StartSomeGood: The Blog

This Week in Social Entrepreneurship: Ashoka seeks nutrients for all & StartingBloc introduces its next class of social innovation fellows

Ashoka’s Nutrients for All and Ashoka Changemakers are seeking your innovative solutions that will ensure the availability of nutrients for healthy farms, food, and people. Nutrients for All: Vitality for People and the Planet is looking for solutions that have grown beyond the conceptual stage and demonstrated impact and sustainability. With $45,000 of unrestricted funding to boost your project you can’t afford not to enter!
What exactly is Acumen? Join NY+Acumen Tuesday, June 11th for two, one-hour sessions: Acumen 101 and Acumen 201. These sessions will introduce you to the work of Acumen and answer questions like: What is patient capital? How does Acumen choose and make investments? And, what is Acumen’s impact? They’ll also dig deeper into patient capital and lead an interactive case study on a real Acumen investment. NY + Acumen is a volunteer-led chapter that aims to support Acumen, so any donations for the classes would be largely appreciated!
The hunt for changemakers has begun! The Ashoka Associate Program through Ashoka United Kingdom: World Leaders in Social Innovations is seeking bright sparks to join their year-long associate program starting in July 2013. Apply by Friday, June 14th.
Meet the most diverse group of social innovation leaders in NYC on June 9th. Hosted by StartingBloc, the NY ’13 Institute for Social Innovation Launch Party is where you need to be to meet and mingle with the newest class of social change leaders.
Millions of people worldwide participate in the Social Good Summit each September and out of that comes some amazing things, but what about the people that are doing amazing things each and every day? In classic Mashable style, they have created +SocialGood to address this gap, a platform providing online tools to assist in creating social good events. This platform will help build a global community around social good.

Shawn D. Ross

I am a Northwest Native living in Washington State. A graduate of Washington State University and University of Phoenix with degrees in Architecture and Education I write about social, cultural, and personal improvement on the StartSomeGood Blog and SDRinspire. I am also a filmmaker and owner of Giraffe and Penguin Productions, a single daddy of two beautiful children, avid reader, writer, and hat wearer (Not in that picture but believe me, I wear ‘em). I am currently at work on my first feature length documentary. Follow me @shawndross and visit my websites: sdrinspire.tumblr.com and giraffeandpenguinproductions.tumblr.com.

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What good do you want to create? Visit our site to learn about how to start your own campaign.

Do you have a social entrepreneurship news story or an event you’d like to see on the StartSomeGood Blog? Email Nicole (Nicole @ StartSomeGood.com)

This Week in Social Entrepreneurship: building local economies, a series of nonprofit webinars, and a new generation of philanthropy in Australia

You’re invited to one of Philanthropy Australia’s most exciting events of the year, the inauguration of their New Generation of Giving program. They are bringing a US young philanthropist and CEO to Australia, Daniel Lurie, one of the luminaries of Silicon Valley and San Francisco. He founded the grantmaking organization, Tipping Point Community, which is now backed by Google co-founder, Sergey Brin. Daniel will join Katrina Strickland, Deputy Editor of the Australian Financial Review Magazine, on June 11th at the Sydney Opera House and June 12th in Melbourne.
4Good Webinars hosts 3 free webinars each week covering all aspects of nonprofit management, strategy, and technology. Check out upcoming webinars here and make sure not to miss the one Tom hosts on June 5th, Crowdfunding: Not just for first-world problems. When registering for a webinar, please mention that StartSomeGood sent you.
In the next NY+Acumen Speaker Series, four inspiring women leaders—Donna Campbell, Melissa Kushner, Tricia Morente, and Catherine Rohr—will discuss what it means to stand by the new manifesto of Acumen. Hosted by NY+Acumen this Thursday evening, June 6th, this speaking series will also include networking and light refreshments, including doughnuts and drinks, after the discussion.
The 2013 BALLE Conference is a can’t-miss gathering, a who’s who of innovators collaborating to build a new economy. From international thought leaders and on-the-ground social entrepreneurs, to policymakers, network builders, local economy funders, and philanthropists, this conference takes place in Buffalo, NY at Buffalo State College Wednesday, June 12th through Friday, June 14th.
Join MakeSense on June 8th in London for SenseCamp UK 2013-Best business is Social Business. This gathering will bring together social entrepreneurs, social business enthusiasts, and the MakeSense gang for a full day of inspiring talks, workshops, and networking. Tickets to the event include entry into the Hub, lunch, and, of course, the chance to be an integral part of expanding the social business movement in the UK.

