school and work, giving them five more days per month in school or at work learning or being productive. Working in 101 countries, Celeste is truly is making a dent in the universe.
Over the past few weeks, Celeste–Washington State’s 2014 Mother of the Year–has been working on some lessons she could share with us about being more effective in our development efforts. She calls them her “5 Keys to Reversing Cycles of Poverty.”
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As a teenager playing in the waves in Hawaii, I had a wave crash down on my back. The impact instantly paralyzed me, perhaps out of fear. As I floated beneath the surface of the water my life in a wheelchair flashed in front of my eyes. It was one of the most vivid experiences of my life. Fortunately, I walked away from the experience.
Of course, many people don’t walk away. Some of them don’t have the relative luxury of living in the developed world with access to leading edge treatment and fail to reach their full potential.
Morocco is one such place. There, Mohammed Sbia has launched MAIR in 2015 to provide treatment to people with spinal cord injuries. Zahra Charity is a U.S.-based nonprofit he organized to fund and support MAIR.
He explains, “Lack of neuro-rehabilitation care in Morocco and tragic subsequent, very high level of disabilities and/or death among patient population that is suffering of neurological conditions. Most of these patients would have a normal life if given access to adequate neuro-rehabilitation.”
The impact on individuals is dramatic. “We have helped many patients so far, some of whom are truly amazing medical stories of life-changing recovery,” he says.
Mohammed plans to continue to grow MAIR until it is internationally recognized. He hopes to serve “as many needy patient as possible, while developing education and research programs that will allow significant, long-term improvement of neurological rehabilitative care in Morocco.”
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Lindsey Kneuven, Chief Impact Officer at venture-backed Cotopaxi, recently told me, “Businesses can be a force for immense good; let’s ensure they do good well.”
At the moment, she’s focused on making sure that Cotopaxi does good well. The social enterprise is scaling quickly and her role is to ensure that they don’t lose focus on the targeted impact.
Lindsey brings valuable experience to Cotopaxi, having spent time with the Silicon Valley Community Foundation helping some of the area’s largest companies with their corporate philanthropy. She is concerned that startups today need to become more disciplined to have the impact they want.
She asks, “As more young companies build models that integrate their social and environmental goals, how do we create a movement to ensure that they are leveraging best practices from the development sector? How we capitalize on the enthusiasm for social impact in a way that ensure models are informed, that effective solutions/interventions are prioritized, builds on the collective impact model, and prevents the dilution of donor dollars?”
The type of legal structure a company uses has an impact on its ability and commitment to having an impact. “Cotopaxi incorporated as a Benefit Corporation and was the first company to take this structure and then receive venture funding. We are committed to infusing social impact and sustainability into all aspects of our work. This takes shape in our giving, our employee engagement, our supply chain, our operations and our design and development philosophy,” she says.
One of the challenges she faces in her work at Cotopaxi is dealing with the rapidly changing context of her work. With rapid changes in supply chain, for instance, she must quickly react to ensure that each supplier meets the company’s impact standards, stretching her capacity.
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Dr. Laura Lemle’s daughter was diagnosed with NVLD when she was five years old. Dr. Lemle had earned a PhD in clinical psychology decades ago, before getting into the real estate business. Now, applying her entrepreneurial skills to a social problem close to home, she’s launched a nonprofit, The NVLD Project, to help kids with NVLD.
Dr. Lemle, motivated by a desire to change the world for her daugther’s benefit, is moving quickly to build a top-flight advisory board and begin its work of helping those with NVLD and other social and spatial disabilities to lead more complete lives.
Up to this point, Dr. Lemle has provided most of the funding for the nonprofit, but the team is still small with just two other people on staff with her. Growing the organization’s impact will require growing its revenue.
Who hasn’t misread a social situation and felt embarrassed as a result? While that is the fertile soil that comedy writers use for sitcoms, imagine being unable to read social situations correctly.
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When Whitney Houston first sang “I believe the children are our future…” in 1986 it was certainly considered an inspiring ballad. Flash forward 30 years and there are plenty of reasons to worry that children aren’t prepared for the fast-moving, technologically intense future we’ve created for them.
Lindsey Mangone is the founder and Executive Director of the Audacious Institute, a for-profit social enterprise that empowers and inspires high school students to meet the social and technological challenges of our day.
Lindsey explains the problem as she sees it. “Today’s youth are struggling in a changing economy in part because they’re vastly unprepared for 21st century jobs. Traditional K-12 schools are failing to teach the skills youth need to succeed in the marketplace, such as problem solving, creativity, and critical thinking.”
“Before they set foot on a college campus,” she adds, “teens need ample opportunities to build the mindset, 21st century skills, and networks that will prepare them for jobs of the future. Teens also need exposure to authentic, real-world experiences pre-college to help inform fundamental college and career decisions.”
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Did the people who met Steve Jobs in 1976 have any inkling that they were talking to the person whose name would for a generation be synonymous with “entrepreneur”? More often, people have believed to have found the next incarnation of Jobs only to be disappointed. Perhaps you can help me determine if the subject of this article could become the Steve Jobs of impact investing.
From my perch in Salt Lake City on the west side of the Rockies, over the last few years I’ve been hearing rumblings from the other side of the mountains. In Denver, Dr. Stephanie Gripne has created one of the most dynamic centers of impact investing and social entrepreneurship in the world. With a goal to catalyze impact investments of over $1 trillion and a plan to get there, it is about time that people outside the Rocky Mountains took note.
Dr. Gripne founded the Impact Finance Center as a partnership between the University of Denver’s Daniels College of Business and the Sustainable Endowments Institute, a special project of Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors.
In 2014, the Center launched the CO Impact Days and Initiative with a three year goal to catalyze $100 million of impact investment in Colorado-based social ventures. The event has grown into a marketplace for impact investing.
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Laurie Carey is an educator and consultant who provides “brain-based professional development for the classroom, the conference room and the boardroom.” She is the founder of both Laurie Carey Consulting and the nonprofit We Connect the Dots. Laurie was introduced to us by our sponsor, Eclat Impact.
We Connect the Dots is currently in the midst of a crowdfunding campaign on Indiegogo with the audacious goal to raise $1 million for STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts and math) education.
Laurie connected with me to share some insights for us on operating in a more “brain-friendly” way. She says, “Understanding how your brain works, allows you to communicate better, to be a better leader, to be a better teacher, to be a better parent, and to handle life’s challenges both professionally and personally.”
Here are her three observations:
Life is just a state of mind:
The key to successfully developing positive change is to apply brain-friendly coaching to support the ability to shift from being uncomfortable to getting comfortable. Change can be difficult, and we can get caught up in our own brain bias, which prevents us from moving forward or stretching outside our comfort zone. The insight to solving problems can be right in front of us, but we can be blinded by our own bias without consciously even knowing it.
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One of Utah’s leading nonprofit fundraising professionals recently left the Community Foundation of Utah where I serve on the board to launch her own business serving nonprofits. Katherine Fife is the founder of Philanthropy Matters.
Katherine recently share three tips with me for more effective philanthropy. I’ll share them here:
- Giving options are multiplying. The philanthropic landscape is changing, both for those who make charitable gifts, as well as for those who are receiving them and putting them to work for social good. The options for giving are growing exponentially and charitable giving is no longer as simple as writing a check. Gifts are made for more personal reasons and based upon impact.
- Investing parallels giving. More and more philanthropists are beginning to mirror their philanthropic giving with their personal financial investments. In the past, philanthropists and donors would manage their charitable giving in a completely separate way from their financial investments. In many circumstances, the two were often in conflict with one another. Today, social and financial returns are now being integrated and can even have complimentary portfolios.
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Imagine life for a moment without an economic identity, without credit, without a bank account, without access to the financial system. What would life be like if you were limited to cash or barter transactions?
It might be a bit like living in the dark ages with a window to the 21st century. You could see a life that others were living that is nothing like your own, like seeing a Toyota truck go by without ever conceiving of owning one.
Providing people with an economic identity sufficiently strong for storing money efficiently and conducting trade isn’t the solution to all the problems the world’s poorest people face, but it is a piece of the puzzle that could allow them to join us in the 21st century.
BanQu is a startup that is working on just this problem.
Founder Ashish Gadnis says, “There are 60 million refugees and over 2 billion people in extreme poverty. Most of them are without an economic identity. This holds them back and keeps them in camps and suffering.”
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Todd Crosland, CEO of Seed Equity Ventures, shared some insights about investing in startups on the platform. While these steps are tuned to the Seed Equity platform, keep in mind that the process is similar across most all startup investing websites.
STEP 1: Sign Up and Join Seed Equity At this time, Seed Equity only accepts investments from accredited investors, those well-healed investors with a net worth (excluding their primary residences) of at least $1 million or consistent personal annual incomes of at least $200,000. Seed Equity is evaluating interest from ordinary investors to participate under the newly issued rule for Regulation Crowdfunding.
A growing number of platforms now accept investments in startups from ordinary investors. Learn more here.
STEP 2: Customize Deal Flow We will ask questions during your on-boarding process to help customize your Seed Equity experience according the preferences you indicate.
Customize your investment goals by telling us how much you have put aside to invest and what portion of that you would like to invest in startups.
STEP 3: Browse Investment Opportunities At any given time, the companies listed at Seed Equity Ventures will change as deals are funded and new opportunities are listed.
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Author, attorney, podcast host and startup guru Neetal Parekh recently published her book 51 Questions on Social Entrepreneurship. She’s shared three of the best insights with me for this article.
Neetal, founder of Innov8social, offered up these three keys: http://bit.ly/1USvdxZ.
Legal Structures: There are legal structures and business models and fundraising options specifically designed for companies pursuing profit and social impact. For example, legal formation options such as benefit corporation and social purpose corporation and successful business models such as “1 for 1” and “sliding scale.” Timing: We are in a unique moment of timing where there is a shift in consciousness happening both in the new millennial workforce as well as in the desire of serial entrepreneurs to engage in businesses that create social impact. Additionally, new funding opportunities (such as those provided under the JOBS Act) though not specifically designed for empowering social impact, do lend themselves as tools to the space.
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Perspective comes from experience. Dan Clark, Hall of Fame Speaker and social entrepreneur, gained extraordinary perspective flying in an Air Force jet into space. (Disclosure: Clark and I collaborated on a book with 15 other authors but have no revenue or profit sharing arrangement.)
Retired Air Force four-star General Hal Hornberg met Clark when the General attended a Senior Leaders Conference at Langley Air Force Base thirteen years ago. “It was probably the greatest public presentation that I had seen,” he told me. Thereafter, he went on to hire Clark to speak to leadership teams on multiple occasions.
Social entrepreneur Rick Larsen, who now serves as the Marketing and Development Director at GIVE Salt Lake, said, “There are groups, from Credit Unions to Harley Dealers to the United States Air Force, who call on Dan again and again. This speaks volumes when you consider the variety of speakers and entertainers available to large organizations. Dan forms a connection when he speaks because, in my opinion, he cares. Just a couple of weeks ago Dan donated his time at my request, to fit in a speech to a group of troubled teens.”
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Impact investing is a rapidly growing field. Lauryn Agnew, President of Seal Cove Financial and the Bay Area Impact Investing Initiative, points out that focusing on a place provides opportunities for collaboration, increased impact and market returns.
Lauryn and I met will participating in a panel discussion at Sustainatopia in San Francisco last month. She is a recognized thought leader in impact investing, focusing on helping institutional investors make place-based investments with an outcomes focus.
She has provided me with three insights to serve as a primer on place-based impact investing. I’ll share them here:
- Creating a financial intermediary that can channel a small portion of the institutional assets in any region to local investments can provide capital to local needs and challenges, promoting a long term sustainable and a more prosperous future for the region. Collaboration, professional due diligence, high fiduciary standards and mission alignment would be the benefits we share in our co-investing efforts.
- Impact investing with a place-based focus, using a small portion of the portfolio, can provide market rates of return and local impact, if designed properly, without increasing risk or sacrificing returns.
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Most of us give little thought to the toxins we’re exposed to every day. For the most vulnerable among us, including our children, however, the potential hazards have lifelong implications, according to Amy Ziff, founder and executive director of Made Safe.
Made Safe is an organization that aims to “democratize access to products that are made with safe ingredients for everyone, matter their age, stage of life or demographic,” Amy says.
The problem she sees stems from the “unrestriced and widespread use of harmful chemicals in products we use every day.”
“While everyone is impacted by toxic chemicals, for the most vulnerable population of children aged zero to six, toxic exposures can impact their health and well-being for the rest of their lives. On top of that, children aren’t able to advocate for themselves for protection from potentially harmful products,” she adds.
Ask yourself this question. Do you know how to spot a safe product? Can you see or smell toxins that may harm your children?
Amy explains what Made Safe does by putting “an easy-to-find, identifiable label on products that have been vetted by scientists as not containing known carcinogens, endocrine disruptors, reproductive toxins, neurotoxins, behavioral toxins, flame retardants, heavy metals, pesticides, insecticides, toxic solvents, VOCs, or GMOs.”
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The JOBS Act Title III provisions allowing the crowdfunding of investments from ordinary investors finally went into effect in May, four years after the bipartisan bill was signed into law by President Obama in April 2012.
The Security and Exchange Commission issued “Regulation Crowdfunding” last fall with an effective date of May 16, 2016. Those wishing to take advantage of the new law are required to issue their securities through a FINRA-registered broker dealer (investment bank) or via a registered “portal.”
Attorney Jenny Kassan helps social entrepreneurs, especially women, raise money under not only Regulation CF but other regulations that allow for similar offering structures, some that are easier to use.
Jenny’s clients include Lynn Johnson and Jessica Nowlan, entrepreneurs who each have an interest in raising money for her small business. Lynn is the Co-Founder and CEO of Spotlight:Girls. Jessica is the Founder of Create Shoppe.
Together, with help from Jenny, they offered up six tips for raising money for a small business, which I am sharing below.
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Scott Hill, President of Clean Energy Advisors, sees climate change as the biggest challenge of our day and he’s doing something about it. Having already financed 67 megawatts of solar power in recent years, he’s eyeing another 300. Financing solar power gives investors an opportunity to earn a financial return while doing good, making them impact investors.
Scott sees the need to broaden the base of people who have the opportunity to investor for impact, something that has been limited largely to high-net-worth individuals. He says, “Within the discussion around climate change, there is this issue of creating opportunities for a larger group of people to invest based on their values. There is an overwhelming percentage of people who like the idea of investing based on values. It’s up to the investment community to create solid investment opportunities that allow people to make a difference and earn a reasonable rate of return.”
He is excited about his work. “Our passion around distributive generation and clean energy is why we get up and do our jobs everyday. But, and it’s a kind of ‘pinch me’ thing is we’ve identified a niche within the solar industry that allows more investors to participate (invest based on their values) AND has several characteristics that make it equally if not more interesting from an investment perspective.”
Despite his enthusiasm, Scott still sees challenges in the industry, despite its strength and positive trend lines. “History,” he says, along with “well publicized solar company failures, and negative comments from fossil fuel interests are probably the 3 biggest challenges we face.” Some of these experiences have left people cool to solar investments when, Scott says, “The reality is very positive for our industry.”
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Darya Shaked is an impressive women with whom I became acquainted three years ago when I visited Angola. She was part of the team at Vital Capital, which I wrote about for Forbes. Today, she’s leading Stride Ventures, helping other women from Africa connect with the Silicon Valley entrepreneurial ecosystem.
Darya says, “As I believe some of the biggest challenges of today’s world are the outcome of inequalities, either social or gender based, I was very much focused on ways to impact Africa and the gender gap.”
She adds, “In the first years of my career I was an officer in the Israeli army, a spokesperson for the the Prime Minister Ehud Barak and Chief of Staff at the Ministry of Housing and Construction. In the nine years to follow, I was a part of a leading private equity, impact investing fund focused in Sub-Saharan Africa. All of these taught me the ways I am passionate about in making an impact.”
When Darya began working to connect women entrepreneurs from Africa to the Silicon Valley set, she encountered difficulties. Some companies don’t see the value of helping African entrepreneurs understand the dynamic local ecosystem, she says.
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Jill Vialet, one of Forbes’ Impact 30 in 2011 and founder of the national nonprofit Playworks, takes us inside the organization to look at key financial metrics and the mission it serves.
Vialet stakes her claim to being a social entrepreneur, saying, “I’ve spent more than 25 years in the nonprofit sector, focusing entrepreneurial skills on creating and developing two successful nonprofit organizations for kids.” Prior to founding Playworks in 1996, she founded the Museum of Children’s Art.
Playworks works to solve big problems in public schools by helping kids have more fun.
Vialet explains, “Ask any elementary school principal what the toughest part of the day is, and most will answer with one word: recess. Teasing, fighting, bullying, the injuries, and the disciplinary referrals are enough to keep any principal up at night.”
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The CAPROCK Group, led by Matthew Weatherley-White, has recently launched a new tool for their family office clients to help them better see the impact they have with their investments. The tool, called iPAR, allows clients to drill down on their investments to see the impact in a simple, easy-to-use format.
CAPROCK has about $3 billion under management, about 30 employees and five offices. The firm’s revenue model is to charge clients fees for managing their money. Weatherley-White adds, “The only people who have the privilege of paying us are our clients, on either a flat fee or a percentage of assets advised. We accept no compensation from any other source.” He says the firm is profitable and generates a gross operating margin of 25 percent.
Of the firm’s $3 billion, $1 billion has been invested for impact. While Weatherley-White says he doesn’t consider himself a social entrepreneur, I think he better be careful or he’ll become one. Certainly he is an impact investor.
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Alex Thaler is an entrepreneur who saw a problem and immediately saw a solution. Ordinary investors are now allowed to invest in startups and other private issuers via crowdfunding portals, but need help. He created Stratifund to solve the problem. Today, he offers five free tips for evaluating crowdfund investments.
Thaler, with an MBA from Wharton and experience with Life Time Fitness and Boston Consulting Group, says that Stratifund was formed in 2015 and just started operations coincident with the effective date for Regulation Crowdfunding (JOBS Act Title III) investing last month. The revenue model is a monthly subscription that costs participants just $10 per month. As the first revenues are just being recorded, he says he can’t yet measure margins meaningfully.
He approaches the crowdfunding market with a sense of mission and purpose. He says, “Our mission is to drive the equity crowdfunding business.” He sees transparency lacking in the space and hopes to be the one to address it.
Crowdfunding enthusiasts, like me, have long argued that crowdfunding itself is a form of social entrepreneurship, breaking down traditional barriers to capital for women and minorities who have been largely boxed out of the venture capital market.
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“Emerging markets throw up all sorts of surprises. Roughly 20 percent of the planet simultaneously use mobile phones (20 year old technology) and candles for lighting (2000 year old technology). But don’t be fooled – the same consumer aspirations exist everywhere and the last 20% represent a new and rapidly developing market for the latest technologies,” explains Simon Bransfield-Garth, CEO of Azuri Technologies.
Simon has been doing business in Africa for 30 years and has made some interesting observations about selling to the people living at the base of the pyramid.
- Aspiration is the same, regardless of income: In rural Africa, Azuri is providing affordable solar power. In stages, households add lighting, radio, TV, fan and productive devices enabling households to earn their way to a higher standard of living. The knowledge economy is not the destination but the enabler of the ‘energy escalator’ path.
- Its not just California where you find tech innovation: Tech has traditionally been thought of as the enabler of the rich. But we are seeing “reverse innovation” where the latest tech is finding its first volume home in emerging markets. Solar power, LED lights, mobile money, are all taking root at scale in rural Africa, long before the West.
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U.S. Bank recently kicked off the Community Possible Relay, a three-month tour of community volunteering in response to a long-term trend of declining volunteerism. The goal is to inspire thousands of volunteers across the country.
Reba Dominiski, President of the U.S. Bank Foundation, explains, “U.S. Bank is issuing a national challenge for Americans to address the 25 to 50 percent decline in volunteerism that has taken place over the last four decades in our communities. The Community Possible Relay is a three-month, nearly 12,000-mile, 38-city, 25-state cross-country journey to inspire individuals across America to give back to their communities.”
“We’re challenging all Americans and businesses to join us in this massive collective effort to revitalize the spirit of community in our Race to 153k – representing 1,000 volunteers for every year U.S. Bank has been in business,” said Richard Davis, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of U.S. Bank. “We invite everyone to help build and support vibrant communities by volunteering and giving back. This relay symbolizes our dedication to bringing back community volunteerism in America. By working together, we can and will make a difference.”
The relay is a genuine community revitalization program. It represents U.S. Bank’s effort to address the reported 25 to 50 percent decline in volunteerism that has taken place over the last four decades. The bank hopes to inspire a wave of volunteerism and community engagement with a “mobile baton” that will drive across the country making stops throughout the summer, issuing a call-to-action for people to join U.S. Bank volunteers and help give back to their communities.
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Helaina Hovitz is one of the relative few journalists focusing on what has come to be known as “solutions journalism,” the art and craft of covering the solutions to societal problems. This is a club to which I, too, am proud to belong.
Helaina got her start at a young age. “When I was 18, I was given the opportunity to cover a story for the local paper about a teacher in a challenging school environment who was legally blind and only had one arm, and inspired his students to stay in school. Then, I was given the chance to cover the lives of homeless men making new starts for themselves at the New York City Rescue Mission. It was off to the races from there,” she says.
Solutions journalism is at the opposite end of the media spectrum from TMZ, meaning that the audience is smaller and money is harder to find. Helaina says, “As a journalist who was constantly retraumatized by the news, I never gave up on my life’s dream of becoming a journalist, and tried to focus on stories that I felt were meaningful, important, and inspiring whenever I could.”
Helaina recently launched Headlines for the Hopeful to give her a platform for sharing more stories that bring hope for the solutions to the world’s big problems. She is also a Forbes contributor and the author of the soon-to-be released memoir of her experience as a young 9/11 survivor called After 9/11.
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Seed Equity Ventures, one of the sponsors of this site, operates an SEC/Finra registered broker dealer and crowdfunding site for seed stage companies. The firm’s founder, Todd Crosland, shared with me the firm’s investment process.
The process has six discrete steps:
First Contact: Most contacts come through the firm’s network of venture capitalists, accelerators, angel investors and entrepreneurs. Getting introduced via one of these sources is the most effective way to get your deal in front of the firm. Screening: Before getting serious about an opportunity, the firm conducts a brief evaluation of the company’s technology, business model, founders, market and financials. If everything looks good on the surface, the firm moves to step 3. Due Diligence: At this stage, the firm conducts what can be a months-long process of evaluating in-depth the company’s technology and IP, the business model, management, market and exit strategies. The firm will also run background checks on the management team and key owners.
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Last month, I visited the Dominican Republic on a Fathom service cruise. It was great. On the cruise, I met fellow journalist Renee Farris, who (unlike most of the travel writers on the cruise) is also an impact journalist.
Renee is also a co-founder of United Cause Agency, a consulting firm that helps companies optimize corporate social responsibility programs.
Renee has shared with me some insights about using some of the latest technology for social good storytelling that I want share with you:
Virtual Reality Creates Empathy: When someone straps on VR goggles they are able to see through the eyes of another person. This is a step towards developing empathy that can tear down racial barriers, help people who are suffering, and end violent conflicts. 360 Films Bring Transparency: 360 films can bring transparency to a company’s supply chain like never before. It can give customers confidence that they are buying products from an ethical company that treats factory workers fairly. Tell an Engaging Story: Doing good in the world is great, but it it’s not enough. We have to tell an engaging story. Governments, nonprofits and companies get so busy working on solving the world’s problems that they forget to tell an impactful story. But if we change that and start telling engaging stories then people will be inspired to act and the impact will multiply. 360 and VR help us tell those powerful stories.
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Privately-held dōTERRA is a rapidly growing direct seller of essential oil-infused products with $1.2 billion in annual revenue. Three years ago, the company launched an effort to use its supply chain to reduce global poverty by creating economic opportunities for rural communities in developing countries like Nepal, Somaliland and Madagascar.
[Jump to page 2 to watch the live interview.]
While founder and CEO David Stirling declined to provide gross margin data for the business, he suggested that the margins of publicly-traded direct sellers, about 80 percent, would “provide a broad approximation.” So the margins are good, giving the company some wiggle room for developing its supply chain for impact.
Emily Wright, the company’s Executive Vice President over sales and marketing, notes that the company was founded with a social enterprise mindset. “dōTERRA’s core mission is to improve the health and wellness of its customers through natural products and education.” Two corporate social responsibility initiatives have expanded the social purpose of the company: the dōTERRA Healing Hands Foundation (HHF) and the supply chain program launched in 2013 called “co-impact sourcing.”
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You’ve heard it before. It may not be polite, but it makes a clear point–usually a critical one–to say “the inmates are running the asylum.” It may not be much of an exaggeration to think that the first person to think of putting high school students in charge of their own education might need to be committed. But that didn’t stop them.
This fall, their grand experiment will begin. Thirty students will participate in an independent micro-school directed by the students.
The program has grown up within a broader, student-led initiative called One Stone in Boise, Idaho.
Current chairwoman Simone Migliori explains that “the lack of student voice incorporated into community issues” motivated the creation of One Stone.
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Jean Krisle is a miracle worker. She observed a problem we all seem to recognize–a lack of free drug treatment beds for those who most need the help. Unlike the rest of us, Jean did something about it.
Jean launched 10,000 Beds, Inc., a nonprofit dedicating to finding free treatment beds for addicts who have no resources and no where else to go. The beds come from treatment facilities around the country, which Jean asks them to donate.
Jean has learned some lessons from her efforts and shares three tips that will help any social entrepreneur make miracles happen:
1.Collaborate. There are myriads of problems in our world that seem overwhelming, but solutions are available if we can simply think creatively, be proactive, and increase collaboration between organizations. Be creative. The fact that there are solutions available to the challenge you are facing, doesn’t preclude another BETTER solution from being out there. 2. Think differently. For us, instead of asking people for $20,000 to provide a scholarship for addiction treatment, we went directly to the treatment centers and talked to them about providing a scholarship bed. This approach is unheard of in our industry, but it makes so much sense. 3. Be brave. It’s not easy to venture out on your own and ask questions that for some reason have never been asked before. It takes courage and passion and commitment to do so. For us, it seemed like our approach made so much sense that there must be a good reason it hadn’t been done before. We almost didn’t ask! But then we believed in our idea, built up and courage and started asking, and the response from treatment facilities has been amazing.
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Emma Maenhout, a 16-year-old girl originally from Belgium, and who goes by “Emma Moonwood” because no one in America can say her last name correctly, has an idea: a golden buzzer.
Her idea is that there should be a universal “like” button on the internet that we can hit that will signal our strong approval for a thing we observe there. She calls her button the golden buzzer and envisions that brands will adopt it in order to collect instant karma from loyal fans to drive more sales. In turn, Emma plans to charge the brands for the likes and to use a portion of those proceeds to help people doing things like curing cancer.
Emma explains the challenge she sees. “The problem is that we – the teens of this generation – see so much negativity on the internet and in the news all the time, that it feels like we are becoming immune for it. And I’m scared of growing up in that kind of generation.”
So, she’s created a plan to do something about it. In her own words, “That’s why I want to give the world a wake-up call. But in a positive way. By showing them every Thanksgiving a personal wallet of money that they have earned simply by being positive on the internet. Real money that they can claim. But only if they first agree to share a percentage with a world-changing team that they believe in. So that the next Thanksgiving they won’t only see the wallet again, but also the progress that their world-changing team has made… thanks to them.”
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Septuagenarian Tom Chappell, founder of Tom’s of Maine, the natural toothpaste company that became a national phenomenon and was sold to Colgate Palmolive in 2006 for $100 million, is up to good again with Ramblers Way Farm, Inc.
The new $1 million revenue company makes “premium quality” casual apparel from merino wool or pima cotton produced sustainably in the U.S. The company has a consumer direct model, selling both online and via company stores.
Chappell says the company has a five year plan to reach $20 million in revenue. While the company is not yet profitable, he says, they generate gross margins of 60 percent. Those look like healthy margins in just about any industry where the product can’t be delivered via the internet.
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In the past, I have observed that the best entrepreneurs are not the ones who see the glass as half full, but instead are the ones who see it as “almost full.”
Vanessa Bartram is that sort of entrepreneur. One who quiets her doubts and charges ahead. And she does it with an eye toward changing the world.
In 2008, Vanessa launched what has become a $2 million per year staffing firm, focusing on paying fair wages and alleviating poverty.
She says, “I was interested in social change from the time I was 12 years old. But having two entrepreneurs as parents made business my natural ‘toolkit’ for working on those issues. We absorb and embrace what we hear about around the dinner table. I tried several different avenues to social change – non-profits, development agencies, foreign service – but ultimately business is the road that most suits and energizes me.”
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CNN Hero Chad Bernstein is a career musician, professor and founder of Guitars Over Guns, a nonprofit that helps at-risk youth connect to adult mentors through the arts.
Drawing on his decades of work with kids, offers these three key insights for being an effective mentor to a child.
Be the adult in a child’s life. The single most important factor in a child’s success is a relationship with a caring adult. Finding an avenue through which we can connect with youth. The arts are a great potential avenue, but meeting a student at their point of interest and respecting that is the key. Show up and listen. There are two keys to building trust between a mentor and a student: First, show up and be present. There is no replacement for time and consistency is key. If you continue to come back, even after a kid has done something to push you away, you are building trust. The second is the to understand the importance of creating a safe place, free of judgement. Vulnerability is paramount to creating trust and it goes both ways.
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Patch of Land is a sponsor of the Your Mark on the World Center and GoodCrowd.info.
Crowdfunding always looks easier than it is. Very few–if any–of the crowdfunding campaigns famous for raising millions of dollars got there without tremendous planning and hard work. Many people still cling to the “if you build it, they will come” model that has been proven to fail.
Patch of Land provides financing for people wishing to acquire a home to refurbish and sell. Here are some tips provided by the co-founder and Executive Chairman, Jason Fritton:
Explore the FAQs and Resource Center — real estate crowdfunding and marketplace lending are new to many people, so we provide a ton of information for investors, borrowers and the general, curious public. Everything is available on our resources page. If you’re a borrower, fill out the 5 minute application and have your documents ready. It only takes a few minutes to fill out an application with basic information about the loan you need here. Our system issues an LOI within minutes, and you’ll receive a follow-up call from one of our associates that same day. With a complete document package, we can close and fund a loan in as little as 7 business days (and we’ve done it in 4!)
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Mark Eaton spent 12 years in the NBA, renowned for his defensive play at center. After retiring from the Utah Jazz, Eaton became an entrepreneur, opening a successful restaurant and becoming a nationally recognized corporate speaker. He offers four keys for successful teams that are as relevant for social entrepreneurs and their teams as for any other organization.
At seven feet four inches, Eaton dominated opponents in the NBA, was twice named NBA Defensive Player of the Year and broke the league record for most blocked shots in a single season. He was also selected to play in the 1989 All-Star Game.
After his playing days were over, he became a radio and talk show host and opened Tuscany, a highly-regarded restaurant in Salt Lake City. More recently, he launched 7ft4.com, his training and speaking business. In 2014, he was recognized by the National Speakers Association as a Certified Speaking Professional.
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Jacob Allen is the partner with Cicero Group who manages the social impact practice, Cicero Social Impact. The firm, with 70 consultants and nearly 200 analysts, seeks to compete with Bain and McKinsey. The impact practice serves national and international impact organizations, including the George W. Bush Institute and the Clinton Foundation, along with the Prudential Foundation, United Way and Mary’s Meals.
[Jump to page 2 to watch the live interview.]
Allen shared three tips for having greater impact with me. First, he notes, “To change the world, good intentions and lots of activity are not enough.”
Allen’s insights come from 15 years of impact experience, including work with Goldman Sachs, the Alzheimer’s Association and the Nature Conservancy, among others.
Tip 1: Do your homework:
Allen explains why preparation and strategy are so important as starting points. “Before launching a new social service or program, do more homework than you think you’ll need. Do research to understand what your clients or communities really need and value. Be deliberate about specifying the change in their lives or in society that you’ll hold yourself accountable for. Identify all the things that are required for that change to occur. Then step back and ask what role you’ll play and whether it will be enough to truly make a difference.”
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Can you imagine how it would feel to be so far behind your grade level in reading that you don’t dare pick up a book? What if every book you did touch were about people you couldn’t relate to, people with life experiences so foreign you might as well be reading about martians?
D. Lacy Asbill, the co-founder of the B-corp Moving Forward Education, discovered that there are millions of kids like this in public schools in the United States and did something about it.
She summarizes the problem, “There is no question that the public education system is struggling to support students, and particularly low-income students of color. Schools need radically updated strategies to engage, motivate, and empower students who face the challenges of systematic poverty and racism.”
Lacy created a program to help kids learn to read and find books that are actually relevant to their lives.
“We’ve spent the last dozen years tutoring thousands of the most at-risk students in Oakland,” she says.
Our students, who are usually years behind in their academic skills and unlikely to pick up a book, suddenly find themselves motivated to read—they relate to the strong, culturally-relevant, and resilient characters featured in our reading selections, and they value the opportunity to connect what they’ve read to their own lives. We call this Reading with Relevance!
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Seed Equity Ventures, one of the sponsors of the Your Mark on the World Center and GoodCrowd.info, has noted exciting progress with two of its portfolio companies. The crowdfunding type investment bank for startups reported this week that two companies, DemoChimp and Micro Benefits, in which its investors had participated in seed rounds last year received large follow-on investments already this year.
Utah-based Consensus, formerly DemoChimp, announced on April 5, 2016 that it had received a $4.2 million Series A funding round from Peak Ventures and super angel Nobutaka Mutaguchi.
In a statement, Consensus explained:
CONSENSUS makes it possible for sales and marketing professionals to create interactive customized demo videos that give each buyer an overview of a product’s value proposition. Buyers then rate the relative importance of video segments that explain different aspects of the offering’s value proposition according to their unique interests, revealing both the identity and motivation of each stakeholder. The CONSENSUS platform plays the videos in a personalized sequence, and at a level of detail tailored to each buyer’s interests. CONSENSUS’ proprietary Demolytics™ dashboard shows customers when a buyer watches their demo, what’s important to them and who they shared it with — so salespeople can tailor their messages to the buying group’s shared priorities.
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Chris Grandpre, Chairman and CEO of Outdoor Living Brands, has a few words of advice for social entrepreneurs.
Grandpre earned his chops in consulting and investment banking before leading the formation of Outdoor Living Brands in 2008 with its four franchise concepts, including Mosquito Squad, an outdoor pest control business.
For years, Mosquito Squad has partnered with Malaria No More, a 501(c)(3) charitable nonprofit working to eradicate malaria.
Martin Edlund is co-founder and CEO of the $14.4 million 2014 revenue nonprofit, Malaria No More. With just 35 people in half a dozen offices scattered around the world, he says, ”Despite our small size, we help to mobilize billions of dollars in global financing for malaria from the US, UK, other global donors, and endemic country sources.”
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Janice Schacter Lintz is the woman behind the successful effort to get effective accommodation for deaf and hard-of-hearing people in all of New York City’s new Taxi’s of Tomorrow, a feature that had been in London cabs since 1988.
Janice, founder of Hearing Access & Innovations, is a “won’t take no for an answer” kind of activist who offers up her three point plan for changing the world here:
First, Don’t Be Afraid To Ask For What You Need Many places will tell you that you are the first dissatisfied person in order to discourage you. They are just trying to get you to go away, so don’t let them deter you. Be persistent. Be fearless. No one can fire you as an advocate so you have nothing to lose as long as you are accurate and do not lie or distort the truth. Getting over your embarrassment is critical. Many people know what they need but won’t ask for it because it makes them uncomfortable to assert themselves. What is the worst thing that can happen? All they can say is say, “No.” You already start with a no so it can only turn into a yes.
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Anyone who has launched a crowdfunding campaign wishes there were a way to make it easier to get attention. Setting up the page is the easy part. Making a video is the fun part. Getting people to watch the video on the page and then make a pledge is the challenge. Josef Holm, an entrepreneur who thrives in the crowdfunding space, last year launched Krowdster to address the big challenge.
Josef empathizes with entrepreneurs trying to raise money via crowdfunding. “While crowdfunding democratizes the access to capital, the sheer cost to hire a professional crowdfunding consultant, buy facebook ads and do all the things campaigns need to do to stand out from the hundreds of campaigns that are launched every day is simply too high for most crowdfunders.”
Josef created Krowdster for the people who can’t afford expensive, professional marketing resources. “We make access to professional grade crowdfunding marketing solutions available to all crowdfunders. Our clients are the 99 percent of crowdfunders who do not have thousands of dollars to hire a campaign manger or consultant.”
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In the past, I’ve covered cookstoves five times, excluding the time I went to Nepal to help locals install cleaner cookstoves in village homes up in the Himalaya. We’re here again, but we’re turning our focus on the business model rather than the cookstove.
For social entrepreneurs who really want to make a difference for people in the developing world, helping locals to import technology from elsewhere can be counterproductive because cash leaves the local economy and opportunities for entrepreneurs may be limited.
Anthony “Tony” Robinson, not to be confused with Tony Robbins, is a professor at undefinedTrinity College Dublin in Ireland; his research into energy and thermal conduction has helped him design a simple stove that generates electricity while a family cooks on the stove. More importantly, he’s developing a new way to get the stoves into local consumers hands in Malawi.
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Lisa Curtis is a serious social entrepreneur. Since she started her career as a Peace Corps volunteer, she has been all about doing good. Her company, Kuli Kuli, which sells products with moringa (don’t feel bad if you’ve never heard of it; most people haven’t) sourced from West Africa. It takes optimism to face all of the challenges associated with selling a new food; she shares three secrets to her success.
Curtis tells the story of how she started eating moringa as a way to supplement her diet after her Peace Corp stint left her malnourished. Later, she would launch Kuli Kuli to provide others with the health benefits and to support and grow the women’s cooperatives in the tropics where she sources the moringa.
Kuli Kuli’s products are carried in more than 800 retail outlets, including Whole Foods Markets, Sprouts and Kroger KR -0.47%, according to Curtis. Owler estimates Kuli Kuli 2015 revenues at approximately $1 million.
Curtis says, the company’s moringa is sourced from women-owned cooperatives in Ghana, where they have already planted over 100,000 moringa trees. In Haiti, working with Whole Foods, the Clinton Foundation and the Haitian Smallholder Farmers Alliance, Kuli Kuli is working to create a Moringa enterprise that will help to reforest the nearly completely deforested country. The Haitian moringa is used in the newly launched energy shots marketed by the company.
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Dr. Julian Maha founded KultureCity about three years ago, shortly after his son was diagnosed with autism. The diagnosing physician, Maha says, told him his son would likely have to be institutionalized. Motivated by that challenge, Maha set out to create a nonprofit that would actually drive greater impact in the lives of those affected by autism.
Maha really believes he is completely reinventing the model for nonprofits. Last year, Microsoft MSFT -1.15% launched Windows 10 with the #UpgradeYourWorld campaign I covered here. KultureCity was one of ten nonprofits recognized by Microsoft as part of that campaign, suggesting that Maha has created something different from typical nonprofits.
Maha asserts that the innovations he’s implementing at KultureCity make him “a true social entrepreneur.” He says, “ We are on a mission to fundamentally change the culture of how autism is viewed by society and to show the world that these individuals not only have potential but the means to achieve that potential.”
One of the key innovations that Maha has created is a diversity of revenue sources. He identifies seven different revenue sources:
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Octogenarian Cheri McDaniel is doing more good for the world at 87 than most people do in their prime. She recently completed her memoirs, He Lays the Stones For Our Steps: Living Life Abundantly in the Face of Adversity.
Cheri was born in humble circumstances and became a successful entrepreneur–at a time and in a place where that was unusual for women. Living in Baton Rouge, Louisiana she was the only woman home builder in town. Later, she launched and ran an antique shop with European imports. Initially, she launched the store with her daughter but took it over full time and gave up home building when her daughter had quadruplets.
Cheri’s life really began when she retired at 75. “After successful careers, I’m using my life lessons to engage in humanitarian efforts that will help transform the lives of thousands of the world’s most vulnerable and impoverished citizens. These projects range from providing safe drinking water in third-world nations to providing music programs for dementia-impacted senior citizens here in Baton Rouge,” she says.
Most recently, she’s been working on projects in Swaziland. “In my 80’s I have focused for 5 years on a continent I will never see: Africa,” she says.
Over the last four years, she’s raised money through Rotary to buy four acres and 30,000 square feet of building in Swaziland for a medical clinic and economic development center for people living on less than $2 per day. She’s excited that working with her local Baton Rouge Capital City Rotary Club she doesn’t have to raise all the money herself. Rotary International matches the money for her projects that don’t include real estate through a “global grant” program that helps clubs financially with international projects like Cheri’s.
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Filmmaker Chiara Tilesi is the founder of We Do It Together, a nonprofit production company focused on the empowerment of women.
Chiara sees huge gender disparities in Hollywood. “Women are vastly underrepresented in the film industry. Only 7% of the directors of the top 250-grossing Hollywood and independent films are women; Female characters made up just 13% of the protagonists in the top 100-grossing domestic films in 2014; the Sony e-mail hack revealed that female leads were being paid a fraction of their male counterparts.”
Chiara believes that cinema has the power to change “the deep-seated perceptions about outworn female stereotypes, pervasive in the film industry, and the world.”
“We Do It Together was founded to harness the capacity movies have to influence and inspire their audiences,” Chiara explains.
She says the nonprofit will raise money from foundations, governments, individual donors and sponsors. “This unprecedented business model, where values meet art, creates a structure devoid of the usual financial considerations which put commerce over creativity.”
We Do It Together will work with a group of female directors intended to break down stereotypes about women in film.”When given the chance, women will deliver compelling, accessible, and equally commercial stories,” the filmmaker says.
A variety of Hollywood professionals, including producers, writers, agents, managers, actresses, actors and directors from around the world have joined We Do It Together. “Outstanding and empowered woman will tell inspiring stories that also mirror the realities of life,” she says.
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Aseda, a producer and distributor of honey, chocolate and shea butter, has a mission to protect and build bee populations globally in the face of declining numbers in the developed world.
Co-founder Bessie McIntosh says, “Bees are disappearing in the developed world at an alarming rate. Here in the US, we have seen an overall decline of at least 30% of our bee population. Gone. In some areas, we have lost over 70% of our precious bees. It has gotten to the point that farmers in the US import bees from Australia to tend to our country’s pollinating needs.”
The problem, which is not well known or understood, could potentially lead to an existential crisis. Many of our food crops require a pollinator, Bessie explained to me, and if we don’t have enough bees, we won’t have enough food.
Bessie partnered with Anthony Baron Kirk to launch the company. Their core business activity is operating co-ops located in a protected forest.
She says, “Our efforts in this region help maintain the protection of the land, which in turn insulates the bees from the chemical problems of modern man. This situation allows the bees to live wild, as nature intended. Their population is thriving and the area benefits from biodiversity.”
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Matthew Barnes, partner at ASG Advisors, is a social entrepreneur who spends his time helping other entrepreneurs and business leaders add purpose to their profits. ASG Advisors is a consulting firm that helps companies implement effective corporate social responsibility (CSR) programs.
We’ll be talking to Matthew live so you can learn much more, but in advance of our live interview he provided four themes that guide his work and that will be the subject of our discussion.
Theme 1: Intentionality – corporate community engagement efforts have moved away from the passive, transactional nature of the past to a fuller engagement with community actors to partner on things that can have a real impact. Deeper thought and research inform this approach. Theme 2: Ownership – this theme is related to the the first. It used to be the case that corporate foundations responded either favorably or disfavorably. They had minimal stake or “ownership” of any outcomes from the work. Nowadays, more and more corporations are working hand-in-hand with NGOs and other partners to develop solutions that are informed by research and best practice. In this way, both have a stake in the outcome.
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Kara Goldin talks about sugar as if it were a bad thing–a very bad thing. Goldin, the founder of $30 million beverage company hint®, launched the company in 2005 after developing the unsweetened flavored water in her home kitchen as a healthy alternative to the sweetened juices she had been buying for her kids.
Goldin approaches the subject of sugar and sweeteners with the subtly of a presidential stump speech. “People ask me ‘who’s your biggest competitor?’ It’s the sugar and sweetener companies. They will use any food or beverage to sell their ‘drug.’ And use any language to make it seem healthy,” she says.
The former AOL AOL +% executive doesn’t like diet sweeteners much more than sugar. She proclaims, “Almost 1/2 of Americans have type 2 diabetes or pre-diabetes. That’s up 27% from a decade ago! And what are we drinking over the past decade? Diet sweeteners. You be the judge.”
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As I’ve been covering social entrepreneurship and impact investing for the past several years here, I’ve watched and come to know Village Capital as one of the real leaders in social entrepreneurship. Their peer-selected investment model is unique among the accelerators and incubators I’ve covered. Last week, Village Capital announced the formation of VilCap Communities, an effort to radically expand the peer-selected model.
Ross Baird, Executive Director, is on a mission. Last week, he published a piece that was highly critical of the Silicon Valley model for venture finance. Afterward, he told me, “The way we fund new ideas today is broken–we send billions of dollars to a few people in a few well-off cities, who fund people they know and who are in their networks. As a result, 78% of venture capital is distributed to just three states – California, Massachusetts and New York – and only 5% goes to women founders, and less than 3% to people of color. And the people solving problems in society don’t have lived experience with most of the problems they are trying to solve.”
Village Capital’s innovation is the principle of peer selection. When they bring a cohort of entrepreneurs into their programs, those entrepreneurs ultimately decide who gets the money. The Village Capital team serves only to facilitate training and collaboration. ”Village Capital’s peer selected investment model changes the power dynamic between people with ideas and people with capital. It’s no longer well-resourced people sitting under fluorescent lights who don’t understand the problems they are trying to solve deciding who gets a shot; instead, entrepreneurs everywhere can get opportunity, if they can convince their peers,” Baird says.
Having been invited to watch the process first hand, it is interesting to see entrepreneurs compete and collaborate in an environment where their peers will ultimately decide their investment fate. “Peer selected investment upends the power dynamics of traditional early-stage venture capital, by placing investment decisions in the hands of entrepreneurs (Village Capital provides the first funding in two-thirds of investments). The process also democratizes venture capital by making capital more accessible to anyone solving major global problems, no matter their race, ethnicity, zip code or background,” he adds.
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Todd Crosland, CEO and Founder of Seed Equity Ventures, which sponsors our work, is a Finra-registered broker dealer that provides investment banking services, especially capital raising, for startups.
Todd says that the firm reviewed about 600 submissions in 2015 and put up eight for funding on the company’s international crowdfunding platform. In other words, the firm can be as selective as any venture fund in the country.
Today, I asked Todd to explain the Seed Equity Ventures investment criteria so interested entrepreneurs can tune their submissions before sending them in. Here’s what he gave me:
Proven Management. The management team is one of the most important considerations we look at when evaluating companies. In particular, we look for solid founders that have a proven track record of building, scaling, and eventually selling the company or taking it through an IPO. The maturity and experience of a founding team is essential in building a company that will be sustainable, not only from a cash flow perspective, but also from the perspective of its corporate culture. We also look for founders that are enthusiastic and optimistic, while simultaneously understanding the challenges that every young startup faces. The Market. We look for companies that are competing in markets of at least $1B. We especially look for companies that are looking to disrupt a large market that has not seen much innovation. The Business Model. Companies must demonstrate that their business model has been well thought-out, with at least minimal validation, is scalable, and is sustainable in various market conditions. Traction. In general, a company must have traction and growth in either the number of users, revenue, or both. Significant month over month growth is a key indicator. Exit Strategy. We look for investments that have several potential exits. We specifically look for investments that have a potential exist between two and five years after the initial investment. Potential exits include a sale, merger, spin-off, or IPO. Our team has previously founded, sold, and purchased companies, and we will use this experience to help our portfolio companies find the best possible exit.
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Lance Allred played professional basketball for a decade all around the world, including a stint with the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2008. Born legally deaf into a fundamentalist polygamous family, his life experience has been anything but typical. Now, with his playing days behind him, Allred is turning to social entrepreneurship.
Allred is creating a tech company called Manestream that he says will provide radically faster access to internet resources, allowing users to work directly from the web at speeds approaching the time to access a hard drive. The system will be commercially available any day now.
The bandwidth, the website says, comes via a license to what was the MCI fiber optic network. That will be combined with “patented process of enterprise-grade global cloud servers and secure data storage providers.”
The plan is also to make the system compliant with HIPAA and other privacy standards, allowing medical providers and other users with security use the network.
While the system will work with your laptop, the company also plans to sell slimmed-down devices that access the cloud service and don’t require a hard drive.
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Ben Block, founder and CEO of GozAround, has pivoted his social enterprise startup toward serving businesses large and small that want to track and report their corporate social responsibility or CSR impact. The goal is to help companies increase, following the old management 101 adage that you get what you measure.
Ben notes that most businesses have some form of CSR to track. “From the small business on the corner to multinationals, a majority of businesses maintain some community or social contribution but struggle to efficiently maximize, measure and share their impact. That is what the GozAround for Business platform hopes to remedy.”
“GozAround has developed a cost-effective platform to allow businesses to find, manage, measure and share employee volunteer initiatives,” Ben continues. “Whether they have existing partnerships or are looking for community needs, GozAround allows employers to engage their staff in volunteerism, measure their impact, and share the positive outcomes as they occur.”
The platform, he says, gives businesses a tool for bragging on social media about the good their employees do. He says, “[The platform] allows them to find communities needs, organize staff participation, gather metrics on employee volunteer efforts (independent and company organized) and share those on existing social networks.”
GozAround is a for profit business with a social purpose. “Our current revenue model is a SaaS platform for corporate CSR. Businesses with employee volunteer programs pay a monthly/annual fee to use the GozAround platform,” Ben says.
“Our social purpose and revenue generation are inextricably linked,” he notes.
Ben’s vision is to see the app serve to build and serve communities. “By providing an efficient means of connecting those in need with willing ‘doers,’ all while both measuring and recognizing those contributions, GozAround will encourage closer, more engaged and responsive communities uniting businesses, individuals and non-profits in a community of those who care,” he concludes.
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When I first heard the story of the Tempest Two, the two Brits who crossed the Atlantic in a row boat, I imagined that they were competitive athletes who had spent years training for the adventure. Instead, they describe themselves as “two ordinary blokes” who founded a company for great adventure and to raise money for causes they care about.
[Jump to page 2 to watch the live interview.]
The founders of The Tempest Two say their motivation for the trip was manifold, but it certainly included social objectives like raising money for the Make-a-Wish foundation and to fund brain tumor research.
Tom Caulfield, one of the two–I’m not sure whether to say “rowers” or “blokes” here–explains his passion for Make-A-Wish, “I am trying to give young, terminally ill children the chance to touch and feel their dreams, like I have been lucky enough to do. Make-A-Wish Foundation makes those dreams come true, so raising money for them is something I care deeply about.”
James Whittle, the other one, says, “The problem is brain tumours. My mum suffered from a severe brain tumour in 2012 and has made a great recovery. I want to raise support to help fund the research further to benefit others.”
Caulfield explains the accomplishment. “James and I have completed a transatlantic row, 3000 miles across The Atlantic, totally unsupported. Neither of us had ever held an oar or sailed a boat, so we hope we have proved that ordinary people can achieve incredible things.”
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AdaPia d’Errico, Chief Marketing Officer for the rapidly growing Patch of Land real estate crowdfunding site that sponsors the Your Mark on the World Center, shared some wisdom about effective marketing. Mindful marketing, she says, is key to creating an authentic connection with customers. AdaPia offers three specific tips to help you be more effective in your marketing: Live and act with intent: Living and acting with intent is a powerful practice to be successful, and the same is true for marketing especially with social media. Rather than thinking of crossing off a to-do list, and automating everything for the purpose of being efficient, spend actual time even if that’s a few minutes, adding thought and intent to your posts. This will result in more engaging, authentic and felt posts, which in turn will bring better results than automating. Put yourself not only into your customer’s shoes, but also their online persona. The way people operate and behave online is different than how they act in real life. We are all multiple personas, so being in tune with this will help to achieve authentic connection and engagement. Act with laser focused intent – which in the online world can simply mean full attention– our full attention to the customer first, which may earn their full attention as a result. Create value for your audience. The greatest challenge and opportunity we have today is to create enough value for a potential customer, follower and audience member, to spend dedicated time on what we want to share or communicate. With no barriers to entry for vying for attention, it’s imperative that we focus on quality and spend the time and energy to be highly mindful and attentive–to needs, wants, trends, and desire for authentic connection.”
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Twin threats to economic growth and prosperity can both be addressed by increasing employee ownership, according to Camille Kerr, Co-Director, of Workers to Owners at Democracy at Work Institute.
[Jump to page 2 to watch the live interview.]
The first problem, she explains, is the aging baby boomer generation of entrepreneurs and business owners. “Right now, the United States is in an ownership crisis. As business owners in the baby boomer generation retire, an estimated $10 trillion in assets will be for sale. Because of the flood of businesses on the market, many will not find buyers. The jobs, wealth potential, and services they provided to their community will be lost, and their value will be liquidated. Even those that are sold are often downsized or relocated.”
The second problem is a workforce struggling to get back on the economic track. She says, “Much of the workforce still has not recovered from the Great Recession. In a larger trend that started over 30 years ago, wages have remained stagnant and many Americans are in jobs that lack security and benefits. Their income fails to pay the bills, let alone allow them to own a home or a business.”
Kerr says the answer is clear. “The solution to both sides of this ownership crisis is democratic employee ownership. With employee ownership, selling owners can structure a flexible exit from the business and receive a fair value for their shares, while giving workers the opportunity to accumulate wealth and have a more meaningful work life.”
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By some measures, the world is awash in cash, much of it available to be invested in emerging markets with a social purpose. For instance, the world’s largest bank, the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China, has assets of $3.3 trillion. The constraint on impact investing may be expertise rather than capital.
[Jump to page 2 to watch the live interview.]
According to Dave Richards, cofounder and Managing Director of Capria Ventures an affiliate of Unitus, explains the constraint. There are, he says, “lots of great entrepreneurs in high-growth emerging markets in Africa, Latin America and Asia and very little early-stage risk capital available, so their businesses aren’t realizing their potential in areas such as agriculture, healthcare, education and technology.”
The cause, he asserts, isn’t the lack of capital. He says, “What’s needed are on-the-ground, knowledgeable, capable fund managers who can provide smart capital and support to the best entrepreneurs.”
To address this problem, Richards says, “We have launched Capria Accelerator, the first global business accelerator for impact fund managers. We are taking our experience of building the leading impact seed fund in India along with Unitus’ experience over a decade of launching multiple fund managers to invest in, support and help capitalize new fund managers backing early-stage startups primarily in markets including Sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia, Southeast Asia, and Latin America.”
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Qualtrics, a 2002 startup that since raised a total of $220 million in venture capital in 2012 and 2014 and considered by many to be a unicorn, recently made a $1 million donation to the Huntsman HUN -8.47% Cancer Institute.
While Qualtrics isn’t a social venture, it is interesting to see such an entrepreneurial company embrace corporate social responsibility so enthusiastically.
CEO and cofounder, Ryan Smith, says, “Everyone has been impacted by cancer in one way or another – whether they have fought it or they have a friend or loved one who is fighting. Our goal is to eradicate cancer from the face of the earth. We are honored to partner with Huntsman Cancer Institute to raise funds for cancer research — research that is changing the way cancer is treated, diagnosed, and fought.”
The company didn’t stop with its $1 million donation; that is just the beginning, Smith explains.
Qualtrics and Huntsman Cancer Institute partnered to launch Five for the Fight, a campaign inviting everyone, everywhere to give $5 to the fight against cancer and then to invite five of their friends to do the same. People write on their hand the name of someone who has fought cancer and pledge their $5 to the fight in honor of that person. They then post a photo or video to social media using the hashtag #fiveforthefight, tagging the five friends they are challenging to join the fight against cancer. They then head to fiveforthefight.com to donate.
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Dr. Dean Ornish, a social entrepreneur at heart, has spent his entire career working improve health through lifestyle changes. Now, he’s partnered with Healthways to implement a program to reverse heart disease without surgery or medication. This radical approach to cardiac treatment is proving the value of collaboration for social entrepreneurs.
Dr. Ornish, who is a familiar name and face in the media, highlights some of the problems with the American health care system. He notes:
Most of the $3.0 trillion spent annually on health care in the U.S. is spent on sick care A shocking 25 percent of the adult population, 60 million people, are taking cholesterol-lowering drugs “My colleagues and I have partnered with Healthways to help create a new paradigm of real health care by addressing the personal lifestyle choices we make that are often an underlying cause of many chronic diseases,” Dr. Ornish notes.
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As baby boomers age, they will need increasing amounts of health care. They are likely to want much of that care to be in home. Most in home care is not covered by Medicare, however. This leaves families looking to contract directly with caregivers.
LeanOnWe is a new online platform that places individual caregivers in homes on a anything from an hourly basis to live-in arrangements.
Founder Ron Gold explains the problem, “Our home care system in the US is broken. Everyone knows the demographics of people living longer and choosing to age at home. Unfortunately the agency system is expensive and restrictive when someone is paying out of pocket. Most people would prefer to hire a caregiver privately but there is no good way to screen these caregivers. It is usually a word of recommendation but little else. No transparency on experience, references, background check, etc.”
Ron says he has the solution. “I’m bridging the gap between the agency and word of mouth models. We are matchmakers. At LeanOnWe.com we have a network of caregivers for families to hire privately. We have met each caregiver and verified their experience and references. Then we give them an FBI fingerprint, help them put together a bio and shoot a video.”
“A family still has the advantage of paying less for a caregiver, is able to choose who comes into their home, is able to control the care without a middleman and therefore the caregiver keeps the money and earns 50% more than through an agency,” Ron adds. “But we will also provide the vetting and backup that people go to an agency for.”
“There is so much change going on today in health care. One of the big demands from consumers is the ability to take greater control of ones own home health and wellness. We view home care in that same vein,” Ron concludes.
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Venture capitalist Steve Grizzell, founder of InnoVentures Capital, recently returned from a trip to Cairo where he advised the government on the formation of a stronger ecosystem for entrepreneurs. We profiled Steve and his thoughts before the trip and have asked him back to report on the trip.
Steve made three key observations:
Start with the entrepreneurs! During my recent trip to Egypt I looked at the components of an entrepreneurial ecosystem: venture capital, government regulators, experienced service providers and entrepreneurs who know how to start a great business. I asked myself where to start when all of the components of the ecosystem were weak. After I interviewed several entrepreneurs at Startup Grind Cairo the answer became very clear. Enthusiastic entrepreneurs will be able to solve the problems they face in creating a business and the other components are secondary. Screen for real entrepreneurs to help! I would guess that 90% of the people that I met at the Startup Grind event would never actually try and start a business. Most of the audience were looking for someone to take away all of the risk for starting a business. They wanted the government to provide the business training to help them figure out what kind of business to start. They wanted experienced investors to provide low-cost capital and for the investors to help run the business. Most of the audience were afraid to take the risk and just start their business. Collaborate and Educate! Bring government, investors, universities, service providers and entrepreneurs together in structured networking events so that they can educate each other. The relationships that are built during networking events are critical in order to build the entrepreneurial ecosystem. Government officials, university faculty and service providers are best educated from direct interaction with entrepreneurs. All three of these sectors can be very helpful to entrepreneurs but not until they actually understand what the issues are from entrepreneur. The venture capital community also needs to be educated by entrepreneurs. Building venture capital professionals is a slow and expensive process. It is important to create a process so that entrepreneurs and investors can learn from each other how to grow successful businesses in an economic environment that is not very supportive.
