Month: February 2015

Impact Investing Spotlight: A New Kind of Investment

Posted on by Case Foundation

What happens when tech industry leaders put their money behind entrepreneurship serving lower-income Indians? An opportunity to build markets and drive change for the people who need it the most in India is created. This is the latest topic on impact investing explored by the Case Foundation and Entrepreneur.com magazine in partnership with ImpactAlpha in this week’s case study on Unitus Seed Fund (Unitus).

Unitus, created by Will Poole, is one of a group of investment funds attracting the attention of investors seeking both competitive financial returns and philanthropic value. Unitus is focused on providing seed stage funding – early stage investments to help entrepreneurs develop and grow their initial business models – and operational and networking support to help these early ideas grow into viable and scalable businesses. There are many influential investors from tech and business who are interested in being a part of this new investment strategy, including Bill Gates, who is an investor in Unitus.

Unitus’ proposition is based on Poole’s philosophy that, “companies that target those customers well, that know their needs and that learn how to meet those needs are going to be valuable companies.” The fund specifically looks to support businesses Bangalore, India that serve both the growing affluent market and those in the “base of the pyramid” (BoP)—individuals earning $10 per day or less.

Funds like Unitus are changing the narrative around money flows into developing economies. By making sound investments in local businesses, they are providing a vehicle that empowers local communities as consumers by improving their access to the goods and services they value, and as entrepreneurs, developing viable business solutions. This model contrasts with traditional perceptions that these dollars should be used strictly as charity. And it should come as no surprise, according to the International Finance Corporation’s report, The Next Four Billion, the four billion people who comprise the BoP are a mostly untapped $12.5 trillion market. The potential for financial returns and social impact is significant.

Read the full article about the impact of Unitus and the range of top investors Poole and his team are attracting to impact investing through their fund.

2015 Conferences On Our Radar

Posted on by Case Foundation

This post was written by Jade Floyd and Anna Windsor on behalf of the Case Foundation:

Networking with people we admire, making new connections, and learning from organizations that inspire us: those are just a few reasons we love attending conferences and convenings in the social sector and beyond that help us advance our efforts to revolutionize philanthropy, unleash entrepreneurship and ignite civic engagement. While we wish we could find a way to easily clone ourselves and make it to all of the incredible gatherings there are to choose from, here are the few we’ll be attending (and in some cases hosting panels, dinners and other discussions) in 2015:

Opportunity Nation Summit, February 25 – 26, Washington, D.C.

The National Opportunity Summit unites a bipartisan, cross-sector group of business leaders, nonprofits, elected officials and young people working together to address the crisis of youth unemployment and its impact on opportunity in America. Join the Case Foundation for a panel on the “Power of Entrepreneurship on Youth Unemployment.” More details HERE.

Nonprofit Technology Conference (NTEN), March 4 – 6, Austin, TX

The Nonprofit Technology Conference highlights the latest technologies and best strategies to address pressing issues in the nonprofit sectors. Be sure to check out our own Elyse Greenberg on March 6th as she joins a panel of social media professionals for a lively conversation around engagement. They will explore how better engagement can lead to stronger programs, higher returns and greater impact for you and your initiatives. More details HERE.

SXSW Interactive, March 13 – 17, Austin, TX

The SXSW Interactive Festival is an incubator for cutting-edge technologies and digital creativity that tens of thousands flock to each year in Austin. Be sure to pop over to the many events hosted by the Case Foundation, including:

  • Our CEO, Jean Case will lead a lively “Impact Investing Rumble,” where champions of impact investing will take on the nay sayers in a tag-team style debate to fight it out over whether or not one can really invest and receive financial returns. More details HERE.
  • A Be Fearless Breakout Session where you can explore how you and your organization can integrate strategies and tactics to create greater impact and more meaningful social change. More details HERE.
  • A session on How Potato Salad Killed/Saved Crowdfunding moderated by our own Allyson Burns with Gary Wohlfeill from Crowdrise; Ryan Grepper who created the Coolest Cooler which was one of the most popular campaigns on Kickstarter; and Zack Brown, the “potato salad guy” from from Kickstarter. Together they will explore the future of crowdfunding for nonprofits, for-profits and individuals and what this shift in crowdfunding means for the future of the sector. More details HERE.
  • Join us in the convention center for a featured presentation on the future of entrepreneurship by our Chairman, Steve Case, including a fireside chat Catherine Rampell from the Washington Post. More details HERE.
  • Later, Steve will join fellow judges Troy Carter and Sallie Krawcheck for the Rise of the Rest pitch competition. Join us as they showcase emerging startup ecosystems across the U.S. Five companies will have five minutes to pitch and the winning startup will receive a $100,000 investment. More details HERE.
  • Pop over to the “Startup Oasis” produced by UP Global and the Kauffman Foundation from March 14-16th. Steve will join other entrepreneurs and startups at sessions and happy hours focused on women, fintech and education. Sign up HERE.

