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Last month, I attended a Social Innovation masterclass curated by Itofa Ivarah, the founder of Churchonthestreetng. As the Founder of a non-profit organization Menthali Health Org. , I realized the need to keep gaining knowledge in the social development space so as to keep up with the changes happening in the world of nonprofits. He brought in phenomenal people like Temilade Salami, who is the founder of Ecochampions Africa, a youth-led organization dedicated to empowering the next generation of young climate leaders through comprehensive climate education. and also Tunde Onakoya , the founder of Chess in Slums Africa and you could tell that the event was too value-loaded to be FREE! One of the points Mr. Itofa shared with us was, “To build a successful non-profit, it's not just about having an idea but having an idea that can be institutionalized.” This particular point blew me away and took me back to my vision lab concerning Menthali. I had to think through the night with these questions in mind: - Can my idea be institutionalized? - Is it scalable, replicable, and systemic? - Can it be applied all over the world? To this day, I still think about these questions as I evaluate my visions daily. Mr. Itofa also shared stories of inspiring social innovators like Wawira Njiru, the founder of Food for Education, a Kenyan organization that provides nutritious meals to schoolchildren. Through her work, she demonstrated the power of a scalable and replicable idea, impacting thousands of children and showing that systemic change is possible with the right structures in place. From this masterclass, I realized that being a social innovator isn't just about having an idea. It's not about starting and running a vision like a charity; the question is, can it be replicable all over the world? In the words of Mr Itofa Ivarah, Charity won't change the world. It takes SYSTEMS and STRUCTURES. Think systems! #21DaysChallengeWithCoachBSO #day3 #ContinuousLearning #CareerCoaching #SkillBuilding #NetworkingEvent

Want to make the world a better place? Choose a university that aligns with your values. QS Stars evaluates institutions on their real-world social impact, highlighting how they give back to local communities and foster positive change. Discover key areas like social impact research, community investment, and scholarships.   Read more to find your ideal university and start making a difference today: https://lnkd.in/eg_U-YjA #HigherEd #QSStars #SocialImpact 

Weathering the Storm: Exploring Funding Beyond the Typical Sources As we navigate economic shifts and evolving priorities, many organizations are seeing changes in traditional grant funding. Sectors that initially saw increases during the pandemic—like healthcare, education, and technology—are now facing more limited opportunities as emergency funding fades and competition intensifies. But all is not lost. Now is the time to think beyond conventional grant sources and look for innovative solutions. In addition to federal and state grants, consider exploring: 🔹 Corporate Philanthropy: Businesses are increasingly investing in areas like sustainability, DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion), and mental health, making them strong potential partners. 🔹 Crowdfunding & Social Impact Platforms: Engaging your community through platforms like Kickstarter, GoFundMe, or CauseVox not only provides financial support but deepens your connection with your stakeholders. 🔹 Impact Investment Funds: These funds are designed to generate returns while supporting social or environmental impact, perfect for projects with a strong mission focus. 🔹 Partnerships & Collaborations: Joining forces with like-minded organizations can unlock new funding streams, particularly in emerging priority areas like climate action, housing, and community development. While healthcare, education, and tech funding may have cooled, areas like sustainability, social justice, and community resilience are seeing heightened attention. By diversifying funding strategies and exploring new avenues, we can weather the storm and ensure long-term success. 🌟 #GrantFunding #Innovation #NonprofitFunding #ImpactInvesting #CorporatePhilanthropy #Sustainability #FreddieBellJones #ThrivingCommunities #EnoughInitiative #Grants #SocialJustice