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Photography can communicate feeling, emotion and even information that an infinite number of words cannot. Photographer Sarah Takako Skinner and her partner Marc Raco have created the Hope Is Project to give people who are struggling an opportunity to photograph hope.
The work that people create when they use photography to communicate hope in the face of despair can be both inspiring and informative.
Sarah tries to put words to the struggles people face today. “This is the time and place. Individuals require hope to live. The world needs hope to move forward. In this day of racism, violence, economic woes, intolerance, hunger, environmental chaos, and more, hope is an elusive notion for many. The very old, the outcasts, the terminally ill, the wounded war veterans. But how can we find hope when we need it most?”
Marc explains the program, “Through an innovative photographic concept, people with compelling stories of adversity, along with hope leaders, search for hope and photograph it. Their own ‘self portraits’ are complimented by exquisite portraits by the artist Takako. This journey commonly produces increased hopefulness and self worth along with an expanded view of the world, coupled with artful and inspiring images that show hope through their eyes. Can the simple act of searching for hope result in the very hope one seeks?”
The project is growing beyond individuals to institutions, allowing more people to participate in and benefit from the program, Sarah says. “Igniting a large conversation about hope can motivate people to explore hope in their own lives, and to initiate actions which can improve their own lives and immediate world, which can reverberate infinitely. The project’s work with individuals is expanding to human service and governmental agencies, which reflects the therapeutic and important power of hope in medicine, pain management, mental health and rehabilitation currently being increasingly researched and implemented.”
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Todd Crosland is the CEO and Founder of Seed Equity Ventures, a registered broker dealer operating an equity crowdfunding site that sponsors this site. Todd offers some tips for entrepreneurial success.
Todd is a proven entrepreneur. Having founded Interbank FX, a global foreign exchange trading platform he sold in 2011, he’s earned his stripes.
He offers two key tips for entrepreneurs:
Trust your instincts. For entrepreneurs trying to achieve success, its imperative to trust your instincts. Becoming a successful entrepreneur means taking a leap of faith and trusting that if you work hard and remain passionate about what you’re doing, you will find success. Put the right people in the right positions. It is also important that before you focus on where the company is going, you ensure you have the right people in the right position, then focus on the direction.
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Patch of Land, one of our sponsors, is playing a key role in rebuilding the country following the the economic earthquake that hit the country in 2008 with its epicenter in the real estate market.
AdaPia d’Errico, the firm’s chief marketing officer, explains, “Private lending is known as ‘hard money’ lending; it carries a negative stigma, and for good reason. Predatory pricing, no oversight, and basically no protection for borrowers and even for investors meant that these loans and this type of lending have been extremely risky.”
She adds, “And it was the only kind of lending available to real estate professionals following the financial crisis, because banks could not and would not lend on what they deemed to be risky real estate transactions – property prices were the lowest EVER, and no one would take the risk of lending to people who were trying to rebuild America after the crash.”
“Patch of Land is solving the problem of access to capital for real estate professionals who are rebuilding and revitalizing their communities. By creating a marketplace built around transparency, trust and standardized underwriting, we’ve created a more open, accessible and simplified way for funding transactions to occur on what has historically been an opaque lending industry. We pride ourselves on working with individuals who are improving properties, rehabbing homes, and contributing to economic growth in their areas,” she continues.
AdaPia is excited about the future that Patch of Land will help to create.
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As member of the Motivational Speakers Hall of Fame and a a Certified Speaking Professional, Pegine Echevarria is at the top of her game and the top of her industry. Her multi-million business, Team Pegine, contracts with both the world’s largest companies and governments. Pegine has provided me with some tips to help Latinas and other women succeed as entrepreneurs.
Last summer, I had the opportunity to have dinner with Pegine and later heard her speak. She isn’t ordinary. She isn’t average. She isn’t boring. She is, in her own words, “Feisty, Fearless, Focused, Fun.”
As the head of a multi-million dollar business and with such an track record as a speaker, I asked her for some insights for women who, like her, are running their own businesses or hoping to.
Here are the three tips she gave me:
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Exude confidence and credibility everywhere you go. You have 30 seconds to influence others. In business you must exude confidence and believe in yourself to buyers, investors, supporters and advisors. Act “as if.” Know that if you waver people will pick up on it immediately. Practice standing tall, speaking with a smile, asking questions. Always have five questions ready to ask anyone to engage them, assess them, and to be prepared to ask them for introductions, help or advice. Beware of relying on your woman owned status; to gain deals, you need more than that. Your confidence, credibility and competency to deliver is what closes deals.
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Be in control of you time and money. Have financial partners come to you. Know your banker, your accountant and your advisers. Know what different financial partners can offer you. Hold financial speed dating days. Invite 5 banks to pitch their services to you. Give them an idea of your business beforehand, inform them they will have 20 minutes and make sure they know that four other banks are coming that day. Have a panel of your advisers. Each should have questions that are important for you to know. Think Shark Tank for bankers/accountants/planners and you are the sharks. You might stay with your old bank or find a new one. Remember this is your business.
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Nancy Pfund, founder and managing partner of DBL Partners, has invested in some of the biggest and most successful social entrepreneurs of our time, having stakes in both Tesla and SolarCity, among others. Pfund shared some insights with me and will share more live.
First, Pfund predicts a transformation of global energy over the next decade.
Over the next 10 years, investing in energy will shift from being dominated by investing in fossil-based large oil and gas companies ,regulated utility monopolies, and gas-powered car companies to including a plethora of clean technology , digital platforms and consumer-driven solutions providers. This transition will be messy, but will result in a 21st century energy industry that addresses 21st century needs of consumer choice, value, sustainability and reliability . It will also bring electiricity and a ticket to the middle class for the 1.3 billion people on this planet without access to electricity.
Second, she anticipates that millennials will cause a shift in the workplace.
As millenials become the largest part of the workforce, they will transform the sectors of recruiting and career building to make it serve their needs of cultural fit, meaning and fulfillment with tools that they own, like video , media and mobile resources. These tools will better address needs of women and minority millenials as well as traditional male career builders.
Third, Pfund says our food supply will undergo radical changes driven both by consumer demand and technological advances.
Agriculture and food are shifting to a sustainable platform that will increasingly put farmers and consumers first, not traditional agribusiness companies and relationships. Big data will empower farmers to build their communities, making better decisions and purchases with a reduced need for intermediaries. This will result in reduced use of natural resources like energy and water and drive down the levels of chemicals and pesticides used in production. Consumers will create strong demand for healthier and less chemical and natural resource intensive food products.
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Inspiring Capital is all about changing business as usual. By consulting and developing leaders who aspire to integrate profits and purpose, they hope to drive impact.
Nell Derick Debevoise, Founder and CEO, says, “Less than 30% of the American workforce is engaged in their work. This lack of purpose results in frustration, mental health challenges, and is even linked to physical symptoms, including Alzheimer’s and heart disease. Furthermore, people aren’t most efficient when they’re not engaged, so people aren’t reaching their full potential.”
She notes, too, that “companies are losing money to the cost of disengagement (turnover, inefficiency) and sacrificing the potential productivity and innovation of inspired employees. The ultimate cost of this is to society at large, which needs organizations functioning at their best and most responsible to generate prosperity and well-being.”
Inspiring capital addresses this lack of engagement by helping companies develop a greater sense of purpose, starting with an emphasis on purpose-driven leadership. Nell explains the initiative:
We gather groups of like-minded professionals who recognize the potential of identifying and working toward their unique purpose in the world. Our experiential learning programs provide these groups with: 1) coaching exercises to identify their personal values, strengths, and priorities...
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Laurie Lane-Zucker is building an ecosystem for social entrepreneurs in the Berkshires region of Massachusetts. Laurie hopes the model can be replicated across the country and ultimately around the world.
He explains the need for creating a healthy environment for impact-driven entrepreneurs. “The conventional business paradigm lacks global sustainability context and mission-driven entrepreneurs seeking to innovate solutions in general do not have a supportive ecosystem within which to grow their social and environmental impact businesses.”
The ecosystem begins with a new way of looking at things. “I am working with others to build an ecosystem, indeed an entirely new paradigm, for business founded upon ‘the rigorous application of blended value’ — my definition, and that of my Impact Entrepreneur Network, for the term ‘impact.’ I am currently advancing a new regional impact ecosystem model, which integrates aspects of the Impact Hub with the enterprise/empowerment zone — the ‘Public Benefit Enterprise Zone.'”
Laurie has a clear vision for the future of his effort. “The prototype Public Benefit Enterprise Zone that I am working to build in the Berkshires of Massachusetts will be replicable in other regions around the country and world. When enough mature PBEZs are active, then a process can be undertaken of knitting together PBEZs to create macro-regional, national and global impact economies that have authentic sustainability context, effectively serving the needs of the planet and its peoples.”
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UPTOGOOD.org is part crowdfunding, part petition platform and partly a platform for committing people to change their behavior, all driven by video stories. Founded by sisters Mika and Emi Onishi, the site is focused on causes.
Mika explains the motivation for creating the site, “Our original inspiration came out of the genuine overwhelm of wanting to do GOOD but not always knowing the best way to direct our desire to help after watching social change documentaries online that tugged at our hearts.”
She notes that many of these stories are important, but are “far from what was breaking the internet.”
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Every day, an average of 22 veterans take their own lives. This tragic reality motivated Josh and Lisa Lannon and Tom Spooner to do something.
They founded Warriors Heart, an addiction treatment center that provides peer-to-peer solutions to help veterans, law enforcement and first responders who struggle with addiction and post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Josh Lannon took the time to explain the challenges that veterans face, what Warriors Heart is doing and what he hopes will come of their efforts.
Lannon says the VA isn’t the answer. “While the VA (Veterans Administration) has good people, they can’t keep up with the needs of veterans after 14 years of war.”
The program, Lannon says, is holistic in its approach. “We are looking at the “whole body” versus sending a warrior to multiple doctors because so many are dealing with multiple issues including addiction, PTSD and MTBI (mild traumatic brain injury).”
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Wheels Up is a membership-based private aviation enterprise founded by Kenny Dichter, a successful entrepreneur. Recognizing the suffering that so many families experience due to breast cancer, Dichter is using a clever campaign to bring more money to the cause.
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Dichter explains, “As we all know, breast cancer affects one in eight women in America and that unfortunately means it touches all of us. Statistically, we all know someone’s mother, wife, sister, aunt, cousin or friend who will be diagnosed.”
Wheels Up has launched a program around a pink plane from the Wheels Up fleet to serve as the centerpiece of the campaign to raise funds to fight breast cancer. The program is in partnership with Textron Aviation; they join other notable companies fighting breast cancer, including the NFL, Avon and Estée Lauder.
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Former Haitian Prime Minister Laurent Lamothe recently announced the formation of a foundation named in honor of his father, The Dr. Louis G. Lamothe Foundation. The Foundation will fight social injustice in Haiti and complement the work he is already doing through LSL World Initiative.
“The Dr. Louis G Lamothe Foundation is an organization that aims to carry on my father’s work as a socially responsible activist in the fight for an inclusive and united Haitian society,” Lamothe said. “Decades of poverty, squalor, violence, economic insecurity and dictatorship have ravaged our country. As a result, Haiti is one of the poorest countries in the Western Hemisphere with a limited capacity to respond to the effects of political and social instability and natural crises. This Foundation is essential and long overdue as it will focus on providing the Haitian people with opportunities to transform their own country – something my father believed in and fought for.”
Lamothe is also a social entrepreneur and impact investor who leads the LSL World Initiative, which works to arrange innovative financial resources for developing countries around the world. The Foundation will give Lamothe another tool for helping the people of his homeland.
He told me, “I started LSLWI to provide solutions for innovative financing based on my personal experience in the private sector as well as former Prime Minister of Haiti where I had to a do a lot with little, and innovative financing helped a great deal.”
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Last fall, the SEC issued long-awaited rules for investment crowdfunding. FINRA also issued its rules. The new rules become effective on May 17, 2016. It’s time for entrepreneurs to start thinking seriously about whether and how to take advantage of the them. I’ve invited three experts to comment and offer suggestions.
Richard Swart, CSO of NextGen Crowdfunding, notes that “Regulation Crowdfunding is far from perfect – but it will allow the first inning of retail equity crowdfunding to begin. Expect legislative changes soon, but at least we now have opportunity for local and community oriented crowdfund investing.”
“The single biggest misconception about Regulation Crowdfunding is that is is somehow an alternative to Venture Capital,” he adds. “Regulation CF will function at the seed round – or as an alternative to debt. Rapidly scaling high-growth potential technology firms are unlikely to use it.”
“Congress made one huge mistake,” he says, referring to the fact that unlike Title IV of the JOBS Act, the new rules issued under Title III don’t allow for entrepreneurs to “test the waters” or solicit expressions of interest in an offering prior to conducting a full offering.
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What if a fashion brand spent its advertising budget on solving social problems? David Eros and Atila Uri, founders of ch8se, believe that the answer to the question is that such a brand could change the world. The key, they say, is for you to choose ch8se.
David explains, “ch8se wants to fight some of the most pressing social and environmental problems, such as deforestation, child hunger, unemployment, low education rates and lack of access to clean water, with our primary focus being on the developing countries, where the need for help is the most pronounced. Considering the monstrosity of these problems, we have no illusions of being able to solve any of them, we just want to provide people with a new way of contributing to a global solution.”
Atila notes, “We are basically trying to create a novel structure in the fashion industry that isn’t just a sustainable, environmentally friendly enterprise, but one that will have and active role in reversing the harm that our global consumer economy has made to the planet. We want to do it in a way that is really transparent, and more intuitive than most of the current solutions on the market.”
He explains how they are working toward this objective. “We developed an ethically sourced, high-quality product line that supports various causes without an increased price compared to the rest of the premium fashion brands in the industry. This way ch8se enables its customers to contribute to a better world without any additional costs, simply by opting for a ch8se product instead of the product of a traditional fashion brand.” The key step, he says, was to virtually eliminate the advertising budget.
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Each year, Capgemini, in partnership with RBC Wealth Management, conducts a formal survey of high net-worth individuals (HNWIs) and shares the data publicly. One of the striking features of the report in recent years, is the increasing interest among wealthy individuals regarding social impact.
David Wilson, head of the strategic analysis group for Capgemini’s financial services strategic business unit gave me three highlights for consideration. If you are a wealth manager, pay attention!
Be Aware: Social impact (defined as “an investment of time, money and/or expertise with the goal of generating positive social impact, which may or may not have a financial benefit”) is highly important to High Net Worth Individuals (HNWIs). However despite their interest in driving social impact, HNWIs do not have a single preferred source to help them navigate the complexities involved. Currently they are getting advice from two distinct groups: their family and friends, and their wealth managers, and many are receiving no advice at all. Acknowledge the Opportunity: HNWIs are seeking more advice on social impact overall, and wealth managers are the most sought after professional source of advice. HNWIs are looking to their wealth managers for support in setting clear social impact goals, determining which investments are the most appropriate in their area of interest, structuring their investments, and measuring the impact of their social impact efforts. Prepare: Embedding social impact discussions into the overall wealth management approach and making tactical investments to build out their social impact offering will help firms to better meet the opportunity. Several challenges will need to be overcome, such as a lack of clarity on social impact definition and goals, inconsistent or unqualified sources of advice with inadequate levels of expertise, lack of specialized products and solutions, and lack of standard metrics.
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Dave Chase, Managing Partner of Healthfundr, an investment crowdfunding site for healthcare companies is well positioned to offer insights for investing in the industry for impact. He’s provided three keys for investors, employers and the healthcare companies and their patients:
Problems breed opportunity: As Peter Diamandis famously said, “the world’s greatest problems are also the world’s greatest business opportunities.” Studying the ongoing collateral damage from wasting over $1 trillion every year (just in the U.S) makes it clear that healthcare’s status quo is the greatest immediate threat to the American Dream. The great news is that the solutions to fix the mess have all been created, proven and modestly scaled, they just haven’t all been brought together. The companies driving that transformation represent a tremendous investing opportunity. Thus, we believe it’s a false choice to think that the proper investing strategy in healthcare requires a trade-off between impact and financial returns. We can radically reduce costs: I’ve studied the leading employers and unions that recognize that employers are pouring more than enough money to fund a great benefits package and a comfortable require. Unfortunately, accepting the status quo of how we purchase healthcare ensures we get neither. There is now a blueprint for how to do it in a way that thrills both employers and employees/union members. While delivering great benefits, organizations are spending 30-50% less per capita on health benefits. The dollars that would have otherwise been squandered on healthcare are funding great (non-healthcare) benefits, company R&D and community benefit. Improving conditions for healthcare providers improves outcomes for patients: I’d encourage you to look at the leaders of the Quadruple Aim movement. Unfortunately, more than half of doctors and nurses are showing signs of burnout and doctors have the highest rate of suicide due to how healthcare is operating. This is bad for the clinicians as well as the patients they treat. Fortunately, the leading organizations recognize that optimizing the care team experience naturally leads to a better patient experience. When that happens, health outcomes follow as the patient and care team truly work as a team to achieve the optimal outcome. That, in turn, leads to lower healthcare costs. It’s happened so frequently and in so many different settings, it’s indisputable that it can be done well.
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According to an NREL report, about half the cost of a residential solar installation is non-hardware soft costs. Reducing those costs is the mission of Sighten, a software tool set for solar installers.
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Co-Founder and CEO, Conlan O’Leary explains, “To date, most solar companies and financing providers have had to use horizontal software like Microsoft Excel or had to build software of their own. Those approaches were ultimately too unwieldy, inefficient and not scalable.”
“As the solar market has become more competitive and profit margins have been squeezed, the industry has recognized that significant efficiency gains are needed. Recent years have seen a growing focus on reducing soft costs, but only marginal progress has been made,” he adds.
O’Leary says Sighten is on a mission to reduce the soft costs. The company’s software platform provides a “comprehensive solution,” he says, to manage the solar project lifecycle from CRM to design, proposals and asset management.
The impact of the software could potentially reduce consumer costs, O’Leary says. “Solar installers and developers now have access to advanced tools across sales and project management that will drive greater sales effectiveness and significant gains in operational efficiency, taking ents per watt out of virtually every step in the solar lifecycle.”
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Janet Salazar, CEO and Co-Founder of Impact Leadership 21, says “women are marginalized” not only by men who actively oppress women, but in effect, by the men who fail to show up in their defense. She identifies the problem as including the “lack of engagement from men in leadership and influential positions to accelerate gender diversity and women’s equal representation at the top level across sectors.”
Janet was introduced to me by Vince Molinari, the CEO of Gate Global Impact, our sponsor.
“Men are part of the solution. Men are critical in accelerating women’s leadership and achieving gender equality at the top leadership,” she added.
Janet is working to engage more men in the discussion. “I created ‘Conversations with Men,’ a forum to engage men in leadership and influential position on issues of women’s leadership, breaking down barriers of collaboration in the workplace, board room, decision making table,” she says.
She is optimistic about a future with greater gender diversity. “When men and women in leadership roles in societies understand each other and work collaboratively, the economic impact of harnessing women’s contribution at all levels is going to benefit millions of people and open unlimited channels of opportunities for more inclusive, sustainable and thriving economies and societies,” she concludes.
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It seems that hardly a day passes without headlines about unarmed black men being killed by police in our country. If there isn’t a new case, we’re trying an old one either in court or in the media.
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Ben Hecht, the CEO of Living Cities, a nonprofit group that makes and facilitates impact investments in cities around the country, including my own here in Salt Lake City, explains the broader problem:
US cities are places of great opportunity, hope, change, resilience and energy. Unfortunately, they are also places of great inequality. Home to more than 80% of the population, cities reflect the incredible income, wealth and educational disparities between rich and poor, white and people of color. These disparities not only threaten to hold back the economic prosperity of the nation but threaten our democracy.
Hecht’s colleague, Eileen Neely, Director of Capital Innovation, heads up the Pay for Success program efforts for Living Cities.
Neely says, “We need to blend all types of money–government, philanthropic and private sector capital–together to address growing social disparities and economic inequality in the United States.”
Pay for Success programs focus on paying for results rather than activities and typically are oriented toward prevention rather than remediation. Salt Lake County Mayor Ben McAdams has likened it to building guardrails at the top of the cliff rather than operating a hospital at the bottom.
Neely explains further, “While preventative programs that tackle issues like youth recidivism and chronic homelessness can make a real difference, these programs lack the funding needed to reach all the populations that need them. We need to attract private capital to help expand and scale programs that work.”
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Katelyn Dalton was a homeless addict. She considered herself to be “unemployable.”
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She says she was hurt and frustrated when she was rejected by prospective employers who rejected her application even when they said they were hiring. She boasts, “ I overcame it with self-perseverance and the support of social enterprises giving me the support and tools necessary to be successful.”
The social enterprises she mentions were supported by REDF, a nonprofit that supports social enterprises that employ the “unemployable.” Founded in 1997 by KKR’s George Roberts, the organization is led today by Carla Javits.
Dalton explains what it felt like to re-enter the workforce. “When I finally learned that I had the ability to be successful, I was worth it and I had value, I was able to put my 100 percent into my life and therefore become a star in the workplace.”
Javits exults, “Katelyn’s experience reflects exactly what REDF aspires to do for tens of thousands of people – demonstrating the power that a job can have in transforming the life of an individual and making it possible for them to contribute in a positive way to their family, while also improving their community.”
REDF works to replicate Dalton’s experience. Economic mobility, the process of moving up the socioeconomic ladder, is much more difficult in the U.S. than most of us appreciate. A surprising 43 percent of children born into poverty will remain poor over their entire lifetimes, according to REDF.
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Over the past several years as impact investing has captured the attention of the world’s wealthy, people started by asking “what is impact investing?” Today, the question more people are asking is “how do I do impact investing?”
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The Global Impact Investing Network, co-founded by Amit Bouri who serves today as the CEO, sits near the center of this discussion. The GIIN (pronounced like jean or gene gin, as in gin and tonic) is building a database of impact measures in hopes of creating a resources that will help standardize impact measures.
Investors of all sorts are relatively good at measuring return on investment. Many investors, myself included, check their portfolio values daily. Some monitor them throughout the day–even if they aren’t trading. Others fall back to reviewing quarterly and annual statements, but however financial returns are measured, such measures are easy to gather.
The GIIN is helping to make impact measurement just as easy. Impact investors will achieve target impacts unless they have good data with which to measure the impacts.
And let’s be clear, much of what we initially think of as impact is just activity. An investment that increases the number of books in children’s hands isn’t really an impact so much as an intermediate outcome. The impact is the changes, positive we hope, that are yielded in the lives of the children. Are they doing better in school, reading at or above grade level, graduating from high school, matriculating into college, etc.
The GIIN is working to help us measure impact in all its forms.
Bouri is bullish on the future. “Impact investing has the potential to channel significant amounts of private capital to solutions to the worlds most intransigent challenges. Last year was a banner year for impact investing and set the stage for 2016 to be a year of tremendous growth and progress.”
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Last fall, the IPO market “fizzled” and 2016 has seen the broader market fall well into “ correction” territory (representing more than a 10% drop from the peak). That hasn’t stopped Elio Motors from raising over $16 million in a “mini-IPO” with help from StartEngine.
Elio Motors, founded by Paul Elio, is developing a sub-$7,000, three-wheeled vehicle that seats two people and gets 84 miles per gallon. Last summer, Elio “tested the waters” and found interest of over $27 million (a spokesman says the tally reached $45.6 million). With the SEC’s official sanction, Elio launched their regulation A offering, something of a cross between a traditional IPO and investment crowdfunding, just as the market began to stumble.
Elio explains that as with a traditional IPO, the shares will trade publicly, “ Shares in Elio Motors will soon become eligible to be traded on the OTCQX, the top tier of the three marketplaces for trading over-the-counter stocks provided and operated by the OTC Markets Group. This will provide liquidity for investors who purchase stock through the Regulation A+ offering.”
“Elio Motors will close out the current Regulation A+ stock offering on Feb. 1, 2016, as one of the steps needed to allow for OTCQX trading,” he adds.
According to Elio, the funds will be used to fund engineering and testing vehicles, the “E-Series” to test “aerodynamics, durability and safety.”
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Tracy Saville, founder of My Swirl by Queentia, is a social entrepreneur who has completely bought in to the idea that the best way to see the future is to create it. She offers three keys to living in the future:
Think people, planet and profit. The most valuable global brands and companies in the new economy will be those built on enlightened and “for the human race” principles; companies operating with authentic triple bottom-line values and culture. To capture the new economy consumer in a climate-crisis world, it will take the world’s companies commitment to new human-centric values. The world is at a tipping point in its gender inequality. We’re moving past revolution to evolution – from table-leaning to table-building – from fighting to change our male-centric economic and social sandboxes to accomodate women – to using technology and collective feminine influence to create new sandboxes that are built from the values of the feminine lens. This new way forward is collaborative, human-centric, values-based, and multi-purpose and skill-based, that values diversity, uniqueness, labor flexibility, human compassion, and cooperation. This is where we’ll find an acceleration of solutions for the world’s problems. Women, be yourselves. It isn’t necessary to reshape yourself as a woman in tech or business today. Shaving our edges or making our start-ups look like what Silicon Valley or Wall Street is “used to” may help us sit at some tables, but arguably those tables who can’t get past their own intended or unintended biases won’t help us get to where we’re going either. It doesn’t mean that biases don’t exist. They do. The real tip is to create relationships with the emerging minds and talents that are working in the leading edge of impact investment and technology. That’s where the new ecosystems that value people for their genius and their abilities live.
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Chris Harden and Jeremy Scheinberg created Trobo, a robot that is an educational toy focused on teaching young children STEM (science, technology, engineering and math). They successfully raised $61,000 on Kickstarter. Here’s how they did it.
Chris explains, “We got started at an event in November 2014 called ‘Startup Weekend.’ It’s a 3 day weekend where you pitch a brand hew business idea, form teams, and create as much of a Minimum Viable Product (MVP) as you can. You also go out to a market place and get feedback, specifically to determine whether people would buy and how much they would pay.”
The biggest challenge, Chris explains, was to actually do what they’d promised with finite resources.
Our biggest challenge to overcome how to turn a $61K Kickstarter into what is now roughly a $240K+ investment. The physical product, the marketing, the patent, and definitely the application cost a lot more than $61K dollars (which is even less after Amazon and Kickstarter’s cut). We were fortunate enough to get a Phase 1 SBIR grant from the National Science Foundation for developing the product and trying find a fit for it in the Education space. We interviewed 40 administrations and 60 Educators which ended up improving our approach to the product as well as helping us vet that market. We also invested personal funds as needed. Ultimately, Chris attributes their success to luck–and the media.
We have been lucky with TROBO. The dolls, our STEM for Very Early Education concept, and our story has been compelling enough that we have been graced with loads of exposure from like-minded publications such as USA Today, Tech Crunch, People, Xploration Station, and Popular Science (who gave us Best of Toy Fair 2015). This kind of PR is extremely helpful to a startup, because all of our money has gone to executing on the product and infrastructure. We didn’t have money for Marketing. So the exposure has brought in others who have helped us along the way, whether it be investing in our Kickstarter, connecting us with significant influencers, or just sharing the word on social media. All of that has helped us build a core audience of loyal early adopters that we rely on heavily even now for sharing announcements and growing word of mouth.
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Pierre Hines recently won a $20,000 grant from the Atlantic Council in recognition of his remarkable nonprofit startup, Caribbean Returning Nationals Foundation, which he joined to support economic development in Caribbean countries. The organization was founded by Arlene Graham.
“‘Brain drain,’ the process by which a country loses skilled labor through emigration to developed countries, is a significant challenge for Caribbean countries. Many countries have lost more than 70 percent of their educated workforce,” Pierre explains.
For Pierre, this is a personal cause. “I am one of 1.2 million children in the United States with at least one Caribbean-born parent. My Jamaican father and his entire family immigrated to the United States in the 1970’s, and that decision is one the reasons I’ve had world-class educational and professional opportunities.”
“However,” he continues, “I understand that the migration of skilled labor creates challenges for local governments because they lose tax revenue that emigrants would have generated and human capital that emigrants would have contributed.”
Those who return to the Caribbean with quality education from the US or other more developed countries also face challenges. He notes, “It is problematic to have persons with MBAs working as bank tellers. And, for example, I have met a promising person with a master’s degree in engineering who took a job as a locksmith upon returning to the Caribbean.”
With 3.5 million immigrants from the Caribbean living in the U.S., Pierre hopes to tap into that Caribbean diaspora to foster economic development in the region. They are working on two specific initiatives now.
First, he says, “CRN recognizes that Caribbean countries must diversify their economies—particularly because of their heavy reliance on tourism—and recognizes that creating entrepreneur opportunities is a tried-and-true method of bridging the gap between the developing and developed countries. Through the ‘Challenge Cup-Caribbean‘ and related activities, CRN is expanding opportunities for startups to seek international investments and business relationships. CRN’s entrepreneur initiative also allows those with expertise in the diaspora to participate in skills-based volunteering by mentoring startups in their area of expertise—turning the ‘brain drain’ into a ‘brain gain.'”
“Another way that CRN is working to solve the problem is through youth empowerment initiatives. CRN formed the ‘Students for Students Initiative,’ which connects students and young professionals through social media into a support network that facilitates their professional development and enhances cultural awareness,” Pierre continued. “One of CRN’s immediate goals is to establish a physical Caribbean Coworking Campus for entrepreneurs and young people to work, connect, and learn.”
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Dr. Andrew Weil is the Harvard-trained physician who led the holistic health revolution of the last fifty years. Whatever you think of alternative medicine, he has been successful at building a following and a community.
Recently, Dr. Weil created The Weil Foundation to fund educational programs at medical schools around the country, teaching integrative medicine.
Dr. Weil explains the healthcare problems we face today, “We are all suffering from a broken health care system and medicine that is too dependent on expensive technology and pharmaceutical drugs that often cause as much harm as benefit.”
As a solution to this broken healthcare system, Dr. Weil is funding education of alternatives. “I am training physicians and allied health professionals in Integrative Medicine, which emphasizes prevention, self-care, reliance on the body’s innate healing capacity, and low-tech, low-cost interventions along with judicious use of conventional medicine,” he says.
Dr. Weil seeks to create a new model for healthcare with an emphasis on health. “It will result in a transformation of medical education and a new generation of health professionals knowledgeable about nutrition, lifestyle influences on health, mind/body interactions, natural remedies, other systems of medicine (like Chinese medicine). These doctors of the future will create a functional system of health care for our population,” Dr. Weil concludes.
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Steve Grizzell, one of the most experienced venture capitalists in Utah is heading to Egypt to help create an ecosystem for entrepreneurship to provide more jobs for young, educated people. He hopes that the model they create in Egypt can be exported to other developing countries.
Steve, who runs InnoVentures Capital, says, “Traditional businesses are not creating enough jobs anywhere in the world. This is particularly true in developing countries with a large population of young educated people. The solution being pushed is entrepreneurship. But entrepreneurship occurs within a much larger system. How do you create the system?”
He says he’s designing a system to fund entrepreneurs. “I’m attempting to create a funding structure from seed to private equity. I am also trying to put in place the components necessary to mentor entrepreneurs to build significant companies.”
Steve, who has lived and worked around the world, makes the case that solving this problem is vital for the future of the world. “Much of the unrest in the world is caused by the lack of opportunity and the subsequent loss of faith that your life will ever get better. Hopelessness leads to revolution which is usually violent like we see in the Middle East today,” he says.
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Water.org is leading a revolution in the provision of clean drinking water in the developing world, turning the recipients of charity into regular water customers through microloans funded by impact investments.
[Keep reading or scroll down to find the video player for the live interview.]
Gary White, CEO of Water.org, explains the problem, noting, “The poor are not a problem to be solved, they are the solution. I see constant innovation in the financial sector—new models, new products. Water.org is applying that kind of thinking to the philanthropic sector—creating new opportunities for private and philanthropic capital to make systemic change. Access to water and sanitation has been the focus of charity. But there’s a market-based solution. We realized that if we could provide the poor with access to small loans at reasonable rates, we could get them into the water system. And not as charity, but as customers.”
White explains further, “Changes in the water supply & sanitation (WSS) market at the Base of the Economic Pyramid (BOP) have unleashed significant new demand for WSS services. There have been significant gains in reducing poverty over the last two decades, and the trend will continue with support from the international community to eradicate extreme poverty by 2030. These socioeconomic changes are driving an increased willingness and ability to pay for improved water access and water quality as well as improved sanitation.”
“We created WaterCredit to unleash the power of the poor. By enabling the poor to finance toilets and taps in their own homes, we’re spreading capital costs across a broader swath of stakeholders,” he adds.
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“My story starts with a near drowning when I was 15 years old. This experience clarified in my mind the urgency to make an impact while we can,” begins Tony Loyd, the podcaster who produces “Social Entrepreneur.”
He continues, “As an adult, I was successful by many standards. I was an executive with a handful of Fortune 500 companies. However, at times I was conflicted. Some of the companies that I worked for had a powerful mission, but a toxic work environment. Other companies had a wonderful environment with great camaraderie, but their mission was not producing the kind of world I want to live in. I have been asked by these companies to lobby for causes that went against my values.”
He explains how he made the leap to podcasting, “In late 2013, I had a crisis of conscious. I began to write a series of blog posts called ‘My Jerry Maguire Moment.’ Through writing, I began to clarify my thoughts. It was then that I really understood the power of business to do good in the world. I left my corporate job and began to explore my options. I mentored early stage social entrepreneurs through a program at the University of Minnesota called Acara. I began to write a book. I was interviewing experts for the book and I realized that these interviews would make a good podcast.”
Tony didn’t start out in his career on the top of the pile. He says, “I was born in Arkansas in fairly simple circumstances. In high school I graduated 250th of 259. As a younger man, I drove a truck and worked as a janitor. I did not obtain my college degree until my mid-thirties.”
He went on to have a brilliant career, which he describes in more modest terms, “However, I made some good decisions too. I worked hard, read positive content every day and boldly led teams to create value for some large corporations. I really specialized in leading teams in times of transformation. So, having earned my executive role the hard way, it was difficult to walk away from that life. It was quite the lucrative life. In order to begin again, I had to walk away to nothing. No job. No team. No financial security.”
“I am not alone. Let me explain,” he says. “I honestly believe that there are only two forces in the world: fear and love. At this point in history, technology magnifies whichever of these two forces we choose to focus on. If you want to find examples of fear, you don’t have to look far. Technology delivers reasons to fear to our inbox and our social media streams. Self-serving individuals are finding ways to magnify that fear and to exploit our fear. It seems that fear is growing by the day.”
He acknowledges that there is reason to fear. “Yes, our problems are larger than ever before: climate change, social injustice, shortages of clean water and more. By the time we hit the year 2050, we’re going to have to more than double our global food production. How are we going to do that without destroying the planet?”
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Franky Imbesi and Nissan Bahar, social entrepreneurs working in Africa, have created a new app that will pay you to walk. Rather that use computing power to “mine” bitcoin, the app allows you to generate Bitwalking Dollars by walking.
The practical limit to earnings is about $3 per day. That probably won’t motivate many people in the U.S. to walk more, but for people living on a few dollars per day and walking and hour or more to and from work each day in the developing world, this could be life changing.
Bahar notes that problems go beyond not just having money, but access to the banking system. “Large populations in the developing world are still left unbanked. They don’t have the opportunity to access currency and take part of the global economy.”
“Inspired by the words of Nelson Mandela, ‘Money won’t create success, the freedom to make it will,’ we created a technology to allow anyone to generate currency by basic human movement – walking,” Bahar adds.
The potential of the new app to change lives is compelling. “Leveraging and combining digital currency technologies with mobile diffusion will allow us to create financial network accessible to anyone,” Bahar concludes.
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The always cheerful Dr. Robert Selliah, founder of American MedChem, is deadly serious about finding cures that could save up to 200 million children around the world.
He explains, “About 7,000 rare diseases are known and nearly 20 million children in the US and 200 million children worldwide have some form of rare disease. But for 95 percent of these rare diseases there are no effective targeted medicines. 30 percent children with rare diseases will not live to see their 5th birthday. Lack of medicines is primarily because it is not profitable for pharmaceutical companies to create medicines for these children – no market-based drivers.”
Robert explains how far reaching the problem is. “In the same way, lack of profitability for pharmaceutical companies is the reason for the lack of medicines for nearly 500 million children in poor countries afflicted with neglected tropical diseases. But sick children need safe and effective medicines too, so they can get well and enjoy a healthy life. The big question is this: what is the best gift we can give a very sick child? Answer: healing medicines. This is what forms the core value of AMC.”
So, Robert created AMC to solve these problems. “AMC as drug discovery and development technology organization creates and provides these essential targeted medicines necessary to treat children afflicted with rare diseases and neglected tropical diseases. AMC changes the status quo and fills the existing gaps in medicines to treat children, who currently have no medicines. Genetics technology is driving exact diagnosis of rare childhood diseases, but diagnosis without available treatment is useless for the children and families.”
Undaunted, Robert keeps pushing. “AMC is set up to collaborate with research leaders in biology and genetics, carry out the critical discovery and medicinal chemistry research at AMC, and bring forward clinical candidates for testing and approval by FDA. Technology is readily available, talent is plentiful, the needs are huge; but we need the strong support of philanthropy to fund this work. AMC is currently seeking major philanthropic support.”
“At AMC our commitment is to create healthy outcomes for children diagnosed with rare and neglected diseases. The status quo is unacceptable, because industry has left these kids out of the mainstream for reasons of profitability. We know that our vision can become a reality for sick kids by applying existing drug discovery technology to create very specific drugs for specific diseases. The age of precision medicine is here, and sick kids must benefit from this technology also,” Robert concluded.
AMC is presently conducting a crowdfunding campaign on Fundly with a goal of $500,000. So far, he’s raised nearly $10,000 for this work, but there is a long way to go. You can help by clicking here to learn more.
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Austin Meyer, a young journalist who recently graduated with a masters degree from Stanford, got his Warholian fifteen minutes of fame this year.
You see, Austin won the New York Times “win-a-trip” with Nicholas Kristof competition. A host of college students apply for the coveted opportunity to travel with the famed columnist to a destination in the developing world to cover, as only Nick does, the painful stories of the developing world.
Austin Meyer and Nicholas Kristof in Nepal, courtesy of Austin Meyer Austin Meyer and Nicholas Kristof in Nepal, courtesy of Austin Meyer Austin shared some of his history with me in preparation for this piece and live interview. He confessed that he didn’t always plan to become a journalist.
When I arrived at Stanford, I had no clue what I wanted study. My passion hadn’t been revealed. But in the spring of my freshman year I took an introductory creative writing course in fiction and it clicked: storytelling. The story I was writing in that class was all I could think about. So I followed that impulse. That storytelling momentum. I wrote fiction, nonfiction, audio documentaries, plays, screenplays, and performed improvised stories on stage. I rode that passion to a master’s in journalism. He continued, “As my master’s year was coming to an end, I was looking for an opportunity where I could use my storytelling as a way to truly impact the world. I wanted to combine my drives to tell stories and to fight against social injustices. There was no better opportunity than to join my journalism idol, Nicholas Kristof, who has made a living doing just that.”
To get a sense of Austin, I asked about challenges he’d overcome. His response didn’t surprise me. “I have been so fortunate in my life. I won the lottery of birth. I was lucky enough to grow up in an extremely loving family with the freedom to pursue my passions. Especially after reporting on issues of social injustice in India and Nepal, there is no challenge I have overcome that is really much of a challenge.”
Upon further reflection, however, he added, “Perhaps the obstacle I overcame that so many of us face, was my own comfort. I wanted/want to do this type of journalism because it is a way to make immense global impact. However, doing so requires a turn towards suffering. It requires reckoning with your own privilege and ego. It requires getting your world flipped upside down. I embraced that escape from my comfort zone, because I know that is what will inspire me to make change in this world.”
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“My life plan was completely altered on July 17, 1997. While at work as a customer support manager for a software company, I started having an excruciating headache. It was like a volcano erupted in my head. Actually it was an eruption–of large and small veins in my brain. A massive hemorrhage ensued that resulted in a paralyzing stroke,” explained Julia Fox Garrison, the bestselling author and motivational speaker.
The stroke was debilitating.
Julia says, “Aside from the obvious physical impairments of left-sided hemiparesis with attendant numbness, tone and spasticity; I also have a condition called “Left Neglect.” My brain doesn’t recognize that I have a left side. It is a basic unawareness that the left side exists. It’s a condition that has gotten me into some unusual circumstances that sometimes leave people somewhere between bemused and bewildered, but all I can do is laugh because I have no control over it.”
The physical challenges are really just the starting point, she says. “In addition to the debilitating physical limitations, there was an enormous emotional toll as I tried to reclaim my roles as working mother, wife, daughter, sister. I went through an identity crisis while recuperating. I had been climbing the corporate ladder, but post-stroke, I couldn’t even sit up straight. Going back to work was a nonstarter. I no longer could be a mother to my three-year-old son. I no longer could be a wife and partner to my husband. I needed 24/7 assistance and had to relearn the basic functions.”
Julia’s journey wasn’t easy. The people you’d most expect to be there to help and support her weren’t always the allies you’d want. She says, “While struggling to regain control of my body and my life, I faced a lot of negativity from the medical community regarding my prognosis. For over nine months no one could say with any certainty that I would live. Some suggested that if I did survive, I would by wheel-chair bound with no hope of ever walking again. I realized early on that it was totally up to me to prove all those naysayers wrong.”
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Here’s the harsh reality:
Female refugees are more oppressed, the victims of greater violence, and less supported than any other refugee group. When they arrive in Utah, their conservative cultures require them to maintain the home and raise children, their family’s poverty requires that they go into the workforce, often without adequate English or skills to do so. Female refugees suffer PTSD, domestic violence, social ostracism but have few social safety nets to fall into when they are overwhelmed. This, according to Samira Harnish, an accomplished, retired engineer who has devoted herself to serving refugee women.
Samira’s organization, Women of the World, is here to help. She says, “Women of the World serves and advocates on behalf of female refugees independent of their time in the United States. WoW ensures women feel at home before developing a customized service package for them which can include our Practical English Program, partnering with mental and physical health professionals, immigration or housing agencies, or enrollment in our Economic Empowerment program. We work until our ladies our self-reliant and then recognize them to make role models out of their efforts.”
Faced with the daunting challenge of helping women from around the world to overcome seemingly overwhelming problems, Samira strikes an optimistic tone. “Women are the pillar of the family and when they have a voice, an agent of change for the entire community. Women of the World not only creates in roads for refugees, but also serves to educate the broader Utah populace to the struggles and perseverance of our new neighbors and ways they can get involved.”
She adds, “Indeed it is easy to help female refugees, you befriend them and speak to them in English, this practice and social network will ensure they become active citizens”
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Last month, social enterprise startup Imperative, in partnership with NYU, released a report called the “Workforce Purpose Index” that author and Imperative CEO Aaron Hurst hopes will be a positive disruptive force.
Hurst says, “ It is the first study of purpose in the U.S. workforce and the findings are shifting the way the field is thinking about recruiting, culture and leadership.”
Hurst hopes the report isn’t just filed away, but is used to drive change and improve recruiting. He says, “The goal is to have leaders across sectors understand the science of purpose in the workforce and begin to use it to help boost the performance and well being of their teams. It is the most disruptive and potentially positively game changing research about work in over a decade.”
The introduction to the report begins the the following:
28% of the 150 million-member U.S. workforce defines the role of work in their lives primarily as a source of personal fulfillment and a way to help others. These Purpose-Oriented Workers, roughly 42 million strong, not only seek out purpose in their work, they create it and as a result, outperform the rest of the workforce.”
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Michael Durham, an attorney at our sponsor Kirton McConkie, works on cross-border philanthropy; he helped me to understand more about the challenges faced by international nonprofits fundraising in the U.S. Specifically, he shared three tips for helping nonprofits set up a U.S. nonprofit affiliate to help with fundraising.
Here are the three tips for setting up a U.S. nonprofit arm for fundraising for an international nonprofit:
Ensure that the U.S. nonprofit controls where the money goes. Build a record of decision-making in the U.S. entity. Consider alternatives to setting up your own entity. Let’s take each of these in order.
First, Michael says, “Make sure it is properly structured to vest real discretion and control over how the funds are used in the U.S. entity.” He explains, ” U.S. law does not permit donors a tax deduction for amounts contributed to foreign organizations or amounts funneled through U.S. organizations to foreign organizations.”
“But U.S. organizations can raise money and use that money to serve charitable purposes overseas,” he clarifies. “The clearest case is one where U.S. board is not controlled by foreign org, and all grants of U.S. raised funds are for specific charitable projects approved on a case-by-case basis by the U.S. board. If that is not possible, other models may also work, but ideally you would disclose those in your exemption application so that you are confident that your structure has been cleared by the IRS.”
Second, “Remember to build a record of real decisionmaking in the U.S. affiliate as to how the funds will be used by the international nonprofit,” he says.
Michael cautions, “It is easy to fall into a routine where the foreign organization simply makes a request for grants serving some broad goals, and the U.S. organization periodically turns over the bulk of its funds in response to such requests. In several recent rulings, the IRS has rejected U.S. ‘friends of’ foreign charities where they left too much discretion to the foreign charities. For instance, if the funds were being used to provide scholarships at a foreign university, the IRS might expect the U.S. affiliate to have reviewed the foreign university’s standards for determining financial need. The U.S. entity should review full details of the programs in advance, and should obtain detailed reports about how the funds were spent after the fact.”
He further warns, “Be careful how you describe the use of funds in fundraising appeals. It is permissible to state that funds will be used to support the foreign organization, but it should be clear that the U.S. organization could alter that decision if it no longer appeared that the foreign organization’s programs would carry out the U.S. ‘friends of’ organization’s purposes.”
Third, Michael says, “Consider other options besides setting up your own entity.”
He notes, “Many foreign organizations overestimate the amount of funds that a U.S. entity will attract. While it is true that U.S. charitable giving is higher than that of many other countries, attracting significant funds requires time and effort to distinguish your organization from all the others. A U.S. entity must comply with annual public filing requirements, including exhaustive financial information and salary information for the leadership of the U.S. entity, in some cases including salaries paid by the foreign affiliate.”
“As an alternative to setting up and maintaining your own U.S. affiliate, you might consider opening a ‘friends of’ fund with an existing public charity that manages such funds on behalf of multiple foreign charities. That is a lower-cost way to ‘test the waters’ to see how much your organization can realistically expect to raise in the U.S. before you invest in maintaining your own U.S. 501(c)(3) organization,” Michael concludes.
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Omidyar Network, an impact investing pioneer, recently published a new report entitled “Frontier Capital” on impact investing. Given the attention that has been paid to the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, which parallels the structure of the Omidyar Network in some respects–critically allowing for both impact investing and traditional philanthropy–I’ve taken time with Paula Goldman, a report author and Senior Director, Global Lead for Impact Investing at Omidyar Network to get her take on the report.
Goldman makes three key observations about impact investing for 2016:
- We’re at a tipping point for impact investing
- The next generation is more socially minded and will push for change
- Capital and technology will drive innovation in emerging markets
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Don’t you love it when you find someone who is out to change the world and is actually doing it–at scale! Young social entrepreneur Grace Garey noted that there are too many people in the world without access to healthcare so she decided to do something about it.
In just a few years of operation, Watsi, a crowdfunding site designed to fund medical care for impoverished people in the developing world one at a time, has helped 5,000 patients in 20 countries. Not a bad start!
Garey was motivated by a sobering statistic, she says. “1 billion people don’t have to access to healthcare, and million more are pushed into poverty each year trying to pay for it.”
“Our goal is to make healthcare a reality for every person on the planet. I really believe there are no missing resources in the world, only missing connections, and everything we work on at Watsi is meant to make those connections,” she explained.
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Tim Ballard’s career with the CIA and Homeland Security may not be what you’d expect. With years of leading rescue efforts to free victims of human trafficking, especially those used as prostitutes, he founded Operation Underground Railroad to liberate captive slaves.
Ballard explains the need for his work. “The scope of the problem is vast; there are an estimated 27 million enslaved human beings in the world: more slaves than ever existed during the trans-Atlantic slave trade. Many are sex slaves, as sex trafficking represents the fastest growing criminal enterprise in the world. Many reputable organizations exist to disseminate information about this problem, and others function as aftercare organizations for victims. Very few, if any, dedicate themselves to the pro-active rescue and direct extraction of the victims, and to the capture and prosecution of their captors. Operation Underground Railroad fills this void.”
Operation Underground Railroad’s work is already logging success. “In just our first two years, O.U.R. has already rescued over 350 victims of human trafficking,” Ballard reports. “Because of the undercover skills of our operatives, foreign governments often seek out O.U.R. to assist in sting operations against child sex traffickers. We keep the respective U.S. Embassies informed of our activities, and have been fortunate to count on their support and participation in a number of our rescues. Our motto is, ‘We enter through the front door, or we do not go in at all,’ and that formula has worked in countries as diverse as Colombia, the Dominican Republic, Guatemala, Haiti, and the United States.”
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Tony Robbins, The New York Times number one bestselling author, is working to feed 100 million meals to America’s hungry this year through a partnership with Feeding America –and they’re almost there. (You can donate here.)
Robbins explains the tragedy of hunger in America, saying, “It’s a tragedy that in the United States, the richest country in the world, 49 million people, including 16 million children, may go to bed unsure if they will have a meal tomorrow. These are some of the hardest working people on the planet, often people that we interact with each day, and are scraping by from paycheck to paycheck, just one unexpected expense away from not being able to put food on the table.”
It struck me as being almost out of character that the author of Awaken the Giant Within, a book that is all about teaching people to take responsibility for themselves to overcome whatever obstacles they may face, would be so engaged in this effort. So, I asked him why. His answer surprised me. This giant of a man, who is the very picture of success, relates to the hungry personally because he was once hungry.
“I know that those are more than startling statistics — those numbers are human beings suffering — and I came from one of those families,” Robbins confessed.
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Entrepreneurs and corporations alike spend tremendous time and money to get good publicity. I’ve reached out to Forbes Contributor Cheryl Snapp Conner, who also serves as the CEO and Founder of SnappConner PR, to find out out social entrepreneurs should leverage the publicity they work so hard to get.
Cheryl offers three key tips:
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Share and extend your great press coverage. This is a big part of the mileage you receive in today’s press environment. Via social media, your own blog, and other re-postings this is easy and fruitful to do.
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You are the best author of your own story. As opposed to relying on the press to tell your story, you should hone your abilities to also tell and publish your story on your own.
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Communications is power! Are you “on the record” for the things you actually stand for? Make certain your social media profiles and your website are clear and consistent in telling your vision and mission and inviting others to join in.
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One of my role models is a young social entrepreneur, Nidhi Singh, in India who has created a platform not unlike the Your Mark on the World Center to cover corporate social responsibility (CSR), social entrepreneurship, impact investing and philanthropy in India.
Nidhi reached out to me about six months ago to explore a collaboration between the Your Mark on the World Center and her platform, CSRlive.in. We are excited to be doing so, cross sharing content to give her audience direct access to our stories and our audience direct access to hers.
India recently passed a law requiring all corporations to do some CSR. Nidhi explains, “The new mandatory CSR law has opened up a world of possibilities for Corporate India to do good and contribute strategically to equitable, sustainable growth in India. So I would not say this is a problem, rather a tremendous opportunity that has materialized for all CSR & Sustainability professionals to work, collaborate and create real, on-ground impact with some real funds (INR 25,000 Cr/ $4.5 Billion annually) that are now available specifically for this purpose. There are many companies that have been voluntarily executing CSR projects but many more new companies (approximately 16,500) have now come under the ambit of the new CSR law. CSRlive aims to facilitate the process of optimum utilization of this CSR spend.”
Nidhi has ambitious plans for CSRlive. She says, “As an online platform dedicated to briging news, updates, policy changes, and expert opinions in the CSR & Sustianability sector; we promote best practises, thereby inspiring and encouraging more of the best to take a foothold, grow and expand. We facilitate connections between relevant stakeholders – for example – a genuine NGO looking to survive/scale up can present it’s case and funding requirements to a Corporate company looking for an authentic project that is aligned with their CSR policy. If there is a noteworthy activity in the CSR & Sustainability domain, CSRlive will be its voice. Going forward, we also aim to acknowledge best practises through CSRlive Change-Makers Awards.”
Nidhi has an inspiring vision for the future. “We believe in the power of a good story that is well told to engage and inspire people towards greater good! Getting transferred to the CSR division is still considered ‘Corporate suicide’ (though unadmittedly)- and CSRlive is committed to turning this around with its reportage and passion to connect and bring the right people to the right jobs and the right funds to the right organizations and individuals. The success of CSRlive will be in facilitating a change in mindset – which in itself is half the battle won,” she says.
Read the full Your Mark on the World article and watch the interview here: http://bit.ly/1M1JO5r.
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Read the full Forbes article and watch the interview here: http://onforb.es/1IbmUIy.
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Overstock’s founder and CEO, Patrick Byrne, is himself an accomplished social entrepreneur. Overstock’s lesser known affiliate Worldstock was an early entrant in the social enterprise space.
Worldstock sources artisinal products from around the world, largely from underprivileged women, and makes them available to people in the U.S. and elsewhere in the developed world at prices that provides fair earnings to the artisans. All Worldstock orders ship “carbon neutral” to the customer.
Byrne offers three key observations to help social entrepreneurs.
Entrepreneurship is key: “The key to elevating the standard of living in developing countries is not through foreign aid, but through encouraging entrepreneurship. Part of that calls for engaging in fair trade with the actual producers in these nations. Overstock’s fair trade division, called Worldstock, began doing this before fair trade was even a popular concept.” Free enterprise must be defended: “Our nation’s future growth depends on fair and robust capital markets, without which, free enterprise is condemned to stagnate and wither. To that end, we must strive for an economic meritocracy, where the best ideas are rewarded and regulators act to protect all market participants, not just the biggest players.”
Read the full Forbes article and watch the interview here: http://onforb.es/1IbmUIy.
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Read the full Forbes article and watch the interview here: http://onforb.es/1IbPn0P.
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HSNi’s efforts to support needy children around the world through its partnership with the U.S. Fund for UNICEF provide lessons for social entrepreneurs seeking to have impact at scale.
[Jump to page 2 to watch the live interview 11/24/15 at 5:00 Eastern.]
HSNi CEO Mindy Grossman provides some background for its partnership, saying, “HSNi Cares was established in 2010 with a mission to empower women and support children and families in need locally, nationally and globally. All children, regardless of their income, ethnicity or geography have the right to be protected and be given the opportunity to reach their full potential which is why our global HSNi Cares partner is the U.S. Fund for UNICEF. UNICEF does whatever it takes to save and protect the world’s most vulnerable children. Through our partnership we raise both critical funds and awareness.”
For Grossman, the cause is personal. She says, “I joined the national board for the U.S. Fund for UNICEF in 2012 and over the past three years have had the opportunity to see UNICEF’s work firsthand both in Senegal in 2012 and Guatemala in 2015. Exposure to the challenges children face around the world has emboldened me to do more to support the organization and have even greater impact. “
She now serves as the Vice Chair of the National board of the U.S. Fund for UNICEF. “Through HSNi Cares, we have recently concluded our third annual awareness and fundraising campaign for the U.S. Fund,” she adds. “I’m so proud to be able to use my platform as CEO to make such a meaningful impact.”
She notes that in 2015, all eight HSNi brands supported the campaign, bringing the total raised since 2013 to over $2 million.
Read the full Forbes article and watch the interview here: http://onforb.es/1IbPn0P.
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Read the full Your Mark on the World article and watch the interview here: http://bit.ly/1kQq8N0.
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Brent Andrewsen, an attorney with Your Mark on the World-sponsor Kirton McConkie, explains the simple steps required to form a nonprofit charity.
There are two basic steps required. First, you need to create a legal entity and second, you must obtain tax exempt status from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) for the entity.
Most “nonprofits” are either a charitable trust or a nonprofit corporation. Brent recommends a nonprofit corporation for organizations looking to operate a traditional nonprofit. The formation requires articles of incorporation, bylaws, a board of directors (at least 3 in number), naming of officers, etc. The articles must be registered with the state, and the state also requires the names and addresses of board members and officers. These steps are almost completely within your control and while they sometimes take months, they can be done as quickly as you are willing to do them.
Once the entity exists, you are in a position to prepare and submit an application to the IRS on Form 1023. The IRS estimates that you can learn what you need to learn to complete the form yourself and complete the form in approximately 20 hours. Most applicants get at least some help from attorneys like Brent who have submitted hundreds of applications. Brent says he’s never had an application rejected. Once you submit the application, the IRS will take three to four months to review it. Sometimes, the IRS will respond with additional questions. Sometimes they will respond with an immediate approval.
Brent notes that the application is important. “Get help from an expert.” If the IRS ever has a question about whether your organization should be subject to tax, the IRS will conduct an audit. If the auditors find that you are doing what was approved in your application, the audit usually will be quick and painless. This also provides protection should the IRS change its opinion about the nonprofit’s activities. The IRS cannot penalize your organization for conducting activities disclosed in the application. In order to ensure efficient audits and protection from penalties, Brent encourages applicants to be “specifically broad” in their applications so that the auditors will quickly recognize that your activities align with your approved application.
One secret that Brent suggests for those who are financially constrained with respect to the legal costs of setting up a nonprofit, is to ask your nonprofit lawyer for templates and some coaching up front and then to prepare the documents yourself. As a final step, ask your attorney to review your work. In this way, your attorney can help you create a successful application at reduced cost.
Read the full Your Mark on the World article and watch the interview here: http://bit.ly/1kQq8N0.
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November 24, 2015 - Read the full Your Mark on the World article and watch the interview here: http://bit.ly/1kQSAOK.
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Rahel Getachew, founder and Managing Director of Afrolehar, is working to change perceptions of Africa by building business bridges between the U.S. and Africa.
Rahel explains the problem, “The African continent has been seen as the dark and hopeless continent. There is a lack of linkages between US investment and African SMEs, a growing youthful continent that needs jobs to keep peace and security in the region and are missing platforms designed to solve these problems.”
She is working to address the lack of platforms focused on these problems. She says, “I started this business to strategically transform the image of Africa and contribute in strengthening North America- Africa relations. We provide integrated communications solutions through our advisory or in-house services, business development to penetrate and retain consumer markets in North America and Africa–based on client need–and manage creative productions for government, private sector and non-profit organizations.”
A vision of Africa where the economy is driven by value added there more than the commodities grown or extracted. “Ultimately, our success would be defined by the way Africa will be perceived by investors, businesses and consumers markets and African products and works will have greater market value than it currently has. As the world has always turned to the African continent for resources (commodities), we aim to have the world purchase quality added-value African products,” she concludes.
Read the full Your Mark on the World article and watch the interview here: http://bit.ly/1kQSAOK.
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November 19, 2015 - Read the full Forbes article and watch the interview here: http://onforb.es/1NDWcdA.
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Late last month, the SEC kept its word from late 2014 when it said it would issue final rules for Regulation Crowdfunding under the JOBS Act by October 2015.
[Jump to page 2 to watch the live interview 11/19/15 at 3:00 Eastern.]
