The results of social innovation—new ideas that meet unmet social needs—are all around us. They include fair trade, open source software, restorative justice, distance learning, and microfinance. Innovation is not just a matter of luck or inspiration. It can, and…
The world has many problems, but civil society is rising to deal with them. While most of these civil society organizations are local and national, a growing minority are international and making waves. Global civil society has its own set…
Growing social needs and other factors are creating a leadership deficit in the nonprofit sector. Many solutions are being worked on to increase the quantity and quality of nonprofit leaders. However, the world needs, above all, leaders who can lead…
Technology is constantly changing the way our world works. Historically, its uptake has been most evident in the nonsocial sectors. However, the social sector is increasingly recognizing the power of technology to foster innovation and solve society’s more difficult problems.…
It has long been accepted that financial capital is critical to social change efforts. Yet, it is only recently that social finance has been viewed as a defined and important marketplace. Today, a myriad of financial instruments, ranging from the…
In the past decade, charity laws in many jurisdictions around the world have been subject to review. In the ensuing debate, fundamental questions have been raised about the role and workings of the regulator. The adjustments being made, and major…
Government seeks to maximize the well-being of its citizens. The social sector has the same ultimate objective but it, and the multifarious stakeholders who seek to give it voice, may not always be seen by government to have the same…
Many nonprofit organizations struggle for funds. Yet, going by current levels of giving relative to the capacity of givers, the potential for more funds is huge. Professional fundraisers and a fundraising industry have emerged to help with the important function…
For many individuals, the act of volunteering lies at the core of being human. For volunteer host organizations (VHOs), volunteers provide the much-needed manpower and community engagement to fulfill their missions effectively. However, there is a mismatch in the volunteer…
Corporate social responsibility(CSR) plays a vital role in ensuring that corporate interests align with the broader social and environmental interests of the community in which businesses operate. However, the basis for CSR and what it entails is not well agreed…