Owner: Social-business.co.za URL:http://www.social-business.co.za Join Date: Sat, 13 Dec 2008 02:44:15 -0600 Rating:0 Site Description: Using business to address social issues: The web log for social business, enterprise and entrepreneurship in South Africa.
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Micronutrients 2008-12-12 01:51:21 You’ve heard of microfinance, microcredit and possibly even micropayments; but have you heard of micronutrients?Micro nutrients is the concept of providing key nutrients to mothers and children at times in their lives when they most need it.The Micronutrient Initiative is an international not-for-profit organization dedicated to ensuring that the worlds most vulnerable get the vitamins and miner
The Papillon Foundation 2008-12-09 12:42:53 The Papillon Foundation
has made an incredible difference to many people in need over the last 7 years. They contribute to communities in need in a number of areas, including provding computer training and project management skills.I asked Stephen Smith, Director at Papillon, some questions on how they go about the building relationships with their funders, challenges with paying staff a low wage
Backing success by being 'fair' 2008-12-08 13:44:19 In Andrew Mawson's book The Social Entrepreneur, he uses the example of how investors backing science projects did not back those that were researching the most importance subjects (e.g. cancer in children), but rather the best researchers.By backing the best researchers their investments would ultimately be used the most effectively for the public.This approach is perhaps not the most democratic Read more:Backing
Podcast on social media 2008-12-07 02:11:04 I've written a couple of posts recently about social media
and social networking, and how this can help generate awareness and potentially funding for your social cause.There is a new podcast from Allison Fine on using social media for social causes, with her latest update including some interesting interviews on this topic.Mike. Read more:Podcast
The power of online communities 2008-12-06 10:52:01 I am a strong believer that donations are not a sustainable way to address social issues, but rather through social business.However, donations, if obtained in a low cost, low effort manner, can still be a valuable supplement to your income stream whilst operating as a social business.The continuing evolution of the world-wide web is providing ways to do this.Recently an organisation called Epic C Read more:online
, power
Online communities and CausedWire 2008-12-06 10:51:40 Report on Twitter and online communities is available to buy as well as a book from Tom Watson called CausedWired.I haven't reviewed either yet, but if you are interested in pursuing the ideas in my recent post about donations and online communities then you might find these worthwhile.Mike.
Our children showing us the way 2008-12-06 03:01:00 School children in the UK have set-up a Fairtrade Enterprise to help farmers in Southern Africa.Their business sells snacks and jewellery to raise funds for organisations addressing social issues.They are supporting a number of charities, including Threaded Dreams in Johannesburg and Jewels of Hope based throughout Southern Africa. These charities are also using business principles through the sa
Moving your charity in to social business 2008-12-05 02:17:29 The social business principles make sense when starting from scratch.But what if you have an existing organisation that is currently being run as a charity?Below are the ten principles of moving your charity into social business.1. Start with small changes, but don't lose sight of the big picture2. Stick to your vision and objectives3. Focus on opportunities within your current proposition4. Ident Read more:Moving
Stick to your vision and objectives 2008-12-05 02:15:08 This is the second step in converting your charity to a social business.Your vision
, mission and objectives are core to your organisation, irrespective of whether you are operating as a charity or a social business.Your vision can be described as the reason why your organisation exists. For example, to give the homeless in the Western Cape food and shelter.Your objectives are related to your visi Read more:Stick
Think big start small 2008-12-02 17:41:30 This is the first of the key steps to moving your charity into a social business.It is important to understand what you are trying to achieve by using business, rather than donations and grants, to address your social objectives.A good reason for doing this is to reduce your dependency on donations and grants, allowing your organisation to become financially independent.This means you do not have
Using jail to get funding 2008-12-01 12:47:17 I've mentioned recently that if donations can be obtained in a low cost, low effort manner, then they may be a good way to supplement your income stream as a social business.But was the Jail4Bail initiative taking this too far?Perhaps, but well done to Gerhard Pieterse, who raised more than R600 thousand for some fantastic causes!Mike.
