At the Social Impact Exchange Conference: Taking Innovation to Scale, the panel discussion on Impact Investing (investing for both a financial and a social return) brought to light two interesting problems:

Scaling - How To Adapt a Business Process to Each Context Successfully

by Guest Blogger on Jul 6, 2010 - 10:16am

#siex10 Commentary / Opinion context cultural climate evaluation Nonprofit nonprofit technology

Yves Salama, CEO of CharityMatrix

Who could have anticipated that Starbucks would open 50+ stores in France, home of the original cafè crème, but not in Italy, home of the original latte? While Starbucks adopted the Italian model (coffee as a social event) to the U.S. and 43 other countries, they could not improve the experience for Italians. Streamlining the business process to make it portable and adaptable to other areas requires that evaluation include the context: the region or culture.

Social Impact Exchange Conference on Scaling: What's Next?

by Guest Blogger on Jul 6, 2010 - 9:09am

#siex10 Commentary / Opinion donors evaluation Nonprofit nonprofit scaling process mapping

Yves Salama, CEO of Charity Matrix

It's hard to imagine an inaugural conference spurring more thought, discussion and contacts than spurred by the Social Impact Exchange Conference on bringing nonprofit innovation to scale. That all participants are eager for the follow-up next year is undeniable. The question is where will the conversation pick up? Will it take off from where it ended on June 18, or leapfrog to encompass ideas generated during the next 12 months?

Proven Solutions to Social Problems Exist: With Your Help They Can Scale

by Geri Stengel on Jul 6, 2010 - 8:43am

#siex10 funding nonprofits Impact Investing making a difference Nonprofit nonprofit business plan

The Social Impact Exchange business plan competition has only one designated winner in each category, but that doesn't mean the others are losers. Funders still can -- and should! -- fund the runners up.

Financing Options Needed for Nonprofit Scaling

by Guest Blogger on Jul 1, 2010 - 9:18am

#siex10 angel investment Motivated by Purpose Nonprofit nonprofit funding social impact exchange

By Yves Salama, CEO of Charity Matrix

Seven Nonprofits Get a Chance To Woo Investors

by Geri Stengel on Jun 30, 2010 - 12:19pm

#siex10 Nonprofit

Scaling successful nonprofits was the goal of the recent Social Impact Exchange Conference. To that end, seven likely prospects -- recommended by a team of reviewers -- were given the opportunity to present their business plans to a roomful of funders. In just 12 to 15 minutes, they each had to excite interest and demonstrate competency.

Successful Scaling Requires Staffing Plan

by Guest Blogger on Jun 25, 2010 - 5:45pm

#siex10 Commentary / Opinion Motivated by Purpose Nonprofit nonprofit leaders nonprofit scaling nonprofit staffing

Gayle A. Brandel, President/CEO, Professionals for NonProfits

As I listened to the impressive speakers at the Social Impact Exchange Conference: Taking Successful Innovation to Scale, I was excited by what I heard. In particular, I was awed by the outstanding nonprofits that successfully serve various communities in the most amazing ways and are now planning to expand their services and mission to larger communities.

Prove Your Worth, Include College in Plans Educators Told

by Guest Blogger on Jun 23, 2010 - 11:33am

#siex10 charter schools Commentary / Opinion Motivated by Purpose public schools SIEX10 Social Impact Exchange Conference

by Judith E. Katz, On Target Strategies

As a new board member with a young charter organization, I was eager to attend the Youth and Education Knowledge Session at the Social Impact Exchange Conference on Scaling. I wanted to understand what the government and three key education-reform investors would look for as we scaled our program.

Sowing the Seeds of Success

by Guest Blogger on Jun 22, 2010 - 8:48am

#siex10 Commentary / Opinion Motivated by Purpose Nonprofit nonprofit capacity building SIEX10 Social Impact Exchange Conference

By Judith E. Katz, On Target Strategies

If you weren’t at the 2010 Inaugural Social Impact Exchange Conference on Scaling this week, you might think those of us who attended were planning our first trek to Everest as we spoke about the need for flexibility, capacity building, adequate staffing and thinking exponentially. And that might be because the same passion, focus, absolute command of the basics and program details along with commitment to data based analytics is absolutely necessary for the successful replication of social programs as it is for a mountain trek. This is not a rubber stamp activity.

Collaborating, Attracting Investors, Learning: The Road Ahead for Nonprofit Leaders

by Geri Stengel on Jun 21, 2010 - 8:08am

#siex10 Analysis best practices Motivated by Purpose Nonprofit SIEX10 Social Impact Exchange Conference

Times they are a changing, as the Bob Dylan song said. Underlying all the presentations at the Social Impact Exchange Conference on Scaling were two big ideas: collaboration and private investment.