Impact Investing

20 Best Quotes From SXSW Interactive

Posted on by Case Foundation

The Case Foundation team is back from whirlwind week at SXSW Interactive where we hosted a series of events and panels. Our time there was filled with dynamic sessions, learning from people who are truly changing the world.

From the opening day fireside chat with our founders Jean and Steve Case, who shared their roadmap for innovators and entrepreneurs in the rapidly evolving, “internet of everything” economy, to President Barack Obama’s conversation with Texas Tribune’s Editor Evan Smith on civic engagement in the 21st century, there was no shortage of inspiring and moving words spoken on SXSW stages. We heard narratives on the future of entrepreneurship that explored how we can cultivate more inclusive ecosystems, how news platforms are coping and capitalizing in the advent of social media, why the intersection between policy and technology is important and so much more.

While it’s impossible to capture everything that we heard in one blog post, we have pulled together a collection of tweets chronicling the best quotes from some of our favorite sessions at the conference.

And so, here are our top 20 quotes from SXSW, in tweet form and in chronological order.

From Jean and Steve Case: A Roadmap for Innovators:

1. “Startups are the seed corn of the future.” – Steve Case, Chairman of the Case Foundation

2. “Performance is higher when teams are diverse. Bring people into the mix who have been left out.” – Jean Case, CEO of the Case Foundation

3. “The intersection between policy and technology are increasingly important.” – Steve Case, Chairman of the Case Foundation

4. “Transformational breakthrough requires confronting fear of failure.” – Jean Case, CEO of the Case Foundation


5. “If you never fail, you’re doing it wrong. Missteps help your progress, and those who come after.” – Jean Case, CEO of the Case Foundation

5. “Revolutions happen in evolutionary ways.” – Steve Case, Chairman of the Case Foundation

 

From President Barack Obama’s discussion with Evan Smith:

7. “We are at a moment in history where technology and globalization, our economy is changing so fast and this gathering brings together people at the cutting edge of these changes. These changes offer us a lot of opportunities, but are also very unsettling.” – President Barack Obama

8. “It’s not enough to focus on what’s the cool new thing…we need to focus more on solving big challenges.” – President Barack Obama

9. “Using big data, tech, analytics to find new ways to solve old problems and build stronger citizen participation.” – President Barack Obama

 

From Inclusive Entrepreneurship Panel at SoFin @ SXSW:

10. “Inclusive entrepreneurship is an imperative for our economy to work.” – Ross Baird, Executive Director of Village Capital

11. “When diversity is baked in its easier to make a core part of your brand.” – Justin Davis, Program Manager at Kapor Center

12. “We are putting our money where our mouth is investing in rise of the rest communities across the US.” – Allyson Burns, SVP of Communications and Marketing at the Case Foundation

 

From #Movements: When a Hashtag Breaks the News:

13. “Breaking of news is now a commodity, contextualizing is the key for differentiation.” – Jean Ellen Cowgill, President of Atlantic Media Strategies

14. “Skilled organizers on the ground just as much – or more – important than a hashtag in raising awareness in Ferguson.” – Shadi Rahimi, Acting Executive Producer of Al Jazeera’s AJ+

 

From the Case Foundation’s SXgood sessions, SXgood Stories: Myth of the Entrepreneur and SXgood Lab: The Future of Entrepreneurship presented by the Case Foundation: 

15. “At their core, an entrepreneur is a problem solver, and we need people solving more diverse problems.” – Sheila Herrling, SVP of Social Innovation at the Case Foundation

16. “I’m optimistic about the power of leaders making better choices and prioritizing diversity.” – Casey Gerald, Co-founder and CEO of MBA’s Across America

17. “Only 11 African American women have raised more than $1M in venture funding.” – Earl Robinson, President of PowerMoves sharing data from the Project Diane study

18. “We believe in leveling the playing field for all entrepreneurs.” – Jean Case, CEO of the Case Foundation

19. “Talent is evenly distributed opportunity is not.” – Jean Case, CEO of the Case Foundation

 

From USAID’s Global Innovation Challenge: Lifting 1 billion people out of poverty:

20. “People with the best ideas come from unexpected places.” – Ann Mei Chang, Chief Innovation Officer and the Executive Director of the U.S. Global Development Lab at USAID

Words Matter: How Should We Talk About Impact Investing?