📕 New JMS Publication 📕 ✨ Title: "When Duality Fails: Addressing the Liability of Hybridity in a Field Dominated by Non-Profit Values" ✨ Authors: Nicolas Dahan (Seton Hall Stillman School of Business) and BERNARD LECA (ESSEC Business School) In this paper, Dahan and Leca examine how hybrid organizations that balance social and economic goals can respond to legitimacy challenges, especially in fields where non-profit values are dominant. Using Nutriset’s efforts to address severe child malnutrition as a case study, this research reveals strategies to manage the complex “liability of hybridity” faced by social impact enterprises. 💡 Key Takeaways: 1. Liability of Hybridity: When hybrid organizations pursue both social impact and profit, they may face critique from stakeholders who view this duality as contradictory. 2. Strategic Framing: Hybrid organizations can employ "wedging" and "alignment" strategies to reshape stakeholder perceptions and improve legitimacy. 3. The Role of Field Values: Fields dominated by non-profit values may resist hybrid models, making legitimacy more challenging and critical to navigate. 4. Material Coupling and Framing: Demonstrating commitment to core values, such as by expanding local partnerships, can help hybrid organizations align with stakeholder expectations. Find the full paper here: https://bit.ly/4hpZCXn #SocialImpact #HybridOrganizations #Legitimacy #GrandChallenges #NonProfitValues #JournalofManagementStudies #JMS #JMS_Journal #Wiley

Fostering Prosperity: A Commitment Beyond Profit At DIESSE Diagnostica Senese, we firmly believe that the generation of profit is not just a financial metric—it's a means through which we can profoundly impact the quality of life for citizens, our local communities, and the world. We are dedicated to promoting social progress, reducing poverty, and striving for a fair, resilient society where equal opportunities are accessible to all. Benefiting Shareholders, Employees, Suppliers, and Beyond In 2022, we achieved remarkable strides in this direction, with the total economic value generated exceeding 33 million euros, marking a significant 9.7% growth compared to the previous year. But it's not just about numbers on a balance sheet; it's about how that value is shared. Sharing Value: Employees and Suppliers A substantial portion of this value is directed towards our valued employees and dedicated suppliers, reflecting our commitment to fair and ethical business practices. Nurturing Our Community Bonds For us, our relationship with the territory and local communities is a source of immense pride. This relationship is built upon three core pillars: - Engaging with Research and Universities: We actively collaborate with the world of research and universities, fostering innovation and knowledge sharing. - Supporting Higher Education and Technical Schools: Our commitment extends to higher education and technical schools, where we empower future talents. - Partnering with Non-Profit Associations: We work hand-in-hand with non-profit associations, nurturing a spirit of giving back to the community. The dynamics of exchange, collaboration, and feedback initiated in recent years continue to thrive with each of these stakeholders. We firmly believe that by uplifting our local communities and forging strong bonds, we create a society that is not just equitable but also resilient, capable of providing equal opportunities to all. Together, we pave the way for a brighter and more prosperous future for all.

In 2013, the Social Enterprise Boost Initiative (SEBI), a project of the JN Foundation and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) was launched with the aim of fostering a supportive environment for social enterprises in Jamaica. The programme significantly impacted the entrepreneurial landscape by helping grant-funded operations transform into profitable businesses with sustainable social missions. Over its duration, SEBI supported more than 60 social enterprises, which collectively generated over $166 million in revenue, created more than 200 jobs, and served over 10,000 beneficiaries, including marginalised groups such as women, rural communities, youth, and the disabled. Remarkably, five years after the programme ended in 2019, several social enterprises that benefitted, including Link Your Purpose, continue to thrive and make a lasting impact. Link Your Purpose, a social enterprise focused on online career development, has seen significant growth and impact. Since participating in SEBI, Link Your Purpose has secured additional grants, facilitating its expansion throughout Jamaica. The organisation's parent non-profit, Young Women and Men of Purpose, has also launched a new social enterprise:’ Clear Purpose Spring Water’. Other enterprises that have benefitted from the SEBI programme have included Def Can! Coffee, Bresheh, Edufocal Limited, EduTours JA, 360 Recycle, JAD Binders, Bunkers Hill Cultural Xperience, Alpha Wear, PSD Mobility Centre and NexxStepp Lifelong Educational Service. #SEBIproject #socialenterprise #jnfoundation

