wombat library's List: Community/Social Enterprise

In this provocative paper, PCI Executive Director Asher Miller and Transition Movement Founder (and PCI Fellow) Rob Hopkins make a convincing case for why the environmental community must embrace post-growth economics and community resilience in their efforts to address the climate crisis.

The share offer from Wiltshire Wildlife Trust and Bath & West Community Energy’s new renewable energy enterprise is coming to an end.

WWCE is a partnership between the Trust and Bath & West Community Energy (BWCE). It is an independent community enterprise, set up to develop, finance and operate a community owned renewable energy project, making use of land owned by Wiltshire Wildlife Trust.


Leading the project, the Trust’s project officer, Steve Webb said: “It’s not just the days that are getting shorter, you are running out of time to grab your chance to support wildlife while making a return on your investment.

"We have been delighted with the take up of our offer so far but there is still time to get in before the close at 5pm on September 15.

"I would encourage people who are still mulling the offer over to grab this opportunity. If you haven’t already downloaded the brochure and offer, go to our website, www.wiltshirewildlife.org and click on the offer. ”

The next generation of philanthropists and social entrepreneurs will converge in Sydney in October to re-think the way philanthropy works in Australia.

The inaugural Nexus Youth Summit, hosted by the Foundation of Young Australians (FYA) and Search for Common Ground, will join like-minded young wealth givers and social entrepreneurs together to elevate the importance of private giving in Australia.

The Nexus global movement is made of more than 1000 young people from across 60 countries who strive to change the world through philanthropy and social entrepreneurship.

It includes some of the world’s most innovative young social, political and economic leaders, and has already proven successful in New York, London and Beijing.

The summit is open to participants aged between 15 and 40, with 10% of spots made available to allies and mentors over 40.

FYA CEO Jan Owen said Australia was at a stage where there was an intergenerational transfer of wealth from parents to children which meant there was a new and growing group of young and wealthy people who are interested in profit and purpose.

“There is no better time than now to bring these people together so we can create many binding relationships together and collaborate earlier,” she said.

“We are in a very exciting time in philanthropy.
“People want to get immersed and get their hands dirty. They’re interested in being part of the solution.

“We have got an incredible amount of talent in Australia.”

The first Australian summit will enable participants to learn, interrogate and debate pertinent issues with their peers and will look at innovative approaches to creating change as well as opportunities to collaborate for greater impact.

The Summit aims to inspire new leadership, greater generosity and more strategic investing in social and environmental projects.

It will explore pertinent social issues, innovative approaches to creating change, and effective ways to collaborate.

Experienced philanthropists or impact investors are invited to become mentors to the next generation of donors and investors. It is an opportunity to educate newcomers about issues and inspire new commitments.

Those who are new to philanthropy or impact investing can learn from some of greatest philanthropic leaders and investors of your generation. It is an opportunity to gain inspiration from the latest innovations in the field, find mentors or find job and volunteer opportunities with your ideal philanthropy and social investing ventures.

For social entrepreneurs, the summit provides opportunity to engage in dialogue and partner with some of the greatest minds about leading innovations.

Influencers can also take important knowledge from the leading voices of young generations and share it with others.
- See more at: http://www.probonoaustralia.com.au/news/2013/07/summit-joins-philanthropy-social-entrepreneurs#sthash.xAd1fnGL.dpuf

We don’t make it a habit of reviewing toothbrushes here at The Next Web, but the social entrepreneurship work that Smiles for the People is doing caught our attention.

Smiles for the People’s main offering is a $5.95 toothbrush, though it also provides a discounted subscription service that sends a brush every three months. For every brush purchased, the company promises to donate the equivalent monetary value to organizations providing dental care to those in need. It’s a similar model to Toms shoes, but doesn’t stick to a one-for-one donation because the issue of oral health is more complicated than footwear.

The toothbrush is designed to be eco-friendly by employing a biodegradable bamboo handle instead of plastic. I’ve been using one for the past few months and though the ‘wooden’ feel of the bamboo (it’s technically a grass) was an adjustment, it’s worth the incrementally lighter conscience.

In an interview with The Next Web, founder Joe Brennan recounted the inspiration behind the company:

In the world of international development, oral health care is really frequently overlooked. There are really few NGOs that are doing good work in oral health…In my travel, experience, and studies, I learned how detrimental it is to people that are trying to lift themselves out of poverty when they don’t have access to regular dental checkups or even the most basic of preventive dental services.

Brennan decided to combine a for-profit model with a “for-purpose model” in order to tackle the problem.