Posted on by Case Foundation

For a number of years, the Case Foundation has been an active champion of the Impact Investing movement. In this work, which encourages institutions and individuals to align their capital more closely with their values, we have hosted more than 300 dialogues to better understand interests and concerns of audience segments as we seek to accelerate the movement. Yesterday, I had the privilege of joining more than 600 people on a webinar to discuss important new findings.

Thanks to a group of partners that included the Omidyar Network, Ford Foundation and MacArthur Foundation, together with the Global Impact Investing Network and the Global Social Impact Investing Steering Group, we unveiled important new research that tracked and analyzed coverage of the topic of impact investing in traditional and social media over a 12-month period. This report provides a clear picture of common messaging either being received or shared through the coverage that appeared in these months. This data, taken together, provides a unique roadmap to guide those of us championing the movement to key audiences and working hard to build out the impact investing ecosystem. As with any movement, words matter and can play a powerful role in informing, educating and activating those on the sidelines.

The good news is that impact investing has enjoyed mostly positive coverage and engagement in both traditional and social media. But equally good news is that it has been balanced by some skepticism or negative coverage that helps identify for us the work we have to do in the days ahead. An important insight provided by the research is that we must be careful to adapt our language and emphasis depending on who we are trying to reach. For instance, there was a clear difference in how impact investing is talked about in the U.K. as a “powerful government tool” versus in the U.S., where coverage and sharing is dominated by such phrases as “taking off,” “reaping returns” and “Millennials demand it.”

Another clear takeaway from the research is that we have work to do in the realm of measuring impact —reported to be the most common negatively associated narrative; on this point, I think there is broad agreement in the field. We must continue to commit ourselves to measuring the “impact” in impact investing. While this may take some time, there have been exciting developments to help close the gap in this area. For instance, the Case Foundation has partnered with B Lab to bring new tools to companies everywhere who want to measure their social impacts—”Measure What Matters” impact assessment tool has engaged more than 40,000 companies to date—an important step forward.

The research also shines a light on how different audiences, investors, policymakers, entrepreneurs, philanthropists and high net worth individuals are engaging with each narrative, as it relates to a particular issue area. For example, two important audience segments— philanthropists and entrepreneurs—are more closely associated with the more negative “not a silver bullet” references. Indeed, within the field we recognize that it is decidedly unhelpful to paint impact investing as a silver bullet, but rather it becomes a new arrow in our quiver as we seek to champion all means in our efforts toward social impact. For those of us that speak about the movement routinely, we can use this research to remind us of the importance of making this point.

With all movements there are stages. While I believe that the impact investing movement is experiencing great traction and momentum, we are still in early days. This important research confirms we’re making strides in communicating effectively to broaden the tent and invite more participants from the private, public and nonprofit sectors to catalyze transformative social change. At the same time, it helps to guide us in our words and actions to fill gaps and address concerns.

If you didn’t have the chance to join us, the full webinar can be accessed, here. I’d like to extend my gratitude to the partners who invested in this important work and invite you to share your thoughts and insights on Twitter using hashtag #impinv.

Changing the Face of Entrepreneurship

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Throughout our nation’s history we have celebrated entrepreneurship as a key to unlocking economic and technologic advancement, seeing ourselves as a country of innovators, discoverers and inventors. And each February we honor the integral role that black history has played in building and strengthening our nation. This week, I am thrilled to be in Miami for Black Tech Week and the launch of our partner PowerMoves’ recent expansion into the region. I can’t think of a better way to honor the role that entrepreneurs of color have played in making America the greatest “startup” ever!

