Building A Successful Social Venture

This is the first book on creating and running a social enterprise to combine theoretical discussions with current cases from around the world, filling a huge gap in the literature. It serves as an eminently practical blueprint for those who wish to build, sustain, and grow social ventures. Building a Successful Social Venture draws on Eric Carlson's and James Koch's pioneering work with the Global Social Benefit Institute, cofounded by Koch at Santa Clara University's Miller Center for Social Entrepreneurship. Since 2003, over 200 Silicon Valley executives have mentored more than 800 aspiring social entrepreneurs at the GSBI. It is this unparalleled real-world foundation that truly sets the book apart. Early versions of the book were used in both undergraduate and MBA classes. Part 1 of the book describes the assumptions that the GSBI model is based on: a bottom-up approach to social change, a focus on base-of-the-pyramid markets, and a specific approach to business planning developed by the GSBI. Part 2 presents the seven elements of the GSBI business planning process, and Part 3 lays out the keys to executing it. The book includes “Social Venture Snapshots” illustrating how different organizations have realized elements of the plan, as well as a wealth of checklists and exercises. Social ventures hold enormous promise to solve some of the world's most intractable problems. This book offers a tested framework for students, social entrepreneurs, and field researchers who wish to learn more about the application of business principles and theories of change for advancing social progress and creating a more just world.

The field of social entrepreneurship continues to grow by leaps and bounds as innovative entrepreneurs find new ways to create a positive social impact on their community. More often than not these ventures find it difficult to expand their initial concepts into new environments. As funding for social programs on a government level tightens, the ability for social programs to broaden and deepen their impact while maintaining financial stability has never been more important. This goal is only achievable when good intentions are combined with comprehensive analysis and planning that takes all aspects of a venture's ecosystem into consideration. Paul N. Bloom, a professor of social entrepreneurship at Duke University's Fuqua School of Business, explores the key components that any social entrepreneur needs to consider when approaching the challenge of scaling. Here Bloom explains the SCALERS model, which stresses that successful scaling requires organizational capabilities in seven areas: staffing, communicating, alliance-building, lobbying, earningsgeneration, replicating, and stimulating market forces. Rich with numerous examples of social entities that have developed these capabilities, Scaling Your Social Venture provides the tools to help social entrepreneurs take their venture to the next level.

Social entrepreneurship is a growing area, and we frequently hear of new ventures committed to social change. In academia, however, social entrepreneurship has typically been taught as a ‘version’ of entrepreneurship, ignoring the unique structure, challenges and goals of the social venture. In their new book, Coleman and Kariv draw on the latest theory and research to provide boundaries to the definition of social entrepreneurship, discussing both what it is, and what it is not. The book answers several key questions: Who are social entrepreneurs? What is the process for identifying and solving a social need? What are the differences between for-profit and not-for-profit social ventures? What is the role of innovation? How do we develop high performing firms? How do we measure success? The focus on context allows students to appreciate how social entrepreneurship develops and operates in different countries and cultures, lending a global perspective to the book. Combined with rich pedagogy and a companion website, it provides students with all the learning tools they need to grasp this important subject.

From the Social Enterprise Alliance, the organization dedicated to building a robust social enterprise field, comes Succeeding at Social Enterprise. This practical guide is filled with the best practices, tools, guidance, models and successful cases for leaders (and future leaders) of social ventures and enterprises. A groundbreaking work, it brings together the knowledge and experience of social enterprise pioneers in the field and some of today's most successful social entrepreneurs to show what it takes to implement and run an effective social venture or organization. Succeeding at Social Enterprise focuses on real life examples, lessons learned and the core competencies that are needed to run a social venture in a nonprofit, highlighting such skills as managing and leading, business planning, marketing and sales, and accounting. Praise for Succeeding at Social Enterprise "This is a must read for anyone starting or growing a social enterprise. The lessons learned offer valuable, practical and real insights from pioneers in the field. The frameworks and tools presented can be implemented immediately to help drive success and expand your social impact." —KRISS DEIGLMEIER, executive director, Center for Social Innovation, Stanford Graduate School of Business "By successfully weaving together the best thinking and advice from a diverse set of our field's leading experts and practitioners, Succeeding at Social Enterprise will be the new 'must have' handbook for Social Enterprise."—JED EMERSON, www.BlendedValue.org "This is a timely book needed for a movement that's taking off. The leading thinkers and top practitioners in this book make today's pressing issues clear to both the novice and the expe-rienced social entrepreneur."—KEVIN JONES, founding principal, Good Capital "Written by the nation's leading experts on starting, building and leading a successful social venture, this book is a profoundly important contribution to the growing body of literature on social entrepreneurship. No other book brings to bear this kind of business experience, practi- cal advice and wisdom on the challenges of creating and sustaining a social enterprise." —DAVID ROLL, founder, Lex Mundi Pro Bono Foundation The Social Enterprise Alliance is advocate for the field, hub of information and education, and builder of a vibrant and growing community of social enterprises.

Provides practicing social entrepreneurs, whether nonprofit or for-profit, with a guiding framework and practical recommendations for scaling. It is filled with ideas and examples to make it easier for practitioners to make major strides in resolving serious social problems involving, poverty, health, education, and the environment.

Social Entrepreneurship is a global phenomenon that impacts the lives of citizens by using innovative approaches to solving social problems. This book offers a comprehensive examination of this growing area of research and provides an excellent introduction to social entrepreneurship theory and a framework for future research.

Discover how to bring social responsibility to your business In today's business world, your bottom line isn't measured by your company's financial performance alone. Social Entrepreneurship For Dummies shows you how to implement social responsibility to your business plan in order to increase your bottom line. This book helps any social entrepreneur gain the necessary skills needed to change the system and spread the solution, while providing explanations of the most successful business tools being used today. A complete reference on the ideas and processes associated with social entrepreneurship Provides a foundation and business plan for those looking to create their own socially oriented business venture Social Entrepreneurship For Dummies gives you the trusted and friendly advice you need to get on your way toward social responsibility!

What motivates someone to become a social entrepreneur? What are the competencies needed to be effective social advocates and agents for change? This book answers these questions in an accessible and practical way, providing comprehensive guidelines, numerous examples, and sources of information and training for anyone who wants to start a community-based social advocacy and change initiative or for employees who want to start a corporate social responsibility initiative. Features include the following: examples of individuals and organizations who have learned from successes and failures in social entrepreneurship self-assessments to help readers evaluate their own talents and proclivity to be social entrepreneurs steps and strategies, competency-building activities, and assessments to evaluate and facilitate initiatives resources available from foundations, government agencies, and other sources for the budding social entrepreneur