“Not only are we a cause-driven brand. but we’re organized as a triple bottom-line business,” he said. “Everything we do has a heart and an eye to improving the lot of people while caring for the planet with an eye to our financial bottom line.”

Beyond toothbrushes, the kinds of dental needs in developing communities range from addressing toothaches, extractions and root canals. Just handing out toothbrushes could actually cause problems in communities without clean water, Brennan noted. Smiles for the People works with dental charities as giving partners, starting with an organization in Argentina.

“We try to understand where every dollar goes – who it goes to, what impact it has,” Brennan said. “We track to the child how many root canals our giving partners have provided. We want to follow up and look at what impact the root canal had on that child’s development.”

here is good reason for Australia to look to the UK for leadership in the social enterprise movement over the last 15 years, according to Social Traders Head of Strategy and Market Development, Mark Daniels. In the land of hope and glory, strong political leadership, significant financial resources and supportive enabling organisations have all contributed to creating a vibrant social enterprise environment, he says.

The growth of social enterprise activity in the UK has stemmed from political champions since Tony Blair’s election as Prime Minister back in 1997, followed by Gordon Brown and now David Cameron.

Recent initiatives include Big Society Capital and the Social Value Act.
The £600 million Big Society Capital is an investment bank that provides access to finance to tackle social issues.

The Social Value Act requires public sector buyers to give consideration to social, environmental and economic benefits in the procurement process.
Investment-readiness and contract-readiness funds have also been set up in the UK to support start-up and early stage social enterprise development.

Having joined Peter Holbrook, CEO of Social Enterprise UK (SEUK) on his recent whirlwind trip to Australia, I was struck by three key insights about what is needed to develop a thriving social enterprise In Australia:

Top of the list is the way that SEUK frames social enterprise. It is not part of a ‘third sector’ or ‘fourth sector’ in its own right; but a more embracing model for responsible capitalism. It is the way we want business and society to operate in the future. Social enterprise leaders and believers are the activists that will demonstrate to business, government and consumers a new model of operating that benefits society.
Social enterprise has been embedded in public policy and legislation. The Social Value Act, the right for public sector staff to mutualise public services and the introduction of the Community Interest Company (CIC) in 2005 are all mechanisms that embed social enterprise in government systems and move society towards responsible capitalism.
Concerted advocacy and professional expertise is critical. Over the last five years in Australia, several new support organisations have emerged that are building capacity and brokering in resources to support social enterprise development. However, social enterprise does not yet figure in mainstream economic or social policy of government. More needs to be done in capturing and communicating the significant economic contribution and impact of social enterprise. And we need to promote the benefits of buying social value and creating stronger linkages between social enterprise and buyers.

The current development here of A Manifesto for Social Enterprise, outlining a vision and pathway to enable the growth of the social enterprise sector in Australia, will hopefully bring greater energy and focus to emulating the impressive UK experience.
- See more at: http://www.probonoaustralia.com.au/news/2013/06/lessons-peter-holbrook-ceo-social-enterprise-uk#sthash.pr1TA0HV.dpuf

The UK Government has announced the launch of the Social Stock Exchange (SSE)- a new initiative designed to connect the public financial markets with social impact investment.

“The SSE gives investors access to information on publicly listed businesses with strong social and environmental purpose, and guarantees full and transparent disclosure on the impact of those businesses,” UK Prime Minister David Cameron said.

The Prime Minister said, in a speech ahead of the G8 summit, that the SSE demonstrates that the UK is at the heart of financial innovation and social investment.

“The global market for social impact investment is estimated to be worth $9 billion and expected to grow to between $200 and $650 billion in the next decade," he said.

In May, CEO of the Community Council for Australia, David Crosbie, said it was time for a Not for Profit stock market or a ‘stock market for good’ in Australia as a way increasing and leveraging investment.

The Social Stock Exchange is designed to connect publicly listed social impact businesses with investors seeking to generate positive impact alongside a financial return.

Its aim is to bridge the information gap between values-based investors and growth businesses that are delivering positive social and environmental impact through their core activities. By doing this the SSE provides investors with the knowledge they need to identify and compare those organisations that deliver demonstrable value to society and the environment. This will allow the social investment market to grow to scale, leading to the creation of more impact.

In the UK, the Prime Minister also announced the first member companies to be admitted to the SSE.

“They are high growth businesses in markets such as social and affordable housing, clean-tech, waste, water, recycling, renewable energy, sustainable transport, health, education and culture," Cameron said.

“They include Ashley House plc, V22 plc, Straight plc, Scope, Places for People, ITM Power plc, ValiRx plc, Good Energy Group plc, Primary Health Properties plc, Halosource plc and Accsys Technologies plc.