But here’s the rub: when we talk about startups and entrepreneurship today, why is it that we are so hard-pressed to name entrepreneurs of color that made history and shaped our collective future? Why does our collective conscience go to equating “entrepreneur” with a white guy in a hoodie, toiling away alone in his garage, until he has a Eureka moment that changes life as we know it? Myths of the Entrepreneur persist and are perhaps disproportionately holding back entrepreneurs of color when our nation needs them most.

Let’s be reminded of some of the greatest innovations of our time, all led by entrepreneurs of color:

  • The carbon-filament light bulb invented by Lewis Latimer in 1881. Thomas Edison gets all the glow (no pun intended), but Latimer’s filament made it cheaper, more efficient and, therefore, more practical and profitable.
  • The gas mask invented by Garrett A. Morgan, first used in 1916.
  • Blood banks, made possible by the invention of Dr. Charles Richard Drew in 1940, which allowed plasma to be dehydrated and countless lives saved since.
  • Refrigerators, invented by Frederick M. Jones in 1940, modernized farming and shipping, and led to the introduction of modern-day supermarkets.
  • The automatic oil cup for train parts, invented by Elijah McCoy; his design was so superior to the many knock-offs that engineers ordering them asked for “The Real McCoy” (ok – really, how many of you knew that’s where that term came from?!)
  • The potato chip! Invented by George Crum in 1853, the potato chip industry became a billion dollar business, creating a massive amount of jobs and certainly changed my world.

And let’s highlight some modern-day entrepreneurs of color showcasing the power and potential of diversifying the current state of our nation’s entrepreneurship:

  • Publisher John H. Johnson who started both the Ebony and Jet brands and the first African American to appear on the Forbes 400 list.
  • Financier Melody Hobson of Ariel Investments, which today is the largest minority owned investment firm in the world with nearly $11 billion in assets.
  • Hotelier and sports team owner Sheila Johnson, who was co-founder of BET and the first African American female billionaire.
  • Entrepreneur and investor Daymond John who is founder and CEO of FUBU and a judge on the hit show Shark Tank on ABC.
  • CEO Janice Bryant Howroyd of ACT-1 Group, the nation’s largest black female owned business with more than $1.4 billion in revenue.
  • Earl Robinson, CEO of PowerMoves (disclosure: PowerMoves is a grantee of the Case Foundation), which has backed 100 minority-founded companies, raising $27 million in venture capital and creating more than 350 jobs.
  • Kesha Cash, founder of Impact America, investing in underserved communities.
  • And venture capitalist Erik Moore with five exits under his belt and dozens of investments in companies like Zappos.com.

So much history to celebrate. So much to be inspired by. And so much more to do to recognize and realize the full innovation potential of America by leveling the entrepreneurship playing field for all. Connecting social and financial capital to women and entrepreneurs of color who continue to be under-represented and whose success will serve as inspiration to a whole new set of young dreamers looking for role models to whom they can relate. Sadly, today only 3% of venture-backed companies have female CEOs and only 1% have founders of color; Project Diane’s report on the success of African American women in tech is best summarized by Wired as “embarrassing.” Making entrepreneurship more inclusive isn’t about charity or political correctness; it’s about sound business. Research shows that companies in the top quartile for gender, racial and ethnic diversity are more likely to have financial returns above their national industry medians. And in many respects, it’s about restoring the American dream.

The talent, the companies and the opportunities to level the playing field are out there. There just needs to be more intentionality in the discovery and sourcing process. Over the last two days, I’ve seen some of our future nation shapers on stage at PowerMoves Miami launch. Companies like Neurtronic Perpetual Innovations, LISNR, VOO Media Group and Kairos have all each raised more than $5 million with disruptive ideas. Watch out for Virgil, a mobile-first career navigation platform, who today won the Knight Foundation’s Angel Round Pitch Competition, which I had the honor of judging. And please, let’s model the secret sauce of PowerMoves in sourcing successful black female founders – of the 11 (yes, only 11!) black female founders that have raised more than $1 million in outside investment, four of them — Lisa Dyson of Kiverdi, Kellee James of Mercaris, Cheryl Contee of Attentive.ly and Jewel Burks of Partpic (disclosure: Partpic is an investment of our founder Steve Case) — are alumna of the PowerMoves model, collectively raising nearly $50 million in capital.

