We are pleased to present our first featured topic on the Building Blocks of Social Ventures. The purpose of this section of the TakingITGlobal online community is to better equip innovators of all stages with tools, resources, and inspiration toward affecting positive social change.
Big Ideas Summary
Social innovation describes a relatively new field in which both individuals and groups are producing transformative products, tools, process and programs that serve a public good. Social ventures are the structured initiatives or undertakings which produce – among other kinds of value - social value.
The building blocks of social ventures generally include the following:
For those who are already familiar with these building blocks, we have gone a bit further to offer more detailed process and templates on social venture development.
Those innovators who are just beginning their own exploration of the Innovate for Good community and how to best achieve their goals can benefit from resources that start with the brainstorming process toward identifying action.
Social Entrepreneurs: Pioneering Social Change
The Skoll Foundation produced this short video about social entrepreneurship drawing on the stories of Mohammad Yunus, Bill Drayston, Jacqueline Novogratz, John Elkington and David Bornstein. Take inspiration from these tales and use them as reminders of what is possible.
TakingITGlobal's Guide to Action is the perfect starting point for anyone keen to create positive change in his/her community but still unsure of which action to take. The guide and exercises take you through the brainstorm and design essentials in developing actionable ideas.
A Theory of Change outlines the basic assumptions and the types of interventions that bring about the desired outcomes of any social initiative or venture. The example included is TakingITGlobal's Theory of Change. Draw on it for inspiration as you develop your own Theory of Change.
How to Make Money & Change the World
This book by Dev Aujla is the pre-cursor the newly published Making Good. The impetus for Aujla's exploration of marrying social values with financial reality began with this question: “How can people my age, in their twenties and thirties, find a balance between the lifestyle they desire, the career they want and the change they want to invoke in this world?” This is an essential exploration for any young person who is preparing to create his or her own future.
An excerpt from Guy Kawasaki's book of the same title, the Art of Start is a “time-tested battle-hardened guide for anyone starting anything”. Kawasaki offers GREAT IDEAS for STARTING THINGS covering a variety of foundational topics relevant to social and traditional entrepreneurs alike while using humour and real-life examples to accompany his guidance.
Business Model Generation: A Handbook for Visionaries, Game Changers & Challengers
Co-created by 470 practitioners from 45 countries, this handbook is designed for doers who are prepared to design and implement a “game changing” organizational model. Although the content features leading consultants and companies, the powerful ideas and strategies contained in this book are universal and can be learned and applied to any organization – for-profit or not-for-profit. You can also develop an understanding - at a much deeper level- of your customers (or beneficiaries), distribution channels, partners, revenue streams, costs, and your core value proposition.
Change the Way You Change the World: A Model for Wide-Scale Social Change
Referencing exemplars such as Habitat for Humanity, authors Leslie R. Crutchfield and Heather Grant McLeod, explore the 6 practices of high-impact organizations which result in sustained societal shifts rather than merely short-term outcomes.
Virtual Workshops
We will be hosting a virtual workshop related to this month's featured topic, Ideation: A Virtual Workshop for Aspiring Social Innovators, on Tuesday, October 30th – register here.
Suggested Twitter Accounts to Follow
@Ashoka - Ashoka is an international citizen-sector organization that is leading the way to an Everyone a Changemaker World
@SVN - Social Venture Network is a community of socially responsible entrepreneurs, CEOs & investors transforming the world through business.
@SkollFoundation - Driving large-scale change by investing in, connecting, & celebrating social entrepreneurs & innovators dedicated to solving the world's most pressing problems
@KauffmanFDN - To grow economies and expand human welfare, we focus on entrepreneurship, innovation and education
@CaseFoundation - We invest in people and ideas that change the world. Founded by Steve and Jean Case in 1997. Take risks. Be Bold. Fail forward. Be Fearless.
@Pfoundation - The Pearson Foundation is a 501(c) (3) nonprofit organization that aims to make a difference by promoting literacy, learning, and great teaching
@TakingitGlobal - We empower youth to understand and act on the world's greatest challenges
@KristleCT - Leader and teacher of social innovators.
@sproutecourse - We equip courageous young souls with essential skills to craft effective social innovation projects and change their corner of the world for the better.