“A further 12 companies are currently pending admission, following the SSE’s rigorous three stage admissions process, which includes the requirement to be admitted to a regulated Stock Exchange (hence the role of London Stock Exchange Group in supporting this initiative), the production of an Impact Report and assessment by the SSE’s Admissions Panel, formed of leading social impact investment experts."

The SSE is supported by a number of high profile organisations including London Stock Exchange Group, City of London Corporation, Big Society Capital and the Rockefeller Foundation.

Co-founder and CEO of the Social Stock Exchange, Pradeep Jethi said, “We believe organisations that place social and environmental aims at the core of their activities, whilst operating on robust revenue and growth models, are the ones best equipped to generate the kind of positive impact that creates real change.

"Nobody can guarantee a return on capital - but the SSE can guarantee the social benefit and standards of each and every company they admit.”

London Stock Exchange Group CEO, Xavier Rolet said, “London Stock Exchange Group supports the Social Stock Exchange in order to provide entrepreneurial and growth companies increased visibility within the social sector and access to a wider pool of engaged investors.”

Big Society Capital’s CEO Nick O’Donohoe said, "As a key investor into the Social Stock Exchange, Big Society Capital is fully supportive of this ground-breaking initiative that is integral to the future growth of the global social impact investment market.

"Today’s Social Impact Investment Forum places the UK at the centre of social investment innovation, with the SSE forming a key piece of this new infrastructure. We are delighted to see some truly great companies featured on the newly launched platform and are proud to be a key supporter of the SSE.”

Minister for Civil Society Nick Hurd said, “Around the world investors are looking to do more with their money, and ensure it has a positive social impact. Once again Britain is leading the way in this field by hosting the world’s first Social Stock Exchange to provide a trusted source of investments that can achieve that impact.”

The UK Government says the Social Stock Exchange’s rigorous admissions process includes the publication of an independent Impact Report prepared by specialists in social impact.

Applications are reviewed and approved by an independent Admissions Panel, meaning that investors can rely on a sound vetting procedure, based on best practice disclosure.

For more information about the SSE visit the Social Stock Exchange.
- See more at: http://www.probonoaustralia.com.au/news/2013/06/uk-launches-social-stock-exchange#sthash.Ps8jek0I.dpuf

Guests

John Weate
Founder of Resource Recovery NSW

Peter Holbrook
Chief executive of Social Enterprise UK

Credits

Reporter
Sheryle Bagwell, Business Editor

Australia is facing the “the perfect storm” for a new model of business capital to emerge, according to visiting Social Enterprise UK Chief Executive, Peter Holbrook.

Holbrook is currently in Australia for a series of social enterprise breakfast talks being held by Social Traders - a national advocacy organisation for social enterprise.

Social Traders says Holbrook is one of the world’s leading figures on social enterprise.

In 2011 he moved from CEO of Sunlight Development Trust, one of the premier social enterprises in England to lead one of the most influential social enterprise peak bodies in the world, Social Enterprise UK.

Holbrook told today’s Sydney breakfast that it is easy to incorporate social enterprise into everyday lives, revealing he was wearing a belt which was made from old fire hoses from the London Fire Brigade that would have once ended up in landfill.

Holbrook said there was a number of reasons why the time was right for social enterprise to take off, including the reform of public services and charities experiencing a decline in philanthropy.

He said a number of young entrepreneurs were also emerging having grown up in a period of uncertainty.

“Every crisis creates opportunity,” he said. “The world is ready for social enterprise. The time has never been so right.

“People are aware we have some big, big things on the horizon.”

Holbrook said one of the challenges in social enterprise was overcoming the myth that doing the right thing will mean a reduction in profit.

“Spreading the word about the social enterprise model, particularly through social media, was also crucial,” he said.

“I think this is the future of business and needs to be the future of business,” he said.

Holbrook said he envisages a time when the term, social enterprise will become redundant.

“Governments also need to play a part in the sector,” he said. “Governments need to buy socially on behalf of the taxpayer. Governments invest money in helping these businesses to grow.”

During his visit to Australia, Holbrook will also work with the shortlisted Social Enterprise Awards candidates, sharing his tips for emerging businesses in the sector.The breakfast workshops will be looking at the evolution of social enterprise in the UK over the past decade and what has worked, what hasn’t and how the Australian sector can learn from it all.

He will talk about accounting for the good that enterprises do, looking at common pains to growth, the importance of keeping it real and not becoming a “superhero”.

The breakfast sessions will continue in Brisbane on May 24 and in Melbourne on May 30.
The Social Enterprise Awards will be held in Melbourne on Tuesday, May, 28.