Join us in our crusade to diversify the face of entrepreneurship. Tell us which entrepreneurs of color are on your radar and what’s standing in the way of unleashing their full potential. Share with us on Twitter at @CaseFoundation using #Ent4All.

An Opposite World for Opposite Day

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Today is Opposite Day! Or should we say, today is not Opposite Day…

On this lighthearted day created to celebrate the unorthodox, we give pause and think about how we might apply the same paradoxical principles to our own work in the social sector. We asked ourselves, what would the world look like if a few key things got turned upside down and their opposites became the reality?

What if the majority of investments were Impact Investments?

In the world right now, most investments are still made without considering their environmental and social impact. In fact, of the estimated $212 trillion invested worldwide, only $60 billion has to date been identified as intentionally committed to impact investing. Today, we allow ourselves to imagine if the opposite were true: if essentially all investors sought to not only mitigate negative impact within their investments, but actively invested to improve social and environmental outcomes. What might the world look like if trillions of dollars were unleashed with the dual intent of catalyzing long-term, sustainable social change and making a profit? In this “profit with purpose” climate:

  • Institutional investors would be equipped with the tools to build out diverse, impact portfolios.
  • Individual investors would have a huge pipeline of new businesses to invest in, and impact would factor in to all of our investment options.
  • Fund managers could develop competitive impact funds for all investors.
  • Your entire 401K would be invested to intentionally create stronger communities, more sustainable environmental outcomes, greater social equity, better treatment of employees in all sectors and improved schools and access to education globally.
  • Social businesses would have access to the kind of scale-fueling dollars that allow them to create positive outcomes in communities all over the world.
  • Markets would have the capacity to track financial and social performance bolstering investor confidence.
  • Philanthropic dollars and government efforts would be matched with fully committed capital markets, driven to do more than maximize profits.

In this opposite world, the possibilities seem endless when impact investments are the norm and the private sector is fully harnessed to tackle our most entrenched social issues.

What if the majority of new high-growth startups were lead by diverse teams?

Right now, most companies funded through venture capital are founded by white men, making for a very homogenous startup community that tends to exclude women and entrepreneurs of color. Recent research found that 85 percent of all venture capital–funded businesses have no women on the executive team, only 2.7 percent had a woman CEO and less than one percent have an African-American founder. And yet, a growing library of research suggests that teams with a diversity of race, ethnicity, gender and sexual orientation are more innovative than homogeneous groups, and that diverse companies perform better financially. So what if we flipped these statistics on their head? What if the majority of high-growth companies with venture capital funding were lead by diverse teams of entrepreneurs?

  • Diverse entrepreneurs would have access to valuable social capital through new networks and mentorships.
  • By moving more investments to diverse teams, we would get more successful entrepreneurs who represent diverse communities. This would mean our leaders, investors and entrepreneurial decision-makers would have those same valuable diverse backgrounds and experiences that make their companies successful.
  • More venture capital firms would include women executives and executives of color in the funding decision-making process, which, if similarity bias research holds true, would distribute venture capital funding more evenly among diverse entrepreneurs.
  • A new generation of young entrepreneurs would be inspired, and current women entrepreneurs and entrepreneurs of color may have a chance for funding because they’re being noticed for the first time.

This topic is complicated for many reasons, but one thing is clear: when we have an inclusive entrepreneurial ecosystem, we have more people sitting at the table to help push us forward and innovate, create economic growth and strengthen communities.

What if instead of erring on the side of caution, we all decided to Be Fearless?

Too often today, those of us charged with finding or funding solutions to social challenges — philanthropists, government, nonprofits — seem to be moving too slowly and often operating with the same set of tools, concepts and caution of the generations before us. But what if failure wasn’t a limitation? What if taking risks was the status quo? What kind of world would you imagine?

