Social Entrepreneurship and Innovation

Combining the tools of philanthropy, business and advocacy (or mission, margin and mandate), social entrepreneurs have tackled long-standing societal issues like teacher training, college access, global public health, renewable energy and sanitation.  Social entrepreneurs seek to maximize social impact while sometimes satisfying a financial return; some use purely charitable approaches while others build attractive for-profit ventures.  And yet others rely on the government to scale up through advocacy or political change. These hybrid organizations are blurring traditional organizational boundaries while reshaping a diverse number of fields. But who are these social entrepreneurs?  What’s in their DNA? Are the organizations they start traditional non-profits, but just bringing business discipline into their management?  Or are they traditional for-profit companies that have spotted new markets and opportunities in the delivery of social or environmental benefits? Or, are they something entirely new?  And what kind of capital-from grants to guarantees to social venture capital-is being used to fuel these nonprofits, companies, and campaigns as they grow from early stage ideas to national or international demonstration models?