Shawn D. Ross

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What good do you want to create? Visit our site to learn about how to start your own campaign.

Do you have a social entrepreneurship news story or an event you’d like to see on the StartSomeGood Blog? Email Nicole (Nicole @ StartSomeGood.com)

StartingGood Episode 3 - Interview with Jennifer Windrum

The third episode of StartSomeGood’s podcast has just gone live! This month Alex interviews Jennifer Windrum, a social entrepreneur who created one of the most successful campaigns in StartSomeGood history: Sock Monkeys Against Cancer. Jennifer discusses her inspiration for starting the campaign and how important creating a community is to entrepreneurs of all types.

You can hear the podcast by visiting http://startinggood.podomatic.com/entry/2013-05-22T10_14_35-07_00 or subscribe to it via iTunes at https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/startinggood-podcast-from/id623915434

Remember—if you subscribe to us, please leave us a review! It helps other people find us!

Texting for good! It’s easy for us to forget that sometimes your livelihood can depend on things as simple as the weather report and what the price of food is. Lima Links is working on a program to provide these basic necessities to merchants in Zambia through SMS updates, helping them climb out of poverty by eliminating waste and increasing their income. How can you support Lima Links? Visit them on StartSomeGood at http://www.startsomegood.com/limalinks

This Week in Social Entrepreneurship

Law and Social Enterprise Fellows Anurag Gupta and Aroma Sharma of NYU School of Law are hosting Legal Bootcamp for Social Entrepreneurs on Tuesday, May 21st at 6 pm. Tickets are $10 and the session will provide activists, entrepreneurs, and social innovators with a framework for thinking about corporate structure and financing.
Microsoft YouthSpark is sponsoring Challenge for Change which offers you the chance to share how you want to spark positive change in your community and the world. If you are between 18 and 25 and want a chance to win an epic life-changing experience volunteering in Kenya this summer, $2,500 to initiate your idea into a reality, a Microsoft technology bundle, and the opportunity to serve as a Microsoft YouthSpark ambassador for a year, enter the challenge with your idea by May 24th.
Each October, Bluhm/Helfand Social Innovation fellows get the chance to gain exposure for their organizations, establish a community of support, and receive a $10,000 financial contribution for their venture at Chicago Ideas Week. If you are 35 or younger and have a venture that is innovative and addresses compelling social needs then you should apply to this fellowship by June 6th—winning could mean launching your venture to another level.
The Schwab Foundation for Social Entrepreneurship provides platforms to highlight and advance leading models of sustainable social innovation. The search and selection process has begun to recognize outstanding social entrepreneurs around the world. Global selection is open to all organizations based in Asia, Africa, Europe, Latin America, and North America.
Join guest speakers Joyce Sou, Manager at B Corps and Social Impact Metrics, the MaRS Centre for Impact Investing, and David Upton of Common Good Solutions for this free webinar—Social Finance Connects: Demonstrating Impact From Corporate Structures to Certifications.On Thursday, May 30th at noon US EST, this webinar will cover corporate structures and certifications which help social enterprises demonstrate their impact.

Shawn D. Ross

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Do you have a social entrepreneurship news story or an event you’d like to see on the StartSomeGood Blog? Email Nicole (Nicole @ StartSomeGood.com) or find her on Twitter @nricchio to connect with us.

This Week in Social Entrepreneurship

Storytelling is such an essential skill for professionals who need to connect with their audience. It comes so naturally to some, but for many of us it is a learned skill that takes time and dedication to get right. This is why Acumen and Ariel Group have come together to bring you Storytelling for Change, a completely free 4-week course that will help you better connect with other to inspire change. The course begins on May 11th, but you must register in advance, by May 5th, as part of a lab group that you will work with throughout your 4 weeks of learning and personal growth.
I have a great idea, but how do I get started? Should I use a for or non-profit model? How do I measure success in terms of social impact? Are these questions you ask yourself as a changemaker? Are you looking for practical advice for every stage of your entrepreneurial journey? UnLtd is offering a free Comprehensive Guide to Developing your Social Enterprise, a toolkit that offers guidance from initial idea to growth and replication. Download it here and get the support you need to start welcoming the challenges and opportunities of social entrepreneurship in a structured way.
It’s time to get your kickball on! Playworks DC’s 3rd Annual Corporate Kickball Tournament will take place on Friday, June 14th. This team-building fundraiser will get your team out of the office and onto the field for an afternoon of networking and fun. Not only that, you’ll be supporting healthy play for more than 3,500 children in 13 different low-income schools in DC. Space is limited, so register your team of 9-15 people ASAP to reserve your spot!
Impact Engine is a 16-week business accelerator that supports for-profit businesses making the world a better place. They’re launching their second cohort this year and invite you to celebrate during their Application Kick-Off Party on May 15th in Chicago. Cocktails, hors d’oeuvres, a keynote on “Being Unreasonable” by Paul Hardej of FarmedHere, and a Q&A with Impact Engine graduates—this party can’t be missed!
Join us in congratulating the fifty-three finalists for the 2013 Echoing Green Fellowship! These finalists will travel from around the globe to meet with judges, staff, and each other for another round of rigorous interviews. The year’s applicant pool started with nearly 3,000 and will ultimately be whittled down to about 20 fellows. We wish all the finalists good luck, but a very special “go get ‘em” to StartSomeGood crowdfunding veterans Anjna Patient Education and WeCyclers. You’re making us so proud!