In this fearless world, we would all:

  • Make big bets and make history – which is what the Levi Strauss Foundation did when it embraced the company’s 160-year pioneering legacy and was able to create an innovative new approach to investing in San Francisco’s rising social change.
  • Experiment early and often – as demonstrated by the Salesforce Foundation, which revolutionized corporate philanthropy through its innovative 1-1-1 model, giving 1 percent product, 1 percent equity and 1 percent employee time for philanthropic purposes.
  • Make Failure matter – just like the Jacobs Family Foundation did when it transformed an abandoned lot, took on an experimental initial public offering and ultimately transformed its business model from traditional grantmaker to place-based funder to maximize impact without sacrificing its core values and mission.
  • Reach beyond our bubble – and follow in the steps of Global Health Corps, which was formed by six diverse strangers with a shared vision to spark and nurture unlikely partnerships among very different young people from around the world to impact global health.
  • Let urgency conquer fear – which compelled the senior leadership team at Share Our Strength to make big bets aimed at ending childhood hunger in America.

When global challenges seem overwhelming, we would set out to create unlikely partnerships, experiment with new thinking and set audacious goals—just like these fearless leaders highlighted above have done.

To build a better world, to make a real difference, we have to take bigger risks, make bigger bets, and fail forward; in short, we have to Be Fearless. These opposite worlds may be hard to imagine, and there are certainly hurdles to get there, but we, along with our partners in each of these areas, are working every day to make them a reality.

Ready to join us? Get started with the Be Fearless Action Guide, which offers step-by-step tools to help you take risks, be bold and fail forward.

Editors Note: On a previous version of this blog post the size of markets estimates quoted from the USSIF and the GIIN were incorrect and have been modified.

Be Fearless Spotlight: Inner City Advisors and Fund Good Jobs

Posted on by Case Foundation

This Spotlight is authored by guest writer Caitlin Kelly as part of a special blog series by the Case Foundation featuring Be Fearless stories from the field. Follow along with us as we meet people and learn about organizations that are taking risks, being bold and failing forward in their efforts to create transformative change in the social sector.

For Sean Daniel Murphy, interim CEO of Inner City Advisors (ICA) and Managing Director of Fund Good Jobs, what goes around comes around. Murphy credits the mentorship he received early and often with who he is today — a visionary entrepreneur on a mission to help others realize their business goals.

“It always starts with the family values I was fortunate enough to grow up with,” he says. “My parents, aunts and uncles, a lot of people, really looked out for me and I was attracted as a result to change some things that weren’t right in my community. I wasn’t interested in nonprofit work per se, but when my mentor gave me a shot and opened a door for me at 21, he took a chance on me. Now I take a chance on others. Building people is the way I do business.”

In its first two years in existence, Fund Good Jobs, which provides the capital and support small businesses need to grow and create good jobs, has grown into a $2.35 million fund. The Fund has invested in five companies that have created and retained nearly 150 jobs, making a positive economic impact on hundreds of Bay Area residents. Over recent years, Fund Good Jobs’ founding organization, ICA, has overseen the growth of hundreds of local businesses that collectively have generated revenues of over $200 million and that employ more than 2,500 Bay Area residents.

The companies benefiting from Fund Good Jobs traditionally have had difficulty accessing capital, though they are all dedicated to creating what Murphy calls “good jobs.” The “good jobs” movement has grown significantly over the past few years. Murphy defines a “good job” as one that offers pay above a livable wage, provides access to health benefits and wealth building tools like a 401(k) plan, offers “life ladders” — opportunities to rise both personally and professionally — and has a culture that allows employees “to really enjoy” making a living there.

Key to the movement is a focus on small businesses, which are uniquely equipped to create good jobs. They have greater flexibility to hire those who have lacked access to quality employment opportunities. As active members of the community, they tend to hire locally and are less likely to ship jobs overseas. Collectively, thousands of small businesses across the country have the capacity to generate millions of good jobs.