Todd Crosland, CEO and Founder of Seed Equity Ventures, a broker dealer already operating and doing crowdfunding type equity raises under the SEC’s Regulation D 506(c) rules for general solicitations, says, “ I believe the SEC passing Title III will be a watershed event for both startups and investors. Startups and the general investing public will be forever changed.”
Crosland explains the import of the new rules, “The purpose is to allow non accredited investors the ability to invest in startups, which was once only reserved for the elite few.”
The rules are final, but they aren’t effective, yet. As Crosland notes, “Once the rules go live on May 16, 2016 and Seed Equity’s platform is approved by the SEC and Finra, non-accredited investors will be able to invest through the Seed Equity platform.”
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EnergyFunders will operate as a “platform” rather than as a broker-dealer under the new Regulation Crowdfunding rules, giving ordinary investors an opportunity to invest in oil and gas investments for the first time.
EnergyFunders founder Philip Racusin says, “We hope to educate investors and provide them transparent access to an elite asset class which was previously inaccessible for many. We also hope to attract more small operators to use our platform, which will provide them project funding traditionally denied to them by banks.”
Read the full Forbes article and watch the interview here: http://onforb.es/1NDWcdA.
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November 19, 2015 - Read the full GoodCrowdinfo article and watch the interview here: http://bit.ly/1MkU78h.
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“Autism is the fastest growing developmental diagnosis in the world today more than diabetes, HIV or cancer combined,” notes Dr. Julian Maha, founder of KultureCity, a nonprofit serving those with autism, including Julian’s son. “Only 20% of these children go on to have jobs yet very little attention is being paid to this issue.”
Julian created KultureCity to answer the questions, “How do you create a future without limits and job opportunities for children with disabilities specifically autism?”
Julian explains, “We are doing this by engaging the community and helping them realize not only the social good benefits of inclusion and job creation for individuals with autism but also the monetary and PR benefits.”
“If we are right about KultureCIty, in 10 years, we would have created a world where inclusion is promoted and abilities are celebrated. A world where every child regardless of their medical diagnosis has a chance at a future without limits and is accepted and included,” he concludes.
Read the full GoodCrowdinfo article and watch the interview here: http://bit.ly/1MkU78h.
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November 19, 2015 - Read the full Forbes article and watch the interview here: http://onforb.es/1HUKRsK.
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Virgin Unite describes itself as the “entrepreneurial foundation” of Richard Branson’s Virgin Group. It is a registered nonprofit and the part of Virgin focused on social impact. Branson, not typically labeled a social entrepreneur, sure seems to be one.
[Jump to page two to watch the live interview 11/19/15 at 2:00 PM Eastern.]
Recently, I’ve connected with Virgin Unite President Jean Oelwang to learn more about the organization and about its work.
A quick perusal of the website will tell you that Branson is concerned about a wide range of social issues from the oceans, to youth unemployment and homelessness, and from AIDS and TB to rural transportation for health workers (motorbikes).
Oelwang is championing a new initiative that addresses broad, global issues, called 100% Human at Work” led by The B Team, a global nonprofit incubated by Virgin Unite.
“We live in a world in which change is happening faster than ever: environmental pressures, population growth, massive advancements in technology, and significant shifts in the demographic of the workforce to name just a few,” Oelwang says.
“This has inevitably sparked changes in the ways in which we work and people’s aspirations and desires for their work are also shifting. This is an amazing opportunity for companies to be at the forefront of change and to start to build purpose-driven organizations that prioritize people and planet alongside profit,” she adds.
Read the full Forbes article and watch the interview here: http://onforb.es/1HUKRsK.
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November 19, 2015 - Read the full Forbes article and watch the interview here: http://onforb.es/1QuFYtd.
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Jane Chen’s Embrace, a laureate of the 2012 Tech Awards and winner of the 2015 Laureate Impact Award, is working to save 1 million babies over the next five years.
Chen, who co-founded the nonprofit in 2008, explains why so many babies are at risk, “Each year, 15,000,000 babies are born preterm; 3,000,000 babies die in the first 28 days of their life. This is largely due to poor healthcare available in developing countries. Many of these deaths are preventable. Unfortunately, a prevalent number of hospitals simply cannot afford the high cost of current incubators and are in dire need of a low cost alternative. In addition, many of these births occur in rural areas, where electricity may not even be an option so a sustainable solution is needed.”
Enter Embrace and its for-profit affiliate Embrace Innovations.
“We have created a low cost, sustainable infant warmer that keeps preterm babies at an optimal body temperature. It works without constant need of electricity, making it ideal for rural areas in developing countries and has already saved over 150,000 babies. In order to help save more babies and reach our 1,000,000 baby goal, we have created a unique line of baby products for the US market called Little Lotus, which incorporate a proprietary NASA inspired fabric to keep babies at an optimal temperature, helping them rest better. We have a 1:1 model – every Little Lotus product purchased helps to save a baby in a developing country with the Embrace infant warmer,” Chen says.
Chen is already making great progress toward her vision of a world where preterm babies don’t die for a lack of basic care. She says, “We envision saving millions of preterm babies worldwide with the Embrace infant warmer and through the 1:1 model with Little Lotus. We are also working on launching more innovative products to bring to the market to help reduce infant and maternal mortality.”
Read the full Forbes article and watch the interview here: http://onforb.es/1QuFYtd.
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November 19, 2015 - Read the full Forbes article and watch the interview here: http://bit.ly/1QNOUJi.
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Have you ever wanted to do something to make the world a better place but didn’t know what? The new “10 Things For” campaign is trying to ensure you always know what to do.
Emily Paxman, founder of the campaign, says, “There is a tremendous amount of goodwill in the world, as evidenced by the large number of people who draw awareness to the issues they’re passionate about by posting articles on Facebook, Twitter, and other social media platforms. While raising awareness can be valuable in the long-term, it often does nothing to alleviate immediate suffering in the here and now.”
Coby Vail, director of campaign research, adds, “In the Information Age, everyone is becoming more aware of the problems that plague the planet on a daily basis. With so much to do, it can be hard to hone in on one problem and find a meaningful way to contribute, whether that be money, time, or talents.”
Emily notes, “We are working to find and share creative ways that individuals can make a difference. Not everyone has the time to go build a house in Mexico, or the money to sponsor a child. By providing a healthy mix of small, easy ways to help with more traditional forms of charity, we want to help put people who want to make a difference to work.”
“The 10 Things Campaign makes it easier for people to get involved by selecting a cause every three weeks, providing education and 10 meaningful activities you can do to make a difference. We interview activists working on each cause in order to get the most effective activities for our followers to participate in and make a dent in the problem at hand,” Coby adds.
Emily is convinced that enough small acts will change the world. She says, “If all of our followers pick something from our list of ten things to do each month, they will be making someone else’s life better, even though that difference may be small. Ultimately, if enough people feel empowered to help, those small things add up, and the world begins to change.”
“How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time,” Coby concludes.
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Read the full Forbes article and watch the interview here: http://bit.ly/1QNOUJi.
November 5, 2015 - Read the full Forbes article and watch the interview here: http://onforb.es/1WwRng7.
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Michael “Luni” Libes is the social entrepreneurs’ social entrepreneur. He created Fledge, an accelerator for social entrepreneurs that has now helped to create over $10 million in total funding for it ventures since its founding in 2012.
The problem, as Luni sees it, is all wrapped up in opportunity. “The trouble is, the problems of the world continue to expand, while the majority of the money, infrastructure, and power lie in the for-profit sector. If only businesses solved the important problems of the world, their success would lead to profits, scaling up those solutions, then more profits, more scaling, and so on, in a virtuous, self-sustaining cycle.”
Luni boasts, “Thirty-nine ’fledglings’ have graduated from the six Fledge programs run over the last three years. Companies such as Evrnu, making cotton recyclable; BURN Manufacturing and Obamastove, manufacturing clean cookstoves in Africa; Distributed Energy Management, conserving energy through financial management; Ensibuuko, modernizing the savings and credit co-ops of East Africa; Seeder, matching green builders with green building suppliers; East Africa Fruit, aggregating and distributing fruits and vegetables in Tanzania, Deehubs, at the corner of free speech and social media; Shift Labs, designing medical devices for the developing world, and dozens of others.”
Read the full Forbes article and watch the interview here: http://onforb.es/1WwRng7.
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November 5, 2015 - Read the full Your Mark on the World article and watch the interview here: http://bit.ly/1HrPjdb.
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Over the last 30 years or so, a growing movement that expects capitalism to drive social benefit rather than tolerate its own harm has led to a burgeoning demand for capital with a conscience. Michael Sauvante of Commonwealth Capital has developed a model for financing social ventures that could rapidly increase available capital for social ventures.
Michael explains, “Small business with 20 or fewer employees provide more U.S. jobs than all the jobs in big business, government, non-profits and all the other sources of jobs combined. Yet small businesses are struggling to survive and are desperate for capital and credit, both exceedingly difficult to obtain.”
“One of the biggest problems with raising money for such small businesses is that, unlike investing in the stock market where investors can buy and sell anytime they want, when they invest in small private businesses, investors cannot easily get their money out of them once they put it in. What is needed is a way for investors to support small businesses, but still be able to get their money out anytime they need or want to,” he continues.
His innovation has been around for decades, but Michael wants to breath new life into it for the sake of social enterprises. He notes, “BDCs (Business Development Companies) overcome this problem by serving as an intermediary between investors and small companies. BDCs are a special type of venture capital company that is a public company listed on the stock market. That means anybody can own a piece of them, not just wealthy people like they do in regular venture capital funds. It also means their investors get freely tradable stock that they can buy and sell anytime they want.”
He adds, “BDCs take the money they get from investors and invest it in and/or lend it to small companies. That way small businesses get the money they need, but their investor backers don’t have their money tied up if they need or want to get it out. Commonwealth Capital is taking the basic BDC concept further by forming lots of smaller BDCs under it to help spread this concept much wider than would normally be possible.”
Read the full Your Mark on the World article and watch the interview here: http://bit.ly/1HrPjdb.
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November 5, 2015 - Read the full Forbes article and watch the interview here: http://onforb.es/1HrJrQX.
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Social Entrepreneur Charles Best, founder of DonorsChoose.org, created what could be described as the first crowdfunding site, despite the fact that that term wouldn’t come into vogue for another decade.
In 2000, Best launched the site to solve a clear problem. “Public school teachers spent an average of $485 of his/her own money to pay for school supplies, instructional materials and other classroom materials. Across the U.S., this adds up to $1.6 billion in out-of-pocket expenses for teachers (2013 National School Supply and Equipment Association Retail Market Awareness Study). Innovative approaches are needed to help public school classrooms,” he says.
For the past six years, Chevron has been partnering with DonorsChoose.org to generate funds for teachers with its Fuel Your School program.
A year ago, I covered the campaign for the first time. Last year, $7.1 million went to teachers in 22 communities, supporting 6,459 local public school projects impacting 715,145 students, according to Chevron.
Blair Blackwell, Manager of Education and Corporate Programs at Chevron, explains, “From Oct. 1 through Oct. 31, 2015, Chevron’s Fuel Your School program will donate $1, up to a total of nearly $8.8 million, to help fund eligible classroom projects when consumers purchase 8 or more gallons of fuel at participating local Chevron and Texaco stations in 21 U.S. markets.” The program’s reach in 2015 could approach 1 million students.
“Since its inception in 2010, Chevron’s Fuel Your School has helped fund more than 23,000 classroom projects at 4,433 schools in the U.S.,” Blackwell adds.
Read the full Forbes article and watch the interview here: http://onforb.es/1HrJrQX.
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November 5, 2015 - Read the full Forbes article and watch the interview here: http://onforb.es/1Ns65Py.
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Social innovator Lexi Barrett is helping to lead a non-partisan effort at New Profit, a venture philanthropy fund, called America Forward focused on supporting results-oriented organizations working in education, workforce development and poverty alleviation.
Barrett, who has spent most of her career in government service, says, “Although the impact of our sector, and our New Profit Portfolio and America Forward Coalition Members in particular, is impressive—millions of communities and individuals go unserved each year and the problems we seek to solve are even greater. And while the federal government ought to be learning from and expanding these efforts, in too many cases government is getting in the way by creating unnecessary barriers, stifling innovation, and investing in programs that do not work.”
Barrett hopes to change that. She says, “America Forward is turning the page from an era of unprecedented gridlock to one of unprecedented problem solving.”
She adds, “The organizations that America Forward works with recognize that policy change is an essential part of scaling the solutions that they are advancing on the ground, and have come together as a Coalition to advance a policy agenda that champions social innovation.”
Barrett reports that the formal launch of the effort last month included the release of a briefing book called Moving America Forward: Innovators Lead the Way to Unlocking America’s Potential. She explains, “This book offers transformational policy ideas shaped by the experience of social innovators who are solving problems in their communities every day. These policy ideas are framed around five challenges for the next President, including government that works, education for the future, ‘market-able’ America, first jobs, and second chances.”
Read the full Forbes article and watch the interview here: http://onforb.es/1Ns65Py.
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October 29, 2015 - Read the full GoodCrowdinfo article and watch the interview here: http://bit.ly/1LYPPB9.
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Have you ever seen something truly tragic and thought as you passed by, perhaps leaving a few dollars, “someone should really do something”?
Gene and Arlene Rumley had an experience like that while visiting India and decided not to just leave a few dollars, but instead to really do something.
Gene explains what they saw. “It is estimated that there are 15-20 million orphans in India. Girls, especially, are considered almost worthless, especially the ones living in extreme poverty. Thousands of children are digging in garbage dumps, abused, abandoned and prone to child trafficking. It is also estimated that there are over 300,000 street children living in Mumbai, India alone.”
Gene and Arlene created Mission for Orphans to provide for the care and feeding of the orphans in India.
Arlene explains, “For over the past ten years we have been raising funds to help feed, clothe and help educate the orphans and street kids, working with a family in India that we’ve known for almost 30 years. Presently, we are raising funds to complete the building of a Girl’s Home for 150 orphaned girls and a separate housing for 50 babies. We partner with Vision Rescue in India. This on the ground team works in the slums of Kolkata, Mumbai and Chennai feeding, clothing, educating and offering medical support.”
“We are reaching out and helping to rescue boys and girls from lives of hopelessness and despair to lives with a future filled with hope. Mission for Orphans will help transform the hearts and future dreams for desperate children that have lost both parents. The goal is to build homes where girls and boys are loved, educated, and grow up as responsible citizens through breaking the cycle of poverty and discrimination,” Arlene concludes.
Right now they are crowdfunding on Indiegogo in hopes of raising enough money to build a home for girls.
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October 29, 2015 - Read the full GoodCrowdinfo article and watch the interview here: http://bit.ly/1LYO4nG.
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If you’re a social entrepreneur chances are good that you get this. Launching and running a social venture can be lonely. That’s why around the world so many of us have found ourselves working an Impact Hub.
Kyle Ashby is the founder of Impact Hub Santa Barbara. He notes, “Impact focused entrepreneurs often work alone, in locations where collaboration is not available. They also have difficulties finding mentors, associates, financing and the resources needed to grow their business.”
Enter Impact Hub Santa Barbara, right on cue. “The Impact HUB Santa Barbara will enable entrepreneurs, startups, and organizations to coordinate efforts and thrive in a central meeting point for those who want to make our community and world a better place. This will be done through a community focused collaborative work space and center for learning and growth for entrepreneurs and change makers.”
Kyle’s vision for the Hub is inspiring. “The Impact HUB Santa Barbara will create deeper connections, establish a platform to build on, and foster new initiatives for the next generation of entrepreneurs, leaders and companies to solve social problems through innovative ventures, and define and change the future of our community and the world.”
At the moment, Impact Hub Santa Barbara is running a crowdfunding campaign on Indiegogo to raise the money needed to open.
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October 29, 2015 - Read the full Your Mark on the World article and watch the interview here: http://bit.ly/1GL82Fp.
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There is a lot of talk these days about impact investing, but relatively few people actually know what it is or how to do it. With the help of Your Mark on the World Center sponsor Gate Global Impact’s CEO Vince Molinari, we’ll explain impact investing basics.
Vince offers answers to the following three basic questions:
- What is impact investing?
Impact investing is a progressive new investment philosophy whereby an investor proactively seeks to place capital in businesses that generate financial returns from organizations committed to societal, sustainable and/or environmental goals. The growth of IMPACT INVESTING is borne out by global trends in macro/micro socioeconomics, Next-Gen behavioral finance, and ubiquitous social media that continues to drive participants and awareness to this movement. 2. What financial returns can investors expect from an impact investment?
One of the most common questions about impact investing is what sorts of returns investors can expect. Vince answers, “Profit is not a dirty word, profit creates sustainability, and sustainability creates systemic change. Impact investing returns vary widely. Some investors are willing to give up part of their standard return expectations for the sake of high societal impact. Others are focusing on opportunities to earn market returns, recognizing that not only does solving societal problems create the potential for market returns, the very act of solving the problem may reduce the risk of the investment. Investors can earn high returns while creating impact.” 3. How does an impact investment actually create societal good?
Impact investing creates social good in much the same way that philanthropy does. The money is spent to fund a project that has a social benefit attached. Rather than donate the money, however, the investor asks for the money back. For instance, an investor could fund the construction of a school and ask for the money to be paid back over time in the form of a mortgage. The market for impact investments runs from large scale infrastructure projects to small investments in social enterprises that are serving social needs and providing employment in the developing world.
Vince recently authored “Africa Is the New Frontier of Impact Investing” for Ventureburn, where you can learn more about Vince’s take on impact investing.
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October 29, 2015 - Read the full Your Mark on the World article and watch the interview here: http://bit.ly/1iikGAi.
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Michael Custer and a team of students at Jiaotong University in Shanghai, inspired by the Hult Prize, saw a problem and created a solution for it.
As Michael explains, “The problem is illiteracy. Across the developing world, millions and millions of people remain illiterate. The UN estimates there to be 900 million illiterate people worldwide and a third of this population lives in India, where 289 million Indian adults are illiterate.”
“Illiteracy is not just a problem for the individual though, it also creates tremendous problems for the next generation. Academic research has repeatedly proved the inter-generational transmission of illiteracy and its close link to poverty. The worst part is, that for young children, the best way to develop the skills necessary for future literacy is to be read to during their early years (ages 6 and under), a task that is literally impossible for illiterate parents,” he continued.
Their solution, called teleStory, is as simple as it is brilliant.
Combining modern cloud telephony and mobile phones, teleStory has created a system that empowers illiterate parents to read to their children for the first time. To accomplish this, we first buy and record the audio for local children’s books. This audio is then uploaded to our cloud. We then partner with ngos already operating in the early childhood space in India and establish our libraries or book distribution centers. Parents then take a book from one of these libraries and give teleStory’s number a missed call. When the parents receive a call back they will be prompted to enter the ID of the book they took. The ID and our phone number will be on a label on the front or back cover of the book. Once they enter the ID the audio that corresponds to the words will play page by page. To go to the next page the parent presses one and to repeat a page the parent presses two. Michael says the team has a big goal. “Our goal is to intervene in a child’s early years – the year’s most important to brain development- and break the illiteracy cycle, a key step towards ending the poverty cycle. The inability to read traps a person in poverty, drastically holding back one’s economic potential.”
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October 22, 2015 - Read the full Forbes article and watch the interview here: http://onforb.es/1krX7qq.
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Computer literacy is increasingly becoming a ticket into the functioning global economy, but billions of people still don’t know how to get one. [I own 34 shares of Microsoft.]
Lori Forte Harnick, General Manager, Microsoft Citizenship & Public Affairs, explains, ”There is a lack of resources to teach computer science in schools globally, as well as a lack of understanding in why computer science matters. Young people and their parents need inspiration to pursue computer science and combat the stereotypes associated with the field.”
“As technology has become an integral part of people’s daily lives around the world, we’re seeing a growing demand – from students, parents, teachers, governments, and nonprofits – to teach youth not only how to use technology, but also how to create technology to help them become the innovators and drivers of growth and opportunity in their communities,” she adds.
Few companies have a bigger incentive to be a part of the solution to this problem than Microsoft. Appropriately, the company is stepping up in a meaningful way.
Harnick says, “Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella recently announced an expansion of the YouthSpark program to increase access to computer science education for all youth worldwide, and especially for those from under-represented backgrounds, with a $75 million commitment in community investments over the next three years.”
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October 22, 2015 - Read the full Forbes article and watch the interview here: http://onforb.es/1OSKsb9.
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The townships in South Africa are some of the largest slums in the world.
“The odds are stacked against children growing up in Port Elizabeth’s townships. Abject poverty, particularly amongst the country’s black population, is pervasive,” explains Jacob Lief, Co-founder and CEO of Ubuntu Education Fund, which works to solve problems associated with poverty in Port Elizabeth’s townships.
[Jump to page 2 to watch the live interview with Lief.]
Lief sees the extreme gap between rich and poor in South Africa as a root of the problem, noting that South Africa is the 2nd most unequal country in the world–without noting which country is worse. “This widening gap between the haves and the have-nots permeates society. While the elite receive quality private healthcare, South Africa’s poor are forced to rely on public clinics. Plagued by shortfalls of doctors, service interruptions, and infrastructure backlogs, these facilities cannot fully address the country’s HIV/AIDS and TB crises,” Lief says.
Education isn’t a panacea, he says. “Facing these economic and medical barriers, many South Africans believe that education has the potential to act as a great equalizer. Yet the education system is equally fraught with challenges. Children growing up in Port Elizabeth’s townships lack access to quality healthcare and education, and face unstable homes everyday.”
So Ubuntu has developed a unique cradle to career program to support 2,000 children in the townships that Lief calls the Ubuntu Model, “a strategy that has received international acclaim from Bill Clinton to the World Economic Forum.”
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October 22, 2015 - Read the full Your Mark on the World article and watch the interview here: http://bit.ly/1NnSszg.
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“One hundred and twelve million children lack access to high-quality, reliable, affordable early childhood education [ECE]. It’s a fundamental injustice that caps their potential and robs children of the futures they deserve,” says SOMOS Managing Director, Anne Friedman.
SOMOS was recently recognized as a Hult Prize finalist at the Clinton Global Initiative.
Anne explains further, “Children who don’t receive high quality ECE in the first 5 years of life suffer from depressed educational and health outcomes, starting school about 2 years behind and never catching up. Even family stability decades later is affected by the education a young child receives. The problem is that potential is distributed equally but opportunity is not. Millions of children born into poverty are never given a fair chance to succeed and are then condemned for their failure in adulthood. It’s a tragic violation of the human right to dignity, life, and the pursuit of potential.”
SOMOS is a student-led social venture that was created to address the problem of unequal access to ECE.
Anne describes the effort, saying, “We’re giving parents the tools and support they need to change their children’s lives. First, healthy childhood development is predicated on high-quality interaction with a loving adult. For many and complicated reasons, the norms around parenting in situations of urban poverty often lead to suboptimal outcomes for kids. They simply don’t get as much developmentally beneficial interaction as their more affluent peers. But that’s easily changed! Give parents simple, fun suggestions for how to integrate their child’s education into their daily lives and they do it!”
“We deliver world class, age appropriate educational curricula directly to their mobile phone. We do it in small groups of parents so they can provide advice and support to each other. Not only are the benefits of peer-to-peer learning proven and significant, we believe having a community of support that follows a child for a lifetime is critical to changing his life trajectory. Many of the benefits of most of the world’s best early childhood education programs are lost before 3rd grade. We wanted to make sure they last and we think community is the way to make that happen,” she continued.
Anne shared the SOMOS vision of the future with me:
Call to mind your vision of a “slum.” Maybe it’s the favelas of Brazil, the townships of South Africa, the barrios of Mexico City, or the housing projects of Chicago. Imagine the kids growing up there and what their lives must be like. Now, imagine that every single one of them graduates high school prepared for college and/or jobs with dignity that allow them to provide for their families. Imagine their parents woven together into a safety net that doesn’t allow any of their children to fall through the cracks. That’s what we want to build. We want to connect parents with each other, and the resources they need, to turn their “slums” into safe-havens, to give themselves and their kids the futures they deserve.
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October 16, 2015 - Read the full Forbes article and watch the interview here: http://onforb.es/1Gc4hZh.
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As I visit with social entrepreneurs around the world, I often find that religion is a motivating factor for their desire to do something that matters. Although rarely discussed, taking religion out of social entrepreneurship would, for some at least, rob it of its heart and soul. [It has been my honor to speak at a few Rotary District Conferences at discounted fees, but I've not been paid by Rotary International.]
[Jump to page 2 for the live interview.]
Of course, many people approach social entrepreneurship from a purely secular point of view, including some who are religious, but that does not negate the influence of religion for others.
This week, I am attending the 2015 Parliament of the World’s Religions here in Salt Lake City, a gathering of 10,000 religious people looking to advance world peace, many through some form of social entrepreneurship.
K.R. Ravindran, President of Rotary International, a global organization with 34,000 clubs and 1.2 million members, most of whom are business and community leaders, will speak at the conference. He shared excerpts from his speech with me in advance.
Highlighting the importance of respect, he said, “ In Rotary, every religion is respected, every tradition is welcomed, and every conviction is honored, for in Rotary, we join in friendship and we are bonded by our dedication to service. ”
Rotary’s motto is “Service above self.” In a thought that is highly relevant for social entrepreneurs, Ravindran connects that motto to religion in his remarks, noting, “Service gives people a way to come together and a reason to work together for the common good, regardless of their differences. Charity and serving those with the greatest needs are ideas common to every religion, which is what Rotary is all about.”
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October 15, 2015 - Read the full Your Mark on the World article and watch the interview here: http://bit.ly/1GbYini.
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Ulixes Hawili, with a team of student entrepreneurs from the University of Tampa, has created a company called Tembo Education, a 2015 Hult Prize finalist, to provide a proven curriculum of training to African parents to help their children prepare for school.
Ulixes, the Chief Intelligence Officer of Tembo, explains, “The problem is the lack of early childhood education in developing countries across the world. Millions of children are not afforded an opportunity to a high quality education and we believe that advanced economies are morally inclined to confront issues of this magnitude, even if it means making tremendous sacrifices.”
Noting that 86 percent of the population in sub-Saharan African have access to a mobile device, Ulixes says, “We are providing a high quality curriculum and training to parents across sub-Saharan Africa through mobile phones, effectively providing them with something that they do not have through something that they do.”
“Providing access to a quality early childhood education in developing countries will lay the foundation for economic development by catalyzing the acquisition of human capital, boosting relative incomes, and opening the door to foreign investment in the region,” Ulixes concludes.
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October 15, 2015 - Read the full Forbes article and watch the interview here: http://bit.ly/1GbToGU.
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Jamie Austin and Aisha Bukhari co-founded Attollo SE Inc. as graduate students at the Rotman School of Management at the University of Toronto. Attollo was selected as a finalist for the 2015 Hult Prize competition, awarded last month at the Clinton Global Initiative.
Jamie explains, “Young children from underprivileged families do not develop the vocabulary they need for success in primary school. The extent that the vocabulary of these children is behind their more privileged peers has been termed the vocabulary gap.”
Aisha notes that over 100 million under-privileged kids are not ready for primary school, adding, “A key reason less-privileged children are not primary school ready and drop out of school later in life is that they are unable to understand and communicate with the world around them. They lack the quantity and variety of words needed to develop meaning and understanding of words. They lack the vocabulary needed to succeed.”
“Talking Stickers, which is comprised of an electronic device called ollo that can scan stickers, record and play-back audio in any language or dialect, helps parents deliver educational content from our partner educational organizations to their children. Talking Stickers also enables children to learn in unstructured ways through exploration of their world and environment,” Jamie says.
Aisha adds, “Since stickers can be placed on anything, Talking Stickers transform common household items into educational toys. Talking Stickers follow proven, culturally relevant, early learning curriculum to deliver the best education for every child in their home. In essence, Talking Stickers is a teaching tool, empowering parents to talk, sing and read to their children in a playful manner and build their vocabulary.”
Aisha explains their passion, saying, “We believe that literacy is a fundamental human right.”
“Language development is just the beginning. We envision Talking Stickers as a tool to communicate information about health, nutrition and all areas of early childhood development. Millions of parents struggle with correct usage of child products (medicine, nutrition supplements etc) because they are unable to read. Talking Stickers solve this problem by providing audio instructions enabling parents to correctly use child products,” Aisha concludes.
Jamie adds, “We aim to help underprivileged children below the age of 6 to develop their vocabulary skills, making them ready for primary school. This will help them to succeed in school and will increase their chances to get a good job and lift their family out of poverty.”
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October 15, 2015 - Read the full Forbes article and watch the interview here: http://onforb.es/1GbMnG4.
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Juan Diego Prudot was successful at a very young age. With the abundant opportunities afforded those of means, he has chosen the path of a social entrepreneur in an effort to improve early childhood education around the world.
Prudot sees the problem this way, “Over 100 million children under the age of six are living in underserved communities and do not have access to quality early childhood education. This situation leads to children being unprepared to enter primary school and with a weaker social and emotional foundation, thus making it more challenging for the youth to thrive and become productive members of society.”
Prudot led the formation of a team of student entrepreneurs in Taiwan, where he attends business school at National Chengchi University. The team launched IMPCT, which operates Playcares.com, and competed in and won the 2015 Hult Prize competition at the Clinton Global Initiative last month.
Prudot explains the business, which provides infrastructure for women in the developing world to provide bona fide educational services rather than mere daycare, saying, “We are building a bridge between people that want and are able to become part of a solution with hardworking communities that only need an opportunity. Playcares.com is not only a financial inclusion mechanism to empower women to run Playcares, but it is also a way to generate awareness of how quality early childhood education will break the poverty cycle.”
“By 2020 we aim to allow 10 million children to have access to the type of early education that will change their life trajectory in a positive way. Additionally, by attracting millions of people to participate in Playcares.com we will set the precedent that investing in and empowering people from underserved communities is not only the best way to make an impact but an exceptional investment opportunity,” Prudot asserts.
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October 8, 2015 - Read the full Forbes article and watch the interview here: http://onforb.es/1MfRo1J.
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Wendy Lipton-Dibner, the bestselling author who has just seen her latest book, Focus on Impact, published has focused her career on helping people put results and outcomes ahead of financial returns with the reassurance that by focusing on impact, the money will come.
When Lipton-Dibner talks about “impact,” she’s using the word in a more traditional sense, meaning non-financial outcomes and results rather than its use in social enterprise circles with a focus on social good.
That said, her focus on traditional impact is highly relevant for the socially conscious–and her message is good news for social entrepreneurs. As we focus on impact, she says, success will come.
In preparing for this piece, I asked Lipton-Dibner for three tips to help social entrepreneurs have more impact. Here’s what she shared:
Best practice isn’t always smart practice. If your business goal is to make a lasting and profitable impact, traditional business models won’t get you there. Research of over 1000 multi-national enterprises, hospitals, private practices, non-profit organizations and small businesses has shown the more people focus on increasing profitability, the more money they end up spending to make up for problems they caused by focusing on money. The answer: Focus On Impact in every area of business from visualization to execution, internally and externally. Capitalize on the social shift. Gone are the days when we trust the words of the CEO who reassures us his/her products and services are best in class. Consumers have learned the hard way that just because we say we can help them, doesn’t mean we will. They’ve learned to trust shoppers more than sellers. They’ve become cynical, skeptical and cautious. The traditional “voice of authority” has shifted from business to consumer and this social shift has created the “Era of Sampling” – a try-before-you-buy economy in which impact is the new global currency. Now is the time to take control over the shape of your impact, the size of your impact and the rewards you reap as a result of your impact. Maximize your unique impact. You’ve been impacting people since the first moment you kicked inside your mother’s womb. Every since that moment you’ve impacted hundreds – perhaps thousands of lives – simply by interacting with people and bringing your unique combination of DNA, social experiences, education, skills, perspective and personality to the world. In business, your unique impact carries an extraordinary opportunity. Every email, every post, every tweet, the simple act of answering your phone, leading a meeting or talking to a stranger – everything you do and everything you don’t do has an impact on someone else. The secret is to define your unique impact and strategically infuse it into your marketing, products and services to create the one-of-a-kind, measurable impact that will set you apart as the go-to in your industry.
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October 8, 2015 - Read the full Forbes article and watch the interview here: http://onforb.es/1WO1JVE.
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Honduras may have the highest murder rate in the world. The Christian organization called the Association for a More Just Society (AJS) is working there exclusively to help restore peace to a traumatized population.
[Jump to page 2 to watch the live interview.]
Co-founder Dr. Kurt Alan Ver Beek explains the situation, “Honduras’s violence is widely reported on. It’s been listed as having the highest or one of the highest homicide rates in the world for the last several years. Honduras’s systems of laws and justice are very weak, they are applied unfairly (the poor are neglected), and they suffer from endemic corruption. As an example, an AJS study in 2014 found that 96 percent of homicides in Honduras never result in a guilty conviction. With such an ineffective system, what’s to stop the violence?”
“As a result, drug traffickers have flocked to Honduras as a haven for their illicit activities and have aggravated the situation,” he adds.
And these issues are just the tip of the iceberg Ver Beek describes. “At the same time, public services offered by the Honduran government have been hemorrhaging resources to corruption.”
AJS has programs to address peace and public security on one hand and corruption on the other.
Ver Beek describes three of the peace and public security initiatives:
ADVERTISING
Violence prevention programs in dangerous neighborhoods that work with 350 especially at-risk youth and their families Teams of investigators, lawyers, and psychologists who solve homicides (84 arrests in 2014) and sexual abuse cases (17 arrests in 2014) in poor neighborhoods — helping to amend the broken bonds of trust that perpetuate violence Investigations and data-driven advocacy that inform public policy — helping to reduce the national homicide rate by more than 20 percent in the last three years
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October 8, 2015 - Read the full GoodCrowdinfo article and watch the interview here: http://bit.ly/1PiSo5T.
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Brazil’s economy was struggling so Candice Pascoal did something about it. She founded Kickante, a crowdfunding site that has become a leader in Brazil.
“Brazil’s economy is struggling, and traditional venture capital is not available for companies and organizations to fund companies and projects,” Candice says. “Crowdfunding is new in Brazil, and also Brazilians are not accustomed to asking others for money to fund projects. Because traditional funding measures have dried up, lots of startups and NGOs need capital to do what they need to do. This also includes individuals, like artists and musicians. They need funds to do their projects.”
Candice explains how Kickante is helping, saying, “Kickante is bringing the sharing economy to Brazil. Our platform helps companies with a way to reach out to people they wouldn’t have been able to reach, helping them fund projects. Since Brazilians are not familiar with crowdfunding, Kickante has tools to help them learn how to conduct a crowdfunding campaign, reach more people, and continue to connect with those people, both during and after the campaign. Kickante provides marketing tools, website tips and other means by which individuals and organizations can improve their campaigns.”
She believes she is making a difference that will lead to a better Brazil. “We strongly believe we can democratize access to funds in Brazil, a very bureaucratic expensive banking environment, making more dreams come true, more people happy and hopefully more homes prosper with stability.”
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October 8, 2015 - Read the full GoodCrowdinfo article and watch the interview here: http://bit.ly/1FTrdga.
Nonprofits are perpetually budget constrained; even the large ones feel the pinch. 121Giving (say one-to-one giving) has created a special-purpose crowdfunding site to help.
Co-founder Liz Deering describes the problem she sees nonprofits facing, “Countless hours are spent by nonprofits running in-kind drives, asking local stores for donations and tracking down the goods they need to run their operations and serve their community. Our own Business of Nonprofits report found that 54% of NPOs do not ask retailers for discounts on products, and among those who do, 25% receive discounts of 15% or less. In addition, nonprofits struggle to connect with and engage an increasingly skeptical generation of donors. Stories of scandals and of mis-use of funds have left many charities wondering how to re-build trust and transparency with donors.”
To address these concerns, 121Giving has created special vendor relationships to obtain discounts for nonprofits and a crowdfunding platform to cover the remaining costs.
Liz explains, “121Giving is an online marketplace that NPOs can use to source discounted goods, and enable donors to help buy those goods. We’ve built a network of vendors who offer exclusive prices to charities, we’re harnessing the collective buying power that this $1.6 trillion industry deserves.”
“We’re putting control in the hands of the charity, to order what they need when they need it, instead of dealing with one-off donations arriving at their doors,” Liz continues. “Our crowdfunding platform enables charities to show donors exactly what they need, from furniture for a homeless shelter to backpacks for kids, and engage them in helping buy those items. Donors are reassured that their donation can only be spent to buy goods.”
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October 8, 2015 - Read the full Forbes article and watch the interview here: http://onforb.es/1FVXpiG.
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“The United States was once had IPO markets that made our stock markets the envy of markets throughout the world,” according to David Weild IV, Chairman and CEO of Weild & Co.
He continues, “With the move to electronic markets beginning in 1998, the small IPO collapsed. The US should be averaging 950 IPOs a year and we muster only 150 IPOs on average since 2000–a number that doesn’t even replace what is lost in an average year. This cost the US economy 10 million jobs.”
Weild, the former vice chairman of the Nasdaq Stock Market and an expert on capital formation who worked on many aspects of the 2012 JOBS Act. His concern about where the markets have gone is matched by his enthusiasm for where they could go.
“Of course, the JOBS Act was passed and that helps to drive down costs for corporate issuers. In the meantime, we were the catalysts for the SEC Tick Size Pilot which launches this spring and the current discussions in Congress for ‘Venture Exchanges’–a totally new type of stock exchange that would be optimized for the needs of small (sub $2 billion market value) capitalization stocks,” Weild adds. “In addition, Weild & Co. is working to crash the cost of helping corporations market to much larger numbers of the right investors over the internet. To date, we’ve been able to as much as double institutional investor interest on IPOs and we think this is the beginning of something revolutionary.”
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October 1, 2015 - Read the full Forbes article and watch the interview here: http://onforb.es/1LQ9OWA.
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Impact investment will be huge, but not necessarily good, says Transform Finance co-founder and Board Chair Morgan Simon, who is passionate about using money to create social justice. Investors controlling $550 million have signed on to her program, she says.
“Microfinance leading to huge debt cycles. Wind farms causing land grabs,” are signs of the problem, she says. “ Impact investment is seen as a panacea to the challenges of aid and philanthropy, yet its promise is often unrealized, lacking engagement with and accountability to the people it is intended to serve, at times even harming its intended beneficiaries. Expected to eclipse aid by 10x with over $500B, the field needs principled course-correction to maximize its transformative potential for hundreds of millions of people.”
Transform Finance offers three programs designed to help impact investors course-correct:
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Converting impact investors into social justice advocates: We help investors (family offices, foundations etc.) managing $556 million integrate the TF approach through our Investor Network launched at the White House in 2014. We co-develop tools to deepen impact and ensure accountability, stronger, more relevant metrics, and shared-benefit deal structures.
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Working with accelerators worldwide to empower entrepreneurs to maximize community benefit: we “train the trainers” to ensure community accountability and shared ownership as common practice.
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Helping social justice leaders leverage the power of finance: to keep investments accountable as they flow into their communities, and to generate their own revenue-building activity. Our initial trainings of 65 leaders in U.S. serving over 5 million individuals are being replicated from Mexico to Haiti as the only of this kind.
Simon has a clear vision to go along with her passion for impact investing done according by her standard. “Transform Finance creates a world where impact investment lives up to its transformative potential. Our multi-stakeholder work ensures that investors deploy capital in the real interest of communities, and that communities can take advantage of finance as a critical tool for social change.”
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October 1, 2015 - Read the full GoodCrowdinfo article and watch the interview here: http://bit.ly/1LQ0hi5.
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iDisclose is a new business providing private placement memorandum (PPM) preparation services through a web-based application for enterprises raising money, especially through (broadly defined) crowdfunding sites. In other words, iDisclose is bringing the offering memorandum into the 21st century.
Co-Founder Doug Ellenoff is one of the industry’s leading legal voices. The iDisclose platform is designed for all the different players in the entrepreneurial capital raising marketplace: the entrepreneurs or issuers, the investors, the platforms and the lawyers.
Doug explains, “iDisclose places the job of disclosure back into the hands of the entrepreneur (who is in the best position to provide all of the necessary details). Rather than provide un-contextualized information about a business to a lawyer, and then relying on the lawyer to prepare the first draft, the entrepreneur responds to an interactive online dialogue to identify the relevant disclosure issues and organizes the information into a legal document that requires limited attorney review.”
Of course, investors are the consumers of the product. Doug notes that if investors are reviewing multiple PPMs, the standardized format provides investors with easier “apples to apples comparison.”
For the platforms, he says, “iDisclose allows platforms to offer a value-added service to their users and standardizes the disclosure format across the entire platform. This allows the platform to create a vibrant marketplace of lowering the cost of capital for businesses, reducing risks to investors, and protecting the businesses seeking capital.”
Finally, Doug says, the lawyers have an easier time of it as well, allowing them to spend more time providing valuable legal advice and review and less time with tedious drafting.
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October 1, 2015 - Read the full Your Mark on the World article and watch the interview here: http://bit.ly/1MHBxHu.
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Ask anyone in the nonprofit world and you’ll hear that budgets are constrained. Running a nonprofit, however, is not easy. Brent Andrewson, an attorney at our sponsor Kirton McConkie, offers these three surprising legal tips to help.
Be mindful of conflicts of interest. If you have a great board of directors, officers and employees it is likely you’ll find your organization navigating conflicts of interest from time to time. The existence of a conflict does not mean that you cannot proceed with a proposed project or transactin, but it does mean that you need to proceed carefully in this nuanced arena. Be sure to know when you need to register with a state for fundraising there. Forty states require nonprofits to register. Just having a website doesn’t trigger registration requirements, but other normal solicitation activities, including crowdfunding may. Being a nonprofit triggers regulation; it doesn’t exempt you from it.The tax, fundraising and other implications of nonprofits subject organizations to increased–not reduced–scrutiny from regulators.
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October 1, 2015 - Read the full Your Mark on the World article and watch the interview here: http://bit.ly/1M20cnh.
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Rai Chowdhary is a successful engineer, entrepreneur and author. Having accomplished many of his goals, he now focuses on helping others achieve theirs.
Rai calls his system “Do Magic with Your Life.” He has a simple, executable plan to help people achieve their dreams. He focuses on helping people identify achievable dreams and then developing a path to get there.
He offers these three tips as a short summary of his complete system:
Tip 1: Define what you want to become:
Time is a one way street, and it is an equal opportunity phenomenon. From billionaires to the man on the street, and from noble laureates to illiterates, all have exactly 24 hours in a day and 365 days to the year. Like fine grains of sand escaping from your fist, it slips away – whether you notice it or not. Then why not channel it to do-magic with your life? Start by creating your dream; if you don’t have one yet – get on the road to discovery, but get moving…and once you have identified what you want to become, define it. That is the D in Do-Magic.
Tip 2: Create your dream:
You need to “create” Your dream at the intersection of your passion, your strengths, and the opportunities you see in this world. This ensures the highest chance for success and unleashing of your potential. Without passion, there won’t be enough drive to move you forward; without strengths, you will run out of steam and struggle; and without vectoring these in the direction of right opportunities, there will be much wasted time and effort. So, all three are essential and work in sync.
Tip 3: Move toward your dream:
Even if the future looks dark, the path is not completely visible, move towards your dream. Standing still isn’t going to lead you anywhere, and just because the flashlight you have illuminates the path by a few yards is no reason to stay stuck. You will see more of the path as you begin moving forward. In some cases – you will be the trail blazer and create your own path.
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September 15, 2015 - Read the full Your Mark on the World article and watch the interview here: http://bit.ly/1LISS4j.
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Three years ago, I wrote the book, Your Mark on the World. In the book, I profile a host of ordinary people who were doing remarkable things for good. One of the subjects of the book was a group of my students at South China University of Technology where I was teaching when I wrote the book.
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September 15, 2015 - Read the full Forbes article and watch the interview here: http://onforb.es/1NzRbYu.
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The achievement gap GPS -3.23% between affluent and poor students gets worse every summer as the less fortunate forget much of what they learned during the school year, a phenomenon known as the “summer slide.”
Karim Abouelnaga, the young social entrepreneur who launched Practice Makes Perfect, explains, “The achievement gap is damaging to our society at a basic level. In 2009, McKinsey & Company estimated that the gap was costing our economy $310-$525 billion in GDP each year, which is the equivalent of a permanent national recession. The achievement gap is likely to widen as our income gap widens.”
“Our nation’s summer school system is broken. It’s well-intentioned but, as currently conceived, it doesn’t work. In reality, summer school is punitive; it’s for students who failed to learn enough to be promoted. It’s taught by teachers, many of whom are burned out from the previous 10 months. They put low-performing students together in a class to struggle. Students are assigned worksheets for tests that don’t really matter. They’re not engaged. They merely “do their time” in hopes of getting promoted and the cycle will likely repeat next year,” he observes.
Practice Makes Perfect operates in New York City’s toughest schools, where Abouelnaga observes, “Fewer than half the students in summer school pass end-of-summer reading and math tests and yet they will be promoted anyway because the city’s promotion policy also factors in attendance and classwork.”
The Cornell-educated Abouelnaga is proud of the program he’s created to address the problems he’s observed.
“At Practice Makes Perfect, we have re-imagined the summer learning experience. We work closely with schools to operate summer school programs for them,” he says.
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September 15, 2015 - Read the full Forbes article and watch the interview here: http://onforb.es/1URwXs6.
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K-12 education in the United States just ain’t what it used to be. (Please pardon my use of the vernacular to emphasize the point.)
Sajan George, Founder and CEO of Matchbook Learning, explains, “Our nation’s K-12 public education system is in need of a turnaround. Children born in the bottom 25% income zip code have just a 9% chance of graduating from college. Our nation’s schools continue to slide against international peers. We once ranked at the top of the world in how we educated our next generation and now we are in the middle. We are failing both as a country and particularly our children of poverty. Our country needs a sustainable, scalable turnaround solution.”
George is leading revolution in education that he hopes will turn this disturbing trend around.
George describes the effort, “Matchbook combines the best in both public school turnaround expertise and blended learning expertise. Our principals are some of the country’s leading practitioners in engagements involving ‘lead turnaround partners,’ blended school design and implementation and coaching of master teachers.”
He emphasizes the use of technology and customization. “We have brought this tri-fold experience together to target school turnarounds with a customized blended model that blends face-to-face and virtual instruction in brick-and-mortar schools via a 1:1 computing environment, while coaching teachers to personalize instruction for the benefits of each and every child in their classroom.”
The focus is to enhance education at schools with most poverty, George says, noting, “Our unique and innovative blended turnaround school model is the first of its kind in the nation to be offered to schools with the highest poverty rates and needs.”
George hopes to expand the program, asking that we “encourage parents, funders and government officials to allow conditions for these kinds of 21st century models of school to proliferate based on results with the conditions necessary for rapid, sustainable scale.”
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September 15, 2015 - Read the full Your Mark on the World article and watch the interview here: http://bit.ly/1OrathR.
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Our supporter, Mike Schwager, is a PR pro who specializes in helping people and organizations, especially those doing good in the world, to share their stories for maximum media exposure. He’s sharing his three key for promoting your story with Your Mark on the World readers today.
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Be Persuasive: Pitching a story to an editor or reporter has some basic tenets for a persuasive publicist. First, always tell the truth. Second, know your outlet before you call or email. Third, have the right attitude: See the journalist as a peer in communications. Believe in your story. Believe in yourself.
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Be Creative: Creative formatting tips: First, use news to make news. Remember “relevance,” “impact,” “timeliness” and “novelty.” Second, seasonal tie-ins. Once, eight weeks before Christmas, we convinced the manufacturer to designate a Holiday Consumer Affairs Specialist who could talk about “everything you wanted to know about mailing gifts for the holidays.” We booked this specialist on literally dozens of top all-news stations in major markets around the country. Third, products are newsworthy when they Are evolutionary or revolutionary. I’ve booked many products that were a next step up in technology on shows like Today or Good Morning America.
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Humanize Your On-Air Appearance: First, humanize yourself and your organization. People don’t want to hear cold statistics or facts; make more use of anecdotes. Second, a smile is worth a thousand words, and remember to smile when appropriate. Also, use the first name of your interviewer, or opponent. When you transmit a smile, or use someone’s first name, you’re energizing the empathetic cord between you and your audience. You become more likable. As you’re talking to an interviewer, think of someone you’ve been close to who you love and care about. The interviewer will feel that positive emotion. (I learned that from Walter Cronkite in the men’s bathroom at CBS).
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September 15, 2015 - Read the full Forbes article and watch the interview here: http://onforb.es/1QddaBV.
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“It’s a tough fact of life that women with disabilities face challenges many of us cannot even imagine. But the tragedy is that many of their most difficult challenges could be avoided,” says Richard Ellenson, CEO of the Cerebral Palsy Foundation.
Ellenson elaborates, “Women with cerebral palsy and other physical disabilities receive basic healthcare services that are widely and persistently inadequate, inconsistent, and substandard. In fact, many physically disabled women experience life-threatening crises, and endure life-draining experiences, directly related to deficient medical care. All women deserve recognition and delivery of optimal healthcare; for women with disabilities, efforts aimed at improving their particular requirements for optimal healthcare delivery is urgently needed, deserved, and long overdue.”
To address this crisis, the Cerebral Palsy Foundation has launched its “Transforming Healthcare for Women with Disabilities” initiative.
Ellenson explains, “CPF, with the extraordinary support of 100 Women in Hedge Funds, has put together an innovative collaboration with four leading medical institutions – Columbia, UCLA, Harvard, and Northwestern – to create an organic team approach to addressing this issue.”
“We will spend our first year developing a model, and our second putting that model in place in a beta test. We will then spend that second year refining and evolving our approaches. Eventually, all the institutions will implement these new protocols and begin to share the work nationwide,” he adds.
Ellenson shared his vision for the future that will result from the current effort, “The success of this project will empower women with cerebral palsy to expect the same standard of healthcare received by us all. And give physicians the knowledge to finally deliver it. While women with cerebral palsy are the focus of this project, the outcomes will benefit many more women with physical disabilities including stroke, traumatic brain injury, multiple sclerosis.”
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September 10, 2015 - Read the full Your Mark on the World article and watch the interview here: http://bit.ly/1LXUDZr.
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Mary French is a on a crusade to improve literacy around the world. Partnering with organizations like Rotary International for help, Mary French has collected and distributed 25 million dictionaries, mostly to third graders in every state in the U.S. and in other countries around the world.
“The problem is that children do not have access to dictionaries with more than 32,000 words in school. In order to be functionally literate a person must know more than 5,000 words to be able to read instructions or hear them and understand them to complete a task,” Mary explains, adding, “A dictionary is a reliable resource that makes a person self-reliant and able to think independently.”
Mary is making remarkable progress with the Dictionary Project. She notes, “To solve the problem of illiteracy we partner with people who want to put dictionaries into the hands of students where they live by giving them their own personal dictionary. Since the project began we have donated over 25,000,000 dictionaries to people in all fifty states and around the world.”
Mary has a remarkable vision of the future she’d like to create. “We would like to have more people involved to ensure that everyone will be able to enjoy the benefits of owning a dictionary so that they will be able to use the English language effectively. To solve the problem of illiteracy in every community children need to be encouraged to spend more time reading and less time watching television. By learning new words people are able to form associations with other people and create more connections to enrich their lives and make this country a better place to live for all.”
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September 10, 2015 - Read the full Your Mark on the World article and watch the interview here: http://bit.ly/1idLrGV.
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Your Mark on the World sponsor Gate Global Impact is trying to change the way impact investing is done, giving ready access to deals and investment opportunities to more people than ever before.
Joseph Latona, Managing Director for GGI, says, “GGI is working to centralize the fragmented Impact investing sector. Many people have heard about Impact investing, but then do not know where to find these investments or even a place to find information on what an impact company or fund looks like.”
“GGI mission is to provide a centralized regulatory compliant market place that allows investors to source Impact investments and providing Companies the ability to connect with like minded investors to raise capital,” Joseph concludes.
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September 10, 2015 - Read the full Forbes article and watch the interview here: http://onforb.es/1Nq0ZUT.
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In what could be a sign of the maturing of the crowdfunding industry, NonProfitEasy has acquired Fundly, the crowdfunding site widely used by nonprofits, and simultaneously rebranded the entire business Fundly.
Fundly President, Mark Feinberg, explains, “NonProfitEasy, the integrated and affordable data management solution for nonprofits, has acquired Fundly, a top online crowdfunding platform for individuals and organizations. With this acquisition comes an opportunity for NonProfitEasy to capitalize on the strong Fundly brand, so the entire NonProfitEasy product line will be rebranded to reflect the Fundly image.”
“The goal is to bring consistency across all products and to offer any organization, regardless of size, a seamless and affordable way to manage all their data needs,” he concludes.
No price has been disclosed for the private transaction.
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September 3, 2015 - Read the full Forbes article and watch the interview here: http://onforb.es/1JCaiNj.
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Tim Stay, one of Utah’s leading tech entrepreneurs and executives, recently launched a new venture with successful entrepreneur Joseph Grenny. They’ve chosen several ex-convicts to run the new business, The Other Side Academy.
[Jump to page 2 to watch the live interview.]
This may not be such an odd choice. You see, the new venture, modeled closely on Delancey Street Foundation, is a nonprofit that will work to really rehabilitate convicts.
Stay explained to me recently that our prisons “provide criminals with a masters degree in criminology” rather than rehabilitating them.”
He elaborates, “The problem is that there is a portion of the criminal population that doesn’t get better by doing time. Many of them are repeat offenders, spending their lives in and out of jail and prison. They usually have substance abuse problems and many times find themselves unable to secure or keep a job and eventually wind up on the streets, being involved in criminal activity, and going back to jail. And this cycle continues at great expense to taxpayers. These people are living lives of increasingly destructive behaviors to themselves, to their families, and to society.”
He says that TOSA, as everyone involved in The Other Side Academy quickly abbreviates, will “provide a two-year live-in educational program for ex-convicts, drug abusers, homeless and others that have hit rock bottom that teaches our participants how to live successful, productive lives free from crime and substance abuse.”
Dave Durocher, TOSA’s managing director, explains further, “Our mission is to address the issues of drug addiction and criminality and improve the dismal record of the rehabilitative community when it comes to addressing the issues of relapse and recitivism. We belive that a long term “theraputic community” approach is what works best. While there are mixed and often conflicting statistics in this regard we know from first hand experience that it can work.”
Durocher and his colleagues Alan Fahringer and Lola Zagey, know first hand, “We know this because [we] have over 25 combined years residing in arguably the most successful theraputic community in the world, Delancey Street, which is the model we are replicating with a few twists that we believe can make The Other Side Academy even more successful.”
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September 3, 2015 - Read the full Forbes article and watch the interview here: http://onforb.es/1NYyht1.
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It used to be that everyone who saw Jason Hewlett perform asked, “Why isn’t this guy famous?” As his reputation grows, folks simply observe that he may be the funniest person ever to take a stage.
It turns out, however, that the answer to the initial question provides an important insight into who Hewlett really is. Years ago, he was performing in Las Vegas and was offered his own show. The deal was huge for young Hewlett as he’d be headlining in Vegas while his peers were still in college.
When it came time to sign contracts, he says, he found the terms unacceptable. In order to appeal to an adult audience he was to be required to use language and perform material that he personal found objectionable and had never wanted to perform.
Hewlett walked.
Fame and fortune seemed to evaporate before his eyes.
Since then, he’s become one of the most sought after corporate entertainers in the business because his fall-off-your-chair funny material is absolutely safe for work. Check out his YouTube page.
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September 3, 2015 - Read the full Your Mark on the World article and watch the interview here: http://bit.ly/1UsiItt.
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Over three years ago, I launched the work of the Your Mark on the World Center with the publication of my book, Your Mark on the World. In the book, I profiled some wonderful people doing amazing things to make the world a better place.
One of the most fascinating people I profiled was Rabbi Benny Zippel of Chabad Lubavitch of Utah, who had launched a program to provide spiritual help and support to at risk youth spending time in residential schools, including some who were there as an alternative to incarceration.
Three years later, I’m eager to catch up with Rabbi Zippel and his Project HEART.
“Thousands of precious young souls find themselves in Utah for 9-18 months at a time in a variety of residential treatment centers, to help them be able to better cope with their challenges in life. As one can understand, the challenges facing these young men and women are not limited to them themselves but can have a lasting impact on their families and loved ones as well,” he explains.
“As the Executive Director of Project HEART, my work focuses on providing a support system for these young people, based on the principles of Judaism and spirituality, helping each and every one of them discover how they truly are a gem, and all that is necessary is for them to uncover the beauty that exits within them,” he adds.
Operating and funding the program is a big challenge. Yesterday, Project HEART raised over $200,000 in 24 hours via Charidy in a one-day crowdfunding campaign. The success was driven in part by matches from Gail Miller, Scott Anderson and a group of other supporters so that every dollar donated became four.
Rabbi Zippel explains, “Project HEART is a non-profit organization that functions only through the generosity of the local community. We are hoping that by raising awareness of the help that our students need, people will get involved and do their part to help us change these lives.”
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September 3, 2015 - Read the full Forbes article and watch the interview here: http://onforb.es/1UnmauC.
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“ It is a little known fact that cooking is the fourth biggest killer in the world ,” explains Judith Joan Walker, Director and COO of African Clean Energy.
[Jump to the second page to see the live interview.]
“It’s this huge invisible elephant in the room because, in the western world, we are so used to being able to waltz into the kitchen and whip up a healthy meal. In fact, cooking indoors kills more people than Aids, Malaria and TB combined; over 4.3 million people,” she continues.
Last month, I had the opportunity to meet Walker, along with a dozen other social entrepreneurs, at Santa Clara University, as I reported here.
Walker seems to take this personally, “This fact is sickening enough without considering that the majority of these people are women and children, and that their health is not the only cost. A third of the world cooks in a way that it is slowly killing them and the fact that its very expensive to do so is mind-boggling. For me that’s the real problem, and I haven’t even gotten into the environmental cost.”
So, Walker got after it, creating a radical new cookstove, “We have started manufacturing and distributing a multifunctional cookstove, that doubles as an energy source.”
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September 3, 2015 - Read the full Forbes article and watch the interview here: http://onforb.es/1O9gMEg.
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Damian Miller wants to transform emerging market economies from fossil-fuel dependent to self-reliant on clean solar energy.
Miller isn’t just a dreamer; he’s making it happen. As the founder and CEO of Orb Energy he’s quickly scaling up his business in India and recently launched in Kenya. He is also a recent recipient of the SAP Social Entrepreneur Fellowship in collaboration with Acumen.
He explains Orb’s mission as follows:
Our company’s mission is to make solar energy affordable, accessible, and hassle-free to millions of customers looking for a better energy alternative. To do this, we first design and manufacture our own products for superior quality and cost. Then to deliver and install them to our customers in the right way, we have set up our own branch network – which is totally unique in the the solar market in India. This network is key to gaining customer trust, and effectively providing after-sales service. Finally we team up with banks for financing, but we are now looking at ways of bring this critical activity in-house to make it more streamlined.
Miller is also looking for help, he notes, “We are looking for investors, who believe in and share our mission for emerging market economies. Emerging markets are where the bulk of future greenhouse gas emissions will come from, and where there is an enormous opportunity – based on the prevailing solar resource and still emerging infrastructure – for solar to gain an early foothold. We hope that others will join us, so that we can strengthen and accelerate our activities.”
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Read the full GoodCrowdinfo article and watch the interview here: http://bit.ly/1EUroll.