Definition of common terms of social enterprise 2008-11-29 11:01:53 Below are the definitions of some key terms on social enterprise
, as defined by the Social Enterprise Alliance, a US based organisation that champions social enterprise and entrepreneurship.Social Enterprise: An organization or venture that advances its social mission through entrepreneurial, earned income strategies.Earned Income: Payments received in direct exchange for a product, service or pr Read more:Definition
Relying on donations to survive 2008-11-29 10:43:24 My recent survey on organisations addressing social issues in South Africa, shows that the vast majority of the sample surveyed, are reliant on donations to survive
.The survey was completed by 153 organisations, and the full results can be found on this blog.All the organisations surveyed have been set-up to directly address social or environmental issues in South Africa.Two-thirds of the organisa
Measure your performance 2008-11-29 10:43:10 You've defined your vision and set your objectives, but how do you know if you are meeting your objectives?You measure and track your performance.Commercial businesses measure their performance in terms of revenue and profitability. Social businesses can also do this, but more importantly they need to track their performance against their social objectives.The social objectives may be the number Read more:Measure
A clear vision and objectives are a must for social businesses 2008-11-29 10:42:53 Arguably all organisations need a clear vision
of what they are trying to achieve and objectives to determine how to get there.This is especially important to social business, and is the ninth key principle.A vision provides the over riding direction for the business and should drive everything you do.It could be something like providing all HIV/AIDs sufferers in the Kwa-Zulu Natal with the health Read more:businesses
Sell products and services to cover your costs 2008-11-29 10:42:37 Don't be dependent on donations and grants to survive, but instead sell products and services to cover your costs.Making your income from selling products and services is the eighth of the ten principles of social business.Selling products or services that are aligned to your social objectives gives more focus to these objectives, for example the organisation called Open Africa, where tourists pay
Salaries must be paid at market rates 2008-11-29 10:42:22 The best businesses have the best staff. The best staff need to be paid salaries at market rates.This is the seventh of the ten key principles of social business.In order to compete effectively and be the best at what you do, you need to make your organisation a great place to work, which includes remunerating staff at the levels their skill and responsibility deserves.This does not mean that sta Read more:Salaries
Social business investors are paid back 2008-11-29 10:42:02 Social business investors can be in the form of social entrepreneurs, corporate organisations (through CSR initiatives), philanthropists, financial institutions including banks and even the Government.They invest in social businesses to get both a social and a financial return on their investment.The social return is gained through investing in a social business that is striving to address social Read more:Social
Profits are reinvested in the social business 2008-11-29 10:41:46 Social businesses reinvest their profits, which is the fifth of the ten key principles of social business.Considering that social businesses do not allow dividends to be drawn, they instead use their profits to reinvest in their organisation.This means the profits can be used to focus on addressing the social issues the organisation has been set-up to solve, rather than used for shareholder wealth
How business can change communities 2008-11-23 04:57:54 I've come across this great presentation from Ramla Akhtar.Ramla has recently reviewed a number of social enterprises in South Africa and is using this to highlight what can be done in Pakistan.The enterprises include Community Cellphone Cubicles and Hair Salons in our townships.Here is his presentation, which is well worth the read!Mike.
Social business for animals in need 2008-11-22 04:42:04 Here are some social business examples whose social objectives are focused on supporting animals in need.The Gabriel Foundation, which looks after rescued birds, has a number of ways for generating income, which include:Sponsor a bird, which allows the public the opportunity to finance cost of looking after their 450+ birds in their aviary. This is of course reliant on donations, but it is done i Read more:Social
Streetwires wins Social Entrepreneur Award 2008-11-19 01:21:48 Patrick Schofield, founder of Streetwires, has been selected as the winner of the Ernst & Young / FNB / Schwab Foundation ‘SocialEntrepreneur
of the Year for South Africa’ for 2008.Started in 2000, Streetwires is a social business tackling the problems of unemployment and poverty in South Africa.Focusing on wire art, they provide the skills training, support and raw materials necessary to Read more:Award
Handbags for fire fighters 2008-11-16 03:41:46 The Elvis & Kresse Organisation (EaKo), based in the United Kingdom, creates life-style accessories by re-inventing seemingly useless waste.Their products are all made from reclaimed materials, like the fire-hose in this picture, to create innovative new products like hand bags, belts and wallets.The reason I put them in the social business category is not just because they are focused on find Read more:Handbags
Launching new products 2008-11-16 01:17:20 Jeff Walker is a well known internet marketer and I've recently reviewed his Product Launch blueprint. His concepts come across in a way that is easy to understand and make complete sense.If you are looking at promoting a new, or existing, product or service, I would highly recommend reviewing his formula, which you can view in two parts that are listed below.The first part of his formula is a bi
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