One of the Be Fearless principles Fund Good Jobs demonstrates is being agile and creative in its assessment of risk and the way it structures capital offerings. By deeply engaging with a company, Fund Good Jobs can underwrite deals that traditional lenders and investors won’t touch. “Traditional notions of risk have really been prohibitive for these folks,” Murphy says. By providing “support and capital” to these businesses, he says “they in turn bet on people in their community.” His fund has made five such investments so far, “people I’ve known for four or five years. I know them well beyond their business plan.” And what he seeks in them is a quality that wouldn’t be visible on a typical balance sheet.

“Character is intangible and doesn’t carry as much weight as it could with local banks and local investors,” he says. But Murphy makes smart wagers, seeking out referrals from people whose values he shares, those new business owners working seven days a week and night shifts and the ones guaranteed to be fearless.

Firebrand Artisan Breads in Oakland is one such beneficiary. The new manufacturing plant has hired 45 staff members so far, with 15 more planned. They needed $1.8 million to grow their business, but couldn’t access a loan, stuck in what Murphy calls the “Valley of Death”— loans between $250,000 and $2 million — which are the hardest to obtain. Murphy’s financial acumen allowed Fund Good Jobs to create a capital stack, a combination of local and private investors, as well as a bank. In May 2015, the organization invested $600,000 in Firebrand to finance an expansion of the company’s baking facilities, as well as to help it open retail space at a development in downtown Oakland.

In October, the group finalized a $300,000 investment in Red Bay Coffee to enable it to open a new coffee bar and roasting facility in East Oakland. The two investments prompted an additional $1.6 million of growth capital from partners Murphy found.

Murphy’s board, led by Olukai CEO Jim Harris, encourages risk-taking too, but also offers significant input “to make sure we could continue making the bold bets we’ve made,” says Murphy. “They show us how to block and tackle. They’re constantly looking out for [our] blinders. It’s one thing to be fearless and take risks, but it’s another thing to have someone keep an eye out for you.”

Another Be Fearless principle that drives the work of ICA and Fund Good Jobs is that of reaching beyond one’s bubble. Murphy currently does this by cultivating key partnerships, including with local developer Michael Ghielmetti, founder and president of Signature Development Group. “Michael has been a key supporter of ICA-grown businesses that are creating good jobs in Oakland,” Murphy explains. Signature’s latest development is called The Hive, a retail block that now houses Firebrand Artisan Breads, Red Bay Coffee and Impact Hub Oakland.

“It’s an unlikely partnership because the temptation is to put in traditional tenants,” says Murphy. “But not only is he a supportive landlord, he’s invested in these companies and [has] gotten others to invest. It’s been a different way of doing business.”

Murphy credits Ghielmetti with pursuing community oriented businesses for his latest development. “It looks cool, but it wasn’t a conventional decision on his part. Most developers wouldn’t have partnered with us. When he asks us, ‘Do you need anything else from me?’ those simple questions are a lot bolder than people realize.”

How has Murphy and his team accomplished all of this in such a relatively short amount of time? Urgency is Murphy’s middle name. “I think our team would laugh if we tried to define a time that urgency drove us. We have to learn to balance that. We live at such an urgent pace every day. Our business owners don’t sleep — and we don’t either. It’s nights and weekends, and our relationships reflect that. I talk to our business owners every day at any hour for an advising session, whether that’s midnight or 5:00 a.m., if that’s what they need.”

When investing in underrepresented entrepreneurs or riskier business endeavors, Murphy knows that it takes more than a loan to make a business successful. The entrepreneurs need capital, but they also need social networks and a support system that can walk them through the process of growing their business. This holistic approach to building up businesses and creating good jobs is what sets Fund Good Jobs apart.

Murphy adds, “We have a phrase we use here – ‘Going all in.’ I’m inspired by it every day.”

Feeling inspired? If you’re ready to begin your own Be Fearless journey start by downloading our free Be Fearless Action Guide and Case Studies.