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Shock Top beer is challenging the California drought by challenging people to pledge to use less water and to support Indiegogo campaigns that help nonprofits help people there to use less water.
Jake Kirsch, Vice President of Shock Top, explained, “Shock Top is teaming with Indiegogo and a host of California Nonprofits to bring water-saving solutions to a state thirsty for them. Every month Shock top is giving $50-$100k to an inventor to bring a water-saving invention to life, with thousands of products donated for free or low cost in CA.”
Christian Busch, the Head of Marketing at Indiegogo said, “After months of water restrictions across California, water conservation is starting to sink in among California residents, according to a new survey from Shock Top. In fact, a vast majority of Californians (88%) make an effort to conserve water every day, doing so on average five times per day.”
“Nearly all (96%) Californians have done at least something to reduce their water usage, including taking shorter showers (74%), rewearing clothes before washing (48%) or even flushing the toilet less often (48%),” he added.
Busch describes the first campaign on Indiegogo. “To kick off Shock the Drought, Shock Top is investing $100,000 to fund Drop-A-Brick 2.0 – a modern, eco-friendly innovation that sprang from the classic drought tactic of placing a real brick in a toilet’s tank to save water. Shock Top will donate from $50,000 to $100,000 moving forward, on a case by case basis, through the end of the year.”
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August 26, 2015 - Read the full Forbes article and watch the interview here: http://onforb.es/1Ju5OFb.
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Joe Sanberg is an investor in a few of the social I’ve profiled recently (Aspiration and Bright Funds) and so I wanted to learn more about him.
Sanberg told me about the start to his career, “I grew up in a middle class family and by the time I was leaving for college at Harvard, the house I had grown up in was being foreclosed. I’m sobered by the staggering amount of luck and chance that came together in my life. I never could have imagined it.”
This experience guided his philosophy on life and business. “I don’t think we should leave to luck and chance the kinds of opportunities in life that people get to enjoy. I’m determined to build companies and champion public policies that systematically create more opportunity for people because I can’t bear thinking that I didn’t do everything I could to ensure that the kid today who is like I was does not have to rely on luck and chance to have a full life.”
The challenges of his early life helped frame Sanberg’s thinking as well. “Like so many others in my generation, I was raised by my mother. The absence of an active father when I was a kid affected me like it has affected many others. You have to become more self-reliant at a younger age as you figure out how to be a responsible adult. Fortunately, my maternal grandfather was a very active presence in my life and was a great male role model.”
When I asked Sanberg the secret of his success, he responded, “I think success comes from being authentic so my answer involves revealing what constitutes my core as a person. My faith in God is the biggest factor in how I live my life and who I am. Tikkun Olam is a Hebrew phrase that means to heal the world. I think we all have a responsibility to find our part in healing the world. Like all of us, I’ve often fallen short of my responsibility but my aspiration is to do my best to live up to Tikkun Olam.”
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August 26, 2015 - Read the full Your Mark on the World article and watch the interview here: http://bit.ly/1EUweyP.
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Controlling interest in Gate Global Impact, a Your Mark on the World Center sponsor and an investment platform for impact investments and creating new market infrastructure, was recently acquired by Raptor Group via the formation of Constellation Fin Tech.
I’ve been following Gate Global Impact for years now and have had founder Vince Molinari on my show several times. Last year, we talked with Daniella Foster of the U.S. State Department about the role that crowdfunding is playing in international development. We had previously talked about the same topic, Vince’s passion.
Gate Global Impact is destined to become a major player in impact investing.
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August 26, 2015 - Read the full Forbes article and watch the interview here: http://onforb.es/1JtOoZg.
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Carnival CCL +0.00% newest cruise line is sailing in a new direction; Fathom’s destination is social impact. Initially sailing with one vessel, the Adonia, Fathom passengers will visit the Dominican Republic and Cuba to work alongside locals as volunteers on water and other projects.
The brains behind Fathom, its President, Tara Russell, explained, “We didn’t want Fathom to be a ‘voluntourism’ company. We wanted Fathom to be so much more than that. So we found a way to leverage the resources of the world’s largest travel and leisure company (Carnival Corporation) to create a new kind of cruise that combines the love of travel with the desire to make a difference. Truly nothing like this exists today.”
“ We created Fathom to give people an easy, safe and convenient way to make a social impact that is both meaningful to society and personally rewarding, ” she adds.
Russell describes the projects passengers will undertake, “In the Dominican Republic, for example, more than two million Dominicans do not have access to piped water. Fathom travelers will work with a local organization there to build water filters using clay and other natural resources to make healthy drinking water available to Dominican families.”
“Fathom will send thousands of travelers a year – more than 700 travelers on every trip – to Caribbean communities in need to work with our local partners and directly alongside local citizens on ongoing social impact programs in each community. This sustained and large-scale impact is what makes Fathom truly unique. Travelers will have the opportunity to make transformative societal contributions that will extend far beyond their individual involvement. It will be incredibly rewarding,” she concluded.
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August 26, 2015 - Read the full Your Mark on the World article and watch the interview here: http://bit.ly/1hXmsqV.
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The Your Mark on the World Center is partnering with Bright Funds to create the Your Mark on the World Fund. The fund supports the work of 16 nonprofits that are working to solve some of the Earth’s biggest problems.
Bright Funds CEO Ty Walrod said, “Bright Funds was built to address the needs of a new generation of donors who want to harness the power of strategic giving. The Your Mark on the World Fund is an extraordinary example of empowering donors to create impact in a variety of causes areas, ranging from environmental issues, human rights, disease research and prevention.”
“New technology and a more enriched global perspective are responsible for changing the way we view donating to causes. A generation ago, giving was somewhat reactive. Society did not have the tools or the access to causes or charities we have today, and it made giving feel very transactional,” Ty added.
“At Bright Funds, we enable donors to go beyond transactional giving by empowering them create funds and then track the impact of their donations,” Ty concluded.
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August 26, 2015 - Read the full Forbes article and watch the interview here: http://onforb.es/1hXj6Ej.
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This one is personal. I apologize now, but understand that I simply can’t be entirely objective about type 1 diabetes or T1D. My wife has had diabetes for over fifty years and my son has had it for nearly two decades.
Improved treatments have largely spared my son the sorts of debilitating consequences my wife has experienced, but hasn’t spared him from multiple daily injections, finger pricks, and the cumbersome tethers of insulin pumps and glucose monitors.
Derek Rapp, the CEO of JDRF, says that the organization dedicated to finding a cure for T1D is making progress.
Like me, he says, “JDRF was created—and is still led—by people with a personal connection to type 1 diabetes.”
Rapp adds, “It’s an exciting time for type 1 diabetes research, JDRF is on the verge of life changing breakthroughs that will fundamentally improve the way people live with type 1 diabetes. This progress isn’t by accident and, in fact, it directly reflects the vision, focus and investments of JDRF over the last decade.”
“Our work has led to new treatments for diabetic eye disease, the creation of first-generation artificial pancreas systems, and the first human clinical trial of encapsulated cell-replacement therapies that have the potential to replace insulin treatment,” he continues.
“Every dollar we direct toward our mission comes from our supporters and donors, who enable us to make real progress and propel us toward our goal of a world without type 1 diabetes,” he concludes.
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August 20, 2015 - Read the full Your Mark on the World article and watch the interview here: http://bit.ly/1PzIVpb.
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Some people just don’t fit the mold you’d cast them in. Adlai Wertman, professor and Founding Director of the Brittingham Social Enterprise Lab at the Marhsall School of Business at the University of Southern California is just such a person.
While a former investment banker becoming a business school professor is a well enough worn path, the shift from investment banking to a heartfelt passion for helping the homeless is startling.
Adlai is also the founder of Chrysalis, a nonprofit enterprise that provides employment to the homeless in Los Angeles and has helped over 1,000 clients and generated over $4.5 million in revenue.
Adlai explains his thinking, “It is unfair that historically business educations have been solely used for pursuing profit maximization. That same skill set and education must also be applied to solving the world’s biggest social challenges.”
Every year, Adlai gives his students a personal challenge, “With the world telling you that success is about making money, do you have the courage to define success for yourself?”
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August 20, 2015 - Read the full Your Mark on the World article and watch the interview here: http://bit.ly/1PzMsnh.
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“Everyday 8,300 students drop out of high school, costing society $292,000 over the course of their lifetime because they are more likely to live in poverty, experience poor health, and be involved in crime,” explains Kip Kint, the Director of Training for School of Life Foundtion, an organization that aims to significantly reduce the rate at which students drop out of High School.
Jack Rolfe, the CEO and Founder of School of Life, notes, “The mission of the School of Life Foundation is to assist in reversing this trend and increase high school graduation rates. This is accomplished by teaching an afterschool program to at-risk students.”
Kip explains the program’s focus on teaching life skills, “Taking ownership of one’s own life is the key to success. The School of Life empowers students to take ownership, even if less-than-ideal circumstances remain in other parts of their lives. They come away knowing they have more power than they thought they did.”
Rolfe notes that the program is highly effective, “Of the Senior students dropping out of high school that complete the program 88% turn around and graduate on time. The success rate of underclassmen advancing to their next grade level is 98%.”
As a result of the program’s effectiveness, the program launched just four years ago will operate in 30 high schools across three states this fall.
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August 20, 2015 - Read the full Forbes article and watch the interview here: http://onforb.es/1PzDtT5.
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Classy is among the largest crowdfunding sites focused on philanthropy. Scot Chisholm, CEO and co-founder, believes the company can fundamentally enhance a nonprofits ability to raise money and perform effectively.
Chisholm says, “A lot of nonprofits fear that online fundraising is impersonal and disconnected. They have a point, because if done incorrectly, a donation can seem purely transactional. We are changing that by making the experience of giving, or investing in a cause, remarkable for every organization on the Classy platform.”
“We look at our technology as a growth enabler for nonprofits and social enterprises. Whether you’re running a startup nonprofit organization or one that is already well established, we want to help your organization operate at a higher level of performance simply by running on Classy,” Chisholm adds.
“ Why shouldn’t social enterprises have access to world-class tools that are tailored to their specialized needs? Nonprofits need to run efficient and sustainable operations if they’re going to be effective at solving a big social problem,” Chisholm concludes.
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August 20, 2015 - Read the full Forbes article and watch the interview here: http://onforb.es/1LjJpku.
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Ajaita Shah, founder of Frontier Markets, a retail distributor of solar powered products in rural India, was born in the United States to Indian immigrants; a part of who she is has always remained connected to her roots. Last year, she was recognized by Forbes as one of the 30 Under 30. Recently, she was recently recognized by Acumen as a world-class social entrepreneur, having been invited to join the SAP Social Entrepreneur Fellowship.
Shah explained the challenges she faced trying to live in two communities at once. A member of the Jain Marawi religious community in New York City, Shah felt the extreme juxtaposition of her life. She lived in a close-knit religious community and at the same time in the larger, increasingly secular world.
“I realized I was meant to be an entrepreneur from college: my senior year of college (2005) was all about working on creating projects which brought me back to India regularly,” Shah said.
She goes on to explain the realities she faced when she started working on her business in earnest in 2009, “Initially, I did not understand what being a social entrepreneur was going to entail – I was merely focused on writing a business plan and then testing a pilot, and determining whether I was correct in my assumptions. I was lucky to have early mentors ready to help in the process and help me understand that in order to make FM work, I will need to invest my own money into the idea– and eventually Frontier Markets becomes my baby, my story, my future.”
The 2009 launch proved, however, to be a false start. In 2010 and 2011, she completely reinvented the business, moving from Andhra Pradesh to Rajasthan, a state with more sunlight and poverty–perfect for her solar power business.
About the same time, Shah’s cultural duality became a central part of her life. Agreeing to a traditional arranged marriage with a member of her Jain community, she began the next chapter of her life as a married woman.
Things improved and she made progress beginning in 2011. “Spending everyday in the field; trying to crack this model,” she says of 2011. “By 2012, I feel like I have achieved something. I grow the company, get more investors, [and] suddenly FM is on the radar of many social impact investors–what we’re doing works. Our philosophy of building last mile retail for solar is working. We start growing, and suddenly, I am no longer an entrepreneur, but a CEO.”
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August 13, 2015 - Read the full Forbes article and watch the interview here: http://onforb.es/1L6wShy.
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Joel Solomon of Renewal Funds is not only a leading impact investor but also a leading voice for the impact investing movement. Based in Vancouver, British Colombia, his impact fund approaches $100 million.
Solomon says, “All of us, particularly those involved in the world of investment and finance, have something to offer. Together we have the resources to achieve what may be the greatest ethical and economic shift in human history.”
“The call right now is a big one: we need to reinvent capitalism,” he says with no hint of doubt.
Solomon notes that traditional capitalism needs to be changed, “We need to enable and encourage private enterprise to build the new businesses, technologies and industries that will replace our current methods— many of which are unsustainable at best and wantonly destructive at worst.”
Observing that government can’t or won’t solve big social problems, Solomon calls on financiers to lead the way. “It’s hard to overemphasize the critical role that those who move in the world of finance and investment can play right now. Those who provide capital and incentives for innovation have a crucial part to play in addressing climate justice, species extinction and man-made environmental disasters.”
“Severely diminished government regulation in most jurisdictions means that the shift towards what I’ve come to call ‘clean money’—impact investing, socially responsible investing (SRI), and mission-based activation of investment portfolios— represents the single most potent force for restoring the planet and delivering social equity to billions of people,” he adds.
Given demographic trends, Solomon sees younger investors as a catalyst for change. ”Millennial and ‘Gen Y’ investors are demanding that their portfolios—whether self-generated or inherited— be dedicated to mission-based or ethical, sustainable and socially just investments. The Millennials, born between 1980 and 2000, already outnumber Boomers at about 85 million in North America.”
“This is a pivotal time for the rise of clean money— a conscious and pragmatic movement that is still near the fringes but moving very rapidly towards the center,” he concludes.
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August 13, 2014 - Read the full Forbes article and watch the interview here: http://onforb.es/1Modcsu.
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Robert Steven Kaplan , the former Vice Chair of Goldman Sachs, Harvard professor, venture philanthropist, author and regular guest on my show here on Forbes, will see his new book, What Your Really Need to Lead, published on September 15.
In anticipation of a return to the show, Kaplan shared some thoughts with me about his new book.
Kaplan said, “Leadership is one of the most important aspects of our society, yet there is enormous disagreement and confusion about what leadership means, and whether it can really be learned. I argue that leadership qualities are not something you either have or you don’t. Leadership is about what you do, rather than who you are, and it starts with an ownership mind-set.”
Kaplan says, learning to lead involves three key elements:
- Thinking like an owner
- A willingness to act on your beliefs
- A relentless focus on adding value to others
“Leadership is accessible to each of us, but it requires a process of hard work, willingness to ask questions, and openness to learning,” he adds.
“In the book I really try to demystify leadership and outline a specific regimen that will empower the reader to build his or her leadership skills. You need to ask yourself probing questions, and then take follow-up steps that will help you develop your skills, create new habits, and move toward reaching your unique leadership potential,” he concludes.
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August 14, 2015 - Read the full Forbes article and watch the interview here: http://onforb.es/1Moaljm.
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Andrei Cherny, CEO and co-founder of Aspiration, is creating a whole new model for financial services in America. The idea is to provide the sorts of investment strategies employed by the wealthy to ordinary, working Americans. The strategies include impact investing.
Cherny explains the companies philosophy, “We think of ourselves as a financial firm with a conscience. And there is no reason that needs to be a contradiction in terms.”
“At Aspiration, we are first and foremost in the opportunity business. We want our customers to be able to get economic opportunity for themselves and give it to others at the same time. And that’s what they want too,” Cherny adds.
“Every financial firm out there keeps yelling ‘Trust us!’ We’re the only one that actually trusts them [the customer],” he concludes.
Aspiration allows its clients to choose how much to pay Aspiration for its services, offering that as a sign of trust. Other interesting features of the new model include devoting a portion of profits to charity and giving their clients the opportunity to do the same.
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August 14, 2015 - Read the full Forbes article and watch the interview here: http://onforb.es/1L5GPvG.
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Eric Stowe saw a problem in the developing world and did something about it. He saw a need for clean water in the slums and created Splash, a nonprofit organization, to solve the problem.
“While working in orphanages internationally, I became aware of the crucial need for clean water for kids on the periphery in urban areas,” Stowe explains. “Hotels and restaurants had access to clean water, but across the street, children at poor schools and orphanages did not. It was, and continues to be, an easy problem to fix by leveraging economies and infrastructure that already exist rather than re-creating the wheel.”
Stowe’s Splash has some audacious goals: provide clean water to every orphanage in China, every public school in Kathmandu, Nepal and every “child-serving” institution in Kolkata, India.
“We want to put Splash out of business by 2030. Our ultimate goal is to ensure local success happens on its own time, on its own terms, through its own talent, and with its own funding. Charity is a means to that – it cannot be the end,” Stowe concludes.
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August 13, 2015 - Read the full Your Mark on the World article and watch the interview here: http://bit.ly/1L6tSBA.
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Your Mark on the World Center sponsor Mike Schwager is a media consultant who focuses on impact in all he does. He operates MediaMavens.com and TVtraining.tv, helping people prepare for appearances on television.
Mike explains his philosophy, “Serve companies that tell the truth about the products and services they deliver, that minimally don’t hurt anyone; and optimally serve the public good and interest. Who you represent is an extension of who you are.”
He works to choose his clients carefully, noting, “The best companies value people above profits, encouraging human development as the cornerstone of quality products and services.”
Mike offers some important advice about promoting a client that applies equally to those promoting themselves, “In promoting a book, a product or service, or an organization use news to make news; think ‘impact,’ think ‘timeliness/immediacy,’ think ‘novelty,’ think ‘relevance.'”
Like all communications professionals, Mike helps people face public relations crises. He offers this advice to others, “Organizations should admit mistakes, offer constructive solutions. Tell your clients the truth in confidence, even if they may not want to hear it.”
Mike sees real strategic value in adding a meaningful social impact to a for-profit business; he advises, “Help your for-profit clients see the value of allying themselves with worthwhile causes that can enhance their own reputations, and do some real good in the world as well.”
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August 6, 2015 - Read the full Forbes article and watch the interview here: http://onforb.es/1MbyvNZ.
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The world’s first-ever Development Impact Bond has been issued to support education of girls in India. This proof of concept financing could open a new channel of funding for the international development programs.
Modeled on social impact bonds or pay-for-success programs, the Educate Girls Development Impact Bond funded by the UBS Optimus Foundation will earn its return only if educational outcomes in terms of literacy and numeracy among girls are achieved.
Phyllis Costanza, CEO of UBS Optimus Foundation, explains, “Our aim is to establish a proof of concept’, showing potential donors and investors how development impact bonds can contribute to societal gains while also still offering financial returns.”
“What’s different about the Educate Girls Development Impact Bond is that is 100% focused on the outcomes achieved,” she adds. “It’s not just about getting marginalised girls into school; it’s about keeping them there – and ensuring they make real progress in literacy and numeracy.”
“Investors are increasingly looking for ways to do good with their money and the development community is placing a greater emphasis on results: the Development Impact Bond sits at the nexus of these two trends. If this experiment works, then future impact bonds could go on to create investable solutions for the underserved and those at the bottom of the pyramid,” Costanza concludes.
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August 6, 2015 - Read the full GoodCrowdinfo article and watch the interview here: http://bit.ly/1W1NZHc.
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GlobalGiving started nonprofit crowdfunding long before the term “crowdfunding” came into use. The platform is innovating again using “gamification” to give nonprofits meaningful incentives to follow best practices.
Britt Lake, Senior Director of Programs, explains, “GlobalGiving is using game theory, incentives, and behavioral economics to help our nonprofit partners increase their effectiveness and social impact on the ground. For the first time ever, organizations focused on listening to the people they serve, acting on what they hear by testing new ideas, and learning faster and more efficiently will be rewarded with more visibility and the chance for more funding through GlobalGiving’s crowdfunding community.”
“Vetted nonprofits in the GlobalGiving community earn points for activities around engagement (such as reporting on their work) AND effectiveness (ie listening, acting, and learning). The more points an organization earns, the higher it rises in GlobalGiving’s rankings, and the more likely that organization is to be recommended to a major donor, featured in a newsletter, or be highlighted in social media,” Britt adds.
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August 6, 2015 - Read the full Forbes article and watch the interview here: http://onforb.es/1MbEUIU.
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Elio Motors seems to have found the capital it needs to launch the most revolutionary car since the Tesla Model S was introduced.
The $6,800, three-wheeled car is designed principally for commuting and will get 84 an estimated miles per gallon. Capitalizing the venture has seemed tricky, but new rules promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission governing Regulation A offerings created an interesting “test the waters” option that allows an issuer to gauge market interest in an offering demonstrated plenty of interest. Over $27 million of interest was expressed.
Regulation A+ as the new rules are being called, gives ordinary rather than “accredited” or wealthy investors the opportunity to invest in early stage companies. The bulk of the investment interest in Elio was from people who are interested in buying a $6,800 car—not the venture capital set.
Ronald Miller, CEO of StartEngine, the crowdfunding site that is working with Elio Motors, notes, “Equity Crowdfunding under Reg A+ is the greatest advancement for entrepreneurship in a generation. Since access to capital is the greatest barrier to bringing innovations to the market, leveling the playing field for investors and founders alike is a real game changer.”
Miller explains the concept of equity crowdfunding, as demonstrated by the Elio effort, “As traditional media dies, social becomes the new marketing power of today’s corporations. Now, for the first time, companies can engage their customers to become investors who then become brand ambassadors who push the companies messaging out to their social networks”.
“With Reg A+, Congress has finally opened the door to the other 92% of the population that never had a chance to invest in the next big thing like Google GOOGL -0.89%, Facebook and PayPal ,” Miller adds.
Miller sees this as both a practical and a social problem. He notes, “The only ones saying that there is a lot of money available to startups are the VC’s. Unless you are white male and previously had a successful exit from a VC backed company, your chances of getting funded by a VC are about zero.”
Paul Elio, the founder and CEO of Elio Motors, feels much the same way, noting, “I wanted to own a car company from the time I was 8-years old. Realistically, I had a better shot at becoming a professional athlete.”
“It was 2008, gas prices were through the roof and wealth was pouring out of our country. Every night, I’d come home and watch the news and get angry about what was happening. I decided to do something about it,” Elio explains. “Elio Motors is dedicated to creating American jobs and working to make our manufacturing sector and our economy stronger.”
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July 30, 2015 - Read the full Forbes article and watch the interview here: http://onforb.es/1Is6oal.
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“For the vast majority of my career I have been both a capitalist and a philanthropist, and I’ve struggled at both. I struggled to make my change meaningful, and struggled at making meaningful change,” Bobby Turner told me in preparation for this piece. His response: create one of the largest firms in the impact investing space.
He founded Turner Impact Capital just 18 months ago to acquire and operate affordable residential housing projects and fund construction of charter schools in high-need communities.
“Our investment strategy is based on recognizing that making money making and making positive societal change need not be mutually exclusive,” He adds. “In fact, it’s the interdependency between profits and purpose that enable us to drive significant risk-adjusted returns with very little correlation to the broader market indices.”
“We have one mission: to create sustainable solutions for many of today’s societal problems by developing and investing in community-enriching real estate in densely-populated, underserved communities. We are trying to tackle some of society’s most daunting challenges— not through government or philanthropy, but by using market forces to create sustainable solutions,” he continues.
Turner has a genuine passion for using capitalism for good. He explains it this way, “If one wants to treat a problem in society, then government and philanthropy are fine. If one wants to cure, really cure a problem then one needs to harness market forces to create a sustainable solution. And that means making money for investors.”
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July 30, 2015 - Read the full Forbes article and watch the interview here: http://bit.ly/1DbErmL.
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Andreas Karela is on to something. And people are lining up to support his work.
Andreas explains, “RE-volv connects community-serving organizations seeking ways to finance solar projects with community members looking for ways to take action on climate change and support clean energy in their community.”
“While 91% of Americans support solar development, solar produces less than 1% of the country’s electricity. RE-volv’s main goal is to involve as many people as possible in building a clean energy future, empowering people to solve the climate crisis by taking collective action locally,” he adds.
Andreas reports, “RE-volv’s three solar projects to date have been crowdfunded by nearly 1,000 donors from 38 states and 22 countries. This shows that people everywhere are eager to support a revolving fund for community-based solar energy.” “After winning the OpenIDEO Renewable Energy Challenge, RE-volv received a $50,000 grant from the 11th Hour Project of the Schmidt Family Foundation which will be used exclusively to fund solar projects. The funding will be used to match RE-volv’s crowdfunding efforts dollar for dollar, allowing RE-volv supporters to double their impact,” he continued.
“When RE-volv has financed 200 solar energy projects, the lease payments from those projects will build a new solar project every month without needed to raise another dollar,” he conlcuded.
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July 30, 2015 - Read the full Forbes article and watch the interview here: http://onforb.es/1ILIjxh.
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My friend and mentor, Ty Bennett is nearly two decades younger than I, but infinitely wiser. He, along with Hall of Fame speaker Chad Hymas and New York Times bestselling author Don Yeager, recently announced the publication of their book, The Two Most Important Days, a parable about finding and living your purpose in life.
While the book targets a broad audience, it will resonate with social entrepreneurs as especially relevant.
“The main idea,” Bennett says, “is to discover what your purpose truly is. When you are driven by passion and living your purpose, your work becomes contagious.”
He adds, “I think for entrepreneurs and changemakers it is important to understand that people don’t buy what you do, they buy what you stand for. Purpose creates movements and builds tribes.”
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July 30, 2015 - Read the full Forbes article and watch the interview here: http://onforb.es/1ILDu77.
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Today, Microsoft MSFT -0.36% is kicking off its launch of Windows 10 with a $10 million give-back campaign. Nine nonprofits have already been chosen to receive a portion of the $10 million and a tenth will be chosen by people using the hashtag #UpgradeYourWorld on social media.
“Giving back and supporting non-profits is a cornerstone of our company culture. Microsoft and its employees collectively give thousands of hours, and donate more than $1 billion each year to nonprofit organizations around the world,” Elisa Willman, Senior Manager Marketing Communications, Corporate Citizenship & Public Affairs for Microsoft, said.
“Microsoft is proud to work with more than 86,000 nonprofits around the world every year to provide them with affordable access to the technology they need to support their work in local communities, and to leverage technology to help them be more efficient, effective and innovative in doing their important work. Whether it is through our software donations, technology solutions for nonprofit problems, or Office 365 Nonprofit, we strive to help nonprofits do more good,” she added.
Dave Forstrom, Director of Communications, Windows, said, “Microsoft’s mission is to empower every person and every organization on the planet to achieve more.”
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July 30, 2015 - Read the full Forbes article and watch the interview here: http://onforb.es/1DbAAX0.
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Tricia Compas-Markman, an award-winning social entrepreneur, was among those who responded personally to the devastating April earthquake in Nepal.
She reports, “The first day arriving in Kathmandu was a real eye-opener. There was complete devastation everywhere we went with buildings, temples and squares reduced to nothing but rubble.”
She notes that she experienced hope, too, in those early days, “As we walked through Durbar Square, I was impressed by the entrepreneurial spirit of the people there. Among the rubble and temporary tent-homes, women and men had setup shops to sell their goods and wares. The locals were taking ownership and adapting to their current circumstances, and we worked within their communities, not only to train them on DayOne’s Waterbag technology, but also to learn of their needs and priorities. We deployed over 2,500 Waterbags to Nepal – enough for 10,000 people.”
Compas-Markman is the inventor of the Waterbag and creator of DayOne Response, the organization that delivers it when and where needed.
She explains, “I was committed to finding a solution to bring clean water to those affected by disaster in a way that was efficient and portable – an all-in-one device. With the help of P&G’s Purifier of Water powder, we’re able to provide, clean, easily transportable and dispensable water in 10-liter units. It’s amazing to witness how just 20,000 units can affect 100,000 people, and through the grant we received from Toyota, we’re improving emergency response efforts to provide water for hundreds of millions of people around the world.”
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July 23, 2015 - Read the full Forbes article and watch the interview here: http://onforb.es/1OxHneX.
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Many who work in the field of international development think of governments and large multilateral development institutions like the IMF and World Bank along with other large NGOs as the real players in that space. Increasingly, however, business is playing a role as more people in the commercial world recognize both the responsibility and the opportunities in that arena.
One person who is an international development expert with a dual perspective is the general secretary of Rotary International, John Hewko.
Hewko explains, “Rotary members, by and large, are business and professional leaders who understand the intersection between commerce and cause, and I think Rotary can play a significant role in helping to bridge the gap that exists between the development community and the private sector. Both sides need to work hand-in-glove to achieve maximum development in these developing markets.”
“We tap into a global network of Rotarians who invest their time, money, and expertise into our priorities, such as eradicating polio and promoting peace,” Hewko adds.
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July 23, 2015 - Read the full Forbes article and watch the interview here: http://onforb.es/1OxUP28.
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Private equity investor and Hall of Fame Quarterback Steve Young’s charity the Forever Young Foundation launched Sophie’s Place, an organization that provides music therapy.
In a promotional video, Young explains that in contrast to many of the charities supported by his foundation that are run by great partners, “This one’s kind of organic from our foundation. It’s really my wife’s vision for music therapy.”
Young’s foundation is using a new tool for crowdsourcing engagement, one little act at a time. The new tool, an iPhone app called Time Machine, encourages people to do and record acts of service. Users of the app earn points to qualify them for unique experiences, like a meet and greet with band at the Imagine Dragons concert in Salt Lake City on July 28.
Time Machine cofounder Lindsay Hadley explains, “Time is our most precious resource, but most of us just follow people instead of having our own meaningful experiences. We want people to do inspiring things and support causes, online and beyond the screen.”
“We built Time Machine to be a place where brands, organizations and people can come together to rally other around causes or movements they’re passionate about,” she adds.
The app supports a variety of charities in addition to Sophie’s Place, including The Tyler Robinson Foundation and The Progeria Research Foundation,
“We have $75,000 of prizes to give. There are hundreds of tickets for the sold out Imagine Dragons concert and thousands of other chances to win, including meals from Costa Vida. Users’ chances of winning are very good,” she concludes.
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July 15, 2015 - Read the full Forbes article and watch the interview here: http://onforb.es/1GkhIzF.
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When Arlene Samen was invited to meet with the Dalai Lama, she couldn’t imagine how it would change her life. Ultimately, she left her position as a nurse as the University of Utah School of Medicine to found One Heart World Wide, an organization that works to end infant and maternal mortality.
One Heart World Wide is making remarkable progress. After a temporary effort with great success in Tibet, Samen moved the organization to Mexico and now Nepal.
Samen says she’s learned a few lessons over the years and summarizes them as follows:
I believe it is “relationships that save lives”, that by working together with others we can serve so many more. No matter what you face in life, never give up. The ripple effect knows no boundaries.
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July 15, 2015 - Read the full Forbes article and watch the interview here: http://onforb.es/1CCS2U6.
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“I feel like we’ve stumbled on this incredibly obvious epiphany, when you give what you’re good at, you get better at it. You help others while helping yourself,” says Mark Horoszowski.
His epiphany led him to create Moving Worlds, an match-making site for expert volunteers–”experteers.”
Summarizing the value proposition, Horoszowksi says, “Major development organizations have shared that behind access to capital, access to skills is the leading barrier to progress – this is called the ‘talent gap.’ Contributing the right skills at the right time can bridge holes to create short-term impact, and also help local staff develop their own skills to foster long-term sustainability and impact.”
“We’re proving that the right skills can catalyze the impact of social enterprises working in the field – helping them create a positive impact and create jobs in the process,” he adds.
By way of a clear example, Horoszowski offers, “Before applying for growth capital or a grant, and organization needs an accounting system. That’s a skills challenge, not a capital challenge, and an Experteer can help with just that.”
“The most important thing that people have is their brain, time, and passion. By giving all three, not only do people contribute their energy towards solving some of the world’s greatest challenges, but research shows they also return having learned new skills, feeling like they have more time, and feeling even more loved and passionate,” he concludes.
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July 15, 2015 - Read the full Forbes article and watch the interview here: http://onforb.es/1HvwbKQ.
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The polio virus is in its death throes.
While it has been infinitely more difficult than the optimists hoped it would be 30 years ago, those who said polio couldn’t be eradicated will soon be proven wrong.
In the mid 1980s, there were about 350,000 to 400,000 cases of polio each year around the world, despite the disease having been effectively eradicated throughout the developed world.
In 2014, there were just 359 cases of polio, reflecting a 99.9 percent reduction over 30 years. On average, that number reflected a rate of about seven cases per week. So far, in 2015, the average number of cases per week has dropped to just barely above 1.
We are, however, now in the heat of summer in much of the world, including in Pakistan and Afghanistan where the disease remains active. Polio thrives in the summer months and the Global Polio Eradication Initiative, led by Rotary International and its partners the World Health Organization (WHO), UNICEF, the Centers for Disease Control with support from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, is working feverishly to prevent any spread of the disease.
Dr. Hamid Jafari of the WHO praises Rotary’s leadership in the effort to end polio, “The world is closer than ever before to eradicating polio, thanks to the tremendous efforts of Rotarians worldwide. A lasting polio-free world will be Rotary’s gift to all future generations. No child need ever be paralysed by this terrible disease.”
Jafari notes that the work is not yet done, adding, “But to achieve ultimate success, we need the ongoing support of all Rotarians, to push the effort across the finish line.”
Despite the progress, there are a variety of important questions that remain in trying to understand how this virus will be eradicated once and for all.
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July 10, 2015 - Read the full Forbes article and watch the interview here: http://onforb.es/1UGrAyv.
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At the outset of the current millennium, the United Nations led an effort to set a group of goals to be achieved by 2015.
UN Secretary-General reported in 2014, that “the MDGs have made a profound difference in people’s lives. Global poverty has been halved five years ahead of the 2015 timeframe. Ninety per cent of children in developing regions now enjoy primary education, and disparities between boys and girls in enrolment have narrowed. Remarkable gains have also been made in the fight against malaria and tuberculosis, along with improvements in all health indicators. The likelihood of a child dying before age five has been nearly cut in half over the last two decades. That means that about 17,000 children are saved every day. We also met the target of halving the proportion of people who lack access to improved sources of water.”
Today, the world is looking forward to what we can accomplish over the next 15 years. The UN has established the Global Goals for Sustainable Development.
Amina Mohammed is Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s Special Adviser on Post-2015 Development Planning.
Mohammed notes, “The sustainable development agenda addresses the root causes of poverty, inequalities and environmental degradation. It looks at the links between the social, economic and environmental agendas, and it presents more opportunities than the MDGs, which largely focused on the symptoms only.”
In an effort to broaden the impact of the U.N.’s efforts, she says, “The sustainable development agenda looks at the links between the social, environmental and economic agendas so it presents more opportunities than the MDGs, which focused purely on the social agenda.”
She notes that the new goals are not simply updated outcomes for the old goals, but that the UN is seeking to incorporate all that has been learned. “The sustainable development goals will continue the unfinished business of the MDGs, build on their lessons learned and go well beyond to address new and emerging challenges. Sustainable development is a universal agenda that applies to all people, in all countries and will leave no one behind.”
She adds that the Secretary-General said it best in his Synthesis Report, “The Road to Dignity by 2030: We must transform our economies, our environment, and our societies. We must change old mindsets, behaviors, and destructive patterns. All in pursuit of international peace and stability.”
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July 10, 2015 - Read the full Your Mark on the World article and watch the interview here: http://bit.ly/1HiXxWJ.
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Artist and activist Phil America focuses his work on social issues like class, gender and race.
“Art is a language everyone can speak,” Phil says about his work.
As an activist, he is philosophical, “The biggest criminal is the one who puts the laws of the land above their own morals.”
Having lived all around the world and having seen all sorts of poverty, Phil says, “Living in poverty does not make you poor. What makes you poor is being complacent and having poor character.”
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July 10, 2015 - Read the full GoodCrowdinfo article and watch the interview here: http://bit.ly/1HiQrl7.
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Jenny Kassan is one of the world’s leading experts on investment crowdfunding and she’s passionate about using it for good!
Jenny says, “Be yourself when raising capital. Just like with dating, it’s better to show your authentic self than to pretend you’re something you’re not. Not only will you be more likely to attract investors you’re happy with, the process will be easier and more enjoyable.”
She helps nonprofits and social entrepreneurs figure out how to raise money. She explains, “You know that raising money from investors could help you take your business (or entrepreneurial nonprofit) to the next level of success. But you’ve heard horror stories about what it’s like to raise money from professional investors, like Venture Capitalists and Angel Investors, and you’re worried that’s not a good fit for you. You would like to raise money from regular folks – your community, customers, and fans. But you’ve heard that it might be illegal to do that.”
“Good news! There are legal ways to raise investment capital from the crowd. One of the names for this is doing a Direct Public Offering, but it is also sometimes called by other names like investment crowdfunding,” she continues.”
“A DPO is legal way to offer an investment opportunity (equity or debt) using public advertising and opening the opportunity to anyone, whether a wealthy professional investor or not (in legal parlance, you can open your investment offering to both unaccredited and accredited investors),” she concludes.
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July 10, 2015 - Read the full GoodCrowdinfo article and watch the interview here: http://bit.ly/1HiTOIQ.
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Matthew Sullivan is the founder and CEO of CrowdVenture, a company that is using the power of crowdfunding to help people stay in their homes, even when the homes are under water financially.
Matthew explains:
Every home has a heartbeat. Our aim is to demystify and democratise the investment process and give the wider community access to investments that deliver social benefits as well as solid returns. There are currently 821,275 properties in U.S. that are in some stage of foreclosure (default, auction or bank owned) while the number of homes listed for sale on RealtyTrac is 1,287,934. In May, the number of properties that received a foreclosure filing in U.S. was 1% higher than the previous month and 16% higher than the same time last year. Homeowners have been waiting for serious, meaningful relief from the crash in their home values that was the byproduct of the manipulation of the finance sector during the years prior to the 2007 crisis. Many of the new foreclosure actions are being taken out against people who have tried to hang on to their homes despite the bottoming-out of home values and sky-high unemployment rates. One by one these families are falling into the jaws of foreclosure as they simply cannot hold out any longer. Banks are either unwilling or unable to offer solutions that are sustainable for the homeowner. The Home Guardian Fund does however offer a real solution – we buy these distressed, non-performing mortgages from banks and hedge funds at big discounts, then work with homeowners to reduce their principal balance and monthly payments so the loan becomes affordable again. This means the homeowner can stay in their home and no longer faces the threat of eviction. Our approach provides a profitable return for the investor, while helping to keep the heart beating in every home.
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July 10, 2015 - Read the full Forbes article and watch the interview here: http://onforb.es/1RmxZQs.
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The Estée Lauder Companies, working through its MAC’s VIVA GLAM Lipstick, has become one of the leading funders in the fight against HIV/AIDS around the world, donating over $350 million total over 20 years reaching over $40 million per year recently.
Nancy Mahon, Senior Vice President, Global Philanthropy and Corporate Citizenship, explains the company’s passion for working so diligently to end AIDS, “We can only end AIDS if we test and treat everyone at risk of and actually infected with HIV. As only half of the people in the world who need HIV testing and treatment can get it, and funding for the epidemic is declining… we desperately need corporation’s business acumen and resources — including the ability to market and sell ideas — to tackle the world’s biggest problems, including ending AIDS.”
“The people behind many corporations are incredibly skilled at defining and efficiently solving many of the key business and resourcing issues, which also stand in the way of issues like equitable access to medical care.,” she continues.
“While science has now made it possible to end AIDS, it’ll only become a reality if we get a realistic and achievable business plan in place,” she concludes.
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July 2, 2015 - Read the full Forbes article and watch the interview here: http://onforb.es/1RSwJiN.
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When people hear about impact investing, a light goes on. People immediately begin to see the potential. Once they do, they often assume that foundations must be doing the bulk of impact investing. In fact, relatively few are actively doing it.
The FB Heron Foundation has made a bold, public commitment to move 100 percent of its assets to impact investments by the end of 2017.
In her President’s letter issued last month, Clara Miller wrote, “In 2014, we continued to push forward on our core operating principle that “all investing is impact investing,” meaning that we believe that all investments (spanning the range of debt, equity, cooperative shares, warrants, and hybrid instruments) have social as well as financial repercussions. These social and financial repercussions can be positive or negative and vary over time. Bidden or not, intentional or unintentional, all of the enterprises that we invest in have impact that goes well beyond a financial return to an individual investor.”
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July 2, 2015 - Read the full Forbes article and watch the interview here: http://onforb.es/1RSqzzd.
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The crowdfunding world includes so many sites that it is difficult for anyone to keep track of them all. In the long run, it will be important for each one to find a market. Kickstarter dominates the enormous market for creatives. Indiegogo has the platform used by the widest array of sites. GoFundMe, by focusing on helping people in crisis, claims to be the biggest site of them all.
Ride to Give is a crowdfunding site that is organized to help individuals in times of trouble, much like GoFundMe. Ride to Give is carving out a niche in the wake of the crowdfunding giant by partnering crowdfunding with organized cycling events. Since founding two years ago, the nonprofit company has raised over $1.2 million for children and families in crisis.
Founders Kaete and Dave Nazaroff explain, “We are a couple with no fundraising experience who wanted to make a difference in the life of a child. What started as a single ride from NY to GA for one child, turned into a full children’s charity where we prove our slogan which is ‘Give a Little, Change a Lot.” We use crowd-funding to provide a place where our followers can give even just $2 and feel a part of something bigger than themselves, by seeing the benefit to that child.”
Ride to Give is powered by FundRazr, a crowdfunding site reports having helped people raise $67 million.
Hatton says, “The concept of crowdfunding isn’t that new – it’s essentially the next generation form of fundraising elevated by technology. FundRazr’s powerful crowdfunding platform helped Ride To Give raise over $1,000,000 with just two part-time staff. It basically levels the playing field for small to mid size non-profits, who are generally under-resourced, and allows them have an even better connection with their community and a bigger funding impact for their cause.”
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June 25, 2015 - Read the full GoodCrowdinfo article and watch the interview here: http://bit.ly/1KdLttw.
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Investment crowdfunding is suddenly standing in your living room; it sneaked in the back door while you were watching out the front door for action from the SEC on Title III of the JOBS Act. This spring, the SEC issued rules for Title IV of the Act, amending Regulation A, and making investment crowdfunding possible under a separate regulatory scheme.
Kendall Almerico, a lawyer, has recently launched the investment crowdfunding site BankRoll, leveraging regulation A, which allows offerings to be pitched to ordinary small investors, not just wealthy (accredited) investors. The new rules, commonly called Regulation A+, represent a game changer for crowdfunding.
Kendall is enthusiastic about the new rules and his platform. “With Regulation A+, you are selling securities to the general public. Do you really want to walk that legal and compliance minefield on a funding site without the top legal minds behind it?”
“We make funding easy and accessible. I may be a lawyer, but I am an entrepreneur like the companies who use BankRoll,” he adds.
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June 25, 2015 - Read the full Forbes article and watch the interview here: http://onforb.es/1Kdqy9Y.
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Ty Walrod is the visionary behind Bright Funds, a platform designed to allow employers and other leaders to organize giving groups to giving funds.
The fund manager, often an employer, chooses nonprofits to include in a “fund” and then encourages employees and/or other followers to donate to the fund to have focused, strategic impact.
Walrod explains, “We built Bright Funds with a focus on the three key principles: make giving easy — easier than sending a tweet; make giving effective — by helping people give strategically to the best nonprofits in the world; and make giving engaging — by connecting donors to the causes they care about and showing them the impact of their donations.”
“Employees expect more from their employers today than ever before. In partnering with leading companies, Bright Funds has a tremendous opportunity to do good – we align companies with the passions and cares of their employees and empower both to make a positive impact in the world,” Walrod concludes.
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June 25, 2015 - Read the full Forbes article and watch the interview here: http://onforb.es/1KdHrBq.
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Jack Nadel has been doing business since the end of World War II. Most people his age, quite frankly, are dead and the rest are retired.
Nadel is passionate about sharing his collected wisdom with veterans and others who are working to start businesses. He has written a book, The Evolution of an Entrepreneur, that features 50 of his best business tips.
Nadel has made the book available to veterans at no charge.
He shared a few of his tips with me.
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Find a Need and Fill It: The first deal I made was based on one of the first tips I share in my book: Find a Need and Fill it. In 1946, the Chinese were looking to purchase navy blue woolen material, which did not exist. However, there was post War army olive drab material available, so I bought olive drab at war surplus, dyed it navy blue and sold it to the Chinese.
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Never Fear to Negotiate, Never Negotiate Out of Fear: Never fear to negotiate and never negotiate out of fear, an important tip for all entrepreneurs. We sold our company, Jack Nadel International, to a New York Conglomerate in 1968. In 1972, we bought it back on a leveraged buy out. The New York company wanted the property for more stock, while our negotiations had included the property for cash. I explained to them that I did not come to re-negotiate and if I did not get cash for the property, there was no deal. They were astounded that I took that hard of a position that I would walk away from the deal. It was good that I did, because I would have sold it for $90,000 in 1968 and in 2014, after collecting rent for all those years, I sold the property for $4.2 million dollars.
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Think Global, Start Local: It is very valuable to prove your concept by actually succeeding at it on a smaller scale, first. If you can test a concept by actually executing it on a local level, you will have proven your point. Financing will be much easier and you will have learned what really works. A perfect example was my years in the writing instrument business. We progressed the company from being a small distributor in Los Angeles, California, to being a worldwide successful manufacturer and distributor. So it pays to think global, and start local.
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June 25, 2014 - Read the full Forbes article and watch the interview here: http://onforb.es/1Kdwa4a.
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Lululemon (Nasdaq: LULU) CEO Laurent Potdevin recently helped build something completely different for the apparel company leader: a house.
Working with the social enterprise Giveback Homes, Potdevin helped fund the construction a home for a needy family in Nicaragua.
He shared his experience with me:
In the process of selling my home in Manhattan Beach, I was introduced to Giveback Homes through my real estate agents, Brigitte Pratt and Colleen Cole. They are both Giveback Homes Realtors and informed me that they would be donating from the transaction of selling my home to build a home for a family in Nicaragua.
I asked how much they were planning on donating and matched their donation. Between both of our donations we were able to build an entire home for a deserving family in Central America.
One of my favorite things about Giveback Homes is that they work to make sure their Realtors and clients feel a connection with the people they are helping. With every home built, the Realtors who donated to make that home possible receive a summary and photos of the family they helped and in some cases, the Realtors will join Giveback Homes team members to physically build the home.
The home we built was for Gladys and her family. Gladys was abandoned as a child. She’s now married with two children and works as a tortilla maker, her husband sells bread on the street and their combined monthly income is $200.
Before we built Gladys’ first home, she was living in a makeshift shack with dirt floors and walls made of wood scraps. When it rained, the floors in the house would turn to mud. It was my honor to help build her dream home; her first real home. Gladys is a hard worker, self-taught entrepreneur and a fighter. She fights every single day to give her children the life she wished she had, the life all children deserve; a safe place to call home and parents that love them.
I’m so thankful to my philanthropic real estate agents for introducing me to this wonderful organization. Buying and selling homes through these philanthropic agents is an easy sell in my opinion.
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June 25, 2015 - Read the full Your Mark on the World article and watch the interview here: http://bit.ly/1KdmB5c.
I met Craig Zelizer in the airport in Mexico City where we were both en route to Opportunity Collaboration and was immediately drawn to his good nature. He did his doctoral research on arts and peacebuilding and has made that his career focus at Peace and Collaborative Development Network.
Craig recently shared his favorite quote with me, “A journalist asked Mirsad Puritva, director of the 1992 International Festival of Film and Theater in Sarajevo how can they have a film fest in the middle of the war? He replied, ‘how can they have a war in the middle of the film festival?'”
Craig summarizes his passion for peace, “Violent conflict is one of the greatest challenges preventing the achievment of the MDGs and more stable, peaceful societies”
Craig also notes, “Higher education in the US is in a period of crisis, given the increasing costs of pursuing graduate education and the mismatch between what many academic programs are providing students and what employers seek in candidates.”
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Showing his pragmatic side, Craig adds, “In order to better engage businesses in peacebuilding, it is necessary not only to make the moral case, but to show how peace is good for business in concrete terms.”
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Jun 25, 2015 - Read the full Forbes article and watch the interview here: http://onforb.es/1Jj68fz.
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“UNFPA Kenya is working hard with all partners to support the Government of Kenya and the First Lady of Kenya’s clarion call, ‘no woman should die giving life,’” explains UNFPA Representative to Kenya, Siddharth (Sid) Chatterjee.
Chatterjee explains the charge he received when he took on his new role just over a year ago, “The Executive Director of UNFPA Undersecretary General Dr Babatunde Osotimehin’s marching orders to me when taking up my role as UNFPA Kenya was, ‘support the Government to bring to an end the unacceptably high maternal deaths, end FGM and child marraige. Change the game.’”
The context, Chatterjee notes, is sobering. “Sexual and gender based violence [SGBV] continues to be a challenge in Kenya. According to Kenya Demographic and Health Survey (KDHS) in 2014, 41% of women have experienced violence. This is unacceptable. The Government of Kenya has made efforts to prevent and respond to violence by adopting policies and enacting legislation such as the sexual offences Act (2007), the FGM Act (2011) and the National Policy on Prevention and Response to GBV. A comprehensive response to SGBV needs to be multi-sectoral. These will include community education/dialogue, media campaign, advocacy forums with policy makers/legislators as well as psychosocial support, clinical, legal and security services.”
In the face of such a daunting challenge, Chatterjee strikes a distinctly optimistic tone, “Our world is home to 1.8 billion young people between the ages of 10 and 24, and Dr Babatunde Osotimehin the Executive Director of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) says, ‘Never before have there been so many young people. Never again is there likely to be such potential for economic and social progress.’”
“Kenya has one of the most youthful populations in the world with about 60 percent of the population aged below 24 years. A demographic dividend and through the countering violent extremism summit Kneya is going to host, she can change the narrative, by putting the spotlight on youth,” Chatterjee adds.
Chatterjee notes that achieving the country’s goals for women will require government leadership and collaboration among all development partners to create an integrated, long-term program that actively involves young people. ”Let’s put youth at the center of the narrative. Kenya can serve as a model for transmuting its youth into a demographic dividend which other nations can emulate.”
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June 18, 2015 - Read the full Your Mark on the World article and watch the interview here: http://bit.ly/1dLBlKo.
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In the context of one of the country’s most conservative states, Alan Naumann runs a multi-platform publishing company called Green News Utah.
Alan explains, “Utah needs an independent news source for environmental issues. There is a lack of information in some of the most important issues facing Utahns.”
“For instance, there is no severance tax on coal in the state of Utah. All the neighboring states have a 3.3 to 7 percent severance tax on fossil fuels. Utah, has the lowest tax on oil and gas extraction. In a state with the lowest [financial] commitment to education in the country, fossil fuels are an obvious source of revenue,” Alan adds.
Alan’s passion for the environment is exemplified by his argument, “Little is being done to reduce air pollution, in fact the opposite is true. Millions of dollars are being spent to prevent the listing of sage grouse as an endangered species, green building codes are being undermined and the speed limit was raised recently. Permits are being granted to local refineries to grow and subsidized by the state of Utah to convert to Tier III fuels. A bill to spend $20 million to convert the oldest, dirtiest diesel school buses was not funded even though the legislation passed.”
“The facts are not being agreed upon and keep changing. The sources of air pollution were set officially at 25% created by the biggest polluters (stationary sources), several years ago. Now its only 11%, a figure clean air activists dispute,” Alan concludes.
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June 5, 2015 - Read the full Forbes article and watch the interview here: http://onforb.es/1KK4CA0.
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On Friday, June 5, 2015, the United Nations Volunteers program will issue a report on the effectiveness of volunteering programs around the world. I obtained an advance copy of the report.
The report suggests that volunteerism is a critical piece in moving forward to address global problems like the Millennium Development Goals and the post 2015 Sustainable Development Goals.
The report’s author, Amanda Mukwashi, the Chief of the Volunteer Knowledge and Innovation Section at United Nations Volunteers, says, “The Sustainable Development Goals will only succeed in tackling poverty and inequality if they take on board the needs of all citizens. Volunteers can be catalysts for a much fairer and more equal world – if they’re invited to the table.”
The report itself notes, “Volunteerism is a force for harnessing the power of peoples’ voice and participation to influence governance, and enhanced voice and participation are associated with more responsive and accountable governments.”
Mukwashi adds, “Volunteers are playing a vital role in making governments more accountable and responsive to their citizens – and helping women and marginalized groups have a say in decisions that affect their lives.”
“Too many governments are failing to acknowledge – and leverage – the immense potential of volunteers to help them chart a more successful development path,” Mukwashi adds.
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June 5, 2015 - Read the full Forbes article and watch the interview here: http://onforb.es/1HNM7I4.
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Ben Hecht, CEO of Living Cities, is an impact investor whose passion makes him more of a crusader than a financier. (Disclosure: a former client has an application for a loan pending with Living Cities.)
Consider his statement to me, “Unless we ferociously change course, the majority of our citizens in 2040 will be less educated, less prosperous, and less free than our current majority, due to decades of dysfunctional systems, disinvestment, mass incarceration, and disenfranchisement of people and communities of color.”
Advocating a wholistic, collective approach to addressing urban problems, Hecht says, “A new type of urban practice aimed at dramatically improving the economic well-being of low-income people faster will require all players – individuals, business, philanthropy, government, nonprofits, and academia – to focus on their part of the solution and build permanent capacity that can insure we get increasingly better results over time.”
Hecht is calling for an radical acceleration to problem solving, “For too long we have been satisfied with incremental change for society’s most pressing issues, but it is time to look at the denominator and face how much progress still has to be made for these problems to be eradicated.”
“There is increasingly a growing awareness that inequality of income, wealth and access to opportunity, accentuated along racial lines, is one of the key social issues of our time.If left unresolved it presents a serious threat to our society, our economy and our democracy,” Hecht notes.
Living Cities is striving to play a central role in accelerating change. Hecht said, “Living Cities is on a course to do more than just imagining what’s possible. We want to work with a coalition of the willing to make the possibilities reality. In May, we took the conversation offline, convening over 100 folks in our networks—from our member institutions, to grantees, to our staff, to our social media followers, to a diversity of other thought leaders, dreamers and doers in such diverse fields as civic tech, impact investing, philanthropy, business, the financial sector, social entrepreneurship, government, and philanthropy—to participate in an active process of co-design.”
Two key opportunities were identified at the summit.
“One challenge we discussed at the summit was the need to create urgency without catastrophes, such as the bankruptcy in Detroit or Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans, to achieve systemic instead of episodic change,” Hecht said.
“Another was that public sector leadership, resources, and talent can and must be fostered, unlocked, and optimized in order to achieve dramatically better results for low income people. Along similar lines, it was clear that there is a need for an inves tment in talent across the social sector generally,” Hecht concluded.
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May 29, 2015 - Read the full Forbes article and watch the interview here: http://onforb.es/1FQfqN0.
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Social Entrepreneur Doron Libshtein, a former Microsoft MSFT -0.68% executive, speaks a language that sounds downright foreign in a business context, but his current crowdfunding campaign has raised over $100,000, suggesting he’s tapping into something real.
Libshtein recently wrote, “My mission is to bring a new consciousness to the world, transforming the world into vitality; to inspire each of you to walk your true path. I’m excited to write about a dream that has come true. Stress and pressure are part of life for all of us, and were part of my life until I discovered the world of meditation. The daily practice helped me relax, breathe properly, take breaks during the day and connect inner parts of me that I was not aware of. In short, I learned to manage stress instead of stress managing me.”
Libshtein created the Mentor’s Channel, a community of 2.6 million people he says, who seek the best mentors for meditation. He notes, “I’m full of gratitude for that opportunity. But there are billions of people who do not meditate. They continue to experience high stress in their life, which creates toxins being released to their internal and external environments.”
In order to address the needs of the billions of stressed out people like me who don’t meditate, Libshtein has created a solution. He explains, “I want to help the world be transformed, reduce stress, increase life’s energy, vitality and inspiration. I believe we have found a solution. It combines a digital bracelet that measures stress levels and helps us recognise when it begins and what affects it, plus an app that provides a customised solution to reduce the stress. The app gives us a playlist of music, breathing and guided imagery that work in sync with the feedback from our body. Together they produce a winning solution.”
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May 21, 2015 - Read the full Forbes article and watch the interview here: http://onforb.es/1AdTKKq.
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Andrea Sreshta and Anna Stork, founders of LuminAID, were offered deals from all five of the investors on ABC’s Shark Tank earlier this year; they successfully closed a deal with Mark Cuban.
Perhaps what made them both different and successful on the show, was a focus on social entrepreneurship, a double bottom-line that balances making a profit with having an impact for good. Their solar lights are not only terrific for camping, but perfect for long-term use in areas without power and great for use when power can’t be relied upon for evening studies. One of their largest customers is ShelterBox, featured here a few weeks ago.
Sreshta explains, “LuminAID’s core technology–solar lights that pack flat for ease of distribution– was created to address both the need in an emergency and to make it easier for aid workers to distribute supplies on the ground.”
She adds, “We have learned a lot from working with our NGO customers and partners like Shelterbox. They put out our lights into some of the toughest areas and situations in the world, so we like hearing from them about what worked, what worked less well, and how we can continue to support their efforts.”
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May 21, 2015 - Read the full Forbes article and watch the interview here: http://onforb.es/1EW8aKM.
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Ranked #369 on the Forbes list of billionaires, Shari Arison is passionate about doing good business–and she means good.
Her bestselling book Activate Your Goodness shared her take on the impact of doing good on people. Her new book, The Doing Good Model, provides a thoughtful look at 13 values that are intended to help business leaders rethink their impact on individuals, their communities and the globe.
One of the most intriguing values that Arison puts forward in her book is “purity.” She explains it in the book, “Think of the many types of behavior that can affect you as a human being as well. For example, you might ask yourself, what am I putting in my body–is this good for me or not? What am I listening to? Is it something that is uplifting like music, or is it gossip that is unkind?”
Her thoughts on volunteering sound conventional to nonprofit leaders, I suspect, but may strike business leaders as a flash of insight. She says in the book, “The most motivated volunteers are the ones with passion for the cause.”
She goes on to share an anecdote to make an important point.
A funny thing happened to me right after I was talking to my editor on the phone going through this chapter on volunteering. I was called away and needed to rush out to a meeting outside my office. I went to another office building, and when I came out of my meeting, in the elevator on the way down, there was a husband and wife talking. The woman said to her husband, “Isn’t it amazing tha the doctor goes to Africa every six months and volunteers his time to perform surgery?” She went on to say, “Do you know he’s an eye doctor?” I smiled to myself as I was walking out of the elvator, thinking abou what a coincidence it was that I was just writing about volunteering. So you see, as I said, one can volunteer basically anywhere in the world, according to one’s talents, passions and time.
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May 13, 2015 - Read the full Forbes article and watch the interview here: http://onforb.es/1Fiu80U.
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Bishnu Adhikari leads the Nepali efforts of CHOICE Humanitarian, a nonprofit that seeks to end extreme poverty around the world. Since the 7.8 magnitude earthquake on April 25 and the major aftershock of 7.3 magnitude today, CHOICE has been refocusing its short-term energy on emergency relief. Adhikari’s story was told in 2014 in a feature film called Meet the Mormons.
