Financial Crisis Offers New Oppportunities for Socially Oriented Investments
The fallout from the financial crisis represents an extraordinary opportunity for businesses and investments that seek to combine financial returns with benefits for society, Jed Emerson, a long-time proponent of such ventures told participants at the Social Enterprise Summit. In many ways, he…
By NICOLE WALLACE
Features Editor
A Nonprofit Business Seeks to Spread Nationally
Rubicon Programs is often held up as a model of what successful nonprofit-run business looks like. The San Francisco Bay Area charity operates two businesses –- a landscaping and grounds-maintenance service and a bakery –- that generate about $18-million annually and provide training and employment…
By NICOLE WALLACE
Features Editor
Social-Enterprise Advocates Urged to Educate Policy Makers
Social-enterprise advocates urged to educate policy makers
By NICOLE WALLACE
Features Editor
New Legal Status for Socially Oriented Business Gains Ground
Five states and one Indian nation have passed legislation recognizing a new type of business that puts its social goals ahead of making money. In the year since Vermont became the first state to recognize the low-profit limited-liability company, or L3C, Michigan, North Dakota, Wyoming, and Utah…
By NICOLE WALLACE
Features Editor
Nearly Half of Charities Operate Businesses
The turbulent economy doesn’t appear to be dampening interest in charity-run businesses, according to a new study released today at the Social Enterprise Summit in New Orleans. A survey of 843 nonprofit organizations found that a little more than half run business ventures, and of the charities…
By NICOLE WALLACE
Features Editor
Voters Will Select Technology Award Winners
More than 50 organizations and activists are competing for $50,000 in prize money in the fourth annual NetSquared Challenge. A project of TechSoup Global, a nonprofit organization in San Francisco that helps charities use technology, NetSquared promotes the use of cutting-edge technology for social…
By NICOLE WALLACE
Features Editor
Social-Enterprise Network Raises $750-Million
Social-enterprise network raises $750-million
By NICOLE WALLACE
Features Editor
Youth Charities Work Together on Planned Giving
Too often, the expense and complexity of seeking bequests and other planned gifts put the fund-raising technique out of reach for local social-service organizations. But in the New York area, three youth charities are joining forces to try to surmount the obstacles. “It’s a very important area as…
By NICOLE WALLACE
Features Editor
Software Preserves Native Languages
A New Mexico charity is harnessing modern tools in the struggle to revitalize some very old and endangered languages. Of the more than 400 languages that were once spoken by Native Americans in the United States, roughly 175 are still spoken today, according to Inée Yang Slaughter, executive…
By NICOLE WALLACE
Features Editor
Joining Forces in the ‘Back Office’
Small and medium-size charities can be at a disadvantage when it comes to handling financial and personnel issues. Many can only afford to hire a single person to handle a number of specialized tasks, says Stan Birnbaum, president of a collaborative effort known as MACC CommonWealth Services, in…
By NICOLE WALLACE
Features Editor