This post is provided for informational and educational purposes only. Any references to companies or investments do not imply endorsement by the Foundation.

Pampered for Good: Black Friday Gifts That Give Back

Posted on by Case Foundation

This post was contributed by Sarah Hirshorn, intern at the Case Foundation.

With the endless barrage of advertising, sales, and deals, Black Friday can leave you feeling pressured to partake in the buying frenzy that begins after Thanksgiving. Many of us often end up overwhelmed with finding the perfect present for loved ones or ourselves. But hidden among the flat screen TVs and doorbusters, we know the best gifts are not only thoughtful and generous, but also give something back to the causes we care about the most.

To help you direct your holiday shopping needs, we’ve compiled a list of great gift options that also make a positive impact on you and the world. (And, you can order all of these online, so no standing in any lines at midnight, waiting for stores to open!) Whether you are looking to jump start your holiday shopping or treat yourself, we hope these diverse products help you become the toast of all your friends and family!

Don’t forget to share your favorite gifts that give back with us on Twitter or Facebook by using the hashtag #Gifts4Good.

NPR Listening Kit Party: This season, give the gift of listening. The Case Foundation has teamed up with NPR Generation Listen to launch the first ever NPR Listening Party Kit. Inspired by #GivingTuesday, this inaugural kit is giving themed and includes a curated collection of NPR stories that inspire dialogue around why people give, the future of philanthropy and people’s personal stories of giving. You’ll find everything you need to plan and host your own NPR Listening Party—we’ve even included conversation prompts, food and drink recipes and more to make sure your guests have an enriching and entertaining experience. Best of all, it’s free! Sign up now to be the first to get the kit when it debuts on December 1st. Listen for a cause.

100 Good Deeds Bracelets – These beautiful bracelets are designed so that every time you perform a good deed you can move the ring one bead closer to the button. In addition to spreading kindness, these bracelets are made by vulnerable women, many HIV+, who’ve been trained for this work in Uganda, Zambia, South Africa, Rwanda, Haiti, Bali, India and New York. Accessorize for a cause.

Bright Endeavors – Nothing says relaxation like some deep breathes nearby a lit candle. Bright Endeavors trains at risk mothers to craft premium soy candles in a supportive, professional environment. This group is a nonprofit social enterprise of New Moms Inc. that instills confidence, professionalism and responsibility into adolescent mothers. Unwind for a cause.

Cotopaxi – Getting into nature can be good for both mental and physical health. Cotopaxi creates innovative outdoor gear that funds sustainable poverty alleviation and aims to inspire adventure. Their business model enables their grantmaking focused on global poverty alleviation and represents a commitment to sustainable product design and charitable giving. Adventure on for a cause.

Indigenous Clothing – Indigenous clothes are great for your body and are made sustainably. The clothes contain only organic and natural fibers as well as low-impact dyes. In addition, they are certified fair trade so the hardworking individuals who made the clothes are treated with dignity. Dressing in Indigenous clothes and accessories helps you look beautiful inside and out! Dress for a cause.

Miir – Getting your blood pumping with a great bike ride is both exhilarating and good for your health. Miir bicycles are not only stylish, but they also help get bikes into the hands of those that need them most. In much of the world, biking is one of the most practical and affordable forms of transportation and the ability to get from point A to point B efficiently can change a life. Miir works internationally and in the US with partners to give new bikes, train mechanics and buy replacement parts. Bike for a cause.

RxArt– Coloring books are trendy for both youth and adults this Christmas. The Rx coloring book provides a therapeutic outlet for the artist. In addition, RxArt distributes free coloring books to partner hospitals. RxArt is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to help children heal through the extraordinary power of visual art. They commission exceptional contemporary artists to transform sterile healthcare facilities into engaging and inspiring environments full of beauty, humor and comfort. Craft for a cause.