Join Sean McGinty for the latest Guardian social enterprise podcast. This month we're looking at all things startup.

Social enterprise startups are rather different from traditional business startups. So what are the best strategies for success when it's not all about money?

Sean talks to current and past startups, a recent public sector spin out and a crowdfunding platform for social entrepreneurs to get the finance they need to achieve their social goals.

Click here to download the podcast.
Running order

0:00: Introduction
2.20: Andrew Cook – enterprise adviser at Inspire2Enterprise, Teresa Burton – chief executive and co-founder of Buzzbnk and Servane Mouazan – director at Ogunte
13.55: Alex Mitchell founder of Young Brits and Sarah Sharlott – chief executive of Realise Futures
25.00: Dan Lehner – head of ventures at UnLtd

D anny Kennedy is Sungevity's Founder and author of "Rooftop Revolution: How Solar Power Can Save Our Economy -- and our Planet -- from Dirty Energy". A long-time social entrepreneur, Danny has achieved global recognition as an environmental activist, spokesperson and opinion leader. He has a Bachelor of Science from Macquarie University in Sydney and dropped out of the Law School there. Danny lives in California with his wife Miya Yoshitani and two daughters.

Comments

Better World Books, perhaps the preeminent poster child for how to start and run a growing healthy social enterprise, just turned 10 years old. With about 340 employees, revenues are approaching $65 million, with year after year double digit growth.

That’s a pretty good track record and quite unusual–and, with that in mind, it’s worth taking a look at how they’ve pulled it off.

It started when founders and Notre Dame classmates Xavier Helgesen, Kreece Fuchs and Jeff Kurtzman tried to sell their used textbooks back to the campus book store, to no avail. It was a time when third-party online marketplaces were making a splash. So, they decided to try a new idea, selling them online. They got about $50 a book and realized they were onto something.

What they did was to start holding book drives. They approached Robinson Community Learning Center, a literacy group associated with Notre Dame in South Bend, Ind., with a proposition: They would use the Robinson name to run a book drive on campus and, in return, the center would get part of the proceeds. That generated over $20,000 from about 2,000 books, with half going to literacy initiatives at Robinson.

From that, the idea for Better World Books was born. The concept: Develop a unique supply chain by collecting used books, saving them from being thrown in landfills, and then contribute part of each sale to what they called a “literacy partner”–a nonprofit aimed at addressing and improving literacy in various parts of the world. That could be one of Better World Books’ four official partners or anyone else. The upshot: They would make their social purpose front and center, so that students would be more likely to donate books or buy from them than from a more traditional source.

Just so you know, the primary literacy partners include:

Books for Africa, which collects, sorts, ships and distributes books to children in Africa, more than 20 million since 1988.
The National Center for Family Literacy which focuses on underprivileged families and trains thousands of teachers and volunteers.
Room to Read, which builds schools, establishes bilingual libraries and computer labs, publishes books in local languages and funds
scholarships.
Worldfund focuses on improving education in Latin America through investment in schools, gifted student programs and
teacher training.

The fact that the social mission is part and parcel of the brand has the nice benefit that, should the company be bought, the acquirer would have to be suicidal if it wanted to dilute that mission. (Think the opposite of Ben & Jerry’s and Unilever). Along with Good Capital, a social venture fund that has invested in the company, they also introduced something that Good Capital’s Kevin Jones has called “mission insurance.” The founders would put aside a certain percentage of their stock into a special option pool for nonprofit partners. One result: In a potential sale, the interests of the nonprofits would have to be taken into account.

A few years after starting the company, the founders realized there was another promising supply source they’d ignored: libraries. Turned out, libraries got rid of hundreds of books every year, but weren’t allowed to recycle them. So they just dumped them. Better World Books proposed they collect those books. Today, the company works with over 1,800 public library systems and close to 1,600 academic libraries.

Also, they have 1,300 drop boxes in 17 states where people can donate books.

To date, they sell about 1 million books a month and they’ve raised over $14 million for library and literacy initiatives. There are two
fulfillment centers, one in Indiana and the other in Scotland.

Now, according to CEO Andrew Perlmutter, who joined the company in 2011, replacing David Murphy, the previous CEO—the founders realized early on they needed adult supervision. Murphy was a judge at a Notre Dame business plan competition where the founders won $7,000–the company is moving into other items that can be repurposed. “The future is now in surplus goods,” he says. That means car seats and the like, other goods that are “perfectly usable.”

A smart supply chain, an effective social mission, the smarts to bring on experienced management early on, the ability to look for new supply sources–they’ve all contributed to Better World Books’ success. Happy Birthday