Entries For: February 2005
2005-02-16
Marketing for Community-Based Social Enterprise
Social Entrepreneur Workshop:Marketing for Community-Based Social Enterprise
Hosted by Paul Lamb
Through February 22
Getting the word out to customers about products and services is a major challenge for small and medium-size social enterprises. These challenges include the lack of a sizeable marketing budget and how to clearly identify and position oneself within an appropriate target market. The added dilemma of whether to market to socially conscious customers (what some call playing up on the “pity factor”) versus marketing purely as a competitive business can powerfully impact marketing decisions and results.
This session will look at some of the unique marketing challenges that social enterprises face and offer practical suggestions for effectively marketing products and services on the ground through a variety of currently available advertising channels.
Funders on The Edge: Draper Richards Foundation
Funders on The Edge:Draper Richards Foundation
Hosted by Jenny Shilling Stein
Through February 22
The Draper Richards Foundation provides select social entrepreneurs with funding of $100,000 annually for three years. The funds are specifically and solely for entrepreneurs starting new nonprofit organizations. The Draper Richards Fellowships are highly selective, awarding six fellowships per year so they can fully engage with their portfolio of grantee organizations.
Thinking of starting a nonprofit? Just getting off the ground and looking for funding? Join Executive Director Jenny Shilling Stein and bring your questions!
Oxford's Exploration of Venture Philanthropy
Thought Leaders on The Edge:Oxford's Exploration of Venture Philanthropy
Hosted by Audrey Zhou, Henry Gonzalez, Keely Stevenson, Sujeet Kumar and Yandong Li
Through February 22
Where is venture philanthropy in the United Kingdom? A team of MBA students from Oxford has invited the community to share opinions and advice as they explore the opportunities for designing a business plan to model a Venture Philanthropy Fund in Europe. Join David Carrington, Sarah Chiles, Lee Davis, Jed Emerson, Rob John, Alex Nicholls, Serena Porcari and Bruce Sievers and help shape the future of philanthropy in Europe by sharing your ideas for this investment tool and learning laboratory.
2005-02-11
Civil Society Responds to Tsunami
The most powerful earthquake in 40 years struck deep under the Indian Ocean off the west coast of Sumatra early Dec. 26, triggering tidal waves up to 20 feet high. The resultant tsunamis have caused widespread damage in the coastal areas of Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Sri Lanka, Maldives and India, as well as in five other countries. More than 40,000 people have lost their lives, and untold millions have been left without food, shelter and safe drinking water. Dozens of civil society organizations are working together with United Nations disaster assessment and country teams, various donor governments and the governments of the affected countries to assess the extent of the disaster and prioritize emergency needs.
The biggest challenge for aid organizations is to coordinate assistance across such a wide area. According to Simon Missiri of the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, "What is really unprecedented is the enormous geographic scope." Groups in Asia such as SEEDS India, as well as many international NGOs, are responding with emergency relief and assessment teams and making appeals for support.
How are you or your organization responding to this crisis?