Shawn D. Ross

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This Week in Social Entrepreneurship

If you’re between the ages of 18 and 30, apply to join an elite group of young leaders from over 55 countries and over 221 universities by becoming a StartingBloc Fellow. StartingBloc is accepting applications to its lifelong membership program now through March 31st. As a fellow you receive all the benefits of the Detroit 2013 Institute as well as educational, professional, and social opportunities at 14 chapters around the world, waived application fees to top graduate programs, connections to pro-bono legal and financial services for social enterprises, and mentorship with professional leaders in your field.
Join Sophia Sunwoo, Co-Founder and CEO of Water Collective for a “How She Does It” Dinner on Monday, April 29^th at Maharlika in New York. This women-only dinner party, hosted by Cynthia Hellen, Founder of SMPLCT lab, and New York Women Social Entrepreneurs, will feature Sophia as she shares her journey as an entrepreneur, the mission of Water Collective, and her passion for sustainable work.
Would $50,000 help you launch your social enterprise? GOOD Maker is teaming up with Blake Mycoskie of TOMS Shoes to bring you the Start Something That Matters GOOD Maker challenge, which will award $50,000 to one enterprising individual to launch his or her plan for driving social impact. Submit your plan by May 17th for a chance to win the ultimate prize—the chance to start transforming lives.
The Centre for Social Innovation (CSI) is hosting the Agents of Change program, a competition for a year of free access to its workspace in NYC. If you are blending a mission-based project with market-based sustainability and the best of the nonprofit and for-profit worlds, this competition is for you. Twenty applicants will win 100 hours per month at the Centre for Social Innovation, four hours per month of free meeting space, access to CSI programs and events, one year subscription to GOOD magazine, and participation in NYC’s community of change-makers. Applications are due Friday, May 17th at 5:00 pm EST.
A contest for social entrepreneurs without new ideas, the D-Prize is awarding $20,000 to entrepreneurs who can find better, innovative ways to spread older, proven ideas into high poverty areas. The D-Prize (the “D” stands for distribution or development) is looking to award money to creative people who can find better ways to distribute or develop existing forms of aid. Just as, many years ago, Henry Ford was able to make the automobile accessible to a much larger audience, the D-Prize seeks someone with the potential make such innovations as solar lighting, Schistosomiasis medicine, and birth control options more accessible in some of the highest poverty areas of the world. The application deadline is April 30th, but serious candidates are encouraged to apply as early as possible for a better chance at moving onto the final round. Program director Nicholas Fusso wants to know—are you the next Henry Ford of poverty alleviation?

Shawn D. Ross

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This Week in Social Entrepreneurship

Apply now to the World Summit Youth Award 2013. Registration is open now through July 1st. The WSYA selects and promotes best practices in e-content and new media, demonstrates young people’s potential to create outstanding digital content, and serves as a platform for people from all UN member states to work together in the efforts to put the UN Millennium Development Goals into action. Engaged talents or young professionals under 30 can enter their projects (for free) until July 1st within the 6 following Categories: Fight Poverty, Hunger and Disease, Education for All, Power 2 Women, Create your Culture, Go Green, and Pursue the Truth. The best projects will be invited to the WSYA Winners’ Event. Present your project on an international stage and meet other engaged people! Be presented and promoted through the WSYA network and become part of a vibrant and lively community!

Penn students and alumni that have a passion for social impact—April 30th is the deadline to submit your applications to be part of the Social Impact Fellowship through the Schwartz Family Penn Social Impact House. August 12th through the 25th, the fellowship program will bring together a unique community of innovators committed to designing effective solutions for social change. Initiated by leaders in social innovation, design thinking, and business development, fellows will gain tools, skills, and networks to make their world-changing ideas a reality.