Skoll World Forum, April 15-17, Oxford, England

Every year in Oxford more than 1,000 thought leaders from the social, financial, private and public sectors convene to innovate, accelerate and scale solutions to the world’s greatest social issues. More details HERE. Council on Foundations Annual Meeting, April 26 – 28, San Francisco, CA The Council on Foundations’ Annual Meeting brings together global leaders from across philanthropy to develop the ideas and strategies that will shape the future. More details HERE.

Milken Institute Global Conference, April 26 – 29, Los Angeles, CA

The four-day conference in Los Angeles unites attendees as they devise solutions to today’s most pressing challenges. Stay tuned for more on events hosted by the Case Foundation to be announced in the coming weeks. More details HERE. Do Good Data, April 30 – May 1, Chicago, IL Do Good Data features innovative leaders who weigh in on how data is creating a more effective and efficient sector. More details HERE.

Forward Cities, date TBD

Forward Cities is a multi-city, national learning collaborative between New Orleans, Detroit, Cleveland and Durham. Over the next two years, leaders and local innovators from each of these cities are convening to connect with one another as they work to increase entrepreneurial activity and connectivity in disconnected communities. The Case Foundation is looking forward to supporting several of their upcoming meetings in Detroit and Cleveland this year so stay tuned for more!

EPIP National Conference, May 12 – 14, New Orleans, LA

The Emerging Practitioners in Philanthropy National Conference aims to develop leaders who are better equipped to advance social change. The theme for this year’s conference is “Emerging Voices, Empowering Communities” and will unite attendees as they address social disparities and discuss best practices to advance social change. More details HERE.

The Millennial Impact – MCON 2015, June 24-25, Chicago, IL

Each year the Case Foundation hosts MCON, a two-day experience for corporate, nonprofit and public leaders who create and build movements for causes by engaging the Millennial generation. MCON will be an especially enriching experience for cause marketers, and cause enthusiasts and cause leaders seeking to change the culture of their organizations. More details HERE.

Mashable Social Good Summit, September 27 th- 28th, New York, NY

The Mashable Social Good Summit is a conference examining the impact of technology and new media on social good initiates around the world. The summit is held during UN Week in New York City and unites a community of global leaders and grassroots activists. This year’s theme will be #2030NOW, asking the question, “What type of world do I want to live in by the year 2030?” More details HERE.

SOCAP, October 6 – 9, San Francisco, CA

SOCAP 15 (Social Capital Markets) will unite innovators in business, tech, the sharing economy, health and philanthropy to advance environmental and social causes through impact investing and social enterprise. More details HERE.

Independent Sector, October 27 – 29, Miami, FL

The Independent Sector Conference uses innovative formats to share the expertise of staff and board members from nonprofits, foundations and corporate philanthropy programs. The conference also features special programs including like NGen: Moving Nonprofit Leaders from Next to Now, as well as the Public Policy Action Institute. More details HERE.

2015 BoardSource Leadership Forum, November 9 – 10, New Orleans, LA

The BoardSource Leadership Forum is one of the largest annual gatherings of nonprofit board leaders. At this convening, attendees will discuss the latest trends and best practices in nonprofit governance to help guide their organizations toward greater impact. More details HERE.

We hope to see you at one or more of these gatherings, and look forward to sharing more about our learnings. We’ll check in later this year with an update on new gatherings that we’ve added to our calendar.

Have a conference not listed here that should be on our radar? Tweet us @CaseFoundation to share with #CFBlog.

Spotlight on Social Enterprises: Jigar Shah

Posted on by Case Foundation

There is an emerging giant in the energy industry, solar. One key individual who has helped to pave the way for the growing investment in solar energy and other clean-tech industries is Jigar Shah, president and co-founder of Generate Capital. Shah aims to demonstrate the huge monetary potential of investment opportunities and the impact of proven approaches in renewable energy, energy storage and energy efficiency. Shah’s innovative approaches are the focus of this week’s spotlight on social enterprise, from the Case Foundation and Entrepreneur.com, in partnership with ImpactAlpha.

Through his work leading Generate Capital, and previously SunEdison and other solar and clean-tech companies, Shah found that one critical barrier for growth in these industries is the high startup cost. Shah’s no-money-down, pay-as-you-save model triggered a massive upshot in financial support for solar companies, leaving the U.S. with four times the solar capacity. His efforts are proving that markets with positive environmental impact have the potential to generate trillion dollar returns. In fact, last year, solar and wind together accounted for more than half of new U.S. electrical generating capacity.

Read the full story HERE on Shah and how he is changing perspectives on the relationship between huge wealth creation and better climate outcomes.