The tragedy in Nepal has a personal feel to me. In March, I visited Nepal and spent several days in a remote village with Adhikari helping village families install clean, wood-burning stoves in their homes to replace their open indoor fire pits. I have been worried about those people ever since. I reported on my trip here. Two weeks ago, I did a piece about the work of Effect.org in the immediate aftermath of the earthquake and last week did a story about ShelterBox providing relief to victims who’ve lost their homes.
Adhikari is philosophical about the tragedy in his homeland, “It’s a difficult situation but I am not discouraged. I know life has ups and downs. Sometimes we go through these situations for our personal learning. I am grateful I am here and will do whatever I can in my capacity. There are so many things to be grateful for.”
The ongoing work in Nepal will continue, Adhikari explains, “Nepal LIFE is an initiative by CHOICE Humanitarian to end extreme poverty in a designated area that can be replicated worldwide. It’s both exciting and humbling to be part of this effort.”
He celebrates the success of the program to date, “There are so many wonderful stories about individuals and families we have worked with that are no longer living on $1.25 a day.”
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May 6, 2015 - Read the full GoodCrowdinfo article and watch the interview here: http://bit.ly/1OVewoH.
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Recently, I came across a Kickstarter campaign for the Endless computer and it really got me excited. While I often back Kickstarter campaigns, this was the first time I did so just to get in touch with the founders so I could talk to them on my show!
Matt Dalio is the genius behind Endless. He explains the company mission this way, “Ask a person in the developed world whether people in emerging markets want computers, and their guess will often ‘why would they need it?’ Then ask someone in the developing world whether they want a computer and they will tell you ‘of course I want a computer!’ People who can’t afford today’s computers want the same things we do, they just want it to be made for them. Currently, that’s not an option, and that’s where Endless comes in.”
“To have truly scalable impact, we need a scalable business model. The sort of scale that one can achieve is much harder as a non-profit. To use a crude measure of impact, to raise a million dollars as a non-profit is hard and to raise a hundred million dollars is virtually impossible,” he continues. “However, if one can generate a profitable return on investment, those resources are readily available. Most importantly, if people can buy the devices, you can reach a whole lot more people than if you have to donate them.”
Matt concludes, “While the market for technology in emerging markets is competitive, Endless has opted to work from a bottom up approach as opposed to the more common approach of trickle down technology. We built an operating system and a device that is designed specifically for our target market so they won’t have to adapt. While there are good desktop computers for the developed world, there is currently not a viable desktop solution for a user in an emerging market. Hence, the fact that 4.4 billion people can’t afford a computer. We hope to solve that.”
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May 6, 2015 - Read the full Forbes article and watch the interview here: http://onforb.es/1F4dMcj.
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Thirty days ago, when I scheduled this interview with Alan Monroe, the Interim Executive Director of ShelterBox USA, this was intended to be a standard profile of a social entrepreneur making a difference in the world. Then an earthquake hit in Nepal and changed everything.
Shelterbox is one of many organizations providing relieve to Nepal, where I happened to spend a week volunteering, just six weeks ago.
With millions displaced from their damaged or destroyed homes, shelter is an acute need in Nepal. With millions displaced from their damaged or destroyed homes, shelter is an acute need in Nepal.
Monroe explained, “On average, ShelterBox deploys to a country every other week. Many [deployments] never hit the news cycle. Whether it be the major disasters like the Haiti earthquake or the Indian Ocean Tsunami that capture America’s attention or the flooding in small villages on the banks of the Amazon, ShelterBox is there.”
“Our primary focus is the beneficiary and their needs during an incredibly trying time of their life. I was in Indonesia after a volcano eruption and we had just set up an aid camp for 100 families who had no place to go. As I was checking the lines and the setup of the tents, I looked inside and saw the families looking through the box. I can remember one child picking up the stuffed bear and smiling. About that time, the father came out and grabbed me by my arm and said ‘Thank you, Thank you’ in Indonesian. It hit me, that this piece of equipment had already become their home–just like that,” he concluded.
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April 30, 2015 - Read the full Forbes article and watch the interview here: http://onforb.es/1GKJ6gg.
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Filmmaker Casey Allred was working on his film Stolen Innocence in India when the earthquake struck Nepal. The next day he landed in Kathmandu and began providing relief.
His organization, Effect.org, set up a website at NepalRises.com to search Twitter TWTR +1.22% in real time looking for available volunteers and needs, working to match them up.
Using resources already in their coffers, Effect.org began immediately to gather and deploy aid. Allred reported yesterday, “We have over 100 volunteers, 20 motorbikes and 4 cars importing and exporting supplies. We’ve purchased 410 kg of food and 4,147 pieces of medical supplies and 250 tents… Just today! HQ inventories all supplies and is delivered the same day. We have two film crews documenting everything and 6 Engineers building software. We built NepalRises.com in 8 hours and a bot scanning Twitter to understand who needs help and act immediately. We are coordinating with a lot of local aid groups to triple our efforts. Today we had 22 teams deliver supplies outside of Kathmandu to those in need. For many we are the FIRST aid they’ve received. We are hoping to double and triple our impact in the next few days.”
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April 22, 2015 - Read the full GoodCrowdinfo article and watch the interview here: http://bit.ly/1GeY0bD.
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In the three years since the JOBS Act was signed into law by President Obama, the world has seen a tremendous proliferation of equity crowdfunding sites. Many, however, anticipated a more rapid implementation of the Act’s Title III rules for investment crowdfunding from ordinary investors. A small group of companies organized themselves as broker-dealers under the old rules and are now doing business. Seed Equity is one of this breed.
Founder and CEO Todd Crosland says, “Seed Equity was built by successful and experienced entrepreneurs and investors, who aren’t only experts in the industry, but have a passion for it. Seed Equity currently has investors, entrepreneurs and members in over 90 countries and has made one international investment to date in a startup that is based in London and came out of the Tech Stars London accelerator.”
“The company’s goal is to connect startups and growth companies with investors from around the world. Those investors can then like, follow, mentor and invest in these startups, which may have the ability to possibly make a large impact,” Todd continues.
Like the other broker dealers in the space, Seed Equity screens deals carefully. “Our investment committee does its due diligence when vetting companies wishing to raise capital on Seed Equity’s platform. That due diligence includes a background check on all officers, directors and 20% shareholders. After that’s completed, then and only then, can a company list their offering on our platform,” Todd says.
There is growing excitement in the industry about “Regulation A+” and Seed Equity intends to be a player in that space as well. “New SEC rules known as Reg A+ provide significantly higher fund raising levels of up to $50m in a 12 month period and provide a landmark attempt by the SEC to allow non-accredited investors to invest alongside institutions and accredited investors. Seed Equity Ventures will look to utilize this new rule as an option for companies it raises capital for,” Todd concludes.
The platform is an appropriate place for social entrepreneurs to raise capital, especially when they have a great technology and growth prospects.
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April 22, 2015 - Read the full Forbes article and watch the interview here: http://onforb.es/1D8qiQt.
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The current record for a single day crowdfunding event was set on May 6, 2014 at $53 million. On May 5th, 2015, nonprofit organizations across the country will work to break that record using the online platform Kimba for the second annual Give Local America event.
The remarkable program will involve thousands of nonprofits, each promoting its own cause. Some community foundations organized nonprofits in their respective communities for a collaborative effort, like the Seattle Foundation, which raised over $12 million with the nonprofits in its community.
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April 16, 2015 - Read the full GoodCrowdinfo article and watch the interview here: http://bit.ly/1Og8rgR.
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Tamara Habib, with her partner Paul Lewis, has launched a new crowdfunding site, Firelily, that allows people to raise money after experiencing a disaster, most often a house fire.
Tamara explains, “The majority of families fundraising on Firelily were impacted by house fires, an event in which there is little help to recover. Firelily’s recovery guide, Rebuilding After Disaster, was downloaded over 3,000 times in it’s first four days on their website.”
The site offers some innovative features, Tamara says. “Firelily provides a donor matching function; it’s kind of like online dating, but we connect fundraiser to potential donors based on common interests. Firelily is the only crowdfunding website that verifies the information of its fundraisers to ensure the utmost accuracy.”
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April 7, 2015 - Read the full Forbes article and watch the interview here: http://onforb.es/1yeV52H.
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The SEC recently issued new rules for offerings under Regulations A, creating a two tier system that allows issuers to raise up to $50 million without facing all of the requirements of a public offering but potentially providing some of the benefits.
To help readers understand the nuances of the new regulations, I’ve assembled three experts to explain the issues and implications of the new regulations.
Sara Hanks, CEO of CrowdCheck, says, “Regulation A is going to be an effective way for early-stage companies to raise funds from a wide variety of investors.”
“Reg A can’t be done without experienced lawyers, but they don’t have to be expensive,” she adds.
Highlighting the complexities of the law, Hanks notes, “The issuer’s ability to ‘test the waters’ and find out whether there will be any interest in its offering before it spends money on advisors is one of the most helpful aspects of Tier 2 of Reg A. Too bad it doesn’t work for Tier 1.”
“Issuers have to understand the audit requirements for Tier 2. It’s not just the need for audited financials, but they have to be in the format required by Regulation S-X. And the SEC only accepts ‘clean’ audit reports,” she concludes.
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April 7, 2015 - Read the full GoodCrowdinfo article and watch the interview here: http://bit.ly/1y6CSUZ.
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On Tuesday, April 7, 2015 at 9:00 PM Eastern, Manolis Sfinarolakis will host Stephanie Arrowsmith of StartSomeGood and me, Devin Thorpe, of GoodCrowd.info to talk about social good crowdfunding.
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March 31, 2015 - Read the full Forbes article and watch the interview here: http://onforb.es/1BGiJQr.
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Cristi Hegranes is out to change the world using journalism as a development tool.
After being assigned as a foreign correspondent and seeing editorial decisions being made on the other side of the world by editors who thought they understood better than she just what the story actually was when she was on the ground seeing the story unfold, she decided not only that there had to be a better way but that she’d create it.
She created the Global Press Institute, the Global Press Journal and the Global Press New Service to train reporters, publish their articles and syndicate them, respectively.
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March 31, 2015 - Read the full Forbes article and watch the interview here: http://onforb.es/1GHQeZs.
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John Taft, the CEO of RBC Wealth Management US and a frequent guest here on my show, has compiled the thoughts of some of Wall Street’s elite discussing how its power can be used for the greater good in a new book, A Force For Good. [Note: An RBC Wealth Advisor sponsored my conference, GoodCrowd14.]
The book includes chapters written by Robert Shiller, Sheila Bair, Charles Ellis, Jack Bogle, Judd Gregg, Barbara Novick and David Blood. These power players describe the role of enlightened finance and its potential to drive good in society.
Taft explains, “Enlightened finance is informed by hope. It is about innovating to solve problems and asking what finance can do to help make the world a better place.”
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March 31, 2015 - Read the full Forbes article and watch the interview here: http://onforb.es/1GHRZWo.
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“Capitalism has transformed the modern world, but it has also evolved greatly over the last hundred years,” said Cotopaxi CEO Davis Smith. “I’m a believer that capitalism and businesses can be a force for good in the world. We need more businesses that think beyond their bottom line – that look to how they can give back to people and planet.”
“As business leaders, we have a responsibility to give back through our businesses,” he concluded.
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From the archives - Read the full Your Mark on the World article and watch the interview here: http://bit.ly/1wXdUGZ.
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Inspired by Tom’s Shoes, World Housing claims to have created the world’s first one-for-one housing program. While developing condos in North America, the company is donating housing to deserving families in developing companies.
By focusing on communities surviving in and around garbage dumps, World Housing is addressing the needs of the poorest of the poor. Working through carefully vetted NGOs, World Housing says it ensures that recipients get quality housing and that they employ local workers. The NGOs work to carefully choose families for housing that will serve as role models in their communities.
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March 5, 2015 - Read the full GoodCrowdinfo article and watch the interview here: http://bit.ly/1ATbqsQ.
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Bill Kerig, CEO and Founder of RallyMe, says, “The cost of participation in sports is rising dramatically, while support for athletics (from schools, communities, and other centralized organizations) is decreasing. No longer can athletes and teams rely on a large organization to foot their bill. Now is the time for athletes to build their own armies of support through people-to-people funding.”
Explaining his mission to help athletes, he says, “My vision for RallyMe is that it becomes the standard for all online athletic fundraising. Whether you’re an Olympian or a 9-year-old triathlete or a girl’s lacrosse team, we’re dedicated to helping you pursue your athletic goals.”
“Our mission is to make sure that no athlete, team, or organization has to forgo their sporting dreams for lack of a relatively small amount of funding,” he adds.
RallyMe, a site for boosters of all types, is used by national governing bodies to fund their organizations, teams, clubs and athletes, Bill says.
“From our launch in November 2012, we focused first on Winter Olympic athletes. We had 124 Olympic hopefuls use RallyMe and 28 Olympians get to Sochi by using RallyMe. Of those 28 athletes, 5 RallyMe athletes earned medals, putting us just ahead of Great Britain in the medal count,” he notes.
RallyMe boasts more than 17,000 boosters, Bill says, noting that the site has collected over $1.5 million for “athletes, teams, and organizations.”
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March 5, 2015 - Read the full Your Mark on the World article and watch the interview here: http://bit.ly/1wIgpNd.
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David Bank is building on the expertise he developed at the Wall Street Journal to create a platform he calls “ImpactAlpha" for reporting on impact investing players and deals.
Explaining his motivation, he says, “Our most pressing challenges – food, water, energy, health care, education, sanitation – also are among the biggest business opportunities of the 21st century.”
"A growing category of investors are looking for such opportunities, seeking outsized returns by helping to solve outsized problems, in the U.S. and around the world," he adds.
"They are not merely socially responsible, screening out or divesting destructive products or companies from their portfolio. They are not simply philanthropists by another name, trading off financial returns for social or environmental gains. “Finance-first” doesn’t describe them, since they’re doing much more than sprinkling impact dust over conventional investing. Better to call them ‘impact alphas.’ These investors and fund managers are leveraging social and environmental trends to unlock hidden value and generate above-market returns," he concludes.
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March 5, 2015 - Read the full GoodCrowdinfo article and watch the interview here: http://bit.ly/1CvwB5L.
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Josef Holm is one of the leading minds in the crowdfunding world. He launched the crowdfunding site TubeStart for YouTube creators to monetize their content. He also founded Crowdfunding.biz, a networking and news site for the crowdfunding community. Josef’s latest project is Krowdster, a tool to help crowdfunders build networks, followers and ultimately backers.
Josef explains, “Big data can help optimize a campaign page based on real success metrics and it can help crowdfunders connect with targeted, engaged supporters.”
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From the Archives - Read the full Your Mark on the World article and watch the interview here: http://bit.ly/1hWGbAK.
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The Tech Museum in Silicon Valley recognizes innovators who are making an impact in the world at its annual , now in its 14th year.
For 2014, YouNoodle is helping to drive the program to get more nominations. YouNoodle is mentoring a pool of early applicants already, but it’s not too late to apply. Applications are now open through May 6, 2014.
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From the archives - Read the full Your Mark on the World article and watch the interview here: http://bit.ly/1ikK8RE.
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Brands for the Heart is a branding agency for social entrepreneurs launched by branding expert Andrea Shillington.
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From the archives: Read the full Your Mark on the World article and watch the interview here: http://bit.ly/1ppNe9R.
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Sam Renick’s, founder of It’s a Habit, is striving to teach young people to save money by using catchy tunes that are fun to sing. The remarkable thing is, according to Sam, it’s really working!
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February 25, 2015 - Read the full Forbes article and watch the interview here: http://onforb.es/1GsagF8.
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James Lee Sorenson, whose late father was listed among Forbes’ billionaires and left his fortune to charity, has focused his significant personal wealth accumulated through his own entrepreneurship on driving impact around the world, by “building a comprehensive impact ecosystem that has the appropriate tools whether that is a philanthropic grant, a social impact bond, or an equity investment to address different societal challenges and create sustainable scalable impact.”
At present, Sorenson, via the Sorenson Impact Foundation, is working on three separate but closely related projects, including the Sorenson Global Impact Investment Center (commonly known as the SGII Center), pay for success financing and an impact investing fund.
Of the SGII Center, he says, “For a variety of reasons, there are limited amounts of risk capital going to support companies of social impact to bridge the gap between purely philanthropic and commercially oriented capital. The SGII Center has played a catalytic role in helping to address such issues and facilitate these program-related investments.”
He’s excited about pay for success financing, about which he notes, “It’s really a new day dawning for nonprofits, for governments that are major funders for social services, as well as a growing number of investors that are interested in investing in something that has a positive benefit to society”
“We are currently raising a commercial impact fund that will address the capital gap social enterprises face domestically and scale promising businesses in sectors like education and financial inclusion that will have a profound impact,” Sorenson explained.
“I hope that our efforts will accelerate the growth of the sector at-large and help lead to improved societal change on a global scale,” Sorenson concluded.
Sorenson recently visited Nepal with CHOICE Humanitarian founder James Mayfield and his staff. Next month, I will be visiting Mayfield in Nepal with CHOICE.
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February 19, 2015 - Read the full Forbes article and watch the interview here: http://onforb.es/1A7lfmA.
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“There’s nothing more fundamental than the need for safe water and sanitation,” says Gary White, who partnered with Matt Damon to create Water.org.
White notes that “a staggering number of people lack access to these things. Many die as a result. Communities and countries stay trapped in poverty. About 750 million people – one in nine-lack access to safe water. More than twice that many, 2.5 billion people, do not have access to a toilet.”
“In just one day, women spend 200 million hours collecting water for their families. That is equivalent to the amount of time it would take to build 28 Empire State Buildings—in one day. Imagine the wealth these women will create when they can use these 200 million hours in productive employment, rather than foraging for water,” White adds.
Water.org has observed that many people who live in urban slums live on top of water systems to which they don’t have access. White explains that they have developed a new strategy for giving the poor access to existing systems.
White says, “We created WaterCredit to unleash the power of the poor. By enabling the poor to finance toilets and taps in their own homes, we’re spreading capital costs across a broader swath of stakeholders. Progress goes up at an exponential rate.”
“This approach is working. It’s transforming lives. And it’s ready to really take off. WaterCredit has so far made it possible for over two million people in six countries to gain access to water or build toilets in their homes. Forty-eight microfinance institutions help us administer the loans. The loans are repaid at the rate of 99%. And over 90% of our borrowers are women. Since 2004, we’ve invested over $10.9 million in WaterCredit. This has in turn leveraged an additional $97 million in commercial and social capital. Traditional charity, by its nature, is unable to achieve this kind of impact,” White concludes.
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February 19, 2015 - Read the full Forbes article and watch the interview here: http://onforb.es/1ESAe3i.
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Dr. Sudip Bose received a Bronze Star and was recognized as a “CNN Hero” for his role in treating Saddam Hussein following his capture from the spider hole and for serving one of the longest tours of duty for a medical doctor since World War II.
Dr. Bose’s experiences in the military served to catalyze a desire to serve veterans. Still a respected, practicing emergency room physician, he founded The Battle Continues, a nonprofit organization that works to improve the health of veterans–and all Americans.
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February 11, 2015 - Read the full Forbes article and watch the interview here: http://onforb.es/16Q5iFm.
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Documentary filmmaker Scott Christopherson and his directorial partner Brad Barber have been invited to premier their film at the SXSW Film Festival. The riveting film, Peace Officer, was inspired by the case of a former County Sheriff whose son-in-law was killed by the SWAT team he formed decades earlier. [Note, Christopherson is my wife's niece's husband.]
Christopherson shared an early version of the completed film with me to review. It is an extraordinary documentary, as compelling as any feature film I’ve seen, outshining masters of the genre like Morgan Spurlock and Michael Moore. The film is aided by a dynamic true-life character, former Sheriff William Lawrence.
Commenting on the film’s controversial topic, Christopherson said, “The militarization of police is very complex and challenging. The culture of many police forces in the U.S. plays a role in how police act. There is a difference and a connection between the militarization of police and the culture of police. In many ways, those two ideas are connected. The increase in the number of SWAT raids in America since the 1970s is astonishing.”
William Lawrence in Peace Officer William Lawrence in Peace Officer
Barber and Christopherson are crowdfunding on Kickstarter (http://kck.st/1Gs24Vz), where it was recently named the campaign a “staff pick.”
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February 5, 2015 - Read the full Forbes article and watch the interview here: http://onforb.es/16Qi5rp.
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Richard Branson’s Carbon War Room recently partnered with Rocky Mountain Institute to accelerate a global shift to a low carbon future.
Jules Kortenhorst, CEO of Rocky Mountain Institute noted, “The energy revolution is accelerating; the implications for businesses around the world are enormous. Now is the time to be part of this change.”
“Climate change is the challenge of our generation. The good news is that increasingly the technologies are there, and are rapidly becoming commercially viable to shift our economy to low carbon,” he concluded.
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February 5, 2015 - Read the full Forbes article and watch the interview here: http://onforb.es/1EHDsKc.
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Unitus, one of the early entrants in microlending in the developing world and, as a result, in impact investing, is continuing to innovate. The Unitus Seed Fund provides venture capital for people near the base of the pyramid in India.
Yesterday, Unitus announced a partnership with Pfizer PFE +0.44%, PATH , Manipal Hospitals and Narayana Health to provide up to $85,000 each to healthcare entrepreneurs in India in the form of “non-dilutive” capital.
Dave Richards, Managing Director of Unitus Seed Fund, said, “There is a massive seed funding gap in most emerging markets due to a lack of a local culture for high-risk ‘angel’ investing by those with wealth. This is particularly true for high demand/low supply emerging sectors such as education, healthcare, retail, agriculture, water and even many technology driven businesses that have substantial brick-and-mortar elements.”
Richards went on to explain their thinking about making these investments to make money for investors. “Some people have suggested that this type of seed funding can only be done by philanthropy. We believe that this can only be done well and scaled if it’s on a for-profit basis. We invest mostly in first-time entrepreneurs seeking to build a venture-backed business. So, we spend a lot of time helping them to understand the whole investor world and perspective and then function as their investment bankers as they seek to raise scale-up capital.”
“We believe that many of the next billion dollar businesses delivering affordable products or services in areas such as education, healthcare and livelihoods will be built in India … and then exported,” Richards concluded.
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February 5, 2015 - Read the full Forbes article and watch the interview here: http://onforb.es/1EHPcwq.
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As more and more people, including investors, increasingly focus on performance measures that aren’t captured in the financial statements, it is important to have some objective standards by which to measure social and environmental impacts and ethical corporate governance. Enter the SASB.
Dr. Jean Rogers, CEO of the SASB, explains, “The information investors need to make decisions has changed. In today’s world, how effectively a company addresses sustainability issues can impact its financial position and future prospects. But investors lack access to standardized information on these increasingly significant factors.”
“SASB standards are created for the markets, by the markets. SASB is a response to investor demand for comparable, decision-useful information on material sustainability factors,” she continues.
“SASB standards help companies comply with existing regulatory requirements. They’re the only sustainability accounting standards that are compatible with U.S. securities law,” she concludes.
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February 5, 2015 - Read the full Forbes article and watch the interview here: http://onforb.es/1EHMkQa.
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Mark Horvath has found an unusual calling in life. He’s taken to creating videos of people experiencing homelessness.
His organization, Invisible People, produces videos of Horvath’s visits with people living on the streets, in shelters and otherwise down on their luck. The videos, posted on YouTube, are shared across social media.
By humanizing and personalizing homelessness, Horvath hopes to move society closer to ending the scourge of homelessness.
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January 29, 2015 - Read the full Your Mark on the World article and watch the interview here: http://bit.ly/1KqlvOP.
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George Lewis is an octogenarian who has no plans to slow down. So what’s he doing that keeps him going? He’s changing the world one glass of water at a time.
George is better known as the Water Man. He’s using his membership in Rotary to really make a difference in the world.
He explains, “6,000 children die every day from water born diseases.”
image By leveraging his Rotary Club, his Rotary District and Rotary International’s Rotary Foundation, he’s learned how to turn one dollar into $3.5 of impact for water.
Over his lifetime, George reports helping over 1.5 million people gain access to clean water.
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January 29, 2015 - Read the full Forbes article and watch the interview here: http://onforb.es/1EHGtKu.
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DreamFund.com is taking crowdfunding to a whole new level, by putting the donated funds into an FDIC insured savings account, allowing people to raise money through giving circles for their biggest dreams.
CEO Kent Plunkett says, “DreamFund started with two important beliefs: that people of all ages struggle to save for the things they strive for, whether that’s a great cause, an experience of a lifetime or an awesome purchase. The second part is that people are inherently generous, both in spirit and in money. Bringing those people together in an easy, affordable, and inspiring way to make dreams come true is the aim of DreamFund.”
CMO Peter Crosby adds, “Just this month alone, our site helped a teen pay for a trip to dance championships in Scotland, a charity get car seats for their clients with cerebral palsy, and a family raise the money to rebuild from a fire. I get to be part of that process every day, and it’s the best work of my life. I’m so grateful.”
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January 29, 2015 - Read the full Forbes article and watch the interview here: http://onforb.es/15PK1uU.
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When disaster strikes, one of the first victims is often the communications system. With cell towers down, power out and phone lines down, even areas within the developed world can become completely isolated, as we saw with Hurricane Sandy. A novel technology addresses this problem in ways you can’t imagine.
Anthony Sutera of nCap has developed a revolutionary technology that allows users to literally spray on an antenna so that the side of a building or a tree can instantly become part of a pop up network to facilitate communications. Of course, the technology still requires a connection to the outside world, but once established that connection can be shared immediately in a neighborhood that has been devastated by a storm or earthquake, allowing emergency responders to communicate, coordinate and care for victims.
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January 29, 2015 - Read the full Your Mark on the World article and watch the interview here: http://bit.ly/1uDD1bh.
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The Social Enterprise Greenhouse in Rhode Island is working to help social entrepreneurs succeed.
Kelly Ramirez, CEO of the SEG as it is commonly known, says, “Our model is unique: comprehensive set of services to support social entrepreneurs from idea to funding.”
She notes, “We mainly work with RI based entrepreneurs but are doing increasingly regional work.” She adds, “Our secret sauce is our amazing network of 150+ business and community leaders who really drive our work.”
Kelly reports that entrepreneurs have created hundreds of jobs in Rhode Island and has helped 250,000 around the world.
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January 29, 2015 - Read the full Forbes article and watch the interview here: http://onforb.es/1zAopkk.
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Field Innovation Team or FIT is bringing hi-tech into the disaster recovery arena by training responders to use it and developing strategic relationships with technology partners to bring their best to bear when it’s needed most.
FIT, a nonprofit, has been in the game since 2010 and has responded to hurricane Sandy, the Boston Marathon Bombing and the 2014 mudslide in Oso, Washington.
By deploying drones over the mudslide, FIT was able to get a better read on the dangerous topography than would have been possible with manned aircraft and was able to do it without putting any humans at risk.
FIT will be taking its robot petting zoo to SXSW. The collection of robots of all sorts that can be used for one purpose or another in disaster recovery. The petting zoo was first assembled to help entertain and educate kids stuck in the 2014 border crisis as young people from Central America sought refuge in the U.S. in unprecedented numbers.
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January 29, 2015 - Read the full GoodCrowdinfo article and watch the interview here: http://bit.ly/1zAAOVh.
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Patrick O’Neill is completely changing the game in crowdfunding. By seeking to crowdsource goods rather money–with the ease of giving cash–Amp Your Good seeks to help nonprofits have more successful drives for goods like food, blankets and building materials.
Patrick explains, “Each year people donate somewhere between $50B to $100B worth of goods to various kinds of physical collection charity drives (food drives, blanket drives, etc.). More than 33% of donated goods are never used by the non-profit organization that receives them. That’s a lot of wasted good intentions.”
In contrast, Patrick says, “100% of the goods raised through our platform are used by the non-profit that receives them.”
Patrick describes the difference this way, “Our platform eliminates some of the challenges faced by physical drives. We remove time and distance as barriers to participate which increases the amount of donations. We make donating goods as easy as donating money and enable people to better understand the impact of their donation more clearly than a monetary donation.”
“We’re super motivated to change food drives. Our vision is to turn the billions of canned goods donated to food drives each year into billions of apples, oranges, sweet potatoes and other healthy food items,” Patrick says.
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January 29, 2015 - Read the full GoodCrowdinfo article and watch the interview here: http://bit.ly/15QgGRl.
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Danae Ringelmann, co-founder of Indiegogo, is one of the leading names in crowdfunding and she’ll be joining us live to discuss last month’s launch of Indiegogo Life.
Danae explained to me in advance, “Last month, we introduced Indiegogo Life, a new service that brings the power of Indiegogo to anyone running a fundraiser for emergencies, medical expenses, celebrations or other life events.”
“With Indiegogo Life, we are delivering the necessary tools for families, friends, and even strangers around the world to connect and support one another . We are committed to providing a personal and authentic service for our customers to help themselves or a loved one – both financially and emotionally,” she continued.
Danae says, the site is already getting traction and having impact, “Since launching Indiegogo Life, people have launched seen thousands of terrific fundraisers. Just last week, there was a fundraiser created by the man behind Humans of NY. He has raised over $850,000 to help an inspiring principal of an inner-city school in Brooklyn send her 6th grade students to Harvard.”
“Our goal with Indiegogo Life is to help as many people as possible. Whether it’s a $500 fundraiser to celebrate a birthday to a $5000 fundraiser to pay for a pup’s surgery, to a $50,000 or $500,000 fundraiser to cover medical bills or send kids to Harvard, Indiegogo’s goal is to help people achieve what they need. Its not a funding contest,” she concluded.
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January 30, 2015 - Read the full Forbes article and watch the interview here: http://onforb.es/1uDLmeV.
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Last month, impact investing and crowdfunding platform Gate Global Impact was acquired by Investview, Inc. Vince Molinari, CEO of Gate Global Impact and Dr. Joseph Louro, CEO of Investview, will be joining me for a live discussion about the deal and its impact.
In a statement describing the transaction, Louro said, “There are three significant components of this monumental acquisition, first is the impact of the GATEWAY technology platform which provides in the electronic investing regulatory compliant marketplace. Secondarily the leadership of Vincent Molinari and Joseph Latona Jr. as demonstrated from congressional testimony on the Jobs act to developing technology which I believe is the ultimate compromise in the democratization of public and private capital formation by bringing all investor types from crowdfunding to accredited to institutional to governmental with a leading compliance infrastructure that offers investor protections and access to quality deal flow all meeting under one tree. Additionally this is evident by the incredible partnerships the GATEWAY platform has in their respective spaces such as The United Nations Global Compact, and being selected and an OPIC EDN originator.”
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January 23, 2015 - Read the full Your Mark on the World article and watch the interview here: http://bit.ly/1CRVci0.
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Becky Morrison found a way to empower people in the developing world by founding Globetops to gather used laptops for those who need them.
Becky explains her motivation for founding Globetops, “For years we have been presented images of people in the developing world who are poor and suffering. But there is another demographic that we don’t see - those who are passionate and powerful! People who may lack resources, but who have big visions for their lives and who are doing great work in their communities.”
“If we can get ourselves out of the way, anything is possible,” she adds.
“There is already enough stuff in the world. The problem is that it’s not in the right places. Everyone is talking about recycling nowadays, but I’m more interested in redistribution,” she concludes.
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January 23, 2015 - Read the full Forbes article and watch the interview here: http://onforb.es/1zzCOg6.
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The Catholic Health Association has recently completed the reconstruction the St. Francis de Sales Hospital in Haiti, restoring and improving health services for the poor there.
Sister Carol Keehan, President and CEO of the Catholic Health Association or CHA, explains, “Members of the Catholic Health Association donated more than $10.1 million to the reconstruction of St. Francis de Sales Hospital in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, destroy in the 2010 earthquake.”
“St. Francis de Sales Hospital, founded in 1881, has been the principal health care provider for the poorest and most vulnerable people of the Haitian capital,” she adds.
“The new hospital is a vitally important part of rebuilding the community of Port-au-Prince and ensuring that its people can receive the medical care and attention they need,” she concludes.
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January 23, 2015 - Read the full Forbes article and watch the interview here: http://onforb.es/1JdMnmz.
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Omidyar Network, founded by Pierre Omidyar, founder of eBay, and his wife Pam, is a driving force in the movement toward impact investing, using investments to drive social impact.
Amy Klement, a partner at Omidyar Network or ON, explains the way she thinks about driving change, “Many ultra-high net worth individuals want to use the wealth they’ve acquired to make a social impact. Yet when creating a legacy, the power of markets often gets left out of their philanthropy.”
She continues, “Our perspective at Omidyar Network is that wealth holders can and should bring their full range of experience and assets to address problems too big to be solved by grants alone. We are ultimately focused on the betterment of humankind. That’s why we focus on impact investing and grants.”
Explaining the way in which ON brings either grants or investments or a combination, Klement says, “A hybrid entity like ours provides the flexibility to do whatever fits the bill. We call it the ‘problem first, tool second’ approach. This approach allows for the market-based solutions that are needed to address long intractable challenges at scale.”
“We support social entrepreneurs and their innovative ideas through impact investing and grants,” she concludes.
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January 23, 2015 - Read the full Forbes article and watch the interview here: http://onforb.es/1JdGmGg.
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GlobalGiving is one of the oldest crowdfunding sites on the web, having been launched half a decade ahead of industry giants Kickstarter and Indiegogo. GlobalGiving is a highly curated platform–an application process is used to screen fundraisers–that services only nonprofit organizations.
CEO and co-founder, Mari Kuraishi, explains its vision, ”The whole reason the GlobalGiving community exists is not only to connect local world-changers to people around the world who have funding to support them, but also to provide access to information, ideas, and tools so that nonprofits can use their funding more effectively. We’re so glad that the GlobalGiving network is becoming so valuable for vital organizations that would otherwise not have access to corporate or foundation funding, or resources like donated smartphones and a custom-made app.”
“The full promise of crowdfunding lies in the crowd, not the funding. Mission-driven crowdfunding platforms have the ability to leverage the deep networks they’ve created to crowdsource not just money, but also world-saving information, ideas and connections,” she adds.
Kuraishi is working to increase her platform’s impact on the nonprofits it serves. “The next decade at GlobalGiving will be about helping every single organization on our crowdfunding platform by providing the tools they need to work smarter. Every week, some 40 percent of the partners we work with log into our system – think of us as a laboratory where thousands of non-profits worldwide can come and test new tools to improve their effectiveness. And like a real behavioral lab, we can offer incentives in the form of access to different funding streams. This combination of performance improvement with funds offers us an opportunity to engage non-profits to learn with us.”
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January 15, 2015 - Read the full GoodCrowdinfo article and watch the interview here: http://bit.ly/1u7owvP.
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Lindsey Nefesh-Clarke has launched Women’s WorldWide Web or W4, a crowdfunding site to help women around the world do more sustainably.
Lindsey explains, “W4 is a social-enterprise, crowdfunding platform dedicated to promoting girls’ and women’s empowerment around the world — in developing and developed countries.”
“We foster women’s social entrepreneurship as a powerful force for good—morally, socially financially, and for the sake of the environment,” she adds.
Lindsey sees hope and opportunity in the developing world. “Across the world, we’re seeing women social entrepreneurs driving change, improving lives, and even saving lives. These women are transforming communities and societies. They’re innovative, creative, and exceptionally resourceful, launching and scaling-up social businesses, often with stunningly limited resources.”
“Everywhere you look, women social entrepreneurs are accomplishing groundbreaking projects. There’s a particularly impressive wave of innovative women social entrepreneurs improving and saving lives in Africa,” she concludes.
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January 15, 2015 - Read the full Forbes article and watch the interview here: http://onforb.es/1u7gX8t.
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Salt Lake County reports having deployed the first implementation of a pay-for-success financing at the county level in the country. Mayor Ben McAdams has been actively involved and is now looking for more ways to apply the nascent financing structure, sometimes called social impact bonds.
McAdams says, “Salt Lake County used the Pay for Success model to send 600 additional low-income kids to preschool in 2013.”
“The Pay for Success model creates a huge opportunity to put taxpayer dollars towards what actually works, rather than following an out-dated recipe that we once thought or hoped would work,” McAdams adds.
McAdams explains his motivation, “Pay for Success is a new and different approach to traditional government programming geared towards addressing social needs in the community. Pay for Success is about better accountability for taxpayer dollars and funding what we know works.”
McAdams sees this as a beginning. “We’re interested in following data and evidence to scale up programs that help folks in their effort to get on a better path for their future.”
Next week, the Mayor is hosting a conference on Pay For Success in Salt Lake City in partnership with the White House. Sponsors for the conference include the Laura and John Arnold Foundation and the Nonprofit Finance Fund.
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January 9, 2015 - Read the full Your Mark on the World article and watch the interview here: http://bit.ly/1u7sHYP.
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Sean Hosman is a lawyer working to reform prisons by applying scientifically-based approaches to reduce recidivism. His goal, he says, is “turning lives around.”
He notes that rehabilitation and support of our inmates, felons and addicts not only improves their lives, but it improves the lives of their families and our communities.
Sean has created Assessments.com to work actively with adult and juvenile corrections agencies and private providers across the country to implement technology, systems and solutions that will turn lives around.
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January 9, 2015 - Read the full Your Mark on the World article and watch the interview here: http://bit.ly/1DDohyx.
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Rob Holzer is a kind of a big deal.
As the CEO of and Founder of Matter Unlimited, Rob helps organizations rebrand themselves with greater social impact at the heart of the new image.
“Plotting a long-term plan for reorienting a company around social purpose can seem daunting, particularly for large established companies, but is quite possible if approached strategically as long-term change management and brand evolution rather than through a lens of a traditional advertising or marketing campaign,” he says.
Making the case for making the change, Rob says, “Creating a plan for social responsibility does more than help the communities in which you operate; it becomes a snowball effect within the entire organization. It begins to improve the quality of employee’s work, their purpose for being there, the consumer outlook on the company and draws in fresh talent who is eager to be a part of the culture of good you have created.”
“The idea of “Pragmatic Idealism” is something we strongly believe in, and something we try to drive into the core of each company we work with. Businesses need to act like businesses but they need to move from a singular drive for profit to a more integrated balance of profit and positive social impact,” he concludes.
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January 9, 2015 - Read the full Forbes article and watch the interview here: http://onforb.es/1Kqz2ZG.
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“Nigeria is paving the way for a polio-free Africa,” according to John Vertefeuille, team lead for Nigeria at the Centers for Disease Control.
With the World Health Organization reporting no cases of polio in Nigeria since July 24, 2014 and the last in Africa reported in August, Vertefeuille’s enthusiasm is well-founded.
The infrastructure that supports polio immunizations was used early in the West African Ebola epidemic to stop its spread in Nigeria, Vertefeueille notes. “The recent Ebola outbreak in Nigeria was successfully interrupted in part because the polio eradication response infrastructure was used; in particular, members of the Nigeria Polio Emergency Operations Center were deployed to coordinate the multi-agency Ebola response.”
Vertefeueille adds cautiously, “Final steps toward polio eradication in Nigeria will require continued national program innovations and strategies to improve polio vaccine coverage for underserved and hard-to-reach communities.”
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January 9, 2015 - Read the full Your Mark on the World article and watch the interview here: http://bit.ly/1DDFYhl.
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The Volunteers of America, Utah new Homeless Youth Resource Center is beginning to take shape. With just $1 million in funding lacking for the $6 million center, homeless youth in Utah can take heart.
The new center will provide youth not only with a safe place to visit during the day, but for the first time it will provide a place to spend the night for up to 30 homeless youth.
Zach Bale, Chief Development Officer for VOA-Utah, says, “Investing now in youth who are on the street can prevent years of trauma, and homelessness that often continues into adulthood. At Volunteers of America, Utah, we’re looking to help youth find a better life, and our Homeless Youth Resource Center is the way to do it.”
Zach puts services in context, noting, “Meeting youth’s most basic needs of hunger, safety, and cleanliness is fundamental; while creating a path to education, employment and housing is what truly transforms.”
"Social issues such as youth homelessness, if seen as a sort of litmus test, can tell us a lot about our current economy, state of family life, and general community well-being."
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January 9, 2015 - Read the full Forbes article and watch the interview here: http://onforb.es/1DDc0tT.
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John Goldstein of Imprint Capital is one of the rare breed of impact investors who has logged some real miles on this path and has some lessons to share as a result.
“In impact investing, people often find themselves stuck at the drawing board – asking broad, sweeping questions as a prelude to determining what to do. In our experience, the drawing board is a great place to ask questions, but a lousy place to answer them. The right question is not whether to do it (or any of the related sub-questions), but what to do and how to do it well,” he says.
He goes on to say, “People perpetually want to make sweeping generalizations about impact investing – does it have good returns or lousy returns? Lots of impact or no impact? In my experience the answer to most of these questions is the much more reasonable (albeit less satisfying) ‘it depends.’”
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January 9, 2015 - Read the full Forbes article and watch the interview here: http://onforb.es/1DDknWr.
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The battle to eradicate polio from planet is at once entirely global and at the same time a very individual process–every single child must be immunized.
Between those two extremes are regional battles to control outbreaks and prevent children from being paralyzed. On October 29, 2013, the first case of polio was reported in Syria after an absence of 14 years. The conflict in Syria was devastating to public health, reducing routine immunizations from 99 percent to 52 percent.
By the end of April of 2014, 36 children in Syria and two in Iraq were paralyzed, but the outbreak appears to have been controlled due to massive efforts on the ground.
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January 9, 2015 - Read the full Your Mark on the World article and watch the interview here: http://bit.ly/1486cM4.
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Celebrity Dentist Bill Dorfman is a real philanthropist at heart.
His LEAP Foundation helps middle-school students from around the world prepare to for successful careers. By bringing students from diverse backgrounds onto the UCLA campus and providing them with motivational content from top speakers.
He’s also worked to support Smiles for Life, Tomorrow Trust and the Los Angeles Battered Women’s Shelter and Safe Passages.
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January 9, 2015 - Read the full Forbes article and watch the interview here: http://onforb.es/1DDwd2I.
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Jill O’Donnell-Tormey is the CEO and director of scientific affairs for the Cancer Research Institute, which focuses its research budget on promising cancer immunotherapy research.
In recent years, new drugs like Yervoy, Opdivo and Keytruda have some people talking about “curing” cancer–and it isn’t just the patients.
“As a scientist, I have been reluctant in the past to use the word “cure” when it comes to cancer, but the durable remissions we are now seeing in some previously untreatable patients gives me and many others great hope that we will, in fact, one day eliminate cancer deaths and effectively cure this disease,” O’Donnell-Tormey says.
“The immune system plays an important role in cancer development and control, and we’re learning through scientific research how the two are related, with the end result being new ways to treat and in some cases prevent cancer with drugs that augment and direct the body’s inherent defenses,” she concludes.
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December 30, 2014 - Read the full Your Mark on the World article and watch the interview here: http://bit.ly/1B0d8YN.
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Sunny Washington has her work cut out for her and she knows it.
"The United States needs more than a million more students graduating with STEM degrees" to meet the projected needs, she explains. "The United States is ranked 24th in math and 21st in science education worldwide."
She notes that “74 percent of girls are interested in science, yet less than 15 percent of girls go on to pursue science careers.”
Sunny leads Ardusat, an education technology company that allows students to conduct experiments in space using small satellites. The mission of Ardusat is to get more kids interested in STEM fields.
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December 30, 2014 - Read the full Forbes article and watch the interview here: http://onforb.es/1vn8oFS.
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“Paul Newman wanted to make the world a better place, and we carry on his legacy to do that ,” says Robert Forrester, President and CEO of Newman’s Own Foundation and Chairman and CEO of Newman’s Own, Inc. “Great tasting foods and a charitable mission are always relevant; they’re at the core of what we do.”
Forrester explains that the foundation owns Newman’s Own, Inc., meaning that 100 percent of distributed profits go to charity. In fact, he reports, that over $400 million has been donated to organizations around the world.
“We recently announced a $10.5 million commitment to nutrition, providing grants to over 36 organizations that focus on fresh food access and nutrition education,” Forrester adds. “Part of this commitment includes the establishment of the first-ever Newman’s Own Foundation Nutrition Cohort, which consists of 6 nonprofits and a research organization.”
The six organizations supported will include:
Fair Food Network (Ann Arbor, MI) FoodCorps (New York, NY) Food Trust (Philadelphia) National Farm to School Network (Chicago) Wellness in the Schools (New York, NY) Wholesome Wave (Bridgeport, CT)
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December 30, 2014 - Read the full Forbes article and watch the interview here: http://onforb.es/1vncYUI.
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Dara Kaplan and her team have recently launched Girlfluence, an “influencer marketing and branding agency” focused on helping women reach and influence other women. The agency was created with a focus on giving back and supporting nonprofit organizations, beginning with a DC-based nonprofit called Spirit Club that serves adults with developmental challenges.
Much of the firm’s work focuses on building brands for women on YouTube. The agency notes that a presence on YouTube is creating fame that rivals Hollywood today.
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December 29, 2014 - Read the full Forbes article and watch the interview here: http://onforb.es/1vnjfzF.
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Joe Schmidt has had a lot of success in his life as an entrepreneur. At this stage of his career, he could be doing just about anything he wants, including nothing. That’s what makes Schmidt’s new venture so interesting.
Schmidt has launched a nonprofit crowdfunding platform called ENDcrowd for the express purpose of ending human trafficking around the world. As the founder of the successful internet business Canvas on Demand, Schmidt may be just the guy to catalyze the world to end slavery.
Schmidt says, “The prominence and magnitude of the problem is astounding: An estimated 35.8 million people are the powerless victims of human trafficking,” citing the Global Slavery Index for 2014.
“Human trafficking is estimated to be a $150 billion a year industry and is the world’s second largest criminal enterprise,” he adds, citing the International Labor Organization.
Within the nonprofit community fighting trafficking a scary statistic is often cited, he says, “Nonprofits battling the issue operate on a comparatively minute budget of an estimated $100 million, combined – that’s a staggering 1 percent of the money generated yearly by the very industry they are fighting.”
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December 11, 2014 - Read the full Your Mark on the World article and watch the interview here: http://bit.ly/1Glcip4.
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As the Christmas season is upon us, WalletHub recently conducted an analysis of rates of charity by state around the United States.
Spokesperson Jill Gonzalez, says, “With 30 percent of annual giving taking place in December and the U.S. co-leading the world with Myanmar in charitable contributions this year, the leading personal finance social network WalletHub conducted an in-depth analysis of 2014’s Most & Least Charitable States.”
She made the following key observations from the report:
The percentage of donated income is four times higher in Utah than in New Hampshire. The median contribution to charity is three times higher in Utah than in Rhode Island. The number of charities per capita is five times higher in Vermont than in Nevada. According to the Wallet Hub report, the top five most giving states are:
Utah South Dakota Idaho Kansas Nebraska. The report says the five least giving states are:
Nevada West Virginia Kentucky New Jersey Arizona
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December 11, 2014 - Read the full Forbes article and watch the interview here: http://onforb.es/1sdbyBD.
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A new report on impact investing from the Impact Investing Policy Collaborative (usually abbreviated IIPC) provides a varied look at the policies and practices that are guiding the rapidly developing industry.
Tonusree Basu, Associate Director, InSight Pacific Community Ventures, who is one of the report authors, explained that “the Impact Investing Policy Collaborative (IIPC) is a global network focused on impact investing policy, founded 5 years ago, as a partnership between a Bay Area based non-profit and impact investor – Pacific Community Ventures – and the Initiative for Responsible Investment at Harvard University.”
Rosemary Addis, Founder and Executive Chair of Impact Investing Australia, another of the report’s authors commented on the growth of impact investing, “Realizing the potential for a global market for impact investment is still a long term game, but it has taken a significant step forward.”
Katie Grace, Program Manager of the Initiative for Responsible Investment at Harvard, another author, commented on the potential for governments to influence the growth of impact investing, “All investment markets are shaped by public policy and have social implications; impact investing markets, and policy, are often the most obviously intentional in identifying and promoting social outcomes.”
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December 18, 2014 - Read the full Your Mark on the World article and watch the interview here: http://bit.ly/1xrEOpC.
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The consummate entrepreneur, Sara Wroblewski, is running the startup she launched in college out of her apartment. Unlike some entrepreneurs, Sara has a vision for her business that is a bit different than some.
Her startup is a nonprofit that focuses on enhancing education both domestically and in East Africa.
Sara describes her domestic program, “During the first three weeks of our program we teach leadership skills, halfway through we present students with a $1000 grant. We then spend the remainder of the program guiding students through the process of creating and pitching individual action plans indicating how they would want to spend this money to improve their own community. At the end of the program one action plan is chosen and that idea is set into motion using the grant money.”
“We believe students should arrive at college, or any future career, already exposed to important leadership skills like public speaking and problem solving," she adds.
She continues her work in East Africa largely through partnerships.
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December 18, 2014 - Read the full Forbes article and watch the interview here: http://onforb.es/1xrzUss.
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buildOn is a nonprofit working to break the cycle of poverty. Although its focus is on improving global literacy rates, it has done a remarkable job of ending its own poverty, if you will, through a bold partnership with GE.
At their 2014 gala, buildOn raised over $3.5 million, crediting GE for its success.
According to a Wall Street Journal article, GE uses its partnership with BuildOn to facilitate recruiting. The partnership goes beyond donations and involves employees in building schools with BuildOn in remote villages. GE professionals who work behind desks find themselves sleeping on floors and doing manual labor as volunteers. GE finds these employees to be happier in their jobs as a result.
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December 18, 2014 - Read the full Your Mark on the World article and watch the interview here: http://bit.ly/1xrx7j2.
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GozAround is a new social network that matches volunteers with opportunities to be of service to nonprofits or to other individuals directly.
Ben Block, founder and CEO, describes his thinking about the new platform, “I can distinctly remember experiences that have shown me the power of helping someone, even in a small way, but also the regret that can come from failing to act.”
He explains his goal for GozAround: “In the world of the 70-hour-workweek, we need to make volunteering and giving back easier for people. My goal is to make it quicker and easier to incorporate kindness and compassion into daily life.”
"Research has shown humans are hardwired for compassion, so we hope the mission of our site will have universal appeal," he concludes.
The site uses points to reward and recognize volunteers, gamifying volunteerism.
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December 18, 2014 - Read the full Your Mark on the World article and watch the interview here: http://bit.ly/1BZEP2K.
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Tom Coughlin, the Super Bowl-winning coach of the New York Giants, and previously of the Jacksonville Jaguars, was inspired by tragedy to launch a foundation to help kids with cancer and their families.
Coach Coughlin was the head coach at Boston College where he had a player, Jay McGillis, who succumbed to leukemia while on the team. The Tom Coughlin Jay Fund Foundation was named in part for this brave player.
Growing from helping 20 families in 2005, to helping 663 families in 2014, the Jay Fund is accelerating its impact. In October, the Foundation raised $1.4 million for families in the New York/New Jersey area families.
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December 18, 2014 - Read the full Your Mark on the World article and watch the interview here: http://bit.ly/1xrzzWW.
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It doesn’t take a PhD in economics to appreciate that the countries of West Africa impacted most by Ebola are not able to prosper with that added weight. The effect of Ebola on the impoverished nations in the region will prove devastating to hundreds of thousands not directly impacted by Ebola if more help isn’t provided, according to Action Against Hunger CEO Andrea Tamburini.
He says, “Partly due to fear of contracting Ebola or being associated with the disease, residents of Sierra Leone have ceased seeking help for malnutrition. Action Against Hunger has identified a 66% decline in new admissions to Peripheral Health Units and a 90% decline to Stabilization Centers in Western Area from July through Sept. of 2014.”
To put a sense of scale to the discussion, he notes, “At least 700,000 people will join the more than 5 million people already at risk of food insecurity in Liberia, Nigeria and Sierra Leone. It’s likely that the number of people exposed to undernutrition will reach levels not seen for five or six years.”
According to Andrea, the problems that lead to the crisis are varied, but include, “A shortage of manpower due to movement restrictions related to the Ebola outbreak. Farmers have abandoned their crops as they seek refuge in locations considered less exposed to the virus.
Road blocks manned by police and military are preventing the movement of farmers and laborers as well as the supply of goods. Single mothers have been particularly hit hard, as they have to provide meals to their families by themselves.”
Another issue, he notes, “A spike in food costs occurred due to closure of many border posts. Formal trade has been severely hampered, reducing availability and driving up prices in most sectors, particularly food. Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone are grain-importing countries. Liberia, the country with the most people suffering from Ebola, is also the most dependent on external supplies.”
Action Against Hunger is working to address the problems, Andrea says:
“While the priority is to stop the epidemic, food plays a crucial role in maintaining the health of the people in the Ebola impacted countries.
- Track food security of those producers and importers of grain.
- Provide food, farming and economic aid.
- We and other aid organizations have assessed areas of Sierra Leone. Critical steps call to provide: Seeds and planting materials; a broad feeding program for children under five and pregnant mothers, and longer term, cash for work program to shore up the economy and marketplace.”
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December 18, 2014 - Read the full Forbes article and watch the interview here: http://onforb.es/1BZx119.
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Deloitte is working to make a difference in American education at scale.
David Porges, Deloitte’s Director for Corporate Citizenship, explains, “Deloitte is focused on education because the intellectual capital of our people is the foundation of our organization and our economy. Today’s students are the future innovators and leaders. We believe we have an obligation and ability to work with others to improve access to high-quality education programs for students nationwide.”
Deloitte runs a program called RightStep to accomplish its educational impact objectives. “RightStep is Deloitte’s way of giving back to education in America. By tapping into all of our assets – e.g., philanthropy, skilled volunteering, pro bono, etc. — we work year-round with nonprofits such as College Summit, City Year, and Posse Foundation to create real change for more than 240,000 students each year,” Porges said.
He added, “Deloitte does everything from skills-based volunteering, board leadership, thought leadership and cash donations to support students on their journey from high school through college and into the workforce. For example, our professionals serve as year-round mentors to underserved high schools across the US through our Deloitte Academy program. In New York City, 100% of our mentees have been accepted to college in a school with a 55% graduation rate.”
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December 18, 2014 - Read the full GoodCrowdinfo article and watch the interview here: http://bit.ly/1xrDi6K.
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« Indiegogo Launches Indiegogo Life, Eliminates Fees For Personal Cause CampaignsGlobalGiving Crowdfunds More than $3 Million for Ebola » Dara Albright Speaks Out On Reg A+ Published December 17, 2014 | By Devin Thorpe Dara Albright is one of the bona fide leaders in the investment crowdfunding world. She’s passionate about the potential crowdfunding has to accelerate the economy and to democratize capital by allowing ordinary investors to buy shares in startups and other offerings traditionally available only to the wealthy.
Dara says, “My mission is to provide a workable framework for unaccredited crowdfunding so that smaller investors can access the same opportunities as the financially privileged.”
“Given that Title III is cost-prohibitive for smaller issuers, Title II discriminates against unaccrediteds and the small cap IPO has died, Reg A+ (Title IV) may just provide the most pragmatic solution,” she adds.
Regulation A+, defined under Title IV of the JOBS Act passed in 2012, allows companies to raise up to $50 million without being subject to the full pantheon of SEC regulations for a traditional IPO.
“I just don’t understand the logic behind the existing framework that permits average citizens to purchase stocks only when “sophisticated” investors are ready to dump them,” she concludes.
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December 11, 2014 - Read the full Forbes article and watch the interview here: http://onforb.es/1sdLczd.
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“Wealth has never been so concentrated as it is today, while families find it increasingly difficult to climb the ladder of prosperity,” says Anne Mosle, the lead author on a new impact investing report from Ascend, a family-focused effort at the Aspen Institute, “The Bottom Line: Impacting Investing for Economic Mobility in the US.” She adds, “32 million children live in low-income families and one in four lives in poverty. This disparity points to the urgent need to enlist all sectors in breaking the cycle of poverty.”
Mosle describes the cause of this cycle, saying, “The reality is that our systems have not kept pace with the dramatic shifts in family structure and demographics.”
Striking a more hopeful note, Mosle notes, ”When we think about what it takes to meet the needs of today’s families, we believe there is an opportunity to harness the creative energy, experience, and results-oriented approach of the private sector, and tap into a substantial amount of investment capital, as a way to tackle society’s most nettlesome problems.”
“The Aspen Institute survey found several promising trends in the kinds of projects impact investments are financing. For example, the survey found a significant amount of investment capital — nearly $3 billion worth — is advancing economic mobility for families,” she concluded, noting a specific finding of her report.
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Read the full GoodCrowdinfo article and watch the interview here: http://bit.ly/1sdQqLm.
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Doug Ellenoff, Partner at Ellenoff Grossman & Schole, is a leading legal expert in the burgeoning field of investment crowdfunding. He recently sent an alert to clients warning them to be guard against “touting” violations that arise when compensation arrangements aren’t disclosed that the SEC now intends to pursue.
The alert read, in part, “The SEC appears to be preparing to target investment platforms that post issuers’ securities without explicitly disclosing the compensation received from such issuers.”
“We are concerned that a broad interpretation of Section 17(b) could be imposed on all online portals involved in the sale of securities, not limited to “posting sites”, but broker-dealer, investment advisory and investment management models as well,” the alert continued.
The alert concluded with this specific recommendation:
Recommended action: All platforms (regardless of whether you are posting only, have a broker-dealer relationship, or create special purpose vehicles) should include either a section in the terms of use or create a “Disclaimer” page for a description of platform compensation which is featured via a link within the offering materials. Further, any supplemental communications (e.g., email, circular or other publication) with potential investors regarding the sale of securities on behalf of issuers should include a similar link to the compensation disclosure. It is not sufficient to have a general link on the website footer alongside the link to terms of use or to provide generic disclosure. Operators of investment platforms should also avoiding referring to themselves as “independent” of issuers if they receive posting fees, since doing so may misrepresent the relationship between the two parties.
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December 11, 2014 - Read the full Forbes article and watch the interview here: http://onforb.es/1sdU9sq.
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Sustainable investing is growing at an accelerating rate, according to a recent report on trends from the US SIF or The Forum for Sustainable and Responsible Investment.
CEO Lisa Woll explains, “US assets invested in SRI [socially responsible investments] have grown 76 percent in the past two years.” She noted that it was the “largest increase that we have seen since we began publishing these reports in 1995.”
She further noted that climate change is getting more attention in investment circles. Environmental, social and governance criteria among investors are also gaining traction. “Investment firms are beginning to believe their duty is to look at both a company’s financial performance and its commitment to ESG issues.”
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December 11, 2014 - Read the full GoodCrowdinfo article and watch the interview here: http://bit.ly/1GlmYnF.
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The ALS Ice Bucket Challenge has inspired a new entrant in the crowdfunding for nonprofits arena: JusTagMe.com.
Launched by crowdfunding site Darelicious, the new site is specifically designed to facilitate a challenge like the uber-successful ALS effort last summer, which raised over $100 million.
Founder Jorge Hernandez commented on the launch, “We full acknowledge that the success of the ALS challenge is not something easily replicated, but don’t think it’s ALS success or nothing. We look at JusTagMe as a site where organizations can raise money by utilizing minuscule resources. The value we’re offering is the ability to maximize their return with a very small investment of time. JusTagMe.com does not cost any money to use.”
December 4, 2014 - Read the full Forbes article and watch the interview here: http://onforb.es/1GluT49.