Sweet Beginnings – Sweet Beginnings, LLC makes the family of beelove™ products, an all-natural line of raw honey and honey-infused body care products that are sourced from its natural urban apiary in the heart of the North Lawndale community in Chicago. Even further, Sweet Beginnings offers full-time transitional jobs for formerly incarcerated individuals and others with significant barriers to employment in a green industry. Moisturize for a cause.

S’well – S’well water bottles have been sweeping the market because consumers love that they can keep a beverage cold for 24 hours or hot for twelve hours. The company initially launched in 2010 with the mission to rid the world of plastic bottles. In the US alone, an estimated 50 billion plastic bottles are dumped in landfill sites each year, and over 200 billion globally. Even further, S’well, is a proud supporter of the US Fund for UNICEF, donating $100,000 to help provide clean water to the world’s most vulnerable children. Quench for a cause.

Theo Chocolate – Chocolate is a known source of antioxidants and mood boosting endorphins. Theo Chocolate makes the chocolate eating experience even sweeter because the artisan crafted bars are produced in an ethical and sustainable fashion. Currently, their current suppliers are Norandino in Peru, Esco Kivu in Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Cocabo in Panama. Theo helps these businesses to thrive and succeed. Indulge for a cause.

Tom’s Roasting Company – With Toms, your friend’s morning cup of Joe will work to help individuals who do not have access to safe drinking water. TOMS Roasting Co. purchases support water systems in seven countries – in the same regions where they source their coffee beans. Drink for a cause.

Tory Burch Seed Box – The Tory Burch Foundation empowers women entrepreneurs by providing access to capital, education, networking events and an online resource hub. The Seed Box is one of several initiatives encouraging women to embrace ambition. This box includes a versatile towel, organic tea, watercolor pouch, travel candle and key fob. Enjoy for a cause.

And for the person who has everything already, consider a Network for Good or GlobalGiving gift card. These organizations make it easy to support the nonprofits and causes you care about. A donation to your family and friends’ favorite charities is one of the best gifts of all!

There are many simple and meaningful ways to give back on behalf of Mom, Grandpa or Cousin Stacy this year. Share your favorite gifts that give back with us on Twitter or Facebook using #Gifts4Good.

How to Pick Winners at an Early Stage

Posted on by Case Foundation

On November 4, Sheila Herrling, the Case Foundation’s senior vice president of social innovation, joined the S&R Foundation’s Illuminate event to discuss how to assess risk and find winners in early-stage startups.

Moderated by Ryan Ross, program manager for the Halcyon Incubator, the panel included Sheila, Tien Wong, Todd Klein and Yanev Suiss. Together, they engaged in a robust discussion on picking “winners” at an early stage—including how they deal with the lack of data in early-stage investing, the need for diversifying the geography of venture capital investments, leveling the playing field for entrepreneurs of color and women entrepreneurs and more.

Below is a video of the entire conversation. The first question, and Sheila’s opening statement, begins at the 4:18 minute mark.

https://player.vimeo.com/video/145148162

Here is a little more about the distinguished panelists featured in the video:

Sheila Herrling
Sheila Herrling, senior vice president for social innovation at Case Foundation, leads the foundation’s efforts to develop and implement mission-driven domestic and international initiatives, expand tech for good platforms, leverage partnerships, promote entrepreneurial approaches to social change, and build a robust portfolio of social and impact investments.

Tien Wong
Mr. Tien Wong is chairman and CEO of Tech 2000, Inc., a Virginia-based EdTech company providing e-learning, learning analytics and mobile sales enablement software to Fortune 500, education and government clients. An active angel investor, he is also chairman of Opus8, Inc., a private investment and consulting firm which helps private equity and venture capital funds raise capital overseas.

Todd Klein
Mr. Klein is a successful private equity investor and author who focuses on identifying, investing in and helping build transformative companies – those that not only succeed but transform their industries, their markets and the world around them. During his career he has been involved in financing over 130 venture and growth stage companies.

Yanev Suissa
Yanev is the founder of SineWave Ventures, a new venture capital fund focused on connecting the top technology companies of the top VC firms to access the public sector.

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