Good grief! The future is already knocking on our door. Last October, I wrote about the need to find ways to make impact investment part of every portfolio. And I’ve been proselytizing for collaboration and networking since I started Ventureneer.

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The Mood of Your Listener will Determine which Story to Tell

by Guest Blogger on Feb 23, 2011 - 5:20am

FREE webinar Nonprofit practical skills storytelling

Yes, knowing how to tell a story will increase your ability to influence others. Stories build trust, emotional resonance and encourage people to come to their own conclusions. When you have the intuitive sense to know when to tell which story it gets even better. Preparing yourself with several well-developed personal stories, you’ll be able to connect your listeners with the appropriate message at the right time.

Free Content for AOL: Exploitation Or A Win-Win Collaboration?

by Geri Stengel on Feb 22, 2011 - 12:12am

AOL collaboration Commentary / Opinion HuffPo journalist open access pay for content Social Media

Here’s another fine mess! As an advocate of social media and collaboration, I am in a quandary. Do I agree with Stephen Colbert or do I support The Huffington Post in its “re-purposing” of material created by others?

The Power of One

by Geri Stengel on Feb 17, 2011 - 12:11am

Motivated by Purpose Nonprofit nonprofit Profile: Person reading program scaling

After he retired, Burt Freeman set up a nonprofit program that he envisioned as a personal project in which he'd do all the work, "Something to keep me out of the pool halls."

In this last school year, the 11-year-old program gave 4,400 children the opportunity to choose and own books – in most cases, for the first time in their lives. Freeman hasn't counted how many children have been served overall.

Learning Opportunities Expand for Small Business Owners, Entrepreneurs

by Geri Stengel on Feb 15, 2011 - 11:29am

business growth entrepreneurs Kauffman FastTrac mentoring networking Small Business small business Trends

The benefits chronicled by graduates of training programs for entrepreneurs are many and varied. In its press release announcing that 1,000 entrepreneurs have now graduated from the Kauffman FastTrac program it sponsored, New York City lauded both the new levels of growth achieved by individual entrepreneurs and the benefits to the city’s economic recovery.

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It’s Valentine’s Day: Are Your Condoms Socially Responsible?

by Geri Stengel on Feb 8, 2011 - 12:14am

Motivated by Purpose Profile: Company Small Business social enterprise Social Entrepreneurship Social Responsibility socially responsible triple bottom line Women Entrepreneurship

Better sex for a better world: Now there’s a Valentine’s Day sentiment we can all support. The more you indulge, the better the world seems … and actually is, thanks to “Love Begins With L.”

Social Media Week and Ventureneer’s Social Media Library: Lots to Think About!

by Geri Stengel on Feb 8, 2011 - 12:11am

Nonprofit nonprofits Small Business small business social entrepreneurs Social Entrepreneurship Social Media values-driven organization Ventureneer’s social media library

Oh, my! It’s like a smorgasbord: So much good stuff to choose from, I don’t know where to begin! And if I choose too much, I’ll explode!

Social Media Week events (February 7 - 11) are free, including one focused on using social media for social good here in New York. But Social Media transcend borders so this is global: San Francisco, Rome, Paris, Toronto, Sao Paulo, London, Hong Kong and Istanbul will all host events throughout the week. Updates will be available via social media for those who cannot attend.

"Change the Scope of Your Dreams" This Year

by Geri Stengel on Feb 3, 2011 - 12:11am

e-marketing marketing Nonprofit nonprofit Small Business small business Social Media social media Tips

It's never too soon to start "changing the scope of your dreams," whether you are a small business or a nonprofit. For inspiration, start with The Story of Orabrush. Note two things: Persistence in looking for options and an upside-down way of looking at statistics.

Social Responsibility is a Fiduciary Duty For Businesses Large and Small

by Geri Stengel on Feb 1, 2011 - 12:10am

business values fiduciary responsibility Social Responsibility social responsibility

The common excuse for bad business behavior – such as laying off employees despite record profits – is that the sacrosanct and sole fiduciary responsibility of management is to increase current shareholder profits.

Nothing else matters, the mantra goes, except profit and dividends. (Odd, how this concept doesn't seem to be violated by excessive executive compensation or political contributions but that's another story.)