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Deloitte’s Monitor Institute has been collaborating with New Profit, a venture philanthropy fund, for 15 years “to help social entrepreneurs grow their impact,”according to Monitor’s Chief Operating Officer Dana O’Donovan.
O’Donovan says, “Our work with New Profit reflects a strong belief that we have – which is that impactful cross-sector collaborations are going to drive solutions to some of the world’s biggest issues.”
According to Vanessa Kirsch, Founder and CEO of New Profit, “One part of the recipe for scaling social innovations is getting nonprofits and social entrepreneurs access to the same powerful resources and expertise that Fortune 500 companies have.”
December 4, 2014 - Read the full GoodCrowdinfo article and watch the interview here: http://bit.ly/1yPm1SR.
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Brian Dally, co-founder and CEO of GROUNDFLOOR, has created a way for individuals within communities to come together to invest in real estate in a way that will have a positive impact on their community.
“People can now invest money in such a way that investments stay local, and this creates tangible impacts at the community level” Brian says.
“GROUNDFLOOR grows your investment while making an impact. If you want to renovate a neighborhood, you could rally your friends together to back properties within the same neighborhood,” Brian continues. “This not only improves the community, but backers also see a higher return on their investment than with a traditional savings account. 100% of our loans are available to participation by everyone.”
December 4, 2014 - Read the full GoodCrowdinfo article and watch the interview here: http://bit.ly/1yP3qq1.
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My friend, Manolis Sfinarolakis, is as passionate about crowdfunding as anyone I’ve ever met. In addition, we share a love of Google Hangouts on Air. He’s the host of Reality Crowd TV, an online series about crowdfunding with a rapidly growing audience. Check out his YouTube channel.
Manolis has also recently created a virtual incubator and crowdfunding syndicate.
December 4, 2014 - Read the full Your Mark on the World article and watch the interview here: http://bit.ly/1yOKyro.
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Engineering World Health, often abbreviated EWH, is working to “improve health care deliverty in the developing world,” according to CEO Leslie Calman.
She explains, “ Engineering World Health (EWH) is a non-profit organization that brings engineering students, professionals, and healthcare providers together to collaborate on the development and utilization of biomedical equipment in the developing world.”
“Our Web site serves as a hub to share ideas and develop collaborative relationships that are then brought to fruition in country, where engineering students repair lifesaving medical equipment to facilities in need and train Biomedical Engineering Technicians to repair and maintain that equipment,” she concludes.
December 4, 2014 - Read the full Forbes article and watch the interview here: http://onforb.es/1tH0Aiv.
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The U.S. Department of State recently awarded its P3 Impact Award to Cocoa Link, a public private partnership connecting poor cocoa farmers in West Africa to government resources to improve crop yields. The initiative, launched by Hershey, was recognized for its impact on 45,000 users. Work is moving forward to scale the effort to more countries.
Crowdsourcing design company CrowdSPRING provided a five-panel mural recognizing all five of the finalists: African Diaspora Marketplace, Global Alliance for Clean Cookstoves, The Coca-Cola KO +2.87% Company and the World Wildlife Fund : Partnering to Protect Freshwater Resources, Wireless Access for Health Initiative and the winner Cocoa Link.
December 4, 2014 - Read the full Forbes article and watch the interview here: http://onforb.es/1zk0tx5.
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Equity crowdfunding site EquityNet has fully embraced real estate finance on the platform, while continuing to provide services to entrepreneurs across a range of industries.
Founder and CEO Judd Hollas explains the appeal of real estate, “Most real estate investments pay an ongoing yield that is backed by tangible assets. Real estate projects are hence typically perceived as lower risk investments with the combination of both near term yield and long term equity upside. After a 30 percent decline in recent years, the real estate market is also in a long term uptrend that is attracting a great amount of investor interest.”
“Crowdfunding lets investors leverage the power of the internet to quickly find deals and efficiently conduct their due diligence. Real estate is an industry that is embracing crowdfunding as an alternative to traditional funding options,” Hollas continued.
“Currently, only accredited investors can participate in business crowdfunding,” Hollas cautioned. “Title III of the JOBS Act will allow nearly anyone to participate in business crowdfunding; however, finalized rules are still pending. Once these rules are in place we can expect to see an influx of capital in the real estate market since the pool of potential investors will have grown exponentially from 10 million accredited investors to over 100 million accredited and non-accredited investors,” Hollas concluded.
November 25, 2014 - Read the full Your Mark on the World article and watch the interview here: http://bit.ly/1FkZX5C.
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Evrnu is a social enterprise with a mission to reduce waste by recycling cotton clothing. By taking clothing that would otherwise go into the landfill or be incinerated and converting into a usable textile fiber, Evrnu is allowing consumers a new choice in fashion.
Founder Stacy Flynn said, “Sustainable practices and textile innovations like Evrnu that reduce resource extraction and waste will save the fashion industry from itself.”
She notes, “The fashion world thrives on style obsolescence and consumption.” She hopes to fundamentally change the fashion industry by enabling ever-changing fashion to become more environmentally friendly.
Stacy is presently raising money for Evrnu via a crowdfunding campaign on Indieogo, where, with just a week to go she is approaching her goal of $25,000.
November 25, 2014 - Read the full Forbes article and watch the interview here: http://onforb.es/1y8HFlM.
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“ADHD is like having a powerful race car for a brain, but with bicycle brakes. You need to strengthen your brakes to win races in life,” said Dr. Ned Hallowell, an MD child psychiatrist and leading authority on ADHD.
Recently, 15 nonprofits collaborated to create Understood.org with help from Hallowell to help students with ADHD and a variety of other learning and attention issues.
Philanthropist Shelly London explains, “One in five children struggles with issues related to reading, writing, math, focus and organization. These kids are as smart as their peers, and with the right strategies and support, they can go from simply coping to truly thriving in school and in life.”
“Parents told us that they want personalized support all along the journey with their kids. But that’s not easy to find. So the 15 nonprofits came together to give all parents access to just that no matter what resources they have or where they live,” she continued.”
“Understood is a comprehensive free online resource that empowers parents through personalized support, daily access to experts, specially designed tools and a secure community. It is available in English, Spanish and read-aloud mode and works equally well on computer, tablet and smartphone,” she concluded.
Hallowell added, “As a parent, how you approach your child’s learning and attention issues will set the tone for how your child manages it his or herself. When you show them compassion and understanding, you teach them to love themselves and see their strengths.”
Read the full Your Mark on the World article and watch the interview here: http://bit.ly/1xtMBxV.
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Sarah Holbrooke’s Pinhead Institute in Telluride, Colorado is working to bring world-class STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) education to rural Colorado. That’s about as far away from her past career as a network television producer as you can get.
“Science is going to save the world, and it’s not my generation that is going to do it. It is up to the younger generation to discover new ways forward through STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) advances,” Sarah explains. “Pinhead inspires young minds to get interested and involved in all levels of STEM, in fun and illuminating ways. We work with kids in grades K - 12 in rural southwestern Colorado, providing inspiration through presentations by working scientists, and hands-on educational programs throughout the school year and during the summer with various camps and our prestigious internships for high schoolers.”
November 25, 2014 - Read the full GoodCrowdinfo article and watch the interview here: http://bit.ly/1FkIJVZ.
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Visit the crowdfunding page at Kickstarter: http://bit.ly/peaceflick.
What if we trained peacekeepers the way we train generals? That’s the question that Burundi asked and answered with formal training for government and military leaders on building peace.
Filmmaker Jamil Simon is producing a documentary called Fragile Island of Peace about that effort and raising money for the production via Kickstarter.
Commenting on his reason for making the film, Jamil said, “Peacebuilding efforts are currently stuck in a negative cycle rooted in lack of awareness, that severely restricts their potential. Peacebuilding is not recognized as a viable solution to conflict. To reverse that cycle, we need to use media to promote the great, often heroic, work peacebuilders are doing.”
“We need to connect the work of peacebuilding and peacebuilders with the achievement of peace, in the minds of diplomatic and military leaders, as well as the pubic,” he continued.
“I look forward to the day that we send peacekeepers into conflict areas before we send in bombs or soldiers,” he concluded.
November 25, 2014 - Read the full GoodCrowdinfo article and watch the interview here: http://bit.ly/1FkWIex.
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Anisa Mirza created Giveffect to address the problems she faced in fundraising for nonprofits.
“After graduating from McMaster University, I began working with various not-for-profit organizations,” Anisa explained. “Despite my passion for giving back, I absolutely despised the fundraising and data management aspects of my job. The software we were using at these nonprofits was certainly not user friendly – to say the least”
“Created as a tool that would help nonprofits engage with donors, especially Millennials and vice versa, Giveffect combined my passion for technology and my knowledge of nonprofit fundraising management, and became a powerful operating system for nonprofits,” Anisa continued.
“The nonprofit industry is seeing the same magnitude of disruption that online retail experienced 10 years ago. Donors (esp Millennial donors) have the same expectations of their online giving experience as they do with ebay, paypal etc. The digital disruption is here and many nonprofits are seriously looking for ways to respond and adapt,” she concluded.
November 20, 2014 - Read the full Forbes article and watch the interview here: http://onforb.es/1vnntNw.
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Conservation finance is a relatively new concept in impact investing circles that looks to create financial returns from conservation activities. The Freshwater Trust is a key player in this promising financial arena.
Traditionally, most money spent on conservation comes from governments. Some additional philanthropic dollars are also invested in the space. About 75 to 80 percent of the annual $300 to $400 million required to preserve biodiversity and ecosystems globally is unmet.
Folks like Joe Whitworth, President of the Freshwater Trust, believe that tapping in to investment dollars is the only way to cover the huge shortfall.
In a statement, the Trust provided an example:
The Trust has developed a natural system for cooling Pacific Northwest river water (important for salmon) that places great value in the quantifiable properties and benefits of each project. It works like this: Waste water from facilities that treat wastewater is often heated to kill bacteria, but the water is too warm to be discharged directly into the river and must first be cooled to protect fish. Local LOCM -7.52% companies and governments often build expensive cooling systems, but it is easier—and cheaper—to cool the river with shade planted by local landowners. For half the price, The Freshwater Trust can cool twice the amount of water, while protecting riverbanks from erosion and developing new habitats for animals.
November 25, 2014 - Read the full Forbes article and watch the interview here: http://onforb.es/1vH0Y6d.
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Singer David Osmond, who himself has MS, recently received the “Can Do Award” from Can Do MS, a national nonprofit working to empower people with MS.
According to a Can Do MS, Osmond performed at a gala in his honor on October 23, 2014 where $189,000 was raised for the nonprofit.
“I’m beyond humbled and honored to receive the Can Do Award,” said Osmond. “I know firsthand how essential role models are in overcoming difficulties in life and I’m excited to serve as one in the MS community.”
Osmond, whose father Alan Osmond is one of the famous Osmond Brothers; he was forced to retire early due to MS. The younger Osmond says he lives by words his father spoke, “I may have MS, but MS does NOT have me.”
November 25, 2014 - Read the full GoodCrowdinfo article and watch the interview here: http://bit.ly/1yVsBGj.
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Social entrepreneur Kyle Thomas and his team have developed an app called Adora to deliver advertising to the lock screen of your phone with proceeds going to a charity of your choice. Adora is about a client of the Your Mark on the World Center.
Kyle noted, “Adora is a win, win, win, – a win for advertisers, a win for charities, and a win for that app users.”
Explaining the potential impact, Kyle said, “Doing good doesn’t have to always be a grand gesture. Add up many small good deeds and you can have an amazing impact.”
“Advertising can mean something, giving users a choice in the advertising they see can play a huge part in reaching an individual in ways they actually want to be reached, and it creates more value for the advertiser. The fact that our app does good is an amazing benefit to this process; the more valuable an app user is to an advertiser the more we can all donate to a cause,” Kyle concluded.
November 20, 2014 - FRead the full Forbes article and watch the interview here: http://onforb.es/11zzFgJ.
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Greg Lais, the founder and executive director of Wilderness Inquiry, a national nonprofit sharing outdoor experiences with all sorts of people, explains his philosophy in a few short sentences, “Attitude is more important than ability” and “Wilderness helps us discover our common humanity.”
The RBC Foundation-USA recently made a $300,000 grant to Wilderness Inquiry to fund its youth-focused programs.
“RBC and Wilderness Inquiry share a common commitment to natural resources in the U.S. and to young people,” said John Taft, CEO, RBC Wealth Management-U.S. in a published statement. “We are proud to be a part of a program that provides an educational experience for youth and inspires them to become environmental stewards for future generations.”
November 20, 2014 - Read the full Your Mark on the World article and watch the interview here: http://hope.ly/1pReK4m.
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A team of researchers at the University of Michigan’s William Davidson Institute have recently published a document called, “A Roadmap for the Base of the Pyramid Domain: Re-Energizing for the Next Decade.”
The team of authors included Ted London, Stuart Hart and Sateen Sheth.
According to Ted, “The Roadmap outlines a shared vision for the future of the BoP domain. It includes a set of actionable initiatives that serve as platforms to share knowledge, learn, and support BoP enterprises more effectively. The document helps chart the way forward for inclusive business ventures that serve low income communities in developing countries.”
He further explained, “The Roadmap was created because, in the past decade,there has been tremendous growth in the number of BoP enterprises launched, as well as investor interest and support. However, there is a need for greater efforts to determine what works, what doesn’t, and what’s needed to increase positive impact in the BoP domain.”
“Implementing the Roadmap initiatives requires support and commitment from the entire BoP community. The BoP Roadmap lays out the path ahead of us, but success requires a willingness to continue to invest in learning, as well as doing,” Ted concluded.
November 25, 2014 - Read the full Forbes article and watch the interview here: http://onforb.es/1vGVyrP.
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“Black Friday,” a label for the Friday following Thanksgiving, led to the moniker “Cyber Monday” for the peak on-line shopping day on the following Monday. In 2012, the next day of the calendar got a new name: Giving Tuesday (almost universally written as #GivingTuesday, complete with hashtag, reflecting its made for social media origins). This year, #GivingTuesday falls on December 2.
President and CEO of the UN Foundation, Kathy Calvin, said, “UN Foundation is proud to be a founding partner of #GivingTuesday, which was launched as an alternative to the widely-recognized shopping events Black Friday and Cyber Monday, to kick off the holiday giving season. In just three years, it has become one of the largest initiatives dedicated to giving back.”
“#GivingTuesday is a true example of how businesses both large and small, charities, families, community centers and students around the world and at a local level are coming together to celebrate the spirit of giving and doing good,” Calvin added.
“As an organization, our primary mission is to build public/private partnerships to address the world’s most pressing problems. Through innovative campaigns and initiatives like #GivingTuesday, which brings together partners from various sectors, we are able to reach broader audiences and inspire people of all backgrounds to give back in a big way,” Calvin continued.
“Now in its third year, #GivingTuesday is set to make its mark once again this holiday season by harnessing the power of social media and the generosity of people around the world to bring about real change in their communities,” Calvin concluded.
November 20, 2014 - Read the full GoodCrowdinfo article and watch the interview here: http://bit.ly/1BLKhKm.
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One of the oldest crowdfunding sites on the web, GlobalGiving, just compiled a guide to crowdfunding that is available for free on the web.
According to Michael Gale, Senior Program Manager, “The guide distills some of the best practices we’ve seen over the our last decade.”
“We have a goal to support 10,000 nonprofit organizations around the world by 2020,” Michael said. “This guide, we hope, will help more organizations – particularly organizations that are new to online fundraising or crowdfunding – have greater success with their fundraising efforts, both on and off our platform.”
“The ‘funding’ in crowdfunding is important – and its the reason most organizations are intrigued by the concept,” continued Michael. “We think there is also power in the community building and accountability aspect of raising small amounts of money from many people. Our cofounder, Mari Kuraishi, says that ‘The power of crowdfunding isn’t in the funding, it’s in the crowd.'”
November 20, 2014 - Read the full Your Mark on the World article and watch the interview here: http://bit.ly/1uwuOYf.
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The wealth management firm Envestnet|PMC recently published a study that looked at investment returns on socially responsible investments. The results were surprising.
“This Envestnet|PMC study shows that Socially Responsible Investing (SRI) funds perform as well, on average, as non-SRI funds, but with less of a downside in down-markets,” explained Brandon Thomas, Envestnet|PMC Co-Founder and CIO. “These findings could persuade conservative investors to use these types of funds as part of their portfolios as much for their particular investment profiles as for the ‘social good’ aspect - which is just an added bonus.”
“It shows that investors who want to do good are not having to give up financial returns for societal/environmental returns, which is good for everyone,” Brandon concluded.
November 20, 2014 - Read the full Your Mark on the World article and watch the interview here: http://bit.ly/1ti1EsN.
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On June 12, 2014 we visited here with Nicholas Fusso about the $20,000 D-Prize, a cash award for social entrepreneurs with a plan to effectively distribute proven poverty solutions. Nicholas is back to report.
"During our first [interview], we talked about an upcoming D-Prize competition. We have since finished that, and found some extraordinary new entrepreneurs," Nicholas said.
"We continue to see great proposals from US-based entrepreneurs. We are also excited to see a growing number of good proposals from candidates already living in developing countries," Nicholas continued. "For instance, this last competition included an entrepreneur from Nigeria."
Nicholas went on to explain, “Our earlier winners are also making huge strides. Collectively they have raised over $1m after receiving a D-Prize award. They have also gone on to help tens of thousands of people already.”
"We have already launched a new prize competition to find the next wave of social entrepreneurs. The deadline to apply is December 30, and you only need to submit a 2 page concept note and a resume. Come tell us how you will provide real poverty solutions to those in need," Nicholas concluded.
November 13, 2014 - Read the full GoodCrowd.info article and watch the interview here: http://bit.ly/1xi3KQ3.
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Two socially minded entrepreneurs have come together to create a new reality TV show called Crowdfunding Mojo, which they describe as “Share Tank meets American Idol.”
Mark Grimes and Perry Gruber explain, “The show centers around everyday people who have an idea and want to see if crowdfunding is an option for them all while working with successful entrepreneurs as their mentors.”
July 10, 2014 - Read the full Forbes article and watch the interview here: http://onforb.es/1sObwP4.
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Dr. James Mayfield has spent much of his life working to end poverty and he thinks he’s got it figured out.
“Go to the people, live among the people, learn from the people, plan with the people, work with the people, start with what the people know, and build on what the people have,” he says.
In 1982, after years as an academic and a consultant, he helped found CHOICE Humanitarian, a nonprofit organization, to work actively to end poverty. CHOICE is working now in Nepal, Mexico, Guatemala, Bolivia and Kenya.
The CHOICE model has three distinct phases:
Organizing: All projects are village based and begin by having the village identify leaders and key community resources to build upon; this process can take up to one year. Mobilizing: The village, over the course of two to three years, develops and completes discrete projects with the help of local government leaders, NGOs and CHOICE resources; the key is what the village learns about completing projects and making change happen. Institution Building: After three or four years, the village begins to develop a stronger local economy and greater independence with better connections to the national government and national economy, allowing the village to carry on the work of lifting itself out of poverty. In February 2015, I will be traveling with CHOICE on an expedition to Nepal to further the work of poverty eradication there. I’m excited to get see the work in action and to actually be a part of the solution to poverty.
November 13, 2014 - Read the full GoodCrowd.info article and watch the interview here: http://bit.ly/1xtLq3Q.
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Hey guys my name is Matt Ward and I’m the guy behind the Art of the Kickstart podcast and blog. I’m not some world-renowned figure or overly accomplished individual but an ordinary guy like you looking to change the world and create amazing. As an engineer, entrepreneur and aspiring inventor I believe in the power of innovation and its ability to empower individuals the world over. My podcast focuses on fueling creators, designers, and developers dreams of crowdfunding success and creating the world of tomorrow. All-in-all I walk a path of entrepreneurial unknown in which I have overcome frequent failures, screwy startups and many many mistakes in order to learn, live and lead others on their own unexpected entrepreneurial adventures.
November 13, 2014 - Read the full Your Mark on the World article and watch the interview here: http://bit.ly/1xhLuGm.
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I am so excited! Fresh off my Rotary trip to Ethiopia for polio immunizations, I’m now looking forward to my service expedition with CHOICE Humanitarian to Nepal in February. Here’s the news: you can join me. I hope you will!
Wade Alexander, who recently returned from Kenya himself, is the expedition leader for CHOICE. He says, “Expeditions are life-changing experiences. Expeditions allow others to broaden global perspectives and serve hand-in-hand with rural villagers.”
See my interview with CHOICE Humanitarian Founder Jim Mayfield for Forbes.
November 13, 2014 - Read the full GoodCrowd.info article and watch the interview here: http://bit.ly/1u1Qxa2.
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Fairfundr has an ambitious goal to help 1 million creative entrepreneurs around the world raise $10,000 over the next five years. Now that’s a goal!
Fairfundr founders Jeannine and Rajiv Srivastava explain, “We found out that more and more people want to make a living with their talent and they are not satisfied with current funding models – crowdfunding platforms that are mostly DIY, Bank loans that require Collateral and VC models that require equity and lead to endless discussions.”
November 13, 2014 - Read the full Your Mark on the World article and watch the interview here: http://bit.ly/1u1Xvfc.
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Emmy Award winner Cara Jones gave up her fabulous career as a television report to build Storytellers for Good to share stories about people who are doing good.
Cara explained her work to me, saying, “Storytelling has the power to cut through the digital noise and create authentic connection.”
She added, “People want to be part of something that is inspiring and makes them feel good and are motivated from that place.”
November 13, 2014 - Read the full Forbes article and watch the interview here: http://onforb.es/1xhJ7TP.
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Chevron CVX +0.81% has committed $140 million to education in the U.S. since 2010 and will top $45 million in 2014 alone, according to Brent Tippen, a spokesman for Chevron.
In a partnership with the crowdfunding-for-teachers site DonorsChoose called “Fuel Your School” over 17,000 projects at more than 3,000 schools have been funded, according to Tippen.
Commenting on Chevron’s motivation, Tippen noted, “Effective STEM education – science, technology, engineering and math – is one of the most fundamental requisites to securing healthy future economic growth for the country.”
“Innovative approaches are needed to help public school classrooms,” he added.
DonorsChoose CEO Charles Best reported, “This back-to-school season was our best ever at DonorsChoose.org, which is great news for teachers who spend, on average, about $500 of their own money each year for classroom resources.”
“Chevron is helping us reach our “big hairy audacious goal” of raising $100 million for 100% of the nation’s highest poverty schools, all in one calendar year,” he concluded.
October 30, 2014 - Read the full Forbes article and watch the interview here: http://onforb.es/1Dzshyo.
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Tides is a nonprofit organization that offers a wide range of services to donors and nonprofit projects. Based in San Francisco, Tides taps into the Silicon Valley community and brings an innovative approach to charitable giving.
Entrepreneurs and others use Tides to manage donor advised funds that reportedly total billions of dollars. Tides also helps people running nonprofit projects, that is nonprofit efforts that are not conducted by 501(c)(3) organizations, with a variety of services, from office space and consulting to fiscal sponsorship, which allows the projects to accept tax deductible donations through Tides.
October 30, 2014 - Read the full Your Mark on the World article and watch the interview here: http://bit.ly/1DyiE2W.
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The Hult Prize, arguably the most prestigious student business competition of any sort, awards student social entrepreneurs with a $1 million prize from the Hult Family presented by President Bill Clinton at the the Clinton Global Initiative. In a special series on the Hult Prize, we are profiling all of the finalists at YourMarkOnTheWorld.com. The winner was profiled at Forbes.
Reach Diagnostics, a student team from York University in Toronto, and the youngest team among the Hult Prize finalists, treats urban slum dwellers living with diabetes. By combining old and new technology to create affordable treatment plans for the poor, the team hopes to improve health outcomes dramatically.
October 30, 2014 - Read the full Your Mark on the World article and watch the interview here: http://bit.ly/1DzQ0yu.
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At its recent fall conference, the Social Venture Network recognized four entrepreneurs with its Innovation Awards. Among the winners was Alfa Demmellash, CEO of Rising Tide Capital.
Alfa shared some of her thinking with us.
Explaining what it means to be a social entrepreneur, she said, “Being a social entrepreneur means leveraging business principles and sensibilities to create solutions that combat social issues.”
"I am passionate about the possibilities that occur when individuals see the world around them differently, and believe they can actually make a difference," she added.
"A lot of people have great vision and ideas but are held back by fear of failure and other people’s opinions. You have to inoculate yourself against those internal and external voices. You have to arrive at a place where you think you have a limited time to make your mark on this planet," she continued.
Hinting at her nonprofit’s unlikely focus on entrepreneurship, she concluded, “Business is at the heart of what can positively impact other prevalent crises that we are trying to address. Surprisingly very minimal effort and investment go into the creation of localized businesses within communities that have been traditionally marginalized. It is clear that this is one of the only ways to address the underlying issue of economic poverty.”
October 30, 2014 - Read the full GoodCrowd.info article and watch the interview here: http://bit.ly/1qzm67F.
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HalalSky is a new crowdfunding platform that focuses on the Muslim market, providing Sharia compliant services.
October 30, 2014 - Read the full Forbes article and watch the interview here: http://onforb.es/1FXzL27.
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As we look closer at where the leaders are in the impact investing world, we’re finding more evidence that high-net-worth families and individuals are among those who have the greatest experience in the space.
Matthew Weatherley-White runs The CAPROCK Group, a multi-family office that focuses on impact investing. On Thursday, October 30, 2014 at 5;00 Eastern, Weatherley-White will join us for a live discussion about impact investing. Tune in here then to watch the interview live.
In preparation for the interview, Weatherley-White explained, “I find the notion that capital markets should not be morally reflective laughable. Of course they reflect our morals. The question is not whether or not they should reflect our morals. The question is ‘What morals do we want them to reflect.’”
Similarly, he asks capitalists to consider the impact of all of their investments, “I am a full-throated capitalist, and passionate advocate for the power of the capital markets to effect change. And I would encourage anyone who feels similarly to ask a simple question: ‘if we accept the premise that every investment decision has an impact, what is the impact we seek?’”
October 30, 2014 - Read the full GoodCrowd.info article and watch the interview here: http://bit.ly/1uzW7Dn.
With the recent adoption of laws allowing for ordinary investors in Texas to invest via online crowdfunding portals, the number of Americans now legally allowed to invest that way has jumped dramatically and may be said to be reaching a critical mass.
Danny Kelman is eager to see. Danny is the founder of CrowdBoarders, a new crowdfunding site for equity, debt rewards and donations–a one stop cafeteria for all kinds of crowdfunding. And his timing may be impeccable.
October 23, 2014 - Read the full Your Mark on the World article and watch the interview here: http://bit.ly/ZNmKY4.
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One of the highlights at this year’s SOCAP was the presentation of the Gratitude Awards from the Gratitude Network; Labor Link from Good World Solutions won the Community Development Award.
Heather Franzese, Executive Director of Good World Solutions, explains the underpinnings of Labor Link, “There are nearly 7 billion mobile subscriptions globally. That’s nearly one for every person on the planet. Bangladesh has only 8% internet penetration and 70% mobile penetration, so the most vulnerable workers are not online. Labor Link is trying to reach them directly through their phones, or the phone of a friend or family member.”
Key employment opportunities in the developing world can be hazardous. “Manufacturing contributes 15% of economic output in India and 31% in China. What are conditions like for those workers? With mobile, now we can ask them directly,” adds Heather.
"Workers trust Labor Link more than in-person interviews for sensitive information on topics like sexual harassment, unpaid wages, and locked exits that prevent them from leaving the factory," she concludes.
October 23, 2014 - Read the full Forbes article and watch the interview here: http://onforb.es/1nzAz7q.
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“There is a tendency amongst environmentally minded people to view plastics as evil. But they have revolutionized our lives and are here to stay. What is most important is how we use them and how we reuse them – closing the loop rather than dumping them in the oceans to kill marine life,” says noted conservationist and scientist Dr. Nicholas Hill from the Zoological Society of London.
He points out that “Unlikely partnerships can sometimes be the most inspiring and innovative.” Apparently, he was thinking about the Zoo’s partnership with Interface TILE -0.8%, Inc., which claims to be the world’s largest modular carpet manufacturer. Together, they are working in partnership called “Net-Works” to eliminate the global marine hazard of discarded fishing nets.
“ The nets, which would otherwise last for 600 years and are the world’s largest and cleanest source of post-consumer nylon, are regenerated into nylon yarn Interface uses to produce carpet tiles. The program is established in poor coastal Philippines villages where marine life and reefs are endangered and has helped 4,500 villagers earn supplemental income equal to 84,000 additional meals. The United Nations has conservatively estimated that 640,000 tons of fishing gear are left in the oceans each year,” a spokesperson explained.
October 24, 2014 - Read the full Forbes article and watch the interview here: http://onforb.es/1nzxlk4.
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The Hult Prize, arguably the most prestigious student business competition of any sort, awards student social entrepreneurs with a $1 million prize from the Hult Family presented by President Bill Clinton at the the Clinton Global Initiative. The 2014 winner is Manish Ranjan of NanoHealth, a low cost health care provider for slum dwellers.
NanoHealth from the Indian School of Business is the first team from India to reach the finals so one can imagine how exciting it must have been for the team to win, beating teams from some of the world’s finest universities.
October 24, 2014 - Read the full Your Mark on the World article and watch the interview here: http://bit.ly/1uxdbVf.
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Hult Prize finalist Bee Healthy is looking to revolutionize medical diagnostics by training bees to smell chemical indicators of disease.
Founder Tobias Hortsmann explains that “Every disease leaves a unique “footprint” of chemical biomarkers on a persons breath.” He adds, “Bees are 10,000 times more sensitive to chemicals in the air than humans.”
He notes that, “Bees can be trained to react to certain biomarkers that are indicative for a disease. They would stick out their tongue when they identify a certain biomarker on a persons breath.”
More remarkable, perhaps, than that bees’ sense of smell is that, according to Tobias, "Training a bee takes around 10 minutes and works like the typical classical conditioning (pavlovian conditioning)."
October 24, 2014 - Read the full Your Mark on the World article and watch the interview here: http://bit.ly/1nzw50A.
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Todd Schobel heard about the tragic suicide of a young girl who committed suicide after being bullied and decided that he was going to do something about it.
He created STOPit, an app to help kids protect themselves from bullying, especially cyber bullying.
Todd explains, "There are countless online platforms that give children the opportunity to hide behind their smart phones and computers to victimize others."
"My goal is to empower children with an outlet in which they feel safe to stop it. Children will go so far as to take their own lives when dealing with the emotional consequences of cyberbullying and I want to put an end to it," he concludes.
October 24, 2014 - Read the full Forbes article and watch the interview here: http://onforb.es/1yZNtzB.
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According to Abigail Noble , head of impact investing at the World Economic Forum, “While impact investing has entered the mainstream mindset, it has not become part of the strategy, operations and business culture of mainstream investment institutions. For most investors today, impact investing still needs to be translated from a compelling concept into a sound strategy.”
“We are optimistic about the impact investing sector –while it has been hard to do impact investing it doesn’t necessarily need to be,” she added.
In order to address this concern, the World Economic Forum has released a new report called “Charting the Course” that provides a series of roadmaps or frameworks that will help investors actually begin to invest for impact.
The report, Noble says, offers “ useful navigational aids and waypoints” to help investors find a course that suits their individual objectives and motivations for impact and return. She says, “Each investor needs to evaluate whether impact investing fits with its investment principles, future growth plans and strategic constraints – and where it does fit, how it can chart its own course in impact investing that is visionary, pragmatic and competitively positioned for the long run.”
October 23, 2014 - Read the full Your Mark on the World article and watch the interview here: http://bit.ly/1w6qAJP.
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One of the highlights at this year’s SOCAP was the presentation of the Gratitude Awards from the Gratitude Network; DrinkWell won the award for Health.
DrinkWell founder and CEO Mihaj Chowdhury explained why he established the company in Bangladesh, “In water, the more your value chain relies on out-of-country parties, the less likely your product will succeed. By creating a value chain that enables locals to make a margin each step of the way, you can ensure a cash-efficient, scalable business.
Minhaj continued, “The best way to crack the problem of distribution in rural regions is to co-opt existing distribution channels. When locals see an immediate opportunity to radically improve their earning ability and standard of living by adopting your product, you can have a practical conversation about eradicating intractable issues such as the arsenic water crisis.”
"Whenever possible, we need to treat customers at the Base of Pyramid the same way we treat customers in the West - by appealing to aspirations of beauty, happiness, and prosperity alongside long-term improved health outcomes. Only then will consumers be willing to part with their hard-earned dollars for something they can otherwise access for free," Minhaj concluded.
October 23, 2014 - Read the full Forbes article and watch the interview here: http://onforb.es/ZNk7FF.
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Minda Dentler is a Director of Operations at AIG Multinational. She is also an elite athlete who competes in Ironman triathlons of 140.6 miles. And she’s a polio survivor and spokesperson for Rotary International.
Nearly 30 years ago, Rotary began its effort to immunize every child in the world against polio. Its goal to eradicate polio is well within sight.
Dentler tells me that, “On World Polio Day, Rotary is streaming a live, worldwide event that begins at 6:30 p.m. CT on October 24th. Tune in at endpolionow.org. The event will feature a global status update on the fight to end polio, the challenges that remain, and how private citizens, corporations, and non-profits can join in the historic final push.”
“I’ll be sharing my polio story and viewers will learn how we can end this disease forever,” she says.
She will be joined, she says, by the following people at the event:
Season 5 winner of NBC’s singing competition “The Voice,” Tessanne Chin Musician Ziggy Marley, who will play a song dedicated to World Polio Day from location on-tour Dr. James Alexander, senior medical epidemiologist at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Bernadette Hendrickx from Sanofi Pasteur, the largest manufacturer of polio vaccine and World Polio Day event co-sponsor TIME Magazine science and technology editor Jeffrey Kluger. Rotary International General Secretary John Hewko, Rotary Foundation Vice-Chair Michael McGovern.
October 22, 2014 - Read the full Forbes article and watch the interview here: http://onforb.es/1w68VC0.
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Infrastructure to support global impact investing is maturing, improving the viability of the model.
The Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC), the U.S. Federal Government’s development finance institution, and Global Partnerships, a nonprofit investing in Latin America for over twenty years, are two examples of mature players in the impact investing space.
Elizabeth L. Littlefield, CEO and President of OPIC explains that, “Private capital is essential in development, and business can serve as a force for good in having a positive impact.” She adds, “OPIC has worked to create tools to address market gaps and support impact investors. These include established partnerships with private lenders, risk-mitigation for private investors to enter emerging sectors and regions, and innovative tagging to categorize our investments for impact.”
Rick Beckett, CEO and President of Global Partnerships, said, “Over the past 20 years, GP has achieved a double bottom line of social and financial return, making over $130 million impact investments in over 70 partners, touching 2.6 million lives.” Global Partnerships leverages charitable dollars to fuel its investing, explains Beckett. “Philanthropy is key to our success. It funds the research on initiatives and catalyzes our learning and progress.”
OPIC has partnered with Global Partnerships to address “large-scale global challenges,” according to Beckett. “Our partners deliver sustainable solutions to help their “clients” earn a stable income, save money and time, increase productivity, and have access to affordable health care.”
November 25, 2013
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October 20, 2014 - Read the full Your Mark on the World article and watch the interview here: http://bit.ly/10RrDQD.
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Francesca’s Startups for Social Impact:
Startups For Social Impact and its sister company, Innovation Lab, equip entrepreneurs who fight disease and poverty. SSI promotes success stories from the field, and creates community for social entrepreneurs. Innovation Lab provides coaching and mentoring to help these businesses achieve sustainability and scale their impact. We focus on heart-based yet measurable metrics, cost management, and scaling.
Francesca’s bio:
Francesca was born and raised in the Dominican Republic, in between poverty and affluence, in a country where government corruption made generational entrepreneurship the tool for family sustainability. Knowing what it was like to go without, but with a taste for having it all, Francesca came to the USA and has made the most of all this country has to offer. An engineering degree, graduate courses in IT and business administration, various ventures, stay-at-home mom, even a short stint as missionary. Today, she lives with her husband and three daughters in Tampa, FL, and runs her two companies Startups For Social Impact and Innovation Lab. Her personal goal is to serve God and serve people, through coaching and teaching entrepreneurs.
October 9, 2014 - Read the full Your Mark on the World article and watch the interview here: http://bit.ly/ZRqmZx.
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The Social Venture Network recently recognized four social entrepreneurs with its annual Innovation Awards. Your Mark on the World will profile each of the four in the coming weeks.
Sustaintech makes stoves for Indian street vendors that use less firewood for cooking, thereby emitting less smoke and reducing carbon emissions and deforestation.
Founder Svati Bhogle explains, “Sustaintech has improved the financial situation of 2000 food vendors while saving 470 hectares of forest (or 63 million kcals) while growing at 126 % p.a in sales and 81 % p.a in volumes during 2010-13.”
She adds, “Each stove in its lifetime will save 2-3 hectares of forests, 230 million Indians derive their sustenance from forests.”
She further noted, “Sustaintech enables positive health impacts and increases productive life span of cooks and street food vendors: With the current levels of smoke inhalation the productive life of the cook is over before he/she reaches the age of 45. So cleaner, safer stoves contribute to the well being of families.”
October 9, 2014 - Read the full GoodCrowd.info article and watch the interview here: http://bit.ly/1xqQ0PQ.
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Sean Nasiri is creating an equity crowdfunding platform for his own generation, GenY, and he’s appropriately calling it, “GenYrator.”
To explain why he’s focusing on millennials, he said, “More young people are becoming entrepreneurial or electing to join startups, so there needs to be more done to support them. Also, because we are the most powerful generation on the planet.”
He’s not only interested in tapping into their entrepreneurial nature, but also wants to tap into their focus on social good, by creating a “mission-driven portal that wants to make investing about more than just returns. We are combining real investments with real positive social impact, but this is NOT a philanthropy, though it can still give you the same good feeling.”
October 9, 2014 - Read the full Forbes article and watch the interview here: http://onforb.es/1xqejxo.
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Jane Wales, CEO of the Global Philanthropy Forum, is leading an effort to apply the Silicon Valley model of venture philanthropy and impact investing to developing markets, especially Africa and Brazil.
Wales explained, “The new generation of North American philanthropists made their wealth at a young age. They are known for their combination of risk appetite and business acumen. These knowledge-hungry change agents are often emblematic of the Silicon Valley culture, where young billionaires like Facebook’s Mark Zuckerberg, eBay’s Jeff Skoll, Paypal’s Peter Thiel have been as focused, engaged and results-oriented in their philanthropy and they were in building their tech-based businesses. Many, including eBay founder Pierre Omidyar and Google cofounder Larry Page, employ market solutions like “impact investing” to address social and environmental problems.”
To extend these lessons in Africa and Brazil, the Global Philanthropy Forum has established the African Philanthropy Forum and the Brazil Philanthropy Forum, networks of high net-worth individuals who “will make grants and investments in the societies in which they live and their wealth was made.”
October 9, 2014 - Read the full Your Mark on the World article and watch the interview here: http://bit.ly/ZRp54J.
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The Hult Prize, arguably the most prestigious student business competition of any sort, awards student social entrepreneurs with a $1 million prize from the Hult Family presented by President Bill Clinton at the the Clinton Global Initiative. There were six finalists named, including WiCare, which develops affordable medical devices for use worldwide.
The final judges for the prize included Nobel Peace Prize winner Muhammad Yunus and CNN’s Dr. Sanjay Gupta.
WiCare founder Danielle Zurovcik of MIT explained, "Truly global medical devices are hard-to-find. WiCare aims to change that."
She went on to say, "We feel that WiCare has a competitive advantage as a start-up focused in the global marketplace. We do not have to change our long-standing corporate culture to shift into the global setting, as the global aspect is in the foundation and core of our business."
October 9, 2014 - Read the full Your Mark on the World article and watch the interview here: http://bit.ly/10RN9og.
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The Social Venture Network recently recognized four social entrepreneurs with its annual Innovation Awards. Your Mark on the World will profile each of the four in the coming weeks.
Craig Wichner doesn’t mince words, “The current agricultural system in the US is like the dead parrot from the Monty Python skit: It’s obviously not working. That big ag practices are causing social and environmental harm is well known, yet we continue to plow money into it anyway. It’s time for a new model.”
Craig is the cofounder and Managing Director of Farmland LP, one of the four companies winning the SVN Innovation Awards. Farmland LP buys conventional farmland and converts it to organic farmland. In the process, the company says, the land becomes more productive and therefore more profitable—to say nothing of being better for people and planet.
Craig explains the opportunity this way, “Sustainable agriculture is a team sport: What the soil needs in terms of biological diversity to remain healthy is well matched to a multi-tenant real estate model with investor appeal. This is the innovation that will allow organic to scale.”
“Farmland, at $2.4 trillion is as large as other classes of commercial real estate and has only 1% institutional ownership. It’s ripe for disruption,” he adds.
October 9, 2014 - Read the full Forbes article and watch the interview here: http://onforb.es/10RGfzi.
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What if you could simultaneously reduce health care costs by 40 percent and increase a population’s life expectancy? You’d say you’d found the Fountain of Youth!
Dan Buettner, author of the New York Times bestseller Blue Zones, did it. No, he didn’t actually find the Fountain of Youth, he says he reduced health care costs by 40 percent and extended the life expectancy of the people living in Albert Lea, Minnesota. Partnering with AARP in 2009, he implemented the lifestyle lessons he’d learned from hundreds of centenarians around the world who were discovered living in “Blue Zones,” communities with unusually high numbers of people over 100.
Buettner explains the multifaceted approach to extending life, noting, “There’s no silver bullet to keep death and the diseases of old age at bay but instead it’s silver buckshot.”
“The world’s longest-lived people don’t pump iron or run marathons. Instead, their environments nudge them into moving without thinking about it,” he adds.
After the success of that pilot program, Buettner partnered with Healthways and Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield to expand the Blue Zones Project to 17 cities in California and Iowa, reaching hundreds of thousands of people. Next stop: millions.
September 29, 2014 - Read the full Forbes article and watch the interview here: http://onforb.es/1CzjNJ0.
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People who do not have access to the mainstream financial system are subject to a variety of fees for services that the rest of us either get for free or at negligible prices. According to Jonathan Mintz, founding President and CEO of Cities for Financial Empowerment (often called the CFE Fund) and the former Commissioner of the Department of Consumer Affairs for New York says, “Using a traditional low-cost bank account could potentially save a full-time worker $40,000 over the course of his or her career.”
Mintz, who was recently featured in the documentary film Spent: Looking for Change, has attracted $16.2 million from Bloomberg Philanthropies to provide free one-on-one financial counseling. Additionally, the CFE Fund has received grants from JP Morgan Chase and the Citi Foundation to help cities provide resources to residents to access the mainstream banking system.
September 30, 2014 - Read the full Forbes article and watch the interview here: http://onforb.es/1rDUpyn.
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Frank Shankwitz, a former highway patrol officer, seems like an unlikely person to have launched one of the most culturally significant nonprofit organizations in the country. The Make-a-Wish Foundation grew out of Shankwitz’s effort to grant the wish of seven-year-old boy with leukemia who wanted to be a Highway Patrol Motorcycle Officer.
Shankwitz is now working on a second act, launching Ripple Effect, a crowdfunding platform, to help anyone become a hero. He notes, “As a founder of the Make-A-Wish Foundation, I’ve seen an amazing phenomenon when people rally around a worthy cause. Perhaps the best thing about Ripple Effect will be that anyone can come up with an idea to benefit an important cause: Anyone can be a hero.”
Back in 1980, Shankwitz used his motorcycle to help Chris Greicius fulfill his dream shortly before he passed away. From that simple gesture, Shankwitz built an organization to deliver wishes. Today, the Make-A-Wish Foundation reports fulfilling a wish every 38 minutes on average.
September 30, 2014 - Read the full GoodCrowd.info article and watch the interview here: http://bit.ly/1rDYjqY.
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Dale Nirvani Pfeifer has a plan to change the world: enable people to donate to a cause right from Twitter or Facebook with a simple hashtag: #donate.
By radically reducing the effort required to give to charity, Dale hopes her Good World, LLC can increase giving in parallel.
September 30, 2014 - Read the full Your Mark on the World article and watch the interview here: http://bit.ly/1CzzQ9L.
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At the first Social Enterprise and Crowdfunding Conference, GoodCrowd13, I had the pleasure of meeting the founder of Heroes Economy, Leesa Hubbard. Our meeting proved strategic.
Shortly after the conference, we began collaboration on a course to help startup social entrepreneurs learn the basics so they can have more impact sooner in the life cycle.
Our effort required a year to produce, but the course is now live on Udemy (https://www.udemy.com/get-started-in-social-entrepreneurship/?couponCode=LIVE%21). In fact, if you use the code “LIVE!” you’ll get over 50 percent off the regular price!
September 24, 2014 - Read the full Your Mark on the World article and watch the interview here: http://bit.ly/1qrrCrf.
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Social entrepreneurs have been mimicking the tech accelerator model in recent years with great success. Invest2Innovate, a Pakistan-based accelerator for social entrepreneurs just launched its most recent class of seven entrepreneurs working in five companies.
i2i, as Invest2Innovate is known, is working to accelerate innovative products that support the broader entrepreneurial ecosystem in Pakistan.
September 24, 2014 - Read the full Your Mark on the World article and watch the interview here: http://bit.ly/ZJoB0a.
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Polio is an insidious disease that paralyzes children. Many people in developed countries are under the mistaken impression that polio, like small pox, has been eradicated.
Polio remains endemic in only three countries, Pakistan, Afghanistan and Nigeria. The number of cases globally has declined 99.9 percent over the last 30 years largely due to the efforts of Rotary International, the Centers for Disease Control, the World Health Organization, UNICEF and, more recently, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. Despite the progress, our children are just a plane ride away from contracting the disease, so every child in the world continues to be immunized.
Now there is a new face in the war against polio. Susanne Rea, a retired teacher from Australia and a passionate Rotarian, has put polio in her sights and has helped raise almost $1 million over the last few years through an initiative she calls the World’s Greatest Meal.
Rotarians, and others, are encouraged to plan a meal, share the message of ending polio and donate the proceeds online at the site Susanne built in cooperation with Rotary.
Susanne always reminds donors to Rotary’s efforts that 100 percent of the money goes to the fight against polio and that the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation will match the donations on a $2 for $1 basis, turning a $100 donation into $300 immediately.
September 24, 2014 - Read the full Forbes article and watch the interview here: http://onforb.es/1qrl1Np.
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More and more people are beginning to appreciate that investors can earn returns at the same time they drive social impact and solve social problems. Increasingly, people understand that solving a world problem like hunger not only presents a challenge, but also an opportunity.
Stuart Rudick is helping to lead this effort. Founder of the venture fund Mindfull Investors, he is now launching Mindfull Crowd, to bring more accredited investors into the impact investing movement.
Rudick notes, “Today, the most brilliant minds have access to innovative low cost technologies to build profitable businesses making our world a better place.”
September 24, 2014 - Read the full GoodCrowd.info article and watch the interview here: http://bit.ly/Y4rU0P.
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Academics are just as interested in understanding crowdfunding as anyone who has ever attempted to raise money through crowdfunding.
Dr. Anindya Ghose from NYU’s Stern School, has been focusing time and attention on crowdfunding for some time now. His most recent research in the field deals with the question of privacy. Some donors don’t want to be recognized on the crowdfunding site and/or don’t want the size of their donations to be visible to others.
Anindya’s research unravels the impact of privacy options on the number of donations and the average size of donations to help fundraisers figure out which strategy is best.
September 18, 2014 - Read the full Forbes article and watch the interview here: http://onforb.es/1uS1om5.
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The world is awaking to impact investing. Finally.
More and more we are seeing institutional investors allocating substantial sums to impact. Audrey Choi, CEO of Morgan Stanley’s Institute for Sustainable Investing explains the underlying drivers as a confluence of circumstances, “While the concept of adapting one’s investment philosophy to align with institutional or individual values has been around for centuries, today, a number of powerful political, economic and societal mega-trends are combining to produce a global investment landscape that increasingly demands more transparency, more accountability and more integration of beliefs and values into all spheres of activity. Taken together, these factors help accelerate the development of sustainable investing.”
Maya Chorengel, a co-founder of Elevar Equity, an impact investment fund that finances social ventures, notes, “Impact investing should be central in discussions about the future of capitalism. Wealth inequality is prominently featured in these discussions today; wouldn’t we rather turn attention to the democratization of capital, which is one important category of impact investing?”
September 18, 2014 - Read the full Forbes article and watch the interview here: http://onforb.es/XwkeUL.
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Ann Cotton is one of the most recognized social entrepreneurs in the world for her work educating over three million children in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Her organization, Camfed, the Campaign for Female Education, has demonstrated that educating girls and young women has a significant, positive impact on a country by reducing the spread of AIDS and improving both infant and maternal mortality and increasing household incomes.
Camfed approaches its work built on the foundation of the following three value statements:
Focus on the Girl: All of our programs begin with an individual girl in rural Africa. By looking at the world from her perspective, we work to dismantle the hurdles in her way to obtaining an education and living a healthy adult life. We’re answerable first and foremost to her. Involve the Community: Change can’t happen without community support. We believe people living in rural communities are best placed to solve the problems around them. Community members of all levels help with our program design and implementation. Operate Transparent, Accountable Programs: We place transparency at the core of our operations. Unique social and financial auditing systems are used in a monitoring process that safeguards girls and young women. Built on this foundation, Camfed has been recognized repeatedly role in lifting families out of poverty.
September 18, 2014 - Read the full GoodCrowd.info article and watch the interview here: http://bit.ly/1uRR0e7.
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Sourabh Sharma is the founder of Milaap, India’s own Kiva—a crowdfunding site for micro loans to poor women.
The site provides lenders from around the world the opportunity to lend money to struggling people in India, to help them gain access to things we in the developed world consider necessities: water, sanitation (yes, lots of opportunities to lend money to families to install toilets), solar power and much more. There are people looking for shockingly small amounts of money to complete their education.
The site works such that, like Kiva, the loan you make is repaid and the money comes back to you so that you can lend it again and again.
September 18, 2014 - Read the full Forbes article and watch the interview here: http://onforb.es/1o4AAv2.
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The Prodigy Network, led by Rodrigo Nino, is a real estate crowdfunding site that has already raised hundreds of millions of dollars. Since Title II of the JOBS Act was implemented one year ago on September 23, 2013, much of the money the company has raised in the U.S. has been under these new rules.
Title II of the JOBS Act allows “General Solicitation,” that is advertising, of private offerings with certain restrictions, most notably that the actual sale of securities under such an offering be limited exclusively to accredited investors. The Securities and Exchange Commission rules under Regulation D, 506c limit define the conduct of a general solicitation for a private offering. Best practices in the industry are still developing.
September 10, 2014 - Read the full Your Mark on the World article and watch the interview here: http://bit.ly/1qDuVjM.
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Joshua Williams became an advocate for the poor at age 4. No kidding. He’s the real deal.
Now, at age 13, Joshua runs Joshua’s Heart Foundation, a nonprofit with 1,200 volunteers around the country working to feed the poor, delivering 650,000 pounds of food, having raised over $350,000 and having helped over 30,000 people.
Joshua says, “I say to kids in most of my speeches that you’re never too young to make a difference."
September 10, 2014 - Read the full Your Mark on the World article and watch the interview here: http://bit.ly/1pN9Xdi.
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Katelyn Lohr is not your typical teenager. At age 13, she launched her own company, Freetoes Brand, Inc., to sell her invention: socks without toes, which are now sold across North America in stores like Toys R Us, Hallmark and Learning Express.
What really makes Katelyn special is her passion for giving back. She has donated hundreds of pairs of her socks to Project Aftershock, supporting the recovery in Haiti.
September 10, 2014 - Read the full Forbes article and watch the interview here: http://onforb.es/1qJnjeD.
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On April 4, 2012, President Obama signed the JOBS Act, authorizing a variety of significant changes to securities laws, including the enabling legislation for crowdfunding under Title III of the Act. Two-and-one-half years later, the rules to implement the law remain in draft form, pending action by the Securities and Exchange Commission, the SEC.
Ron Miller, CEO and founder of an equity crowdfunding site focused on operating under the rules of Title III of the JOBS Act called StartEngine, has launched a grassroots effort to pressure the SEC to issue final rules under the act. The campaign features the hashtag #VoteOnCrowdfunding for use on social media.
Sara Hanks, a securities lawyer, launched a site, CrowdCheck, to provide regulatory support services to investment crowdfunding portals under the JOBS Act. She believes the industry is ready to comply with reasonable SEC rules.
Jason Best, an entrepreneur who thought there ought to be a better way to raise money for startups, was one of the primary leaders in the passage of the JOBS Act and was recognized by the White House with an invitation to the JOBS Act signing ceremony in the White House Rose Garden. He is eager to see the central feature of the legislation he lobbied to pass be implemented.
Greg Parker is an entrepreneur who launched a crowdfunding service called IndieCrowdFunder.com for independent Hollywood film production. Constrained today to fundraising via other exemptions from registration, he is also eager to see the rules implemented.
September 10, 2014 - Read the full Your Mark on the World article and watch the interview here: http://bit.ly/1pQbQGc.
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Kohl Crecelius is a social entrepreneur with his eye focused on impact. He established his company, KK, Intl, better known as Krochet Kids, as a nonprofit so that consumers would recognize that the sole focus of the business is to have impact.
Kohl is working to empower people to rise above poverty by providing them with gainful employment crocheting and otherwise manufacturing headwear and other accessories.
September 10, 2014 - Read the full Your Mark on the World article and watch the interview here: http://bit.ly/1qD9S0N.
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Paige Chapel is all about community investing. Her goal as the head of Aeris “is to help position CDFI loan funds over the next decade as part of a recognized investment class in mainstream financial markets.”
Aeris is an information provider for investors interested in social impact through their investments. Aeris provides the proprietary CDFI rating tool CARS® or CDFI Assessment and Ratings System.
September 10, 2014 - Read the full GoodCrowd.info article and watch the interview here: http://bit.ly/1qD84oF.
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Alexia’s bio:
Alexia teaches filmmakers how to raise money using crowdfunding and spread their message so that they can make a difference in the world. Alexia is an artist, actress, filmmaker and Dream Funding Coach. She was featured in HBO’s Bored to Death, VH1 “If you like…” commercial and Vetiver “Everyday” music video. Her feature film work includes:
Editor of Vampira: The Movie Associate Producer of The Wild World of Ted V. Mikels Co-producer of Beyond the Noise: My Transcendental Meditation Journey Director of Adventures in Plymptoons! documentary on Oscar nominated animator Bill Plympton Creator of documentary Ginger Girls: The Secret Lives of Redheads Creator of narrative feature Little Fishes When not creating features, Alexia enjoys teaching her online class entitled Dream Funding and has used crowdfunding to raise money and bring global awareness for her own films. Her priority in life is to have fun and inspire creatives that they can live the art life.
September 4, 2014 - Read the full Forbes article and watch the interview here: http://onforb.es/1nVaoTa.
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A new collaboration between the American Heart Association (AHA, for brevity’s sake) and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (similarly, RWJF) aims to build a culture of health in America.
The initiative assumes a broader need for change than simply tweaking the healthcare system, massive as that task would be, in order to create an environment where Americans not only have access to healthcare, but also to healthy food and where people support one another in making healthy choices.
Together, the AHA and RWJF are working to accomplish several objectives:
Abundant access to healthy food Safe access to opportunities for physical activity Environments for eating, shopping and working that are smoke-free Support from peers for making healthy choices Greater access to quality healthcare The AHA has a specific and related goal to improve cardiovascular healthy by 20% and reduce mortality from cardiovascular disease and stroke by 20% by 2020.
A spokesperson for the RWJF explained, “At RWJF we know that health is influenced by education, housing, income, and numerous other factors outside of health care. This acknowledgement drives much of our work to build a national Culture of Health that will enable all Americans to live longer and healthier lives, now and for generations to come. Among our broad areas of focus are: healthy weight for all children; high quality, cost effective health care coverage for all; improving the lives and opportunities of the nation’s most vulnerable populations; pioneering ideas, technologies and trends that can transform health and health care; and educating health care practitioners for the 21st Century.”
September 4, 2014 - Read the full Your Mark on the World article and watch the interview here: http://bit.ly/1qAiUuh.
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Jaykumar Menon is working to save the lives of millions of people, including those threatened by Ebola in Africa. The diseases that afflict the developing world don't offer the revenue potential of rich country diseases and therefore lack investment dollars. Jay is leading an effort to apply crowdsourcing and open source concepts to find treatments for diseases that plague the Global South.
The Open Source Pharma project, by gathering hundreds or even thousands of researchers to work on open source drug development projects, can accelerate drug development and reduce the costs.
September 4, 2014 - Read the full Forbes article and watch the interview here: http://onforb.es/1lIBAcz.
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One of the backbones of American philanthropy is the community foundation, which plays a variety of critical roles in building and protecting a community. These community foundations operate in every state in the nation. Personally, I’ve been receiving an education since I joined the Board of the Community Foundation of Utah as a volunteer.
Community foundations may become significant players in the impact investing space in the coming decade. Many gifts to such foundations are in the form of donor advised funds, commonly abbreviated as DAFs. A donor advised fund operates a bit like a family foundation, allowing the grantor to “advise” the sponsor holding the assets about what to do with the money, all of which must ultimately be donated to charity.
Commonly, when an investor has a taxable windfall, with careful planning from advisors, assets can be donated to a DAF, allowing the investor to take a tax deduction and avoid tax on the gain on sale, while effectively continuing to influence the ultimate grant-making over a span of subsequent years.
Those DAF accounts have traditionally been invested in a variety of financial assets. More and more people in the DAF community are looking at these accounts as a source of impact investment capital to be deployed for social impact as investments while waiting to be donated.
One threat to this trend is a proposal from Michigan Congressman Dave Camp, who has proposed a requirement that DAFs distribute all of their assets within five years, preventing any meaningful impact investment. When compared to a foundation’s requirement that 5 percent of assets be distributed each year, the Camp proposal looks rather draconian to some in the community foundation world. DAFs have no distribution requirement today, though the Community Foundation of Utah has reported that about 13 percent of DAF assets are distributed to charities each year, well above the 5 percent level required of foundations.
September 4, 2014 - Read the full Your Mark on the World article and watch the interview here: http://bit.ly/1xceQ9R.
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In early 2013, the Your Mark on the World Center, with support from an anonymous benefactor, awarded two prizes to small nonprofit organizations. The Senase Project was one of the winning nonprofits.
Founder Chris Toone reports on how the school project in Ghana has been completed:
Originally our organization began after studying abroad for four months and seeing the world. During our trip to Ghana, we found our way to the small rural village of Senase, where the people welcomed us with open arms. While here, we traveled to the village of Akatim for the school day where we found not only a lack of a school building, but also a lack of hope. This trip is what ultimately created The Senase Project.
I recently returned from a trip to Ghana in April after the school was commissioned and handed over to the village of Akatim on April 14th, 2014. During this trip we met with community leaders, teachers, and members of Government including the representative for Ghanaian Parliament and the Municipal Chief Executive Officer to discuss about ways to keep the school sustainable.
During this trip we also met with Ghana Health Services to start collaborations on a medical clinic in the village of Senase. Parliament recently released funds to rennovate a building in the village, so a four treatment room clinic is well underway. We are figuring out ways to provide the clinic with equipment needed in order to operate efficiently. The clinic will allow accessibile basic care such as outpaitent care, prenatal and midwife care, as well as outpatient care and other general medical needs.