Engage..Innovate..Inspire. Join like minded professionals on Wednesday evening, April 24th in Birmingham, UK for the opportunity to engage with some of the most inspiring, innovative, and dynamic social entrepreneurs in the Higher Education sector. Event participation is being offered free of charge by UnLtd – The Foundation for Social Entrepreneurs. Come prepared for an interactive session where you can ask questions and network with UnLtd, Higher Education Funding Council for England, and many other inspiring social entrepreneurs.

Every other month JustChange is granting $1,000 to an individual, group or organization whose ideas will create positive social or environmental change in Ottawa. The ideal candidate will use the grant to accelerate their idea and impact Ottawa in a positive way. Also, partnering with HUBOttawa, the top 3 great ideas from this round will receive a HUBConnect membership for 3 months!

Social Enterprise Ecosystem Economic Development (SEEED) is a collaboration between Brown University and Social Venture Partners Rhode Island. The SEEED Summit 2013 will be held on Friday, April 26th and Saturday, April 27th. This is the first national conference focused on the need to build an effective social enterprise ecosystem to drive economic development. It’s being held on the Brown University campus in Providence, RI and there are many different registration options so you can tailor your summit experience to your exact interests.

Shawn D. Ross

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Do you have a social entrepreneurship news story or an event you’d like to see on the StartSomeGood Blog? Email the details to Nicole (Nicole @ StartSomeGood) or find her on Twitter @nricchio and she’ll be happy to review it.

StartingGood - Interview with Hildy Gottlieb

Today’s guest is author and entrepreneur Hildy Gottlieb, the co-founder of Creating the Future. She also has the distinction of leading the first organization on StartSomeGood to run three successful crowdfunding campaigns. We’ll talk with her about the power of positive language, how to recognize the world of abundance all around us and how changemakers just starting out can raise friends, raise funds and galvanize their community to collaboratively create the future.

Download Podcast

This Week in Social Entrepreneurship

As part of the New York University Reynolds Program in Social Entrepreneurship R.E.A.L Workshop Spring Series, join Michael Mossoba on April 17th for Do Good/Look Good: A Smart Approach to Sustainable Social Impact. This workshop will explore the Dynamic Cause Value framework. This framework systematically assesses the value of a cause to a brand and will help not only executives looking for ways to improve their corporate citizenship programs but also non-profit leaders and social entrepreneurs.
Are you ready to change your life’s path? The Villgro Fellowship is an opportunity to do something different with your life. This fellowship aims to cultivate a pipeline of leaders with social commitment, leadership, and operational skills to contribute to village development in India. As a fellow you will experience a year of immersion through adventure, learning, and networking. Fellows will work with very closely with an experienced social entrepreneur and develop an in-depth understanding of innovation and social entrepreneurship. If you’re interested in this opportunity to grow both professionally and personally, then act fast! The application deadline is May 15th.
HUB Bay Area presents 501 See (3) You Later on Thursday, April 18th in Berkeley, CA. For only $5 you can learn how new business models can sustain the arts. A panel of experts will discuss various financial models including B Corps, Low-profit LLCs, and the emerging economy of social enterprises and impact investing. Experts will share essential information on each model while you mingle with arts, culture, and business professionals from all over the Bay Area region.
Register now using code “Connect” and save $50 for Fast Company’s Innovation Uncensored NYC 2013. On April 23rd and 24th, this event will showcase panel discussions and presentations that address conversation, the future of the city, the future of retail, and the future of the un-startup. Register now to reserve your place today.
Applications for the October 2013 On Purpose cohort are being accepted until Monday, April 15th. On Purpose is a one-year, full time leadership program combining paid work placement with weekly training and regular one-on-one coaching/mentoring to qualified social entrepreneurs focused on addressing the greatest issues faced by society and the environment.

Shawn D. Ross

I am a Northwest Native living in Washington State. A graduate of Washington State University and University of Phoenix with degrees in Architecture and Education I write about social, cultural, and personal improvement on the StartSomeGood Blog and SDRinspire. I am also a filmmaker and owner of Giraffe and Penguin Productions, a single daddy of two beautiful children, avid reader, writer, and hat wearer (Not in that picture but believe me, I wear ‘em). I am currently at work on my first feature length documentary. Follow me @shawndross and visit my websites: sdrinspire.tumblr.com and giraffeandpenguinproductions.tumblr.com.

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What good do you want to create? Visit our site to learn about how to start your own campaign.

Posts tagged social entrepreneurship