SER provides North American social entrepreneurs and nonprofit enterprise directors with practical news and information, business tools, and inspiration to help you improve the profitability and impact of social purpose ventures.
SEblog
Scaling Social Impact through Social Franchising
Posted May 20th, 2010 by Tom
For today's non-profit managers, success almost inevitably leads to a conversation about scale, and social franchising is frequently raised in these conversations. How useful is social franchising for reaching a new scale of programmatic impact? This article explores the differing approaches of two large, food-service training organizations, the west coast's FareStart and the east coast's DC Central Kitchen, as they scale beyond their region. One avoids social franchising and the other embraces it--for reasons that are largely rooted in their "clientele." Their differing approaches reveal that the diffusion process is more than simply describing--as accurately as possible--what one does. Their differing approaches help us to see that there is a dialogue between originator and user that informs the effective design of program replication.
Kalyn Culler Cohen Explores the Differing Approaches of Two Food Service Organizations
For the founders of Kitchens With Mission and the Campus Kitchens Project, social franchising is synonymous with "package franchising," a form pioneered by restauranteur Howard Johnson in the 1930's. This form contrasted with earlier practice, where a license was granted to distribute a trademarked product but day-to-day operations were largely determined by the franchisee--a practice still evident today in the sale of gasoline and soft drinks.
New Foundry Ventures Launches Energy Efficiency Social Franchise
Posted August 4th, 2010 by Tom
Rick Aubry, former CEO of Rubicon Programs, has re-launched Rubicon National Social Innovations as New Foundry Ventures. Rick is working with a Berkeley, Calif.-based green energy social enterprise, Rising Sun Energy Center, to develop a model for a nationally-replicable weatherization social franchise. Here's the news from the New Foundry Ventures site:
"Over the past 16 months, New Foundry Ventures has researched potential cities and climates that are optimal for operating our Energy Efficiency Enterprise. We have created a full business and operations plan and formed a partnership with Rising Sun Energy Center, a Berkeley based nonprofit with 15+ years providing green jobs training.
The Good Capitalist at SXSW
Posted May 14th, 2010 by Seth Cochran
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In 1971, 16 year-old Steve Jobs and his friend Steve Wozniak wanted to build a computer, but they didn’t have any money to buy the parts. Ever tenacious, Jobs approached a local computer store called The Byte Shop and got the shop owner to agree to buy 50 fully assembled machines for $500 each. Jobs used that purchase order as credit to buy all the parts he and Steve needed to build the Apple I and the rest is history. That is how a good capitalist bootstraps an idea into reality.
Reports and a Reprise from the Social Enterprise Alliance Summit
Posted May 1st, 2010 by Tom
The Social Enterprise Alliance's 10th Annual Summit just ended in San Francisco this week. The Summit had over 700 attendees, almost twice the number of attendees at the 9th, and attendees came from over 31 countries.
I've been attending the SEA Summits since 2004, the last time the Summit was in SF. I was impressed to see many new faces in the audience as well as on stage--most notably Kathy Martinez, Assistant Secretary of Labor in the Office of Disability and Employment Policy. I'll be writing more about Kathy's presentation in upcoming posts.
Why I Started the SEReporter
Posted April 24th, 2010 by Tom
I've been reflecting lately on why I started the Social Enterprise Reporter over 6 years ago. At the time I was inspired by entrepreneurs who were using innovative business approaches to solving social problems. I had hoped to bring some of these business solutions to social entrepreneurs, as well as to encourage business entrepreneurs to "look beyond the bottom line".
Social Enterprise Summit + World Forum in SF
Posted March 29th, 2010 by Tom
The Social Enterprise Summit convenes April 28-30 in San Francisco. Online registration closes April 16. Go to http://www.se-alliance.org/summit_10sessions.cfm for information on the sessions and pre-conference workshops.
Program Discussion Tracks include:
Investment & Finance
Models & Strategies
Policy & Advocacy
Leadership Development & Education
Communications & Storytelling
Learn what's happening globally and how you can apply social enterprise models locally!
I launched the Social Enterprise Reporter soon afterward the 2004 Social Enterprise Gathering in SF.
Nonprofit Groups Spin Off Green Ventures
Posted November 30th, 2009 by Tom
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You know social enterprise has gained currency and prominence when it makes news in the Small Business section of the New York Times:
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/29/business/smallbusiness/29sbiz.html
This is a great article that shows how nonprofits are developing green social enterprises, including SmartRoofs LLC, developed by the Bronx, NY-based nonprofit group Sustainable South Bronx, and the Chicago-based Growing Home. Both have been featured in SER--you read it here first!
Reports from the 2009 Social Capital Markets Conference
Posted October 14th, 2009 by Tom
The 2009 Social Capital Markets conference (SoCap09) was a watershed event. There was a clear sense that social enterprise has become a viable business strategy and investment option.
The event brought together many of the familiar faces from social enterprise summits past, but also a new group of leaders from traditional industries such as investment banking, government, real estate and forest products.
SER Podcasts Online: Majora Carter and Eric Weinheimer, NY and Chicago Green Job Leaders
Posted August 29th, 2009 by Tom
Two podcasts from the SEReporter archive, featuring two leaders in green jobs, Majora Carter from Sustainable South Bronx, and Eric Weinheimer from the Cara Program in Chicago, are now online!
To listen to Eric Weinheimer, click here.
http://thecaraprogram.org
To listen to Majora Carter, click here.
http://ssbx.org
Social Enterprise Reporter Back Issue PDF's Online: Volume III
Posted August 28th, 2009 by Tom
Access Volume 3 of the Social Enterprise Reporter PDF back issue archive here.
SER 301 features a cover story on "Building Social Enterprise on the California Coast" by Tom White, and a Q&A with Michael Shuman: "Integrating Social Enterprise with Local Economic Development".
