Social Entrepreneurship Revisited

At the risk of rambling and knowing this is no bully pulpit - we save that for face to face sessions. Be forewarned and move on, if so inclined.

Paul C. Light's item in SSIR - see above for link - continues from a previous piece, Reshaping Social Entrepreneurship, Aug 06. The August item essentially calls for a "big tent" with greater inclusivity. Given the trepidation among funders/investors and the professionals engaged by civil society and non-governmental organizations toward "social entrepreneurs", perhaps a big tent was comforting.

That was then, and Paul currently writes,

I have drilled through hundreds of articles and books on social and business entrepreneurship, and I have surveyed 131 highly, moderately, and not-too-entrepreneurial organizations. And I discovered that many of the assumptions that I rejected in 2006 turned out to be true after all. Whereas I once believed that virtually everyone could become a social entrepreneur, I am now convinced that there are special sets of attitudes, skills, and practices that make social entrepreneurs and their work distinctive from more traditional public service. As a result, I have become much more concerned about how we can identify potential social entrepreneurs, give them the training and support they need, and increase the odds that their work will succeed.

I shudder considering a dark future where some game-changing b-school unveils a new degree programme ... the MSIb (Master of Social Innovation in Business), the lowercase "b" ... 'cause it's social innovation via business - baby.

I have nothing against training, skill enhancement, or any other device to sharpen mental acuity; however in the case of social entrepreneurs, success hinges on resilience, near term clarity, story-telling, and the acceptance of uninformed - from the social entrepreneurs viewpoint - scrutiny.

These behaviors allow the social entrepreneur to attract resources that refine and advance the undertaking instead to diffusing the raison d'etre of the enterprise.

The eco-system that supports the current dis-equilibrium (as perceived by the social entrepreneur) will persist. Why? That eco-system is supporting, invariably a "good solution" based "on the resources available". The social entrepreneur's "great solution" will be trumped by the "good solution" unless a new eco-system, one fashioned by the social entrepreneur, can be introduced.

And ... ya can't train that!
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Interested in learning more about social enterprise? Take a browse through the Vancouver Social Enterprise Book Store (Vancouver | United Kingdom | United States) and see what other social entrepreneurs recommend reading.

Tags for information about: for:vsef, Social Entrepreneur, Nonprofit, Social Innovation

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UN-HABITAT Opportunities Fund - Dealine June 15

We're delighted to pass this forward - regret the short notice. And ... please pass along

The deadline for applications for the UN-HABITAT Opportunities Fund for Urban Youth-led Development has been extended to 15 June 2009. If your organization is working on an innovative and sustainable project that will improve the lives of young people and make a positive impact on your community, you could be eligible to receive a grant.

The Opportunities Fund for Urban Youth-led Development has been set up to support urban based Youth-led organizations in developing countries who are working to improve the living conditions of their communities. The Fund will give grants between $5,000 and $25,000 to organizations led by young people, aged 15-32 years.

The Fund is committed to support innovative youth-led projects in areas such as employment, education, environment, health and safety. Applications from organizations partnering with government agencies and the private sector are encouraged. Projects promoting gender equality are particularly welcome.

Application guidelines are here, and the deadline is June 15.
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Interested in learning more about social enterprise? Take a browse through the Vancouver Social Enterprise Book Store (Vancouver | United Kingdom | United States) and see what other social entrepreneurs recommend reading.

for:vsef, Social Economy, Nonprofit, Social Innovation

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