Spotlight on Social Enterprises: Warby Parker

Posted on by Case Foundation

As part of our weekly series on social entrepreneurship with Entrepreneur.com, in partnership with ImpactAlpha, this week’s spotlight is on Warby Parker. The maker of affordable prescription eye glasses, Warby Parker is driven by a social mission and is one of the most well recognized, respected and successful social impact companies currently in operation. If you don’t own a pair yourself, you almost certainly know someone who does.

In addition to shaking up the market for glasses by providing quality frames that consumers can choose online and try on from the comfort of their own homes, Warby Parker has committed to providing prescription glasses to individuals in developing countries—where, according to co-founder, Neil Blumenthal, as many as 90 percent of the world’s visually impaired currently reside. To date, Warby Parker has provided more than 1 million pairs of glasses to those in need through a nonprofit partnership with VisionSpring that simultaneously promotes local business development.

As a certified B Corps, this company is competing to be more than just the best in the world, but the best for the world. Learn more about Warby Parker’s efforts to change the world one pair of glasses as a time.

As someone who proudly sports a pair of Warby Parkers, (the Marshall) I’m excited to invite you to get the full story at Entrepreneur.com.

Impact Investing as a Tool for Social Change

Posted on by Case Foundation

Over the past two years, we have focused a large part of our efforts to move impact investing from niche to mainstream on building awareness of the investors and entrepreneurs who are harnessing the power of the capital markets to provide financial and social returns. Last year, we published the Short Guide to Impact Investing, and we partnered with Entrepreneur.com to bring “Profiles of Impact” to their readers. But we realized that one of the most powerful things we could do to build awareness was to go to the most influential storytellers – the journalists we rely on to bring us the news and highlight the most important developments in our world today.

That’s why last week, at the Impact Hub NYC, the Case Foundation and Arabella Advisors co-hosted a gathering for more than 100 journalists and communicators to discuss impact investing and social enterprise. The group heard from leading social entrepreneurs and investors about the opportunities and challenges in this growing field.

There are many definitions applied to the terms “social enterprise” or “impact company,” which are often used interchangeably. However, our CEO, Jean Case, offered one broad definition at the outset of the day. She defined a social enterprise as a company that has the intent to produce a social good, that commits to measure progress toward its goals, and that practices transparency in sharing its findings.

Here are few themes that ran through the day’s conversations. And, for more context, be sure to take a look at the Storify that we created with tweets from the day.

Optimism that Business Can (and Should!) Be a Force for Good

Neil Blumenthal, whose company Warby Parker provides affordable, stylish prescription eyewear and incorporates a Buy One, Give One model, set the stage at the beginning of the day when he said, “I hope we don’t live in a world where I have to justify every good deed by a profit motive.” Neil’s sentiments echoed those made by a number of CEOs recently, including Howard Schultz of Starbucks, Tim Cook of Apple, and Mark Zuckerberg of Facebook, who have all told shareholders who questioned their actions related to sustainability and responsible business that they should get out of their stock.

Jean agreed with Neil, and noted that for too long in America, business leaders had only one goal – to provide financial returns to their shareholders. ImpactAlpha’s David Bank echoed her comments later in the day when he said, “there’s a god we’re all supposed to worship named ‘Risk Adjusted Market Rate Return.’” “But,” Jean said, “that sentiment is changing,” and investors are starting to look at the concept of return more broadly.

Clara Miller, who led the F.B. Heron Foundation’s charge to direct all assets (including its endowment) to social good, supported this feeling when she said, “It can’t just be that one side shovels out problems as fast as it can, and the other side is the cleanup crew.” However, no one at the event suggested that business should replace philanthropy, nonprofits or government. Instead, as Justin Rockefeller, a Trustee of the Rockefeller Brothers Fund and a founder of the ImPact said, “it is one of many tools in our toolbox to tackle social challenges.”

Financial and Social Returns are Possible

Over the course of the day, we heard regularly from investors and entrepreneurs that it is possible to make positive financial returns from investments in social enterprises. Andrew Kassoy, Co-Founder of B Lab, thinks that we’re seeing a real shift in the potential for impact businesses to grow. He said “we live in a time where you do well because you’re doing good.”

Shazi Visram, the Co-Founder and CEO of organic baby food brand Happy Family, which sold to Danone in 2013, says that hers is a great story for two reasons: “because the company changed the baby food market for the better and at the same time made investors a lot of money.”

The investors were also bullish on the sector. Amy Bell, Executive Director of Social Finance at JPMorgan, said that she’s found impact investing to be good for business. She said that JPMorgan’s “Aha!” moment came when clients kept asking for impact investing advice and products that provided market rates of return. This enabled her to scale the practice to meet client needs. Ommeed Sathe, who in his role of Vice President for Impact Investments at Prudential is leading the creation of a $1B impact portfolio, said that socially responsible investments are crucial to creating a diverse portfolio that delivers long-term value for shareholders.

