How can a well-meaning start-up avoid “Silicon Valley Syndrome” and actually create real value for society? By Adam Brock, Director of Social Enterprise Every era has an industry that epitomizes its values. At the turn of the 20th century, nascent car companies like Ford and Packard were the symbols of a growing middle class. A [...]
By Janine Vanderburg, President/CEO, Joining Vision and Action What is the one thing a social enterprise must never do? Believe that your customers will buy from you simply because of your social mission. It’s a lesson I learned managing my first social enterprise in the early 1980s. Hoping to both employ women and generate revenue [...]
Rachel and Doug By Scot Kersgaard, Joining Vision and Action Coffee has the power to change the world. If you doubt it, all you need to do is talk to Joining Vision and Action and CU Boulder alum Rachel Taber, co-founder of the the social enterprise 1951 Coffee Company, based in [...]
How can social enterprise competitions help? Co-authored by Joining Vision and Action director of social enterprise Adam Brock and social enterprise consultant Rolfe Larson. Competitions are all the rage in the social enterprise world. From New York to San Francisco, organizations seeking to nurture emerging social entrepreneurs have decided to go all in on the pitch [...]
Compiled by Rolfe Larson and JVA CEO, Janine Vanderburg With the President Obama’s recent State of the Union address, this seems a good time to assess the State of Social Enterprise (SE). We decided to crowd-source this one through the npEnterprise Forum (npE), the 10,000+ circulation, non-commercial online forum for all things SE. If you’re not already [...]
By Ali Brieske Joining Vision and Action Marketing and Business Associate How can you use social enterprise to change the world? Changing the world is hard work. Undoubtedly, your organization faces numerous challenges that affect its sustainability. Funding insecurity, all the requirements needed to demonstrate impact, more work than staff to do it [...]
By Anna Upchurch, JVA Consulting Great organizations with great ideas need a great space – a home that reflects their unique story and where they can truly grow and thrive. Across the country, entrepreneurs, nonprofits, and small businesses are increasingly using a variety of shared space approaches to meet this need. Denver is recognized nationally [...]
By Anna Upchurch, Joining Vision and Action Young social entrepreneurs have made their mark in the social enterprise field. For the past four years, Forbes has announced its 30 under 30—a list it deems to include the 30 brightest social entrepreneurs, who are under 30. But what about baby boomers? Boomers are equally ready to [...]
By Anna Upchurch, JVA Consulting Social enterprise is an inspiring topic, so it is no wonder motivating stories from social entrepreneurs capture both our hearts and our minds. Social enterprise can be challenging, but social innovators continue to push the envelope and determine creative ways to create social change. One such entrepreneur is Nathan Hunt. [...]
By Anna Upchurch, JVA Consulting The idea of blending social aims with profit making is not new. Arc Thift Stores, which began in 1968, are an early example of social entrepreneurship. Proceeds are distributed to Arc Chapters and the Association for Community Living (ACL). Arc Thrift also provides job training to those with intellectual and developmental [...]