September 4, 2014 - Read the full Your Mark on the World article and watch the interview here: http://bit.ly/1Bc0Mvt.
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Clean Energy Advisors is helping investors to put their money to work to create a cleaner environment and a more sustainable world.
CEO Chris Warren explains:
CEA is committed to the fundamentals of impact investing. Simply stated, impact investing is deploying investment capital in places where beneficial social and environmental change can be achieved. Every dollar invested with CEA goes to work to build renewable energy projects that reduce our dependence on fossil fuels for electricity production. These projects create a more stable electric supply and help protect the environment for the benefit of future generations.
CEA creates innovative investment structures that are opening the door for a much larger group of investors to take part in direct ownership of renewable energy assets.
The renewable energy industry is undergoing a fundamental shift in project financing which will result in exponential growth during the coming decade.
September 4, 2014 - Read the full Your Mark on the World article and watch the interview here: http://bit.ly/1BZYroJ.
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You don’t want to miss this! Really.
Orly Wahba is changing the world through kindness. Frankly, she’s the kind of person I want to be, perhaps the kind of person we’d all like to be.
Orly launched a nonprofit called Life Vest Inside (LVI) to inspire people to be more kind and thereby change the world. Lately, LVI is working to formalize kindness training with a focus on anti-bullying in schools.
September 4, 2014 - Read the full GoodCrowd.info article and watch the interview here: http://bit.ly/1xc8B5C.
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Richard Swart is one of the leading minds in crowdfunding today, heading Berkeley’s Program in Innovation in Entrepreneurial and Social Finance (academic speak for crowdfunding).
Next week, Berkeley is a hosting its annual symposium on crowdfunding, where I will be honored to participate. Richard will also be speaking at GoodCrowd14, the Social Enterprise and Crowdfunding Conference (http://secfc.co), which he co-founded in 2013.
August 27, 2014 - Read the full GoodCrowd.info article and watch the interview here: http://bit.ly/VMrA5N.
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A new crowdfunding site is now focusing specifically on animal welfare. Sarah Timms is the founder of LoveAnimals.org that gives nonprofits and animal lovers alike a place where they can raise money to care for animals in need.
August 26, 2014 - Read the full Forbes article and watch the interview here: http://onforb.es/1rw15Ag.
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Amory Lovins, a “recovering physicist” who founded and now leads the Rocky Mountain Institute, is the author of Reinventing Fire and a Forbes contributor who says that existing technology allows us to reduce carbon emissions by 80 percent. For this article he provided a quick explanation of his ideas:
The United States now wrings more than twice as much work from its energy as it did 40 years ago, yet most of the energy used today is still wasted. We can now save twice as much as I then claimed (to much ridicule), but at a third the real cost. With the best modern techniques, more efficiently converting energy into the same or better services can save, for example, about ⅔ to ¾ of the energy we use in buildings (with a 33% IRR), half in industry (21% IRR), and ≥4/5 in transportation (17% IRR)). “Integrative design”—optimizing buildings, factories and industrial equipment, and vehicles as whole systems for multiple benefits, not isolated components for single benefits—can often make big savings cost less than small or no savings, turning diminishing returns into expanding returns.
Modern energy efficiency makes it easier and quicker to switch supplies from old, expensive technologies to newer, cheaper, safer, cleaner ones. RMI’s Reinventing Fire synthesis (2011, www.rmi.org/reinventingfire) showed how with a 14% IRR and a $5-trillion NPV saving, the United States could run a 2.6x bigger economy in 2050 with no oil, coal, or nuclear energy and ⅓ less natural gas. This would require no new inventions nor Acts of Congress, but could be led by business for profit.
August 25, 2014 - Read the full Forbes article and watch the interview here: http://onforb.es/1pwca1u.
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One PacificCoast Bank is rebranding itself to better reflect its social justice agenda as Beneficial State Bank.
Beneficial State Bank takes its social mission seriously. The bank is a member of the Social Venture Network and is a registered B Corporation. In fact, B Lab recognizes the bank as qualifying for “Best for Community Impact.”
Beneficial focuses on serving business customers that serve the community in an environmentally friendly way. The bank says:
Typically, mainstream banks work with big businesses that offer conventional products with relatively low risk — but often in a way that bars new, more sustainable ways of meeting our needs, like sustainable agriculture or clean energy. If we want to build our local community economies, then the underserved sectors must become the primary focus of our bank and other organizations committed to local living economies.
The bank focuses on community development business sectors for its lending like affordable housing, sustainable food and agriculture,
The bank has a unique ownership structure. The bank is effectively owned by a foundation so that any and all dividends will be distributed back into the community, supporting nonprofits and environmental efforts.
August 19, 2014 - Read the full Your Mark on the World article and watch the interview here: http://bit.ly/1pWFBsp
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PayPerks is a new suite of web- and mobile-based education and rewards tools that work with products like prepaid cards, designed for the emerging middle class, consumers who haven’t always used traditional bank products.
Launched by Arlyn Davich while she was earning her MBA at Columbia, the business was built with a goal of expanding financial inclusion.
August 19, 2014 - Read the full Your Mark on the World article and watch the interview here: http://bit.ly/1pWuAXS.
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Unliver’s Lifebuoy soap brand is working to save children in the developing world with an innovative approach: comic books.
Tapping renowned comic book artist Craig Yoe to create it, Lifebuoy is working to distribute 20 million copies of the book this year. The comic book is just part of a program targeting young children in the developing world with puzzles, stories and games to teach them and their parents about the importance of handwashing.
Unilever reports that 1.7 million children will die this year as a result of easily preventable diseases, one-third of whom could be saved with handwashing.
Lifebuoy’s efforts since 2010 have reached 183 million people in 16 countries in Africa, Asia and Latin America.
August 18, 2014 - Read the full Your Mark on the World article and watch the interview here: http://bit.ly/1pWC5OA.
The Halcyon Incubator is working to solve 21st century challenges by helping social entrepreneurs. Through a competitive process, social entrepreneurs pitch Halcyon for a spot in the three-stage incubator program.
The first stage is residency, where fellows live and work at Halcyon surrounded by like-minded innovators in a collaborative setting. In the second stage, the fellows move out, but continue work at the Incubator, accessing strategic, legal and PR resources. In the final stage called the “incentivized phase,” the fellows transition to the WeWork Wonder Bread Factory building in Washington, D.C. at reduced rates, while still being able to access Incubator events and programming as they scale their venture.
Halcyon is presently accepting applications for the next cohort.
August 19, 2014 - Read the full Forbes article and watch the interview here: http://onforb.es/1pWzEf1.
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An expected 500,000 adults with autism are expected to begin seeking employment over the next decade as a tidal wave of young adults with autism age out of school and other programs.
A Danish father of an autistic son is leading an effort to create gainful employment opportunities for these gifted individuals. By helping employers to see an employee with autism as having unique personality strengths, especially in information technology settings, Thorkil Sonne is helping to address this growing demographic problem.
Sonne launched Specialisterne USA, a nonprofit, to “enable 100,000 jobs in the U.S.” The organization assess, trains and employs individuals with autism in IT and other technically oriented sectors. They report that 80% of their employees are working at corporate partner locations.
According to a New York Times article, his work in the U.S. grew out of his success in Denmark. He created Specialisterne there after studying autism for several years as a father. He’d also observed his son’s special abilities and recognized that people with autism can do some tasks better than those without.
August 19, 2014 - Read the full Forbes article and watch the interview here: http://onforb.es/XvVaOm.
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Several weeks ago, the U.S. National Advisory Board to the Social Impact Investment Task Force met at the White House to discuss its newly issued report, “Private Capital, Public Good: How Smart Federal Policy Can Galvanize Impact Investing–and Why It’s Urgent.”
Jean Case, cofounder of the Case Foundation, has stepped forward as a mouthpiece for the rapidly growing impact investment market with pieces in the Huffington Post and Forbes. (Separately, I covered Prudential’s $1 billion impact investment commitment here.)
Omidyar Network is among the growing list of institutions that are actively investing for impact and was among the early entrants into the burgeoning space for investments that seek positive social impact and financial returns.
The White House roundtable on impact investing has catalyzed commitments of more than $1.5 billion in new investments, which in turn is creating a buzz among social entrepreneurs looking to capitalize on these investment flows to launch, grow and scale their social enterprises.
On Tuesday, August 19, 2014 at 5:00 PM Eastern, Case and Omidyar Network’s Paula Goldman, Senior Director, Knowledge and Advocacy, will join me here for a live discussion about the new energy driving impact investing and the opportunities for regulation to foster it. Tune in right here to watch the interview live.
August 19, 2014 - Read the full Forbes article and watch the interview here: http://onforb.es/YmTWoS.
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Alem Mumuni contracted polio at the age of two in Ghana, a place where few people ever overcome the burdens of the crippling disease, but he has beaten them all, becoming a well educated, world-class athlete.
The continent of Africa may soon–if it hasn’t already–experience its final case of polio. The mere handful of polio cases this year suggest the virus is on the ropes in Nigeria, the last country in Africa where the disease is considered endemic by the World Health Organization (WHO). The global fight against polio was begun about thirty years ago by Rotary International.
Mumuni has become a potent spokesman for Rotary International, speaking out about the difficulties of the disease and inspiring people to support the campaign to end polio not only in Africa, but globally. As a Paralympic athlete from a developing country, he is also in a constant battle to raise money to fund his travel and training. Readers may learn more about his crowdfunding campaign on Kriticalmass.
With the help of his British coach, Alex Main, Mumuni has established the Alem Foundation, which serves to fund his training and travel and to inspire people around the world to rise above their challenges. The Salt Lake City Rotary Club (of which I am a member) will be hosting Mumuni during his U.S. visit.
Dr. Carol Pandak, director of Rotary International’s polio plus program, is leading the charge to end polio around the world with Africa being the region most likely to celebrate the end of polio. She, along with Main and Mumuni will join me on Tuesday, August 19, 2014 at 11:00 AM to discuss polio in Africa and Mumuni’s inspiring efforts to compete in the Paralympic Games in Rio De Janeiro in 2016. Tune in then to watch the interview live.
August 7, 2014 - Read the full Forbes article and watch the interview here: http://onforb.es/1zULPxb.
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An entirely new wave of health care reform is coming to America with financing from Vital Healthcare Capital, a nonprofit community development financial institution (CDFI). V-Cap, as Vital Healthcare Capital is known, just made its first social impact investment, $10 million dollars, into Commonwealth Care Alliance or CCA, which serves vulnerable populations, including frail seniors and adults with disabilities.
Many of the folks served by CCA are eligible for both Medicaid and Medicare but often fall between the cracks in the system if only because they lack the resources to take advantage of the healthcare available to them.
CCA reports that it has also proven the ability to reduce costs by helping patients to avoid unnecessary hospital stays and to live healthier lives. Those eligible for both Medicare and Medicaid represent just 15 percent of the Medicade population, but use 40 percent of the resources. Managing their care therefore presents a huge fiscal as well as social opportunity.
August 7, 2014 - Read the full GoodCrowd.info article and watch the interview here: http://bit.ly/1zUYrV5.
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Recently, I had the opportunity to meet Seymor Segnit, the host of the new crowdfunding podcast, The Kickass Crowdfunding Show. He’s a delightful Brit now living in New York.
He’s also been successful in many other arenas, including as an inventor who launched via crowdfunding on Indiegogo.
More about thingCHARGER:
thingCHARGER is an awesome, simple new charger design which Seymour & his wife Amy invented one day while frustrated with all the messy wires and chargers at their home. A few months later they launched it on Indiegogo and it quickly became the most successful crowdfunded mobile accessory of all time!
Delighted with and grateful for the response to their own campaign and wanting to help others succeed at crowdfunding they’ve now launched The Kickass Crowdfunding Show - available on iTunes, YouTube and KickassCrowdfunding.com - to speak with the most interesting people in crowdfunding today and gleen the secrets we can all use to have amazing campaigns.
Seymour’s bio:
While fiddling with a mess of wires trying to charge the family’s collection of phones, iPads and a Kindle recently, Seymour had a simple idea for a new kind of charger… made a film describing it and put the idea on Indiegogo.com to see if anyone would like it.
thingCHARGER raised $647,000 to become the all-time #1 crowdfunded mobile accessory and is now in final development for production.
Born in 1963, Seymour grew up in London where he went to Westminster School the ancient institution in the shadow of Westminster Abbey (and just a stone’s throw from the Houses of Parliament.)
After studying Engineering at Oxford University he worked for two of the world’s largest advertising agencies before a stint as a ski guide & host in the Alps, then submitted to the siren call of broadcasting and worked in British radio for several years, including 12 months at the mighty 95.8 Capital FM London.
Born both a British and US citizen, Seymour moved to California in 1997 where he co-founded Bizfinity, a VC-funded Silicon Valley Web 1.0 “start-up that went belly-up”.
After training in NLP in 2002 he founded CTRN: Change That’s Right Now, an organization that helps folks around the world to overcome serious fears and phobias. CTRN has now served thousands of customers in, at last count, 73 countries. His self-help program Vanquish Fear & Anxiety is widely acclaimed.
Seymour and his beloved wife Amy live an hour north of Manhattan in an old brick house overlooking the Hudson River with their younger daughter (coincidentally also named Hudson) and occasionally their older daughter Nina.
August 7, 2014 - Read the full Your Mark on the World article and watch the interview here: http://bit.ly/XFHL60.
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Paul Godfrey, a professor at Brigham Young University, is part of a growing movement that says we can end poverty, that it is not a necessary part of of a global economy.
His book, More than Money, was just published by Stanford Business Books. In the book he lays out specific plans for enabling and empowering people to rise above their circumstances, helping them to develop five different forms of capital:institutional, human, social, organizational, and physical.
Paul will also be speaking at GoodCrowd14, the Social Enterprise and Crowdfunding Conference at Snowbird, Utah on September 26, 2014.
More about More than Money:
This book presents a novel framework that shows how five types of interrelated capital—institutional, human, social, organizational, and physical—enable development and sustainable growth. In addition to a widely-applicable model, Godfrey provides principles to guide application. Core chapters articulate each specific form of capital and provide examples of how it contributes to the triple bottom line. Not just a theoretical examination of poverty, More than Money delivers timely advice to organizations that produce goods and services, implement policies, and create meaningful change on the ground. This book will guide social innovators and entrepreneurs in business, government, and civil society settings as they create a vision, assemble a team of strong partners, and effectively measure social innovation.
Paul’s bio:
Paul C. Godfrey is a Professor of Strategic Management, Senior Research Fellow and Associate Academic Director of the Ballard Center for Economic Self-Reliance. His work on Corporate Social Responsibility as insurance continues to be cited and used by other scholars and practitioners. His work has appeared in the top management and strategy journals, the Academy of Management Reviewand the Strategic Management Journal. His current research focuses on self-reliance and eliminating global poverty in the lives of individuals and families. Paul currently has a book in production on the subject with the Stanford University Press, and his article on the informal economy was the most downloaded article from the Annals of the Annals of the Academy of Management for 2011.
August 7, 2014 - Read the full Your Mark on the World article and watch the interview here: http://bit.ly/1y7M8BV.
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Every year in the United States 100,000 children are victims of sex trafficking.
Everyone’s Kids is a nationwide campaign to raise money and awareness about the plight of these kids. Razoo will host a nationwide, one-day crowdfunding giving day to raise money to bring an end to this tragic practice on September 16, 2014.
More about Everyone’s Kids:
On September 16, 2014, individuals, fundraisers, and nonprofit organization will unite for Everyone’s Kids, Everyone Gives Day, a national, 24-hour giving day that will mobilize hundreds of organizations and thousands of people on a single day across the country to help fight child trafficking in the United States.
At TED 2013, a group of influencers were challenged to tackle the issue of domestic child sex trafficking. On March 17th, 2014—one year later—the Everyone’s Kids, Everyone Gives campaign was launched to raise much needed funds for the nonprofits who work to combat trafficking every day. The campaign includes a Razoo Day of Giving, a national public relations campaign, and powerful public service announcement that will raise awareness of this important issue, and inform the public about the National Human Trafficking Resource Center Hotline.
Everyone’s Kids, Everyone Gives is a national initiative that includes partners from the technology and media industries who have joined forces with leading nonprofit organizations such as Polaris Project and Walk Free (among several others) in order to fight the illegal enslavement of an estimated 100,000 children annually who are trapped in the U.S. commercial sex trade.
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Lesley’s bio:
Lesley Mansford is the co-founder of Everyone’s Kids and the former CEO of Razoo, the fastest growing crowdfunding platform for causes, with over $230M raised for nonprofits. She is a seasoned CEO, marketer and entrepreneur with over 20 years of experience in interactive entertainment with companies like Electronic Arts. She was co-founder and COO of pogo.com, the largest online casual games community acquired by EA in 2001. In the same year she received the Superstar award from Ad Age.
Lesley speaks regularly on the power of online to democratize philanthropy. She is a powerful advocate around issues like women’s entrepreneurship and child sex trafficking in the US. Her board positions have included The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, The Leadership Institute for the Ecology and the Economy and Women’s Initiative for Self Employment.
July 30, 2014 - Read the full GoodCrowd.info article and watch the interview here: http://bit.ly/1oHmpPP.
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Kevin Hitchen’s left J.P. Morgan to help launch Localstake, a crowdfunding site that facilitates investments in local businesses. The platform has successfully raised over $3 million for entrepreneurs in its first year of operation.
More about LocalStake:
Localstake is an online investment crowdfunding platform that enables startup and small businesses to raise up to $1 million in funding from individual investors in the community. Our platform allows business owners to efficiently connect with and raise funding from local investors. Individual investors of all wealth backgrounds are able to access, review, and invest in local businesses with as little as $250,something many have never really been allowed to do before. After a business has achieved funding, they are then able to utilize our Localstake to keep investors updated and engaged with helping them grow and make an impact. Since our official launch in June of 2013, we have helped companies raise over $3MM from investors.
Kevin’s bio:
Kevin Hitchen is co-founder of the investment crowdfunding platform Localstake. Prior to founding Localstake, Kevin worked in investment management at the Indiana Public Retirement System and at J.P. Morgan It was at J.P. Morgan where he and a colleague first developed the idea for Localstake. Kevin received his Bachelors of Science in Finance from Butler University. He holds the Series 7, 24, 79, and 66 securities licenses and is a CFA charterholder.
July 30, 2014 - Read the full GoodCrowd.info article and watch the interview here: http://bit.ly/1oHxFvG.
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Mosiac, the leader in crowdfunding solar power projects, recently announced a program that provides homeowners with crowdfunded loans with operations and maintenance service contracts, giving them all the benefits of a lease with a simple to understand loan.
The loans can go for up to 20 years with no prepayment penalty and require no down payment.
July 30, 2014 - Read the full Forbes article and watch the interview here: http://onforb.es/1klNBnz.
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Social venture CommitChange has developed a new fundraising platform for nonprofits that doesn’t rely on collecting a percentage of funds raised, potentially netting nonprofits with a higher percentage of total donations.
The venture has garnered investments from power investors Mark Cuban, Tim Draper, Adam Draper and 500 Startups. Chris Sinton, co-founder of Network for Good and board chair of StartOut, has also invested and joined the board.
“We’ve decided to make all of our core technology available for free to help bolster charitable giving in the United States. We are also eliminating donation skimming as a business model and we will never profit by taking a percentage of donations,” said Roderick Campbell, CEO and Co-Founder of CommitChange.
Tim Draper, founder of Draper Fisher Jurvetson, said “a non-profit without CommitChange risks becoming a dinosaur.”
August 7, 2014 - Read the full GoodCrowd.info article and watch the interview here: http://bit.ly/1zVzed5.
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Richard Bliss is among the most respected and recognized authorities in the crowdfunding universe. He is the foremost authority on crowdfunding board games on Kickstarter.
He hosts a podcast called Funding the Dream on Kickstarter, which is available on iTunes. He is a frequent speaker, MC and panelist at crowdfunding conferences and will be speaking at GoodCrowd14, the Social Enterprise and Crowdfunding Conference on September 26, 2014 at Snowbird.
Richard’s bio:
Richard Bliss is a Senior Marketing Executive in the technology space but don’t let that fool you. He has a passion for writing, blogging, podcasting, public speaking, and nearly every other form of communication that allows him to meet and interact with amazing people.
For the past 3 years he has been the host of the #1 podcast for crowdfunding, Funding the Dream on Kickstarter. His hundreds of guests have ranged from Seth Godin, International best selling author, to Brian Fargo, creator of Wasteland 2.
He has a wide background in security, collaboration, Cloud, SaaS, and Crowdfunding . He has been a keynote speaker at conferences around the world with Sydney and Berlin being two of his favorites cities.
Richard lives in San Jose, California and can often be seen around town being towed on his bike by his two Giant Schnauzers. His secret passion is his love for board games and documenting the impact they have on building the bonds of family. His five daughters routinely crush him at any board game they play.
Richard can be found on most social media sites including:
Twitter - @richardbliss Facebook - Facebook.com/richardbliss Linkedin - LinkedIn.com/in/bliss Google Plus - +richardbliss Funding the Dream on Kickstarter Podcast is available on iTunes.
July 29, 2014 - Read the full GoodCrowd.info article and watch the interview here: http://bit.ly/1pqMNwv.
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The following is taken from a release from Global Giving:
West Africa is in the midst of the most lethal Ebola epidemic in history.
The Ebola virus disease is highly contagious, has no known treatment or cure, and is fatal within days or weeks in most cases. More than 1,200 people have been infected in Guinea, Sierra Leone, Liberia, and now Nigeria. The World Health Organization reports that 672 people have died so far as a result of this outbreak.
This is the first major outbreak of the Ebola virus in West Africa and communities in the region are struggling to contain the epidemic. We’ve set up the Ebola Epidemic Relief Fund so that local organizations in West Africa have immediate access to the resources they need to stop the spread of Ebola and care for the people already infected.
There are two organizations raising money on Global Giving for ebola relief, Develop Africa and IMANI House.
More about Global Giving:
GlobalGiving begins with the dedicated, tenacious individuals who are driving change in their communities. From running orphanages and schools, to helping survivors of natural disasters, these people are do-gooders to the core. We connect these “good idea people” with the “generous giver people” and help projects of all sizes receive donations of all sizes.
Britt’s bio:
As Director of Programs, Britt oversees relationships with over 2,000 nonprofits, including managing all of GlobalGiving’s impact measurement, capacity building work, and disaster relief grantmaking. In addition to her six years at GlobalGiving, Britt has worked at the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and with a variety of non-profits in Sierra Leone, South Africa, Kenya, and Zimbabwe. Britt holds a B.A. in International Studies from the University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill, a Master’s in International Relations from the University of Cape Town (South Africa), and a Master’s in Public Affairs from Princeton University’s Woodrow Wilson School.
July 29, 2014 - Read the full Your Mark on the World article and watch the interview here: http://bit.ly/1o0Nugp.
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Southwest Airlines has launched a sustainability initiative called “LUV Seat: Repurpose with Purpose” to upcycle leather seat coverings, keeping them out of landfills, so as to create opportunities for people in Kenya.
The pilot project began with 43 acres of leather seating materials and works in partnership with local nonprofits. Readers can comment on Facebook with the hashtag #LUVSeat,
Marilee McInnis, a Southwest Airlines Spokesperson, noted:
In Nairobi, Kenya (the project’s pilot location), SOS Children’s Villages Kenya, the primary non-profit partner that serves orphaned children and families in need, along with Alive & Kicking, Masaai Treads, and Life Beads Kenya, will use the leather to produce goods for distribution to local community groups.
Through the partnership, SOS youth will receive paid apprenticeships and training to make shoes and soccer balls from the leather. When completed, the shoes will be distributed as part of an anti-jigger campaign. The upcycled soccer balls will be donated to support education programs that use sports to raise awareness about HIV/AIDS and Malaria prevention.
More about Looptworks:
Creativity is everywhere. We transform neglected excess into fresh products that outfit your gadgets to take on life, giving you freedom to #CreateWhereYouWant.
Looptworks is an innovative design brand that creates remarkable products, like bags, digital carrying devices and clothing, using premium excess materials. By pioneering progressive design and manufacturing methods, rescuing unused textiles, and by producing quality products, Looptworks has saved over 40 million gallons of water. Paving the path for a more sustainable production industry, Looptworks is committed to using only materials that already exist, and is partnering with major retailers and brands, to transform excess into excellence.
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Scott’s bio:
Scott Hamlin, a passionate conservationist, is the co-founder of LOOPTWORKS, a Portland, Oregon based design brand that creates premium apparel, bags and mobile device accessories from high quality, upcycled materials. LOOPTWORKS has partnered with Fortune 500 companies, such as Southwest Airlines, to apply forward thinking design to their excess materials and brand marketing tools. Its products are currently being sold into Apple, Apple specialty retailers, Patagonia stores, Colleges and Universities nationwide, with distribution in Japan, Canada and Australia. You can see their full product offering at looptworks.com. LOOPTWORKS has been featured on Oprah’s O list, the Today Show, NBC National News, The Guardian, Entrepreneur Magazine, Shape magazine, Fast Company Magazine, Real Simple, and many other blogs and websites. LOOPTWORKS has been named one of Entrepreneur Magazines top 100 Brilliant Companies and has won the Innovations in Supply Chain Sustainability by Sustainable Business Oregon. Recognized as a thought leader in the emerging Circular Economy and sustainable capitalism, Hamlin has joined former Vice President and Nobel Peace Laureate, Al Gore on a panel as a pioneer of sustainable industries. He has served as the key note speaker at Temple University’s Social Entrepreneurship Conference, as well as speaking engagements at Harvard University, The Green Biz Forum, and many other Universities and Business Conferences in the US, Japan, and Brazil. Hamlin and the Looptworks Team have been working with experts in textile recycling and textile science to work towards Looptworks’ ultimate goal, closed loop manufacturing. In addition to running a growing company, Scott spends his free time with his wife and two kids enjoying surfing, biking, running, rock climbing, hiking and playing outdoors.
More about Southwest Air:
In its 44th year of service, Dallas-based Southwest Airlines (NYSE: LUV) continues to differentiate itself from other carriers with exemplary Customer Service delivered by more than 45,000 Employees to more than 100 million Customers annually. Based on the most recent data available from the U.S. Department of Transportation, Southwest is the nation’s largest carrier in terms of originating domestic passengers boarded. Southwest is one of the most honored airlines in the world, known for its triple bottom line approach that takes into account the carrier’s performance and productivity, the importance of its People and the communities it serves, and its commitment to efficiency and the planet. The 2013 Southwest Airlines One Report™ can be found at southwest.com/citizenship.
Marilee’s bio:
Marilee McInnis is a spokesperson for Southwest Airlines, the nation’s largest airline in terms of passengers carried. In addition to her reputation management and corporate communication duties, Marilee directs the airline’s Green initiatives, leads the “Green Team,” helps the Company put a Green filter on business decisions, and communicates and fosters sustainability for the Company. Marilee developed and spearheads the Company’s annual integrated reporting effort, the Southwest Airlines One Report™, which makes Southwest one of only a handful of U.S. companies publishing an integrated report and the subject of Harvard’s first case study on integrated reporting. Marilee was named by Fortune magazine as one of eight rising green stars at the world’s most admired companies.
Marilee is an honors journalism graduate of the University of North Texas.
More about SOS Children’s Villages:
SOS Children’s Villages creates stable, loving families for orphaned and abandoned children. We provide mothers who give individual attention and guidance to each child until they become an independent adult. We are raising over 82,000 children in over 500 villages across 133 countries, including the US. Through our outreach programs we impact the lives of over 1 million people each year.
Amanda’s bio:
Amanda Eisen is the Director, Corporate Partnerships for SOS Children’s Villages-USA, where she is responsible for managing mutually beneficial partnerships that support SOS Children’s Villages around the world while helping companies meet their CSR goals. Prior to joining SOS Children’s Villages in 2013, Amanda was Foundation and Corporate Relations Officer at The Wilderness Society, a national organization that worked to protect wilderness and inspire Americans to care for our wild places. Previously, she served as Director of Foundation and Corporate Giving for the Prospect Park Alliance in Brooklyn, NY. Amanda earned her B.A. in English from Vassar College. In her spare time, Amanda enjoys yoga, cooking, and knitting. Amanda lives in Hyattsville, MD with her husband, six-year-old daughter, and two cats.
More about What’s Good Studios:
What’s Good Studios is a creative hub kicking out innovative content for young, modern, urban Kenyans and for the rest of the world to enjoy. What’s Good Studios is the production partner for the Southwest Leather project: Repurpose with Purpose: Luv Seat
Silvia’s bio:
Silvia is the Kenyan Programme Co-ordinator on the ground. She is a marketer with over 6 years experience in Consumer and Trade Marketing in both South Africa and Kenya. She is part of the marketing team for What’s Good Studios. She is excited to be part of the Southwest Leather Programme and especially looking forward to transforming the lives of young women and men through the programme.
July 23, 2014 - Read the full Forbes article and watch the interview here: http://onforb.es/1nR2zN4.
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At a meeting of the U.S. Advisory Board and G7′s Social Impact Investing Taskforce at the White House last month, Prudential committed to build a $1 billion impact investment portfolio by 2020.
“Impact investing uses the power of markets to unleash private capital for public good. Done well, it can scale sustainable solutions to some of our toughest social challenges, such as affordable housing, clean energy, quality education, and workforce development,” said Matt Bannick, Co-Chair of the US National Advisory Board and Managing Partner at Omidyar Network, in a statement following the event. “Impact investing has been a part of the fabric of social and community development finance in the US for decades. But we have only begun to see a glimpse of its promise, and smart public policy will help us get where we need to be.”
Following the event, the National Advisory Board made several policy recommendations:
Remove regulatory barriers Increase the effectiveness of government programs like the Overseas Private Investment Corporation Provide incentives for new impact investments Support social entrepreneurs Standardize impact metrics
More about Prudential:
For more than 135 years, Prudential Financial, Inc., has helped individual and institutional customers grow and protect their wealth. Today, we are one of the world’s largest financial services institutions with operations in the United States, Asia, Europe, and Latin America. We also have one of the most recognized and trusted brand symbols: The Rock ®, an icon of strength, stability, expertise, and innovation.
We strive to create long-term value for our stakeholders through strong business fundamentals, consistent with our mission guided by our vision and directed by our company’s core values. We are committed to keeping our promises and to doing business the right way.
Sathe’s bio:
Ommeed is responsible for underwriting, origination, pipeline development and portfolio management activities. He also is director of the Newark Investment Fund, which provides investment resources to support the Strong Healthy Cities Initiative. Before joining Prudential in June 2011, Ommeed was director of real estate development for the New Orleans Redevelopment Authority, a quasi-public entity that alleviates blight, redevelops residential and commercial properties and implements crucial public projects in New Orleans. Previously, he was a real estate and land use attorney with Fried, Frank, Harris HRS +0.94%, Shriver & Jacobson in New York City. Ommeed has an undergraduate degree in neuroscience and urban planning from Columbia University; a Masters degree in city planning from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology; and a J.D. from Harvard Law School.
July 23, 2014 - Read the full Your Mark on the World article and watch the interview here: http://bit.ly/1nRbFt2.
Subscribe to this podcast on iTunes by clicking here: http://bit.ly/ymotwitunes or on Stitcher by clicking here: http://bit.ly/ymotwstitcher.
Lisa Gunn Adams, a professor at Kennesaw State University, is working to organize an active, real-time collaboration platform for people working to enhance waterways through crowdsourcing—and she’s crowdfunding the money to do it!
Her new platform, SPLASSH, provides a space where anyone interested in water can learn and share, from those engaged day-to-day in water conservation, to volunteers, researchers and residents of waterways.
More about SPLASSH:
SPLASSH is a socially driven network that crowdsources the condition of our waterways. The mission of SPLASSH is to inspire water conservation through awareness by engaging students, citizen scientists, and researchers to share, discuss, connect, and visually consume information about water. SPLASSH is a framework that collects information about water in real-time, allows dialogue, and most of all fosters the building of communities that share an interest in water. SPLASSH accepts all posts about water from anyone who has an interest in, observation of, or concern about water. In essence, SPLASSH is an education and dissemination tool for anyone that wants to share water projects or learn more about the most important resource we have: water. To join the SPLASSH community, just log onto http://splasshdata.meteor.com and share your water project or news.
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Lisa’s bio:
Adams is an Associate Professor in the Biology Department at Kennesaw State University. Receiving a Ph.D. from University of California, Los Angeles, a M.S. from San Diego State University, and a B.S. from Fairleigh Dickinson University, Adams’ research has involved studying fish, marine and freshwater ecosystems, otters, and coyotes. Upon moving to Georgia, Adams focused her research on watershed studies, primarily water monitoring issues. She is passionate about increasing awareness of the importance of healthy waterways with the goal of inspiring water conservation and the protection of aquatic ecosystems. Adams has published several papers in her field and serves on the board for SECOORA (Southeast Coastal Ocean Observation Regional Association).
July 23, 2014 - Read the full GoodCrowd.info article and watch the interview here: http://bit.ly/1mBqtf2.
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Lumos is an EdTech startup that has created a wireless hub to connect disparate classroom technologies of various vintages.
Not only is Lumos funding its launch through crowdfunding on Indiegogo, it has created a model that allows teachers to conduct their own micro-campaigns to raise the money to get a device in their classrooms.
More about Lumos:
At Lumos, we believe that technology can be a key to unlocking the natural curiosity that drives both educators and students, and fuels the desire to learn. A key that should be within reach of every school and district, not just the wealthy. We believe that teachers deserve more than hand-me-downs from the world of consumer electronics. Our team of educators and entrepreneurs are committed to creating simple and cost effective solutions to integrate technology in the classroom; beginning with our SmartHub, the world’s first Android powered wireless presentation system.
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Shane’s bio:
Shane is a principal founder and CEO of LUMOS Technologies. He has established himself as a competent innovator and entrepreneur in the field of wireless technology and has been working in the field of education for over 5 years. Shane has built multiple successful businesses over the past decade. A few of these businesses include a regional wireless internet service, call tracking and marketing analytics software, and a hosted pbx phone system.
Prior to LUMOS, Shane was a principal founder and COO at Skywire Technologies, a technology integration firm servicing the charter school industry. His primary responsibilities were to design and oversee the installation of advanced technology systems in charter schools across the U.S. This technology includes wired and wireless networks, classroom A/V, paging, phone, and surveillance systems. He experienced firsthand the frustrations that educators and school administrators face in implementing technology. This experience is what drove Shane to create LUMOS. He wanted to give schools simple and cost effective solutions to incorporate technology in the classroom. As a father of three children with various learning needs, Shane’s passion is in creating tools that give educators the power to engage and interact with each student using the power of technology.
July 23, 2014 - Read the full Your Mark on the World article and watch the interview here: http://bit.ly/1sNZJQP.
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Luke Peterson returned to his alma mater three years ago, he came to drive social innovation in the community and beyond—not just on campus.
Luke graduated from Utah Valley University before attending Harvard’s Kennedy school and then took a series of jobs working in small town governments, before returning to Utah County. He’s become a driving force for social innovation there and his influence is extending.
He will be speaking at the Social Innovation and Crowdfunding Conference (#GoodCrowd14) on September 26, 2014.
Luke’s bio:
Luke Peterson is an expert in innovation, specializing in cross-sector partnerships and innovation.
After receiving a B.A. in history from Utah Valley University, Luke completed a master’s in public policy at the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University. He then worked in local government management and economic development for the City of Davenport, Iowa, the Town of West Warwick, Rhode Island, and Wasatch County, Utah.
Luke returned to UVU in 2011 to direct the formation of cooperative partnerships between UVU and its external partners. Luke works with individual companies, nonprofits, communities, government agencies, and entire sectors to provide engaged learning opportunities for students and faculty while creating deep value for the university’s external partners. His current project is the development of the Innovation Academy at UVU — a center designed to teach the principles of design thinking, and opportunity identification to cross-sector teams of public, social, and private sector entrepreneurs.
July 23, 2014 - Read the full Your Mark on the World article and watch the interview here: http://bit.ly/1uc0xR2.
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Author Jordan Phoenix is so serious about saving the world that he’s walking from Canada to Mexico to bring attention to his work and to share his unique message of personal responsibility with everyone he meets.
Jordan created Project Free World to support projects that provide food, rights, education, and work to protect the environment.
More about Project Free World:
Project Free World facilitates the creation of collaborative grassroots projects in order to provide the proper food, rights, education, and environment to every person on the planet. It aims to connect local changemakers who have similar passions and complimentary skill sets with the most effective ideas for social change being implemented worldwide.
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Jordan’s bio:
Jordan Phoenix is an author, social entrepreneur, speaker, and scalability consultant. He is the founder of Project Free World, an organization that facilitates the creation of collaborative social innovation projects in order to provide the proper food, rights, education, and environment to every person on the planet.
His book, It’s All My Fault: How I Messed Up the World, and Why I Need Your Help to Fix It describes paradigm shifting ideas to address the biggest global challenges we face as a species; such as poverty, homelessness, and underemployment.
He also writes a personal development blog called Uncommon Sense for 21st Century Living to examine the rapidly evolving landscape of life in the modern era. Jordan’s work has been featured in The New Yorker, The Times of India, RT, The Huffington Post, Lifehack, MindBodyGreen, The New York Observer, The Social Journal, GOOD, and The Spark Documentary. He was recognized as a Quora Top Writer in 2013.
July 18, 2014 - Read the full Your Mark on the World article and watch the interview here: http://bit.ly/UeoRBb.
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Henry Miller launched his social venture (with a little help from his parents) at age eleven. He’s never looked back.
His company, Henry’s Humdingers, makes all natural condiments using raw honey. He recently appeared on Shark Tank.
He shared his story with me:
It all happened one day when me and my mom got on a plane and sat next to this bee farmer. He talked about helping bees and the dreadful hive collapse disorder. He told me humans couldn’t live seven years if bees disappeared. We wouldn’t have enough food because the bees wouldn’t be there to pollinate the corn or the wheat or even tomatoes. OK, I don’t like tomatoes, but I know we need them for stuff like pizza. At the end of the flight my mom said we could get bees and I could start my own company. I told her, Henry’s Humdingers. She laughed and called my dad and now its a real-life thing. The more I learn about bees the more interesting I think they are. Did you know only the old bees collect pollen? I love bees and all the good they do and it makes me crazy to think about all the bad things happening to them. It’s just ughhh, so I am donating part of what I make to my friends over at The Foundation For the Preservation of Honey Bees.
July 22, 2014 - Read the full Forbes article and watch the interview here: http://onforb.es/1p39XWX.
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Polio, once a global monster, is now a cornered rat, lashing out in hopes of repopulating. Reduced 99.9 percent from an average number of cases around 400,000 thirty years ago, the number of global polio cases has been cut to around 400 annually. The Global Polio Eradication Initiative hopes to see the final case of polio either late this year or early next year. All polio cases, regardless of where they are found, now originate from three countries: Pakistan, Afghanistan and Nigeria. You can count the number of cases this year in Afghanistan or Nigeria on your fingers; the end of polio there is clearly within reach.
All three countries have been impacted by conflict in recent years, making the battle against polio at this critical stage challenging. The battle is so pitched that the World Health Organization or WHO, declared a “public health emergency” in an effort to garner greater cooperation among countries to prevent the spread of polio, especially from the three endemic countries.
Rotary, one of the partners in the Global Polio Eradication Initiative, along with the CDC, WHO and UNICEF with tremendous financial support from The Gates Foundation, has brought the three national Polio Plus Committee heads from Pakistan, Afghanistan and Nigeria to its global headquarters in Evanston, Illinois this week. Forbes has received an exclusive opportunity to visit with them live on Tuesday, July 22, 2014 at 4:10 PM Eastern. Aziz Memon of Pakistan, Dr. Abdulrahman Olatunji Funsho of Nigeria and Mohammad Ishaq Niazmand of Afghanistan will join us then.
July 18, 2014 - Read the full Forbes article and watch the interview here: http://onforb.es/1nQqNf1.
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Fully 92% of high net worth individuals think driving global impact is important, according to a survey conducted for Capgemini and RBC Wealth Management.
Other observations from the report include:
75% of high net worth individuals or HNWIs 40 and younger believe that social impact is “very” or “extremely” important HNWIs in emerging markets like China, India and Indonesia were more likely to rate having social impact as “very” or “extremely” important The survey also identified the top five ways that HNWIs give back:
Making investment choices with a clearly defined social impact objective Giving on an ongoing basis to charities More general community involvement Volunteering knowledge and expertise Making strategic business decisions with a clearly defined social impact objective The survey results show that the top three reasons HNWIs seek to give back are their personal and family values, their desire to pass their values along to their children and their sense of responsibility to give back.
More about Capgemini:
Capgemini is one of the world’s foremost providers of consulting, technology, outsourcing services and local professional services. Present in over 40 countries with more than 130,000 employees, the Capgemini Group helps its clients transform in order to improve their performance and competitive positioning.
We offer an array of integrated services that combine top-of-the-range technology with deep sector expertise and a strong command of our four key businesses.
David Wilson David Wilson
Wilson’s bio:
David Wilson is Head of the Strategic Analysis Group, for Capgemini’s Financial Services Global Business Unit. David has professional services and financial services experience spanning the areas of strategic research and analysis, management consulting, and marketing.
David focuses on wealth management and in addition to client engagements, has co-authored leading reports such as the Capgemini RBC Wealth Management World Wealth Report, the Capgemini RBC Wealth Management Asia-Pacific Wealth Report, and the Capgemini U.S. Metro Wealth Index.
Previously, David was a strategy consultant for Capgemini Consulting’s Strategy and Transformation practice where he worked on projects across a variety of sectors.
Prior to joining Capgemini in 2007, David worked for the U.S. wealth management divisions of UBS Wealth Management and Merrill Lynch Global Private Client Group.
July 17, 2014 - Read the full Forbes article and watch the interview here: http://onforb.es/1tTBSAv.
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Funding Circle, a British crowdfunding site that provides business loans in the UK and the US that banks generally won’t make has announced a $65 million equity investment, perhaps the single largest venture round in the history of the crowdfunding industry.
The company has indicated that the funds will be used to accelerate growth in existing markets and to explore additional international markets.
According to a statement, the recent funding round was led by Index Ventures and includes existing investors. Bob Steel, CEO of Perella Weinberg Partners and former Under Secretary for Domestic Finance of the United States Treasury, will join the Funding Circle board.
More about Funding Circle:
Funding Circle (www.fundingcircle.com) is the world’s leading online marketplace for business loans, enabling investors to directly lend to small businesses in both the UK and the US. Since launching in the UK in 2010 Funding Circle has now lent more than $500 million to over 5,000 businesses, and currently lends $50 million per month.
In the US, Funding Circle’s online marketplace allows accredited investors and institutions to invest in small businesses seeking to borrow $25,000 to $500,000 through whole loans or a passive fund. By combining cutting edge technology with industry-leading risk management models, Funding Circle provides small businesses with access to fast, fair and transparent finance and investors with the opportunity to access attractive returns at fixed income risk levels through an online marketplace. In 2014, Funding Circle expects to lend $100 million to American small businesses.
In the UK, businesses can borrow between £5,000 and £1 million, while investors can earn a 6.1%* average return after fees and bad debt. Since launching in August 2010 Funding Circle has helped over 5,000 businesses borrow more than £300 million. Investors include thousands of individuals, the Government-backed British Business Bank, local councils, financial organisations and Huddersfield University. Funding Circle was the first marketplace lender to announce a formal referral partnership with Santander, one of the UK’s leading high street banks.
Desai’s bio:
Samir is responsible for driving the company strategy, overseeing the company’s finances and managing the day to day operations at Funding Circle. Samir has worked extensively in the financial services sector.
Before founding Funding Circle, Samir was an Executive at Olivant, a private equity investor in financial services businesses in Europe, the Middle East and Asia. Prior to this, Samir was a management consultant at BCG advising a number of major UK and global banks and insurers on strategy, new product initiatives, and operational efficiency.
Read the full Forbes article and watch the interview here: http://onforb.es/1l9629G.
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Author Aaron Hurst has a plan to replace LinkedIn LNKD +1.23% with a purpose-driven alternative called Imperative.
Hurst is the author of The Purpose Economy, which helps to understand the global shift from an information economy to a purpose economy. He sees the sharing economy and companies from AirBnB to ZipCar as examples of a more purpose-focused ethos that millennials especially are adopting.
More broadly, Hurst sees a world in which people manifest a sense of purpose with virtually everything they do, from where and how they work and socialize to how they consume products from the daily coffee to the exotic vacation. We are infusing everything with purpose.
Hurst will be speaking at the Social Enterprise and Crowdfunding Conference (SECFC14) on September 26, 2014 at Snowbird, Utah, which I am organizing.
About Imperative:
Imperative is a movement to evolve the economy into one driven by purpose. We believe in a more human world where by better understanding our purpose, we are able to unite to better solve the world’s problems.
We are building a network of bold and authentic people and connecting them to purpose at work and in their community. It involves helping people discover their purpose profile, connecting them to others in their professional community and activating city-based projects for local social impact. As society increasingly prioritizes personal growth, relationships and impact, Imperative is becoming the catalyzing force behind the transition to a Purpose Economy.
We are entering a really exciting time as our team grows and our vision comes together in an actionable product. It’s a dynamic, fast-paced environment where we love what we do and have a lot of fun together.
Hurst’s bio:
Aaron Hurst is an award-winning entrepreneur and globally recognized leader in fields of purpose at work and social innovation. He is the author of three books including The Purpose Economy, which redefines how we think about work and the economy. He is the CEO of Imperative, the new career development platform for professionals seeking purpose at work. Previously, Aaron founded the Taproot Foundation where he was the catalyst and lead architect of the $15 billion pro bono services market.
Aaron has been an advisor and consultant to leading global brands like LinkedIn, Elance, Etsy, Deloitte and Twitter TWTR +2.7%. He speaks regularly at companies like Google GOOGL -1.16%, Citi and BMW and at the campuses of leading business schools around the world.
He is the recipient of the LS&A Humanitarian Award, the highest distinction bestowed on alumni of the University of Michigan. He lives with his family in Brooklyn.
July 10, 2014 - Read the full Your Mark on the World article and watch the interview here: http://bit.ly/1xT1A6K.
Social entrepreneur Stephanie David has reinvented the online shopping experience, by magically offering shoppers both a discount and the promise that her company, PopNod, will donate a portion of proceeds to a cause you choose.
More about PopNod:
PopNod is a social good online shopping destination that enables you to save money at your favorite stores while supporting the causes you care about. Members choose from hundreds of popular handpicked stores and numerous nonprofits and organizations. With every purchase, members earn cashback rewards, and PopNod matches 20% and donates to your favorite causes. PopNod does all the hard work so that you can focus on saving money and making your impact - a win/win for you and your causes. The e-commerce platform has expanded with the launch of PopNod for Employers, a Corporate Social Responsibility solution.
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Stephanie’s bio:
Stephanie David is an entrepreneur and explorer of life with a passion for building solutions for social impact and revolutionizing the way e-commerce connects with social good. Stephanie was selected by Business News Daily as one of “10 Female Entrepreneurs Who Inspired Us in 2013.”
As an intrapreneur, Stephanie drove new business growth in large Fortune 50 corporations. Stephanie brings with her 12 years of experience in technology, business development, sales, operations management, partnership development, client management, marketing, and branding. She was fortunate to have worked at major corporations with highly innovative charitable giving and corporate social responsibility programs.
A chance trip to an elephant farm in Chiang Mai, Thailand propelled her to leave her most recent career with Microsoft in 2013 to revolutionize the way people make their impact on the world. Currently, Stephanie is helping people discover how to live at the intersection of style and social good. PopNod has been featured in major media outlets, including ABC News, US News & World Report, Netted by Webbys, Trend Hunter, and Business News Daily.
July 10, 2014 - Read the full Your Mark on the World article and watch the interview here: http://bit.ly/U4ZaTB.
Subscribe to this podcast on iTunes by clicking here: http://bit.ly/ymotwitunes or on Stitcher by clicking here: http://bit.ly/ymotwstitcher.
Stephanie Stettler takes doing good seriously. Beginning with a masters degree in Leadership for Sustainability from Portland State University, she has built her career around having impact. Today, she helps lead the Salt Lake Impact Hub.
Stephanie will be speaking at the Social Enterprise and Crowdfunding Conference (SECFC14) on September 26, 2014 at Snowbird.
Stephanie’s bio:
Stephanie Stettler is Programming Director and on the founding team of Impact Hub Salt Lake. Stephanie is working to build an ecosystem of social enterprise that cultivates learning, mobilizes stakeholders, and accelerates new ventures. She brings to Impact Hub Salt Lake 8 years of experience developing programs for purpose driven organizations that improve environmental, economic and social impact.
Previously, Stephanie developed programs for sustainable business conferences and social cause summits across the United States, at Portland-based event company Social Enterprises, Inc. There she led sustainability initiatives and impact measurement to become a certified B Corp and a leading sustainable event production company. Stephanie holds a BS in Economics from the University of Utah and an MS in Leadership for Sustainability Education from Portland State University.
July 10, 2014 - Read the full Your Mark on the World article and watch the interview here: http://bit.ly/U4RYHb.
Subscribe to this podcast on iTunes by clicking here: http://bit.ly/ymotwitunes or on Stitcher by clicking here: http://bit.ly/ymotwstitcher.
Chris Waddell, world-class athlete and founder of One Revolution, is turning perceptions of disability upside-down.
Chris was a competitive skier in college when he broke his back, rising to become the most decorated mono-skier in men’s Paralympic history. He launched One Revolution to redefine disability.
More about Chris:
Chris Waddell always thought that the lessons he learned in sports would provide the foundation for later success. As a ski racer at Middlebury College in 1988, he had no idea how profoundly one moment could change and paradoxically enhance that conviction. On December 20th his ski popped off in the middle of a turn. He fell, broke two vertebrae, and damaged the spinal cord. Paralyzed from the waist down he learned and achieved more than he could have imagined.
He returned to college just two months after the accident, started monoskiing in less than a year and was named to the US Disabled Ski Team a little more than two years after that paradoxical moment. With 12 Paralympic medals, he became the most decorated male monoskier in history. Also a track athlete, he’s one of a handful to have won World Championships in both the winter and the summer. He competed in four Winter Paralympics winning 12 medals and three Summer Paralympics winning a silver medal in the 200 meters in Sydney. In World Championship competition, Waddell won 9 total medals: four gold, one silver, one bronze; six in the winter and three in the summer.
Waddell was inducted into the US Ski and Snowboard Hall of Fame and the Paralympics Hall of Fame. The Dalai Lama honored him as an “Unsung Hero of Compassion”. People Magazine named him one of the “Fifty Most Beautiful People in the World.” Skiing Magazine placed him amongst the “25 Greatest Skiers in North America.” Middlebury College presented him with a Doctorate in Humane Letters.
In September of 2009 Waddell became the first paraplegic to summit Mt. Kilimanjaro almost entirely under his own power. His team carried him for approximately 100 feet of the 19,340 mountain. The film documenting the climb has won awards throughout the world. He has appeared on Dateline, Oprah and 20/20.
He is the founder of the One Revolution Foundation and speaks throughout the country sharing his universal message, “It’s not what happens to you. It’s what you do with what happens to you.”
Currently Waddell resides in Park City, Utah where he can be seen out and about keeping fit on his hand cycle and racer. He travels the country year round presenting the Foundation’s Nametags school program, speaking to corporate groups and screening the documentary. Waddell is working on a book to chronicle his journey while also planning his newest adventure – a cross country bike tour to highlight the foundation. He also continues to be actively involved with the Paralympics as an ambassador for the International Paralympic Committee and is a color analyst for the Games.
Highlights
Dalai Lama Unsung Hero of Compassion Thirteen Paralympic medals World Champion in both winter and summer sports Most medals of any American male Paralympic skier Doctor of Humane Letters, Middlebury College First Ambassador International Paralympic Committee Founder One Revolution Foundation First unassisted paraplegic to summit Mt Kilimanjaro Paralympic Hall of Fame US Ski and Snowboard Hall of Fame People Magazine “50 Most Beautiful People” Skiing Magazine “25 Greatest Skiers in North America”
July 10, 2014 - You can read the full Your Mark on the World article and watch the interview here: http://bit.ly/V9rDsc.
Subscribe to this podcast on iTunes by clicking here: http://bit.ly/ymotwitunes or on Stitcher by clicking here: http://bit.ly/ymotwstitcher.
AdaPia d’Errico, Chief Marketing Officer of the real estate crowdfunding portal Patch of Land, will be speaking at the Social Enterprise and Crowdfunding Conference (SECFC14) on September 26, 2014 at Snowbird, Utah (secfc.co).
More about Patch of Land:
Patch of Land is a marketplace lending platform that connects borrowers who require short term funding for their real estate projects with accredited and institutional investors seeking uncorrelated returns from passive income real estate investments.
Patch of Land is a privately owned company based in Los Angeles, CA providing accredited and institutional investors easier access to short-term, asset collateralized, fixed income securities through its proprietary P2RE “Peer-to-Real-Estate” lending marketplace. Patch of Land is the online marketplace solution to inefficient, slow, fragmented and obscure short- term real estate lending, providing a fast, efficient, transparent and consistent service to real estate borrowers and professionals, who may not qualify for traditional financing.
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AdaPia’s bio:
AdaPia d’Errico is an entrepreneur, investor, and mentor with broad experience across retail banking, financial planning, international finance and capital markets, strategic brand and intellectual property development, crowdfunding and online community building. As Chief Marketing Officer at Patch of Land, she leads strategic partnerships, and drives brand awareness while positioning the company at the forefront of P2P real estate lending and debt crowdfinancing. She has co-founded two businesses with women partners, coached female entrepreneurs, taught and mentored business students, and frequently speaks on Women 2.0 topics in crowdfunding, entrepreneurship, and fundraising for start-ups. AdaPia has a BBA from the University of British Columbia.
July 13, 2014 - Read the full Forbes article and watch the interview here: http://onforb.es/1xTJzFo.
Subscribe to this podcast on iTunes by clicking here: http://bit.ly/ymotwitunes or on Stitcher by clicking here: http://bit.ly/ymotwstitcher.
Much of the hype around crowdfunding has frustratingly proved to be so much hot air. The United Nations Global Compact and the U.S. State Department are working to change that by bringing crowdfunding forward to finance projects in the developing world, especially projects designed to address the social problems endemic there.
U.S.-based crowdfunding site Gate Global Impact is partnering with the UN Global Compact to launch Gateway 2.0, a site that will allow members of the UN Global Compact’s Social Enterprise Hub to access capital of from $500,000 to $10 million.
Rosedel Davies-Adewebi, project manager for social enterprise and impact investing at the UN Global Compact, explained that through this innovative partnership the UN Global Compact hopes to advance this form of equity crowdfunding as a new approach to impact investing, addressing gaps in the missing middle of finance and connect capital to impactful businesses addressing critical areas related to the UN-Post 2015 agenda.
Similarly, the U.S. State Department will soon launch a partnership with the crowdfunding site RocketHub to accelerate social impact projects from 60 countries around the world.
Molinari will be speaking at the Social Enterprise and Crowdfunding Conference, which I a organizing, on September 26, 2014 at Snowbird (secfc.co).
More about the UN Global Compact:
The UN Global Compact is a strategic policy initiative for businesses that are committed to aligning their operations and strategies with ten universally accepted principles in the areas of human rights, labour, environment and anti-corruption. Endorsed by chief executives, the Global Compact is a practical framework for the development, implementation, and disclosure of sustainability policies and practices, offering participants a wide spectrum of workstreams, management tools and resources — all designed to help advance sustainable business models and markets.
To further promote the advancement of sustainable business models, the UN Global Compact has launched a workstream focused on the concepts of Social Enterprise and Impact investing. The aim of the workstream is to build an enabling environment for corporations within the Global Compact, investors and social enterprises that will facilitate the formation of partnerships designed to advance innovations addressing development challenges.
Davies-Adewebi’s bio:
Rosedel Davies-Adewebi is the Project Manager for the Social Enterprise and Impact Investing workstream of the United Nations Global Compact. The workstream is designed to build an enabling environment to support the formation of partnerships among social enterprises, corporations and investors . The partnerships have the aim to advance innovations addressing global development challenges. At the UN Global Compact, Rosedel is responsible for setting the strategic direction of the workstream and leading its operations globally.
Rosedel has spent the last eight years developing programs and managing projects designed to connect social innovators with financing and technical assistance to scale impact. Prior to joining the UN Global Compact, she served as a consultant on impact measurement data to the Global Impact Investing Network (GIIN). Rosedel’s other professional experience includes developing the investment strategy for a seed fund providing financing for maternal and child health innovations at the Tony Elumelu Foundation, a Lagos, Nigeria based foundation. The seed fund served as the foundation’s commitment to the United Nations Secretary General’s Every Woman, Every Child Campaign. In addition to this, she worked with Project Enterprise, a New York City based- micro-finance fund to grow their loan portfolio. For her work at Project Enterprise, she received the United Way’s Emerging Junior Leader Fellowship in 2007.
She began her career in 2003 as a commercial banker for Wachovia and served on the team responsible for launching Wachovia’s first commercial operations in New York City.
Rosedel received an MBA from the University of Michigan’s Stephen M. Ross School of Business, where she was a recipient of the Consortium for Graduate Study in Management Scholarship and served as a fellow on the Frankel Commercialization Fund, a student-run pre-seed venture fund. She also holds bachelors’ degrees in Economics and International Relations from Boston University.
Foster’s bio:
Daniella M. Foster is a policy innovator and social entrepreneur. She has worked in government, business and the non-profit sectors. Ms. Foster serves as a Director of Public-Private Partnerships at the U.S. Department of State, where she leads the establishment of partnerships which commit skills and capital for social impact projects in over 165 countries.
She previously served as the Chief of Staff for the Secretary of State’s Senior Advisor for Civil Society and Emerging Democracies, where she managed the work of the office to implement policy initiatives and partnerships designed to strengthen emerging democracies and civil society worldwide. She has spearheaded a variety of Presidential initiatives, including global public-private partnerships that help grow small and medium businesses, connect entrepreneurs from around the world, and develop job skills via mobile technology.
A respected authority on strategic partnerships, Ms. Foster has worked in six continents, tripling growth in agreements with Fortune 500 companies and international organizations, and was named one of the Diplomatic Courier’s “Top 99 Under 33 Foreign Policy Leaders” and featured in Washington Life Magazine as one of Washington’s most influential leaders in 2013.
She is passionate about social entrepreneurship and serves as the CEO and Co-founder of the Emergent Leaders Network (ELN), a non-profit that provides scholarships and mentoring to community college students. She currently serves on the advisory board for Noodle, the first and only life-long education related search company in the world.
Ms. Foster holds a M.A. in Social and Public Policy from Georgetown University and a B.A. in Intercultural Communications and Business from Pepperdine University.
Molinari’s bio:
Vince Molinari has been recognized by Forbes as one of the “Top 10 Most Influential People in Crowdfunding.”
The consummate visionary and serial entrepreneur, Vince has always been a driving force in creating new market infrastructure bringing efficiency, transparency and liquidity to the unstructured global alternative asset markets.
Vince’s vision of opening the private market for investment can spearhead economic growth and job creation, leading him to be on of the early voices and champions of the recently passed JOBS Act.