The returns aren’t limited to investors. Tim Newell, Vice President of Financial Products at SolarCity, provided some important context of the potential of clean energy to benefit the U.S. economy. In 2014, he said, one in every 78 jobs added in the United States was related to solar. He also predicted that in 2015, the solar industry would add eight times as many jobs as the oil, gas and coal industries combined. His bullish forecast shows that there’s real potential for the industry not only to contribute to a cleaner planet, but also to create jobs and growth in the United States.

So, it’s not only “cool to care,” as Neil Blumenthal said. Responsible investing can also make investors money and contribute to healthier, wealthier communities.

The Story’s Not Finished Yet—and It’s Ours to Write

Catherine Clifford, who is a Senior Writer at Entreprenuer.com, asked each of the social entrepreneurs on her panel how they tell the story about their organizations and about why this growing sector matters. The panelists stressed that that many stories needed to be told—the story of impact and disruption, the story of profits, the story of fearless investors, and the story of changing business for better across the United States and the world.

Matt Bishop, the Globalisation Editor at The Economist—whose 2008 book, Philanthrocapitalism, was ahead of its time in calling for private sector solutions for social problems—summarized why impact investing and social enterprise are so interesting. He said, “this is a fantastic story, but we don’t know the ending yet.”

We hope to continue the conversation about social enterprise and impact investing to create the story together, and we hope that you will join us. Please follow @CaseFoundation on twitter for updates and upcoming events.

Five Key Ways Social Good Organizations can Engage with Millennials on Facebook

Posted on by Case Foundation

This post was written by Meg Rulli on behalf of the Case Foundation:

One of the many benefits to being a social enterprise is that the powerful work you’re doing is incredibly interesting to others – and others want to get involved.

This is especially the case when it comes to your organization connecting with the Millennial community. According to Deloitte’s third annual Millennial Survey conducted in 2014, 63 percent of Millennials donate to charities, 43 percent actively volunteer or are a member of a community organization and 52 percent have signed petitions.

And do you know where those Millenials spend a ton of time? The answer is online—engaging with others and with content on various social networking platforms such as Facebook.

How can you best connect with this passionate community when it comes to your strategy for Facebook marketing?

I’ve highlighted five simple tips you can use to ensure your organization’s reach within the Millennial community is maximized on Facebook. For even more Facebook marketing tips and case studies for social enterprises, you can download the free Facebook chapter from my book, Get Social – The Ultimate Online Marketing Guide For Social Good.

Five Key Ways for Social Good Organizations to Engage with Millennials on Facebook

1. Use photo heavy content for visual storytelling – Visual content is the most popular content to share on Facebook, so use this social network as a place to share your story and stir emotions in the millennial community. Let your work shine on your Facebook page through photos with inspiring quotes, photos of your local events, photos of employees at the office, and photos of your volunteers collaborating with your organization. For even more reach on your Facebook posts, be sure to tag people in pictures, which will bring visibility to your organization through these individuals’ personal networks.

2. Share emotionally moving statistics and information – Millenials want to be apart of initiatives that create change and improve the world. Entice them to rally behind your organization with powerful statistics and information related to your organization. To go along with this, share news on Facebook about celebrities and influential leaders rallying behind similar causes to your own.

3. Connect your Instagram and Vine accounts to your Facebook page and cross promote – While Facebook is still a huge social media platform for Millennials, social networks such as Instagram and Vine are big for younger generations. Be sure to have a social media presence on these platforms (if your audience is located there) and connect your content on Instagram and Vine on your Facebook page. This is an easy way to share even more visual content on your page and will help you bring your Facebook fans over to these other social networks.

4. Share your events and community outreach initiatives on your page (as well as local events related to your cause) – When it comes to helping social organizations, Millennials want to be in the trenches. They are excited to get out and engage with their favorite organizations and causes. Take advantage of their social butterfly tendencies and leverage your Facebook page to share fun events hosted by your organization and related community outreach initiatives in your local area.

5. Gamify your Facebook page – Millennials are competitive and are always looking for fun ways to rally with their friends around their passions. Harness this energy by creating contests to advertise on your Facebook page (i.e., contests for fundraising efforts), poll your audience in your status updates, host giveaways on your page… Get creative and make sure you Facebook page ENGAGES your audience.

Your turn: What tips do you have for connecting with your millennial audience on Facebook? We’re always looking for suggestions from our community, so please share with us on Twitter!

For more pro tips and case studies on how to connect with Millennials on Facebook, be sure to download the free Facebook chapter from Get Social – The Ultimate Online Marketing Guide For Social Good.

Meg is the Co-Founder of ModMark Group – a marketing and PR agency working with social good companies to grow their communities and expand their global impact. “Carpe diem” is her favorite cliche and motto. Meg is a high-energy girl living in Portland, OR, that loves traveling, being active, spending time outdoors and eating (A LOT)!

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