Many corporations are obsessed with scale. It brings efficiencies and effectiveness that small- to mid-sized businesses can’t provide. Only a few social ventures -- such as Habitat for Humanity, Teach for America, and Mothers Against Drunk Drivers -- have scaled. But scaling is becoming a mantra for some of those concerned about solving the world’s problems in a resource-constrained environment.

Women’s Ways Can Nourish Business Growth

by Geri Stengel on Mar 8, 2012 - 12:20am

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I’m as concerned as the next person about the failure of women-led businesses to thrive. As the Kauffman Foundation has found, women-owned businesses are an untapped economic resource. So it’s a pleasure to find a book that does two things: helps women entrepreneurs and points out that women don’t need to become more manly in order to succeed.

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Good Service Not Only Makes Money, It Saves Money

by Geri Stengel on Feb 28, 2012 - 12:20am

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I’m repeating myself when I say that good customer service can give small businesses an edge. But a new twist has been added to customer service: It’s a way to cut costs.

Philanthropy in the Future: A New World View

by Geri Stengel on Jan 31, 2012 - 12:20am

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Mind-boggling! That’s my take on Growing Philanthropy in the United States, a report from the June 2011 Growing Philanthropy Summit. Its first recommendation is that nonprofits think of the greater good of their cause and philanthropy in general when looking at donor relations rather than just how much they can get of a donor right now.

New Book Gives Solid Advice to Would-Be Entrepreneurs

by Geri Stengel on Nov 10, 2011 - 12:20am

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I just had a long schmooze with Susan Wilson Solovic. Well, actually I didn’t. I read her book, It’s Your Biz, The Complete Guide to Becoming Your Own Boss, and it felt like having a conversation over coffee with a friend.

Changing Investment Strategy Can Solve Problems, Generate Income

by Geri Stengel on Oct 18, 2011 - 12:20am

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Ripples in the investment world are massing into a tidal wave of change in how we finance social good. It is a wave that will encompass investment brokers and philanthropists, venture capitalists and foundations.

9 Trends in Social Good Focus of Summit

by Geri Stengel on Sep 26, 2011 - 12:20am

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Wow! Where to begin? In rooms full of energetic people, keyboarding on one device or another, and bombarded with one great idea after another, where to begin in describing the Mashable/92ndStY Social Good Summit.

How-tos of Cause Marketing for Businesses, Nonprofits Laid Out in New Book

by Geri Stengel on Sep 19, 2011 - 12:20am

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Both nonprofits and small businesses stand to gain a lot from cause marketing. As you know, that’s a partnership between a business and a nonprofit to raise money for the nonprofit and attract new customers or more sales for the business. For big examples, think Project(RED) and its partnerships with clothing manufacturers. Or Home Depot and KaBOOM building playgrounds together.

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25 Best Social Media for Social Good Blogs Here Now

by Geri Stengel on Sep 15, 2011 - 12:20am

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So much good information to choose from! But we have it now: Our list of 25 Best Social Media for Social Good blogs. These are the sites we think give values-driven organizations the best information about using social media to bring about social change.

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7 Must-Read Books for Small Business Owners, Social Entrepreneurs, Nonprofit Leaders

by Geri Stengel on Aug 17, 2010 - 9:48am

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'Tis the season for book lists and I don't want my readers left out. Rather than conjuring up a reading list based on my own tastes, needs and what I've had time to read, I asked our experts – the professionals who teach our webinars – for recommendations. Looking at this list, I'll have to plan a trip to the beach myself, just to check out these new ideas.