India leading the world on CSR legislation
Social enterprises among the biggest potential beneficiaries India is inching ever closer to being the world’s first country to formally mandate companies of a certain size to spend two percent of their profits on CSR activities. The CSR provision is part of a...
Engineering an ecosystem to amplify social enterprise
Although we may have many varying definitions of social enterprise around the world, they all share a basic purpose: to operate a business that creates a blended-value outcome. They seek both financial success and social impact. It’s a business venture addressing a...
Social entrepreneurs: Heroes in their own right
You might say Heather Johnstone is your typical Vancouver North Shore anthropologist-turned-farmer-turned-social-entrepreneur. Only she doesn’t quite see herself that way. “I’m a farmer,” laughs Johnstone, who’s been managing the North Shore Neighourhood...
A new regime for Canadian not-for-profit organizations
What these changes may mean for you At the bottom of the list of most volunteer organizations, often operating on a shoestring, is concern about the legislation that deals with governance. After all, there have been virtually no changes in over fifty years. But,...
Determining your impact
How to make the process easier Social entrepreneurs are in the business of creating positive impact. Whether in the initial planning phase or several years into operations, they work tirelessly to make our world a little bit better. But how can they be sure of...
Fair Trade: Fare Thee Well?
While on assignment in Costa Rica recently, I toured a fair trade-certified coffee cooperative. After witnessing the rigorous work that went into producing each aromatic cup of my beloved beverage, I met with workers on the ground, hearing firsthand their...
Using derivatives to inspire alternatives for charity funding
Why, in this age of sophisticated capital markets, do charities not have the same avenues as for-profit businesses do to raise capital? A recent case study examines alternative funding structures for not-for-profits, modelled off of vanilla derivatives products. In...
North American impact investors are keeping their money close to home
Most of the world’s poor live in developing markets. And, according to some experts, so do ventures with the most long-term growth potential. But relatively few North American impact investments leave Canada and the United States. Are impact investors missing out?...
Impact Investing: As-Seen-On-TV
Arlene Dickinson, Canada’s newest impact investor, helps get Camino back on track. But it takes a leap of faith and some hard decisions to get there. The search for impact investment is no easy feat. Fraught with innumerable challenges, social entrepreneurs...
In the Business of Change written by SEE Change publisher & editor Elisa Birnbaum highlights social entrepreneurs around the world. Get your print or audiobook where you normally buy or download books Learn More
Our recent 3-part podcast series is sponsored by Junxion Strategy