Vince’s most recent start-up is GATE Global Impact whose mission is based on a core belief that actionable knowledge drives investments, and that technology can close the gap between traditional and emerging alternative markets. GGI is fast becoming the leading electronic marketplace platform that is helping the world’s leading organizations tale impact investing to the next level. GGI enables investors to identify and transact in securities, which provide sustainable social and environmental benefits in addition to a financial return by bringing efficiency, transparency and liquidity to historically fragmented processes. GGI partners include the UN, OPIC, Microsoft, Yunus Social Business, Prudential and other leading financial and technology organizations.
Vince is an active speaker on issues related to capital markets and early-stage companies, and regularly speaks at events around the world. He has been invited to testify before the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Financial Services, Subcommittee on Capital Markets and Government Sponsored Enterprises, and regularly consults with both members of Congress and regulatory agencies on these issues.
Vince is a founding board member of the Crowdfund Intermediary Regulatory Advocates (CFIRA), a self-regulating association that works with governmental and quasi-governmental entities to help establish crowdfunding industry standards and best practices. He is also a co-founder of the Crowdfunding Professional Association (CfPA), a leading trade organization for the Crowdfund industry and sits on the board of CF50 a global think tank of 50 of the leading minds from academia, policy and industry.
Vince is also the founder of Global Access Holdings LLC, a financial media and analytics company, which identified a global trend line of illiquid securities and the potential market need for alternative asset trading platforms. Prior to Global Access Holdings, he was chairman and CEO of Burlington Capital Markets LLC, a financial services company specializing in institutional execution services and investment banking activities. In addition, he co-founded Inculab, a technology business incubator.
Vince began his career at Lehman Brothers Inc., and has held senior positions at Janney Montgomery Scott Inc. and Ridgewood Capital Funding, LLC.
He has been featured on the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation’s “Lang and O’Leary Exchange” and been quoted and published in a wide range of business media including the Wall Street Journal, Forbes, Bloomberg News, Advance Trading and Securities Technology Monitor.
July 10, 2014 - Read the full Your Mark on the World article and watch the interview here: http://bit.ly/1xU2cJv.
Subscribe to this podcast on iTunes by clicking here: http://bit.ly/ymotwitunes or on Stitcher by clicking here: http://bit.ly/ymotwstitcher.
Over 15 million people in the world are living as refugees. According to Emily Arnold-Fernandez, the executive director of Asylum Access, the average time in a refugee camp is now almost 20 year.
“Less than 1% of refugees reach the US, Canada, Europe and Australia combined each year,” she says. “In many places, refugees aren’t allowed to move freely, work, attend school, or open a bank account, so they can’t rebuild their lives. They’re forced to depend on aid.”
Tweet: “Less than 1% of refugees reach the US, Canada, Europe and Australia combined.” -@asylumaccess via @devindthorpe http://ctt.ec/w0knA+
Emily says, “Asylum Access is changing this, by focusing on refugees’ rights. We believe that when refugees enjoy their rights, they can fulfill their own needs.”
More about Asylum Access:
Asylum Access is an innovative international nonprofit dedicated to making refugee rights a reality. Asylum Access empowers refugees in Africa, Asia and Latin America to live safely, work, send children to school and rebuild their lives. Asylum Access is the only international organization solely dedicated to making refugee rights a reality in first countries of refuge. By helping refugees assert their rights, we are putting power back into their hands. We provide direct legal assistance and education to over 10,000 refugees annually in Ecuador, Thailand and Tanzania, reaching hundreds of thousands more through policy advocacy and strategic litigation. Our work transforms the traditional approach of endless humanitarian handouts to a sustainable solution that gives refugees the tools to provide for themselves and make choices about their own lives.
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Emily’s bio:
Emily Arnold-Fernández, the founder and executive director of Asylum Access, is a social entrepreneur and human rights pioneer. A lawyer who has advocated nationally and internationally for the human rights of women, children, and other vulnerable individuals, Emily first became involved in refugee rights in 2002, when she represented refugees in United Nations proceedings in Cairo, Egypt. Recognizing that refugees throughout Africa, Asia and Latin America – some of whom flee with nothing more than the clothes on their backs – were almost always unequipped to go into a legal proceeding in a foreign country, alone, and explain why they should not be deported, Emily founded Asylum Access to advocate on behalf of refugees seeking to assert their rights.
For her innovative approach to the global refugee crisis, Emily was honored by the Dalai Lama as one of 50 “Unsung Heroes of Compassion” from around the world (2009), Waldzell Institute’s Architects of the Future Award (2012) and Grinnell College Young Innovator for Social Justice Prize (2013). She has also been recognized as Pomona College’s Inspirational Young Alumna (2006), awarded the prestigious Echoing Green fellowship (2007), and recognized as the New Leaders Council’s 40 Under 40 (2010), among others. Emily holds a B.A. cum laude from Pomona College and a J.D. from Georgetown University Law Center.
A visionary human rights activist, Emily Arnold-Fernández takes her inspiration from a line in a June Jordan poem: “We are the ones we have been waiting for.” Emily is particularly passionate about Asylum Access because it has the power to transform refugee rights from paper promises to on-the-ground reality. “For half a century, international law has given refugees the rights to live safely, seek employment, send children to school and rebuild their lives. But those rights are meaningless unless they are respected on the ground,” she says. “Asylum Access provides a rare opportunity to fill a gaping hole in our human rights system – by making refugee rights a reality for real people.”
July 3, 2014 - Read the full Forbes article and watch the interview here: http://onforb.es/1jLm9tt.
Subscribe to this podcast on iTunes by clicking here: http://bit.ly/ymotwitunes or on Stitcher by clicking here: http://bit.ly/ymotwstitcher.
Recently, I profiled the SOURCE partnership among Village Capital, the Hitachi Foundation and Investor’s Circle. SOURCE, Solutions from Our Country’s Entrepreneurs seeks to stimulate social entrepreneurship through a competitive process that provides seed capital to curated and cultivated mission-driven ventures. The first cohort is focused on financial services for low wealth populations and two companies have been chosen.
The top two are WiseBanyan, a service to help people begin investing with no fee and as little as $10, and eMoneyPool, a platform to facilitate pooling money to foster savings as an alternative to payday loans.
More about Village Capital:
Village Capital builds enterprises that solve the world’s most pressing problems through a unique peer investment model. Village Capital recruits enterprises worldwide addressing major problems in energy, agriculture, health, education, and financial services; operates three-month accelerator programs, and invests in companies at the end picked by their peers. Over the past four years, Village Capital has operated 27 accelerator programs, recruited over 400 companies, and invested in over 40 companies. Alumni–91% of which are still in business–have created 6,000 jobs, served 6 million customers.
More about WiseBanyan:
WiseBanyan is the world’s first free online financial advisor. WiseBanyan recommends, invests, and manages fully-diversified portfolios for clients for free and with no minimums to start. Built on the belief that investing should be a right and not just a privilege, WiseBanyan minimizes fees and helps people start as early as possible. By providing access to high-quality investment expertise to individuals of all levels, WiseBanyan has allowed thousands of clients – many of whom are Millennials – to call themselves investors for the first time. You can sign up for an account in less than 10 minutes starting with just $10, and WiseBanyan takes care of the rest.
Baird’s bio:
Ross developed the Village Capital concept in 2009, and has led the development of 27 programs worldwide, supporting over 400 entrepreneurs. Before launching Village Capital, he worked with First Light Ventures, a seed fund focused on impact investments. Prior to First Light, Ross worked on the development of four education-related start-up ventures: the Indian School Finance Company in Hyderabad, India, the National College Advising Corps in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, and two ventures using technology to promote civic participation. He has a MPhil from the University of Oxford, where he was a Marshall Scholar, and a BA from the University of Virginia, where he was a Truman Scholar and a Jefferson Scholar.Contact: ross@vilcap.com.
Moore’s bio:
Herbert is the co-founder & CEO of WiseBanyan. He believes that high quality investment service should be available to individuals of all levels. Prior to WiseBanyan, he was the head trader at Ansbacher Investment Management, a quantitatively focused commodity trading advisor in New York. He has also held positions on the investment team at Azimuth Trust, a fund of hedge funds in New York and at Smith Barney, one of the largest wealth managers in the country.
Herbert is passionate about finding ways to bring client focused innovation to the world of personal finance. He holds a Bachelors of Arts in Economics from George Washington University and a Masters of Science in Engineering from Stanford University. He holds the series 65 designation and is a registered investment advisor.
July 3, 2014 - Read the full Your Mark on the World article and watch the interview here: http://bit.ly/1o3v0be.
Subscribe to this podcast on iTunes by clicking here: http://bit.ly/ymotwitunes or on Stitcher by clicking here: http://bit.ly/ymotwstitcher.
The crowdfunding site for social entrepreneurs, StartSomeGood, is running a crowdfunding campaign on its own site, calling it a pop up shop, offering a variety of goodies for mission-driven people who are keen to do good.
Among the goodies offered are a number of ebooks, including my book, Crowdfunding for Social Good, which includes a few stories gleaned from the StartSomeGood site. Other items include shirts and posters.
StartSomeGood plans to use the proceeds to support technology upgrades for the site.
More about StartSomeGood:
We exist to empower you to become a social innovator. By providing social entrepreneurs, changemakers and non-profits with the tools you need to rally your community and raise funds, together we can turn ideas into action and impact.
The truth is there is no shortage of problems in the world. But the good news is there’s also no shortage of people with the ideas and passion to address those problems. These are our people, the changemakers. Too often however, the vision for change doesn’t come packaged with the resources needed to make it happen. StartSomeGood provides social entrepreneurs with a platform to raise funds and build a community of supporters — all in a fun, engaging and community-driven way. Our site taps into the power of community, allowing social entrepreneurs to ask for financial support from supporters from around the world. We give them the tools to update their supporters and provide unique rewards in exchange for support - on their first campaign, and for future campaigns down the road.
We’ve taken the crowdfunding model — which is growing in popularity world-wide — and customized it to reflect the unique needs of social entrepreneurs.
Tom’s bio:
TOM DAWKINS is a serial social entrepreneur and the Australian co-founder of StartSomeGood. He previously founded award-winning Australia non-profit Vibewire and was the first Social Media Director at Ashoka. He has worked with numerous non-profits, associations and government entities to help them tell their stories and build community. He’s founded a film festival, opened Australia’s first co-working space and set-up a Burning Man Theme Camp with his wife Kate. They returned to Australia in 2012 after four years in the US in time for the birth of their first child, Bodhi.
July 3, 2014 - Read the full Forbes article and watch the interview here: http://onforb.es/1qvyaL1.
Subscribe to this podcast on iTunes by clicking here: http://bit.ly/ymotwitunes or on Stitcher by clicking here: http://bit.ly/ymotwstitcher.
Every year 58,000 babies die from maternal and neonatal tetanus or MNT, all in the developing world. UNICEF, with support from Procter and Gamble’s Pampers, is working to eliminate MNT around the world. The battle against MNT in Indonesia is nearing its end.
The partnership between Pampers and UNICEF is an example of growing and powerful trend for corporations to be significantly and actively involved in solving social problems. The tie between Pampers and saving babies is obvious and clearly stands to benefit the brand as well as the babies, but that doesn’t make the financial support less helpful.
UNICEF praises Pampers for its long-term support of the initiative, noting that “sustained financial resources” are required to successfully eliminate the disease and to save lives.
More about UNICEF:
UNICEF promotes the rights and wellbeing of every child, in everything we do. Together with our partners, we work in 190 countries and territories to translate that commitment into practical action, focusing special effort on reaching the most vulnerable and excluded children, to the benefit of all children, everywhere.
Dr. Rownak Khan, UNICEF Dr. Rownak Khan, UNICEF
Dr. Khan’s bio:
With over than 17 years of experience in public health in developing countries, Dr. Rownak Khan took the position of Senior Health Specialist at the United Nations Children’s Fund, New York Headquarters in 2010.
Previous to this appointment, she worked in Bangladesh, Afghanistan and Sri Lanka. During her career in public health with UNICEF she has focused on children’s vaccination programmes and has worked closely with national governments to develop policy, strategy and plans to provide vaccines to women and children, especially for vulnerable and difficult to reach population.
In Bangladesh, a country with highest number of neonatal deaths due to neonatal tetanus in the 1980s, Dr. Khan coordinated maternal and neo-natal tetanus elimination efforts in the late 90s and early 2000s which lead to elimination of the disease in 2008.
She also has implemented the MNTE programme in the remote and highly conservative areas of northern Afghanistan. At UNICEF Headquarters, Dr. Khan has worked in various other disease control initiatives such as Polio Eradication and the Yellow Fever control programme, with a specific focus on marginalized and difficult to access populations.
Dr. Khan is also part of the on-going effort in UNICEF to reach the most underserved populations with vaccines and other essential health services – the centre piece of the Maternal and Neonatal Tetanus Elimination programme strategy.
Dr. Khan has an MD from Dhaka Medical College in Bangladesh and an MSC in Public Health from London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM) in UK . She also has training in Paediatrics and Gynaecology and Obstetrics.
June 26, 2014 - Read the full Your Mark on the World article and watch the interview here: http://bit.ly/1iHJXn1.
Subscribe to this podcast on iTunes by clicking here: http://bit.ly/ymotwitunes or on Stitcher by clicking here: http://bit.ly/ymotwstitcher.
Bishop Rodney Sampson, serial entrepreneur, community leader, author of Kingonomics, and a good friend of mine, is using Georgia’s unique crowdfunding exemption to sell financial interests in an entrepreneurial coworking space in downtown Atlanta called the Opportunity Hub. He and his team have plans to roll out the model in other cities in the around the Southeast.
Rodney was also gracious enough to write the foreword to Crowdfunding for Social Good.
Rodney will also be speaking at the upcoming Social Enterprise and Crowdfunding Conference (SECFC14) on September 26, 2014 at Snowbird.
Rodney’s bio:
Rodney Sampson is a social innovator, serial entrepreneur, angel investor, published author, and consecrated bishop. Via his Episcopal affiliations with the Old Holy Catholic Church (International Bishops Conference) and Kingdom Manifestation, Sampson shapes innovative economic policy and opportunities throughout society and culture. As a serial entrepreneur, Sampson co-founded Multicast Media Networks (Streamingfaith.com) in 2000 (sold in 2010), a live and on-demand streaming platform that laid the foundation for companies like YouTube and Ustream. Not stopping there, Sampson co-founded Intellectual Currency (an integrated marketing and business development firm) in 2002, Intellect Inspire (a digital publishing imprint of Audible) in 2006, and Legacy Opportunity Fund in 2007 with private equity investments in technology, the social graph and the entrepreneurial ecosystem. He also serves on the boards of a learning company (a publishing imprint of Pearson Education), a New York-based merchant investment bank, a trucking and logistics company and a community development corporation (CDC).
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Sampson is passionate about reducing our nation’s poverty and wealth gap by advancing the cause of entrepreneurship, investment and Crowdfunding as a way of life for all communities. To advance this definitive cause, he created the diversity and inclusion initiatives at One Three Media, a joint venture between Mark Burnett Productions and Hearst. One Three executive produces The Voice, Survivor, Celebrity Apprentice, ABC’s Shark Tank, Richard Branson’s “Space Race”, The Bible Series &Son of God. He is also the Founder of opportunity.UP // unleashing private equity, the nation’s leading conference and learning platform learning for minorities and under-served communities to learn, navigate and master the entrepreneurial and investment ecosystem. opportunity.UP conferences attract over 1,000 entrepreneurs, 500 teenagers and 100 accredited investors and mentors. On the ground, he is the co-founder of the opportunity.HUB a coworking space, knowledge repository and accelerator located in downtown Atlanta, Georgia. opportunity.HUB is home to opportunity.VENTURES, a new seed and early stage fund focused on making investments in consumer goods, consumer web and technology based companies that impact culture and beyond.
Sampson is also an advocate and respected expert on the JOBS Act (debt and equity based crowdfunding) and State of Georgia’s “Invest Georgia Exemption” legislation. Always meditating, thinking, networking and connecting to disrupt economic culture, Sampson is innovating what he has branded as an “ecosystem funding platform” designed to integrate the capital markets of the African American owned banks, churches, business associations and historical black colleges and universities. The platform will allow underserved and under-represented communities to learn, engage and invest in the investment ecosystem by providing access to relevant investment opportunities traditionally reserved for accredited and institutional investors. The long-term outcome will result in job creation, wealth creation and a better society for all.
Published Works
Vetted with intuitive and experiential wisdom, Sampson is regularly called upon to advise and speak to nations, businesses, universities, and bishops who employ thousands and lead millions of constituents and communities around the world. Sampson’s published works include Kingonomics: Twelve Innovative “Currencies” for Transforming Your Business and Your Life, Inspired by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.; Your Manifest Destiny: 7.5 Words to Transform Your Future; Yes We Will: Solutions for Realizing Your Personal Power in an Obama Era; and Black Trillions: Introducing Symbiotic Economics. His audio works include Any Day Now: Genesis of Divine Manifestation and Your Manifest Destiny: 15 Audio Meditations to Transform Your Future.
Education
Sampson earned a Bachelor’s degree in psychology from Tulane University in 1995 and a Master of Business Administration from Keller Graduate School of Management in 2001. He also studied in the Doctorate of Medicine program at the Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine from 1995 to 1999. For his dedication and commitment to definitive social causes at such a young age, Sampson received an honorary Doctorate of Ministry from the I.G.F. Theological Seminary in 1998.
Philanthropy
A strong believer in global reinvestment, Sampson has been a friend of Africa. He has worked closely with the republics of Namibia, Gabon, and Uganda in the areas of trade and development, business development, leadership development, and public affairs. For his contributions to humanity, Sampson was awarded the Phoenix Award—the City of Atlanta’s highest honor—by Mayor Shirley Franklin in 2004. In direct support of the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Sampson, his wife, and a group of influencers in 2007 donated more than $50,000 to the King Papers Project, a capital campaign established to ensure that Dr. King’s papers would remain in the city of Atlanta at Morehouse College for generations to come.
June 26, 2014 - Read the full Forbes article and watch the interview here: http://onforb.es/UKgSfP.
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Ten-year-old Vivienne Harr is working with 89-year-old Olga Murray to end child slavery in Nepal.
As I’ve reported previously, Harr launched her campaign nearly two years ago in response to tragic Lisa Kristine images she’d seen depicting children in slavery.
Murray, an American immigrant from Transylvania, had a successful law career and then launched a second career to help poor children in Nepal who are too often victims of slavery.
Harr and Murray, recently announced their collaboration. Harr’s Make a Stand lemonade, led by her father Eric Harr, has pledged to help Murray’s organization, the Nepal Youth Foundation, raise the money needed to empower young people in Nepal to break free of slavery.
The Freed Kamlari Development Forum, a Nepalese nonprofit, has provided a $30,000 fund to make co-op loans to young people seeking to free themselves from the Kamlari slavery system, but it already faces demand for another $40,000.
More about the Nepal Youth Foundation:
Nepal Youth Foundation (NYF) is a U.S. based nonprofit that works to provide Nepal’s most impoverished children what should be every child’s birthright: freedom, health, shelter and education. NYF was founded in 1990 by Olga Murray at age 65 after she retired from a career as an attorney for the California Supreme Court. At age 88, Olga continues to serve as Honorary President, spending half the year in Nepal and half in the U.S.
More about Make A Stand Lemonade:
Make a Stand is a social impact brand that supports its 10-year-old founder’s vision of a world where all 18 million children are free and safe.
The company is developing a new mobile technology that allows anyone to “make a stand–wherever they stand” just like Vivienne did.
Olga Murray marches for freedom Olga Murray marches for freedom
Murray’s bio:
Olga Murray – Founder, Honorary President Olga Murray is living proof that getting older doesn’t mean slowing down. Born in 1925 in Transylvania, Olga came with her parents and sister to the U.S. when she was six year old. After graduation from Columbia University, she earned a law degree from George Washington University, where she was one of a handful of female students. Olga worked her way through school as a researcher and writer for famed muckraking columnist Drew Pearson . With her law degree in hand, she found that no law firm would hire a woman. So Olga knocked on the door of the California Supreme Court, where she became a research attorney for Chief Justice Phil Gibson. When he retired, Olga joined the law staff of the new Justice Stanley Mosk. During her 37-year tenure at the Court, Olga helped to write important decisions in the areas of civil rights, women’s rights, and environmental policy. In 1990, at the age of 65, Olga founded the Nepal Youth Foundation (NYF). Now, hundreds of NYF kids call her “Olga didi,” meaning older sister. Annually, Olga spends half the year in Sausalito, California, raising funds for NYF, and the other six months in Nepal overseeing NYF projects — redefining just what a didi can do.
Harr’s bio:
After seeing a photo of two boys her age living in slavery, Vivienne Harr, 8, set up her lemonade stand every day for a year and raised $101,320 to fight child slavery. She became the first girl in American history to bottle her lemonade-stand lemonade which is now served across America. Of their 230 million users, Twitter TWTR +0.1% chose her to ring the bell at their IPO. Town & Country Magazine voted her one of the top 50 most influential philanthropists in the country with Laurene Jobs, Leonardo Dicaprio and former NYC Mayor Michael Bloomberg. Now, she is working on a new mobile crowdfunding technology with her friends at Twitter and Square that will allow anyone, anywhere, at any age to “make a stand–wherever they stand.” It launches on August 15th.
June 26, 2014 - Read the full Your Mark on the World article and watch the interview here: http://bit.ly/1s6DuWD.
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Todd Stevens, founder and managing director of Renewable Tech Ventures, who will be speaking at the Social Enterprise and Crowdfunding Conference on September 26, 2014 at Snowbird in Salt Lake City, has been having impact through his investments for years.
More about Renewable Tech Ventures:
RenewableTech Ventures is committed to creating exceptional returns for both the entrepreneurs we invest in and our fund investors. These exceptional returns are achieved by investing in early stage and growth stage energy innovations in renewable energy, clean technology, energy conservation, green materials and other clean technologies. Our investment activity is focused in the Rocky Mountain region of Canada and the United States. This region is an area rich in energy and technology resources and is an underserved region for venture capital. While located in the Rocky Mountain region, we welcome the opportunity to talk with entrepreneurs located throughout Canada and the United States.
Through our 80 years of combined venture capital, clean tech and entrepreneurial experience we have funded and helped dozens of successful companies. Our investment philosophy is centered in helping the entrepreneur succeed and by doing so, our investment and venture fund also succeeds. RenewableTech Ventures provides capital, market intelligence, active board representation and an exceptional international network of industry contacts, technology leaders and co-investors.
Todd’s bio:
TODD STEVENS, MANAGING DIRECTOR, RENEWABLETECH VENTURES. Mr. Stevens is the co-founder of RenewableTech Venture Fund and is a leading energy and clean technology investor in the Rocky Mountain region. RenewableTech Ventures has completed five investments with a focus on renewable energy and clean technology companies in the Rocky Mountain region of the US and Canada. Prior to founding RenewableTech Ventures, Mr. Stevens was Founder and Managing Director of Wasatch Venture Fund, now EPIC Ventures from 1993 to 2009. Mr. Stevens was also Manager of the Zions Bank Venture Capital Department from 1993 to 2009. During his 20 years career as a venture capitalist, Mr. Stevens has raised seven venture funds focused on early stage technology companies with commitments totaling over $250 million. Prior to his venture capital career, Mr. Stevens was a development and finance executive in the independent power/ cogeneration industry from 1988 to 1991. He assisted in developing over 300 MW of cogeneration and renewable energy projects including wind, hydro, biomass and geothermal power plants and has financed over $400 million in energy projects. He also worked as a real estate executive in Chicago, Illinois with Homart Development from 1985 to 1988. Mr. Stevens received his undergraduate degree from the University of Utah, cum laude, in Accounting and Management and received his Master of Business Administration from Harvard Graduate School of Business.
June 24, 2013 - Read the full Forbes article and watch the interview here: http://onforb.es/12lzw9A.
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Having now done more live interviews here on my blog than I can count, I’m more excited than ever to have crowdfunding celebrity and expert Richard Bliss of the “Funding the Dream on Kickstarter” podcast with us today.
Bliss is a career marketer with deep experience in social media and crowdfunding. He is the Senior Vice President of Global Marketing at Social Tech Media. He will share with us his insights from his work as a crowdfunding coach and consultant on countless successful crowdfunding campaigns.
Bliss’s recent guests on his podcast include Seth Godin, filmmaker Doug Morse, and Brian Fargo, who raised $2 million on Kickstarter.
We’ll ask Bliss to take was he’s learned about Kickstarter and apply it to the needs and interests of social entrepreneurs and nonprofits.
Bliss is the author of Stealing the Show, a quick read that covers nine key marketing lessons from his successful marketing career.
June 19, 2014 - Read the full Forbes article and watch the interview here: http://onforb.es/1nkd3WG.
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Francis Battista grew up in metropolitan New York and now lives in a rural part of Utah that most Utahns couldn’t find on a map and have never visited. This self-described misfit helped found the Best Friends Animal Society, operating the largest no-kill animal sanctuary for companion animals in the United States and has become a key thought leader in the no-kill movement.
When Best Friends Animal Society was launched, 17 million animals were euthanized in the United States every year. Battista is leading a crusade to “save them all.”
Battista will also be sharing his insights at the Social Enterprise and Crowdfunding Conference, which I am organizing, on September 26, 2014.
More about the Best Friends Animal Society:
Every day, more than 9,000 dogs and cats are killed in America’s shelters simply because they don’t have a safe place to call home.
Best Friends Animal Society is the only national animal welfare organization focused exclusively on ending the killing of dogs and cats in America’s shelters. An authority and leader in the no-kill movement since its founding in 1984, Best Friends runs the nation’s largest no-kill sanctuary for companion animals, as well as life-saving programs in partnership with rescue groups and shelters across the country. Since its founding, Best Friends has helped reduce the number of animals killed in shelters from 17 million per year to about 4 million. Best Friends has the knowledge, technical expertise and on-the-ground network to end the killing and Save Them All.
Francis Battista Francis Battista
Battista’s bio:
Francis Battista:
Francis Battista is co-founder of Best Friends Animal Society, and today, considered to be one of the foremost thought leaders in animal welfare. Born in 1945 and raised in the New York City metropolitan area, Francis has always been in the company of pets. He studied engineering and physics at NYU and SUNY Albany and started his career working in the family real estate business. In the late 1960’s the calling to discover a more purposeful life led Francis on a journey with a group of friends, some of whom would become the other co-founders of Best Friends Animal Society. Understanding that kindness towards all – animals and humans –is fundamental to a spiritual life, Francis and his friends devoted their energies to healing our collective relationship with animals, beginning with the challenge to end killing companion animals as a method of population control.
Francis used his experience in real estate to help locate and acquire the perfect piece of property in Southern Utah that would become the organization’s headquarters. At the time, they had no idea that perfect piece of property would become the nation’s largest sanctuary for abandoned and abused animals and the flagship of the No-Kill movement.
Over the years, Francis has worn many hats at Best Friends including co-director of animal care at the Sanctuary. Following Hurricane Katrina in 2005, Francis managed the Best Friends rescue shelters in Tylertown, Mississippi and Metairie, LA. Francis was also involved in the negotiations with federal agencies and courts that brought 22 of Michael Vick’s dogs to Best Friends Animal Sanctuary. In 2012, Francis was instrumental in launching No-Kill Los Angeles (NKLA), a Best Friends initiative that has reduced shelter deaths from 23,000 to 14,000 in its first two years and is on track to achieve No-Kill status for the city of Los Angeles by 2017.
Today Francis takes his crusade to the blogosphere and live speaking appearances. He is a prolific blogger for Best Friends and on the Huffington Post, as well as in animal welfare publications. He gave a TED Talk at TEDx Reno in 2014 and was a presenter at the 2014 Innovation Excellence Cities Tour in New York City and Boston. Francis will also be speaking at the Social Entrepreneurship and Crowdfunding Conference on September 26.
“Most immediately, our work is helping the animals and ending shelter killing. But on another level, this is about saving people. It’s about saving our relationship to the animals and the planet.” Francis Battista
“Our relationship to the animals begins with an understanding that they are sentient beings. They have their own lives, their own narrative, and their own personal story and being. We should be open and willing to communicate with them, listen to them and respect them.” Francis Battista
Co-founder, Best Friends Animal Society, Kanab, Utah
francis@bestfriends.org | bestfriends.org
January 8, 2014 - Read the full Forbes article and watch the interview here: http://onforb.es/1diEfUM.
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Antony Bugg-Levine, CEO of the Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) Nonprofit Finance Fund, manages $80 million of impact investments. He is also the author of Impact Investing: Transforming How We Make Money While Making a Difference.
Bugg-Levine’s bio:
Antony Bugg-Levine is the CEO of Nonprofit Finance Fund, a national nonprofit and financial intermediary that unlocks the potential of mission-driven organizations through tailored investment, strategic advice, and accessible insights. In this role, he oversees more than $340million of investment capital and a national consulting practice, and works with a range of philanthropic, private sector and government partners to develop and implement innovative approaches to financing social change. Mr. Bugg-Levine writes and speaks on the evolution of the social sector and the emergence of the global impact investing industry. He is the co-author of Impact Investing: Transforming How We Make Money While Making a Difference (Wiley, 2011).
As a Managing Director at the Rockefeller Foundation, Mr. Bugg-Levine designed and led the initiative, Harnessing the Power of Impact Investing. He is the founding board chair of the Global Impact Investing Network and convened the 2007 meeting that coined the phrase “impact investing.”
Previously, Mr. Bugg-Levine was the country director for Kenya and Uganda for TechnoServe, a nongovernmental organization that develops and implements business solutions to rural poverty. Earlier in his career, as a consultant with McKinsey, he advised Fortune 100 clients in the financial services and health care sectors, and helped develop new frameworks for incorporating social dynamics into corporate strategy. He is an associate adjunct professor in the Social Enterprise Program at the Columbia Business School.
February 2, 2014 - Read the full Forbes article and watch the interview here: http://onforb.es/1afJAf5.
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When Mark Tercek took the reigns as CEO of The Nature Conservancy in 2008 he brought a new perspective. As a Managing Director at Goldman Sachs, Tercek’s career evolved into a focus on sustainability, recognizing the vast economic value of nature and the ability of business to actually contribute profitably to the health of the planet.
In Tercek’s book, Nature’s Fortune, How Business and Society Thrive in Nature, he explains how his experiences at Goldman Sachs and at TNC prove that protecting the environment makes economic sense. For example, he called attention to a shift in attitude at CocaCola, noting that in 2002 water was not listed as an important input in its annual report and by 2012, water had become a key focus. CocaCola has adopted a policy of “replenishment,” with the goal of creating ecological means of returning as much water to the environment as the company uses. Not to be outdone, Pepsi has promised to become “water positive.” Tercek explains the economics that have driven the shift and how preserving and restoring the natural environment can be much more affordable than “gray infrastructure,” man-made remedies like levies, dikes and sea walls.
According to a Nature Conservancy Magazine article about Tercek, first sought to leave Goldman Sachs in 2005 to pursue work focused on the environment, but Chairman Henry Paulson convinced him to stay by inviting him to form a new group, the Goldman Sachs’ Environmental Strategy Group, where he could work on his passion. When the opportunity came up, however, to head The Nature Conservancy in 2008, he jumped at the chance.
Tercek attributes his desire to work for the preservation of the environment to his role as a parent. “I want to be able to look my kids in the eye,” he says, “and tell them I did all I could to leave the world a better place.”
Before beginning his 24 years at Goldman, Tercek completed an MBA at Harvard after earning a BA at Williams College.
This interview is part of a series that will examine what can be accomplished in the fight to solve the world’s biggest challenges within the next thirty years. The solution to every big problem also presents opportunities entrepreneurs will exploit to change the world. From this series of interviews, a book, working title: Thirty Years to Peace, will emerge.
June 12, 2014 - Read the full Your Mark on the World article and watch the interview here: http://bit.ly/1s6xNrP.
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Kathryn Pisco recently took a year off from her career to travel the world, often doing volunteer work along her journey with her husband. When she returned, she decided to launch a social venture to help others like her have even better experiences when volunteering abroad. She calls her venture Unearth the World.
More about Unearth the World:
Unearth the World is an international volunteer placement company that focuses on volunteer education (pre and post-trip), community impact and financial transparency. We partner with nonprofits that address social problems and connect them with volunteers to help them complete their mission. We also provide coaching to the volunteer upon their return to help them adjust to normal life and continue to be involved in philanthropy.
image
Kathryn’s bio:
Kathryn grew up in Columbus, Ohio and attended Cornell University where she received her Bachelor’s of Science in Communications and Business. Prior to launching her own social venture, Kathryn spent nine years working in Chicago doing sales, sales training and sales management for E&J Gallo Winery and Boston Scientific. Last year, she took a year-long career break with her husband, Mike, and traveled the world doing a mix of personal travel and volunteer work. The experience inspired her to create Unearth the World, a social enterprise that helps pair individuals with international nonprofits in a responsible way so that others can experience the transformative power of travel and continue to give back in their local communities.
June 12, 2014 - Read the full Forbes article and watch the interview here: http://onforb.es/1ipDCXW.
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RBC has committed $50 million to improving global access to clean water. Each year, RBC holds a “Blue Water Day” on which employees engage in local water projects in their communities.
RBC reports that past projects have included:
-Planting trees to manage runoff -Shoreline cleanups to keep solid waste out of rivers -Street cleanups, recognizing that 20% of “street litter” ultimately ends up in rivers, lakes and streams
On June 12, 2014, RBC will be conducting its annual Blue Water Day.
More about RBC Wealth Management:
World Economic Forum named RBC among the most sustainable large organizations in the world. RBC has also been named one of “Canada’s Greenest Employers,” one of “Canada’s Best Diversity Employers,” one of “Canada’s Most Socially Responsible Corporations,” and one of the “Best 50 Corporate Citizens in Canada.” RBC has been also recognized among the world’s financial, social and environmental corporate leaders for the 13th consecutive year on the 2013 Dow Jones Sustainability World Index.
RBC Blue Water Day: RBC Employees RBC Blue Water Day: RBC Employees
More about the RBC Blue Water Project:
The RBC Blue Water Project is a wide-ranging program dedicated to protecting the world’s most precious natural resource: fresh water. In 2013-2014, we will support initiatives that help protect water in our growing towns and cities.
We also promote responsible water use with our employees and clients, are committed to reducing the intensity of our own water footprint and encourage the growth of water businesses.
taft_john-c-disa011-2012 John Taft, RBC
Taft’s bio:
RBC Wealth Management ¬ U.S. John is CEO of RBC Wealth Management, the seventh largest full-service retail brokerage firm in the U.S. He has worked in the financial services industry since 1981. He has been active in the Securities Industry and FinancialMarkets Association (SIFMA) where he served as chairman-elect in 2010 and chairman in 2011. He has published articles in The New York Times, Harvard Business Review, Business Insider, and Forbes, and authored ³Stewardship: Lessons Learned from the Lost Culture of Wall Street² (John Wiley & Sons 2012). As a LinkedInLNKD -0.02% influencer, John is among the prestigious invitation-only group of industry leaders who provide ongoing thought leadership blogs. He graduated magna cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa from Yale University and earned an M.A. in public and private management from the Yale School of Organization and Management.
June 12, 2014 - Read the full Your Mark on the World article and watch the interview here: http://bit.ly/1s6vJjJ.
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Nick Fusso is the program director for the D-Prize, a $20,000 contest among social entrepreneurs to find effective distribution strategies for actually getting poverty interventions into the hands of those that can best use them.
More about D-Prize:
Our world has already invented many effective poverty solutions. Sadly, most are not distributed to actual people in need. Millions of peoples’ lives would improve if they had access to proven energy, education, health, and other interventions.
D-Prize challenges entrepreneurs to solve this problem. Design a new social enterprise and share your idea in our competition. The most promising will receive up to $20,000 in seed capital to launch a pilot.
Nick’s bio:
Nicholas directs D-Prize in San Francisco. He attended the University of Washington, and earned an MBA from Claremont. His background is in strategy and systems thinking, and he has been involved in several startups. He sees entrepreneurship as the surest path to sustainable development.
March 25, 2014 - Read the full Forbes article and watch the interview here: http://onforb.es/1hWBxma.
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Just today, Forbes ran a piece documenting the abysmal share of venture capital allocated to women. The Calvert Foundation is working actively to change that dynamic with its “WIN-WIN” or Women Investing in Women Initiatives program, which has invested over $20 million in women.
The investments vary from micro loans to women entrepreneurs to million dollar loans to nonprofits that support women and families. Most of the money, about 80 percent, has been invested here in the U.S., with the balance being scattered around the world.
Pryce’s bio:
Jennifer Pryce is President and CEO of Calvert Foundation. Ms. Pryce brings nearly 20 years of finance and community development experience to her role. She previously served as Calvert Foundation’s U.S. Portfolio Manager and VP of Strategic Initiatives before being appointed Chief Strategy Officer. In that role Ms. Pryce led the launch of the WIN-WIN, the only gender-lens impact investment available to U.S. retail investors. Prior to Calvert Foundation, she worked with Nonprofit Finance Fund, Neuberger & Berman, and Morgan Stanley MS +0.09%’s London office in the Investment Banking division. Ms. Pryce received a BS in Mechanical Engineering from Union College and a MBA from Columbia University.
June 2, 2014 - Read the full Forbes article and watch the interview here: http://onforb.es/1kzcR2L.
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Two nonprofit leaders in philanthropic education, networking and thought leadership have merged to create single, leading entity to guide philanthropists. The Institute for Philanthropy, based in London and New York, joined forces with the Philanthropy Workshop West, based in San Francisco, to create The Philanthropy Workshop.
Glen Galaich, previously with the Philanthropy Workshop West, will serve as the CEO of the combined entity; Tracy Mack Parker, previously with the Institute for Philanthropy, will serve as The Philanthropy Workshop’s executive vice president.
More about the Philanthropy Workshop:
The Philanthropy Workshop (TPW) is global network of more than 300 philanthropists—all trained in strategic philanthropy—the largest of its kind and unique to the field of philanthropy.
Working from offices in London, New York, and San Francisco, TPW is the world’s leading organization in the field of strategic philanthropy education, networking, and thought leadership—providing philanthropists with the skills and the confidence needed to make the best possible difference with their giving.
TPW serves as a confidential forum for fellow philanthropists to acquire a roadmap for strategic and effective philanthropy—including the knowledge, skills, and networks necessary to achieve impact in financial giving and social investing, and to realize their full potential as philanthropists, doing more with less.
The network hails largely from the United States and the United Kingdom with significant numbers from Canada and countries throughout Europe, Latin America, the Middle East, and Asia.
TPW was created and evolved from the work of several forward-thinking philanthropists, foundations, and advisors, including the Rockefeller Foundation, leadership from HRH the Prince of Wales’s charities, the Rockefeller Brothers Fund, the TOSA Foundation, and the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation.
May 29, 2014 - Read the full article and watch the interview here: http://onforb.es/1pyarq2.
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Smile Train recently celebrated its 1 millionth cleft palate surgery. The remarkable milestone was reached after the organization created a global organization by teaching local doctors to perform the surgery.
Unrepaired cleft palates are not just a cosmetic problem, but often leave children with difficulty eating, breathing and speaking. In the developing world, failure to have the birth defect corrected can have life altering consequences.
More about Smile Train:
Smile Train is an international children’s charity with a sustainable approach to a single, solvable problem: cleft lip and palate. Millions of children in developing countries with unrepaired clefts live in shame, but more importantly, have difficulty eating, breathing and speaking. Cleft repair surgery is simple, and the transformation is immediate. Smile Train’s sustainable model provides training and funding to empower local doctors in 85+ developing countries to provide 100%-free cleft repair surgery in their communities to 340 patients each day and 127,000 each year.
Kalra’s bio:
Satish Kalra joined Smile Train in 2000 and is currently the Chief Programs Officer, overseeing all aspects of program development and implementation. Prior to taking on this position in 2011, Satish spent 11 years as Smile Train’s Regional Director for South Asia. Under his leadership, Smile Train’s programs grew to more than 160 partner hospitals in India, Bangladesh, Nepal and Sri Lanka, performing over 300,000 free cleft reconstructive surgeries on children in South Asia who would otherwise never have been able to afford them. Satish was educated as an engineer, completing undergraduate and postgraduate studies in India.
May 14, 2014 - Read the Forbes article and watch the interview here: http://onforb.es/1jETx8D.
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While tech entrepreneurship continues to be dominated by men (see Cheryl Snapp Conner’s piece), women appear to be playing a larger role in the crowdfunding ecosystem.
Note that Sally Outlaw, included in this article, is one of my clients.
There is a growing list of influential women leading the crowdfunding industry. Sara Hanks, CEO of CrowdCheck, Jilliene Helman, CEO of Realty Mogul, Jenny Kassan, CEO of Cutting Edge Capital, Lesley Mansford, CEO of Razoo, Sally Outlaw, CEO of Peerbackers, Danae Ringelmann, Co-founder of Indiegogo, Joy Schoffler, CEO of Leverage PR, and Joanna Schwartz, CEO of EarlyShares will all join me for a live discussion about the crowdfunding industry.
October 24, 2013 - Read the Forbes article and watch the interview here: http://onforb.es/1hcwY8Q.
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Yesterday the Securities and Exchange Commission voted to approve its first rules under Title III of the 2012 JOBS Act governing crowdfunding. Experts Jilliene Helman of Realty Mogul, a crowdfunding site for real estate investments, Doug Ellenoff, a securities lawyer specializing in crowdfunding law, Ryan Feit of SeedInvest, and Bill Clark of MicroVentures will join me for a live discussion and instant reaction to the proposed rules at 11:00 AM Eastern today, October 24, 2013.
The following is my summary of Title III of the JOBS Act adapted from my book, Crowdfunding for Social Good.
The law limits businesses that raise money through crowdfunding to $1 million of crowdfunded investments per twelve month period. The SEC is likely to clarify when such periods start and end, though such limits may not be part of the rules issued today.
Limits are set by the Act on the amount of money non-accredited (those without a million-dollar net worth excluding their home or without a $200,000 personal income) investors may invest.
For those with both income and net worth less than $100,000, they will be allowed to invest the greater of $2,000 or 5 percent of the greater of their annual income or net worth. For those with either net worth or income greater than $100,000 they will be allowed to invest up to 10 percent of the greater of their annual income or net worth. The Act requires that all crowdfunded transactions be completed using a registered portal or broker-dealer. You are not allowed to set up your own website to conduct your offering or to use a website like Kickstarter or Indigogo that are not registered with the SEC or FINRA. (FINRA is expected to issues rules soon that will govern the registration and conduct of portals and broker-dealers conducting crowdfunding.)
The Act also provides some specific rules for intermediaries (portals and broker-dealers). The Act requires that Intermediaries:
Register with the SEC and FINRA as either a portal or a broker-dealer. Provide all of the disclosure of risk that the SEC may require. Ensure that investors complete investor education requirements established by the SEC and understand the risks of investing in crowdfunded securities, including the fact that they can lose their entire investment. Deter fraud by conducting background checks and taking other measures as required by the SEC. Protect the privacy of investors. Ensure that investors are not violating their individual investment limits across all of the crowdfunded investments. (The SEC is rumored to have decided not to enforce this provision.) Shall not pay “finders” or “affiliates” of any sort for bringing investors to the opportunities. Prohibit its own directors and officers from investing in companies issuing securities on their platforms. Issuers, that is to say the companies raising money by issuing the new securities, are required by law to disclose the following information (note that the SEC has rulemaking authority to expand and clarify this list):
Directory information for the company so that people can find and verify its existence. Officers, directors and large shareholders (those holding more than 20 percent of the ownership) are required to be disclosed. A complete business plan will also be required. A description of the financial condition of the company, including tax returns and financial statements. Those raising less than $100,000, the financial statements needn’t be reviewed or audited. Those raising between $100,000 and $500,000 are required to have their financial statements reviewed. Finally, those raising more than $500,000 are required to have their financial statements audited. Companies must explain the use of “proceeds” or the money raised. The price of the securities offered must be disclosed, or, in the event the platform uses an auction or other process to determine a price, the process for setting the price must be disclosed and the price must be made available to investors prior to making a final commitment to participate. The ownership structure of the entity must be explained, including the rights of each class of stock so that investors understand how their new shares of ownership (in the case of an equity offering) will compare to the rights of other shareholders.
Please be sure to tune in to the discussion to learn more about today’s newly issued rules; the summary above pertains to the law as passed in 2012 and not to today’s announcements and is provided only for context.
Please help me continue this conversation on Twitter at @devindthorpe and at my personal website yourmarkontheworld.com.
May 1, 2015 - Read the Forbes article and watch the interview here: http://onforb.es/1kf1IV2.
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The world is replete with people who have identified problems, some of whom have even had ideas–often great ideas–for addressing those problems. Much less often do we encounter people who just jump in and do something.
Elizabeth Dearborn Hughes is one of those rare people who jumped right in. After graduating from Vanderbilt University she moved to Rwanda where so co-founded Amani Africa to provide scholarships to street children. In 200, she and her husband Dave Hughes launched the Akilah Institute to provide college-level education to African women.
Now with campuses in Rwanda and Burundi, she plans to open campuses across Africa. The Institute offers courses in subjects that are in need in the communities where they are located. Subjects include entrepreneurship, hospitality and information systems.
More about the Akilah Institute for Women:
The Akilah Institute for Women is the only women’s college in Rwanda and Burundi. Akilah offers a unique model of market-relevant education empowering graduates for success in careers and leadership roles. Students select to major in entrepreneurship, information systems, or hospitality management. 97% of Akilah students are the first in their family to attend higher education. Akilah aims to build future generations of women leaders and professionals in Africa through the development of a network of campuses. Akilah will graduate 1,200 students by the year 2020. Akilah has a 95% job placement rate for the first two graduating classes.
Hughes’s bio:
Elizabeth moved to Rwanda a few days after graduating from Vanderbilt University in 2006. After volunteering with grassroots projects, she co-founded the nonprofit Amani Africa to provide scholarships to street children, and organize reconciliation and conflict resolution conferences for genocide survivors. In 2008, Elizabeth and her husband Dave Hughes founded the Akilah Institute to provide market-relevant education and career development to promising young female leaders. Akilah is an accredited college with majors in Information Systems, Entrepreneurship, and Hospitality Management. In January 2014, Akilah opened a second campus in Burundi.
Newsweek recognized Elizabeth as one of the 125 Women of Impact. She was recognized as one of the World’s Most Influential Female Social Entrepreneurs by Forbes Magazine. Elizabeth received the Woman of Peace award from the Women’s Peace Power Foundation in October 2009. Akilah has been featured in the Wall Street Journal, GOOD Magazine, ABC News, the Council on Foreign Relations, HuffPost Women, Hope Magazine, the Tampa Bay Times, and more. Elizabeth and Dave live in Kigali, Rwanda with their daughter Lorraine.
April 23, 2014 - Read the Forbes article and watch the interview here: http://goo.gl/EDmNE0.
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Nancy Hughes, a widow who might have been expected to enjoy a quiet retirement with an occasional cruise on a calendar, has instead joined the effort to address one of the world’s single biggest problems: poor people in the developing world are killing themselves and their children cooking over open fires while deforesting the planet in the bargain.
Working with her Rotary club, Nancy has established a nonprofit organization called Stove Team International that built seven factories in five countries to manufacture clean burning wood stoves that require less than half as much wood and produce no visible smoke, 68% less particulate matter and 85% less carbon emission. Because the stoves are locally produced, they create quality jobs in communities that desperately need them. Almost 45,000 stoves have been produced so far, but that is a drop in the bucket compared with the estimated need of six million stoves in Guatemala alone.
Stove Team TISI -0.87% International was recognized for its work by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Stove Team notes that, “The most dangerous activity a woman can undertake in the developing world is cooking for her family.” The indoor air pollution is believed to cause 4 million deaths per year. Not only is the indoor air pollution resulting from the stoves devastating to the health of mother and children, but the some estimates suggest that 4 million burns occur each year associated with cooking fires. The scale of indoor cooking fires generates one billion tons of greenhouse gases each year and contributes dramatically to deforestation.
“I was very lucky,” Hughes says. “I was left with enough money to do what I want. This is what I want to do.”
Nancy’s bio:
In 2002, Nancy Sanford Hughes’ life changed forever. During a medical mission to Guatemala, Nancy met a girl whose hands had been burned shut after falling into an open fire at the age of two. Nancy soon learned that burns were only part of the problem of open cooking fires.
Throughout the world, mothers tend smoky indoor cookstoves with babies strapped to their backs – babies who breathe in the equivalent of three packs of cigarettes per day. Respiratory infections are the leading cause of death among children under five, and Nancy was advised there was a need for six million stoves in Guatemala alone to protect people from these dire health problems.
For Nancy, the only solution was to find a way to distribute safe fuel-efficient stoves that would save lives.
Within a year, with the help of her Rotary club and other supporters, Nancy worked with volunteers and engineers to help develop a safe, portable and affordable fuel-efficient stove, and also helped a local entrepreneur in El Salvador start a factory to produce them.
StoveTeam International has now helped establish seven factories in four countries with more in development.
To date, StoveTeam has worked with entrepreneurs who have created their own businesses and produced and sold more than 44,600 stoves, improving the lives of more than 334,000 people in Mexico and Central America.
January 2, 2014 - Read the Forbes article and watch the interview here: http://onforb.es/1ixrlo2.
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Jake Harriman told me he believes he can end extreme poverty around the world within the next 30 years. That got my attention.
You may recall that I profiled Harriman and his company Nuru International in a piece I wrote in November 2013 after attending the Social Innovation Summit at Stanford where we met.
As I wrote then, “Harriman’s Nuru has taken an integrated approach to ending poverty by lifting entire communities out of poverty. Nuru starts by identifying a local business led by quality people who have the potential to scale. With financial support and mentoring, the plan is to grow the business and plow the profits back into the community. The local business owners pledge a significant portion of profits into nonprofit entities that are also led by locals to address issues of poverty in the community.”
On Friday, January 3, 2014, at noon Eastern, Harriman will join me for a live discussion about his plans to end poverty through his work with Nuru and more broadly about the role of social entrepreneurs in fighting extreme poverty.
Harriman is a former marine who launched Nuru with the goal of ending extreme poverty specifically because of his military experience. He sees extreme poverty as a contributing factor in the proliferation of insurgency and terrorism. Battling poverty is for Harriman a better way to battle terrorism.
He launched Nuru after leaving the marines to study at the Stanford Graduate School of Business. With the help of nearly 30 classmates, he organized and launched the nonprofit business to foster grassroots level economic development in Kenya.
This interview is part of a series that will examine what can be accomplished in the fight to solve the world’s biggest challenges within the next thirty years. The solution to every big problem also presents opportunities entrepreneurs will exploit to change the world. From this series of interviews, a book, working title: Thirty Years to Peace, will emerge.
Please help me continue this conversation below, on Twitter or on my personal website.
September 25, 2013 - Read the Forbes article and watch the video here: http://onforb.es/1fnqh5o.
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Archie Panjabi, who plays the tough, intelligent and seductive investigator on The Good Wife, is a celebrity spokesperson for Rotary and has been personally active in the effort to end polio around the world. Today, there are only three countries in the world where polio is endemic; Panjabi’s former home country, India, is not one of them. The country has been polio-free for three years now.
On Wednesday, September 25, 2013 at 3:00 Eastern, Panjabi will join me live to discuss her role in the fight to end polio.
After watching the interview, you can visit endpolio.org.
Rotary will be livestreaming an event on World Polio Day, October 24, 2013. Put the event on your calendars and plan to watch. According to Rotary, the event “will be a global update on the status of polio eradication; our panelists will include Dr. Bruce Aylward, the world’s top expert on polio eradication and assistant director-general for polio, emergencies and country collaboration at the World Health Organization; Dennis Ogbe, a Nigerian-born polio survivor, Paralympian and Shot@Life ambassador for polio eradication; and Dr. Robert Murphy, director of Northwestern University’s Center for Global Health.”
While I am proud to be a rank-and-file member of Rotary, I don’t warrant any credit for this fight.
April 17, 2014 - Read the Forbes article and watch the interview here: http://onforb.es/QdFhs7.
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Robert S. Kaplan, co-chair of the Draper Richards Kaplan Foundation, the largest venture philanthropy firm in the U.S. will join me for a live discussion of the strategies and impact of their approach: treating nonprofits like tech startups.
Draper Richards Kaplan (DRK) is the product of venture capitalists William H. Draper and Robin Richards Donohoe, along with Kaplan, a Harvard Business School professor and former Vice Chair of Goldman Sachs.
DRK begins by selecting a dozen high-impact startup nonprofits each year, typically giving them $300,000 to develop a model and prove their potential. Upon “graduation” the nonprofits typically begin to scale rapidly, jumping up to an annual budget of $2.5 million thereafter. In addition to startup funding, DRK provides training to help each nonprofit learn best practices in governance, strategy and management.
Kaplan’s bio:
Robert S. Kaplan is the Martin Marshall Professor of Management Practice in Business Administration and Senior Associate Dean for External Relations. He is also co-chairman of Draper Richards Kaplan Foundation, a global venture philanthropy firm, as well as chairman and a founding partner of Indaba Capital Management LLC. He is the author of several case studies, articles and two recently published books: What You’re Really Meant To Do: A Road Map for Reaching Your Unique Potential, (Harvard Business Review Press, 2013) and What to Ask the Person in the Mirror: Critical Questions for Becoming a More Effective Leader and Reaching Your Potential (Harvard Business Review Press, 2011)
Prior to joining Harvard Business School in September 2005, Rob served as vice chairman of The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. with oversight responsibility for the Investment Banking and Investment Management Divisions. He was also a member of the firm’s Management Committee and served as co-chairman of the firm’s Partnership Committee and chairman of the Goldman Sachs Pine Street Leadership Program. During his career at the firm, he also served in various other capacities including Global Co-Head of the Investment Banking Division (1999 to 2002), Head of the Corporate Finance Department (1994 to 1999) and Head of Asia-Pacific Investment Banking (1990 to 1994). He became a partner in 1990. Rob is a Senior Director of the firm.
He is co-chairman of the Board of Project A.L.S., co-chair of the Executive Committee for Harvard University Office of Sustainability, and is a member of the Boards of the Harvard Medical School, Harvard Management Company (previously serving as Acting President and Chief Executive Officer) and the Ford Foundation. Previously, Rob was appointed by the Governor of Kansas as a member of the Kansas Healthcare Policy Authority Board (2006-2010) and also served as a member of the Investors Advisory Committee on Financial Markets of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York.
Rob is a member of the Board of the State Street Corporation. He is chairman of the Investment Advisory Committee of Google, Inc. Previously he was a member of the Board of Bed, Bath & Beyond, Inc. (1994-2009). He also serves in an advisory capacity for a number of companies.
Rob received an M.B.A. from Harvard in 1983 and a B.S. from the University of Kansas in 1979.
Prior to attending business school, Rob was a certified public accountant at Peat Marwick Mitchell & Co in Kansas City.
March 29, 2014 - Read the article on Forbes and watch the interview there: http://onforb.es/1rQDh7x
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If you ask someone crippled by polio about the legacy of polio, you would likely hear about the life-altering implications of the horrid disease. When you ask the partners in the Global Polio Eradication Initiative–Rotary International, the Centers for Disease Control, the World Health Organization, and UNICEF with support from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation–you will get another answer altogether.
Polio’s real legacy, they say, is in the infrastructure established to eradicate the disease, which can be used to battle all infectious diseases. Add to that, the clear implication that mankind can radically shape the environment in which we live for the better within time scales that individuals–not just humanity–can appreciate and you begin to see a different picture.
On March 31, 2014 at noon Eastern, John Hewko, the General Secretary of Rotary International–the senior-most paid executive in the organization–will join me to discuss the end game strategy for completing the eradication of polio and the legacy the effort leaves behind.
Hewko’s bio:
John Hewko is the general secretary of Rotary International and The Rotary Foundation.
From 2004 to 2009, Hewko was vice president for operations and compact development for the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC), a U.S. government agency established in 2004 to deliver foreign assistance to the world’s poorest countries. At MCC, he was the principal United States negotiator for foreign assistance agreements to 26 countries in Africa, Asia, South America, the Middle East, and the former Soviet Union. During his tenure, he completed the negotiation of assistance agreements totaling $6.3 billion to 18 countries for infrastructure, agriculture, water and sanitation, health, and education projects.
Prior to joining MCC, Hewko was an international partner with the law firm Baker & McKenzie, specializing in international corporate transactions in emerging markets. He helped establish the firm’s Moscow office and was the managing partner of its offices in Kyiv and Prague.
While working in Ukraine in the early 1990s, Hewko assisted the working group that prepared the initial draft of the new Ukrainian post-Soviet constitution and was a charter member of the first Rotary club in Kyiv.
Hewko has been a public policy scholar at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, an adjunct professor of law at Georgetown University, and a visiting scholar at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. He has published papers and articles in leading U.S. and international publications, and he has spoken extensively on political and business issues dealing with the former Soviet Union, Central Europe, Africa, and Latin America. He is also a member of the Council of Foreign Relations.
Hewko holds a law degree from Harvard University, a master’s in modern history from Oxford University (where he studied as a Marshall Scholar), and a bachelor’s in government and Soviet studies from Hamilton College in New York.
As general secretary, Hewko leads a diverse staff of 800 at Rotary International’s World Headquarters in Evanston, Illinois, USA, and seven international offices. Hewko is a Paul Harris Fellow. He and his wife, Margarita, live in Evanston.
This interview is part of a series that will examine what can be accomplished in the fight to solve the world’s biggest challenges within the next thirty years. The solution to every big problem also presents opportunities entrepreneurs will exploit to change the world. From this series of interviews, a book, working title: Thirty Years to Peace, will emerge.
March 20, 2014 - You can read the Forbes articles and watch the interview here: http://onforb.es/1j9Atwg.
Subscribe to this podcast on iTunes by clicking here: http://bit.ly/ymotwitunes.
In recognition of World Water Day, Saturday, March 22, 2014, I’ll be visiting here live with John Taft, the CEO of RBC Wealth Management-US, about RBC’s Blue Water Project. Through the project, RBC has allocated almost $46 million of a $50 million commitment to improve access to clean drinking water and to fund related research at universities.
The Blue Water Project has committed $38 million to 650 charitable organization working to preserve watersheds and improve access to clean drinking water. Another $7.8 million has been committed to universities.
Water is increasingly having impact on business as demands for water increase along with global populations. RBC has indicated a desire to play a role in developing sustainable water policies.
On Friday, March 21, 2014, at 1:00 Eastern, Taft joined me for a live discussion of about RBC’s efforts with regard to water.
You can now listen to the interview here.
Taft’s bio:
RBC Wealth Management ¬ U.S. John is CEO of RBC Wealth Management, the seventh largest full-service retail brokerage firm in the U.S. He has worked in the financial services industry since 1981. He has been active in the Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association (SIFMA) where he served as chairman-elect in 2010 and chairman in 2011. He has published articles in The New York Times, Harvard Business Review, Business Insider, and Forbes, and authored ³Stewardship: Lessons Learned from the Lost Culture of Wall Street² (John Wiley & Sons 2012). As a LinkedIn LNKD -3.77% influencer, John is among the prestigious invitation-only group of industry leaders who provide ongoing thought leadership blogs. He graduated magna cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa from Yale University and earned an M.A. in public and private management from the Yale School of Organization and Management.