🔄 Event Recap: Key Strategies to Drive CSR Engagement - Session 2 We are thrilled to share that our second "Key Strategies to Drive CSR Engagement," session co-hosted by fundraising experts and our partner Asia Society for Social Improvement and Sustainable Transformation (ASSIST), was a resounding success! Hosted by Pollinate Impact and featuring the insightful Sreenivas(Sreeni) Narayanan, the session offered invaluable insights into the challenges faced by incubators in accessing CSR funding. Take a look at some of the key insights from the session below: Key Insights: 🔹 Research Potential Funders: Look for CSR funding by researching corporates, corporate foundations, or family foundations interested in supporting your incubatees' technical expertise. Family foundations typically fund projects aligned with their original themes or sectors. 🔹Focus on Key Thematic Areas: Donors often support projects in poverty alleviation, healthcare, WASH, rural development, education, and skill-building. They prefer intersectional projects that uplift minority groups and span multiple sectors. 🔹Leverage Incubators' Role: Incubators act as catalysts for strategic CSR, offering efficient solutions by handling governance while incubatees provide expertise. Donors prefer working with incubators over individual projects, making collaboration with networks like Pollinate Impact beneficial. 🔹Secure Funding with 5 Steps: Follow these steps to secure funding: Contact, Connect, Communicate, Collaborate, and Cross-cutting consolidation, as successfully demonstrated by ASSIST Asia. 🔹Integrate CSR into Business Strategies: Start with local projects, remain focused and consistent, and proactively engage with donors to sustain your initiatives. This session concluded our 2-part workshop on understanding the systems and strategies needed to drive Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) engagement among incubators and accelerators. 📺 Watch the recording here: https://lnkd.in/gXBM6VMD #CSR #CorporateSocialResponsibility #Fundraising #ImpactIncubation #PollinateImpact #ASSISTAsia #Partnerships #SustainableDevelopment Arielle Molino Shami Rao Ruod Ariete

What does the concept of "Social Value" mean? Dear friends, today we want to introduce you to the concept of "Social Value". Social Value is about the significance that people attach to changes in their well-being. It encompasses broader aspects of value beyond just economic well-being, including emotional well-being, health, living conditions, relationships, profession, education, environment, economy, society, and more. The practice of measuring social value determines how we (as individuals, organizations, businesses, or communities) contribute to achieving social goals and benefit society. This methodology helps create sustainable business models, improve social programs and public policies, and maximize the social impact of investments and philanthropy. If you are interested in the concept of Social Value and would like to learn more, we invite you to participate in the introductory lecture "Introduction to Social Value" hosted by Social Value International together with our community on May 30th. The lecture program includes an introduction to the concept of Social Value, as well as a discussion of standards and principles of its application in the business, public, and non-profit sectors. For more details about this event, please see our previous post. #social_value #SocialValueUkraine #SVU_learn

Grant funding levels have been fluctuating depending on the sector and source of funding. While some areas, particularly health, education, and technology, have seen steady or even increased funding in response to challenges like the COVID-19 pandemic and growing innovation, others may experience cuts due to budget constraints, economic conditions, or changes in government priorities. Public funding, especially from government sources, can be subject to political shifts, while private foundations and corporate philanthropy might reduce their budgets during economic downturns. However, sectors like sustainability, social justice, and mental health have seen increased focus and funding.

Got some grant applications on your to-do list? Approaching grant funding as sporadic, transactional income injections can waste precious energy and runs the risk of losing traction for the organisation. Re-framing the dynamic as a partnership not only aligns your goals with those of the funders but also fosters a more collaborative and effective approach to achieving social impact. What does that look like in practice? Grab yourself a cup of tea and dive into our latest column packed with practical tips for how to approach, secure and maintain funding. https://lnkd.in/gbXHd5sd