So you’re starting a social enterprise or have one and want to know how to build or strengthen your brand. Well, what is a brand? Is it advertising, your spokesperson, a logo?

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Today's Tough Economy May Open a New Door to Planned Gifts

by Guest Blogger on Jul 28, 2009 - 9:48am

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By Lorri Greif

Many nonprofits are seeing their revenues down considerably; even the most loyal supporters are cutting back on charitable giving. If a long-time supporter tells you that they are not able to make a donation this year, this may present the opportunity to finally sit down with them to talk about planned giving opportunities.

Kitchen Incubator Serves Up Profits for Entrepreneurs and Nonprofits

by Geri Stengel on Jul 23, 2009 - 11:37am

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Food industry veteran Kathrine Gregory conceived Mi Kitchen es su Kitchen in 1996, as a time-share rental facility available for up-and-coming food entrepreneurs. However, over time, what has evolved is another business model, which provides extra income to nonprofits that have commercial kitchens that are underutilized.

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Social Investment Activism: It’s in the BHAG

by Geri Stengel on Jul 21, 2009 - 9:05am

Diana Ayton-Shenker Fast Forward Fund (FFF) Jessica Rauch Lily Liu Motivated by Purpose Public Stuff The Generation Project young social investors youth social investments

As I mentioned last week, I was going to attend a Young Professionals Friendraiser for Fast Forward Fund (FFF), which I did. I enjoyed meeting new friends and catching up with the old gang. However, what impressed me the most were the presentations.

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Surveys Are a Great Marketing Tool: Ten Tips for Doing It Yourself

by Geri Stengel on Jul 14, 2009 - 9:34am

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With the right survey, you can gain interesting insights into a market. For nearly 30 years, I've conducted mail, online and telephone surveys for organizations such as The Wall Street Journal, Dow Jones, MasterCard, Mathew Bender, the New York City Chapter of NAWBO and Governance Matters. For the first time I’m putting my skills to use, conducting a survey for my own company, Ventureneer.

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Celebrating the Hard Work of Entrepreneurship

by Geri Stengel on Jul 13, 2009 - 9:05am

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This Tuesday night I hope you’ll join me at Fast Forward Fund's (FFF) first Young Professionals Networking event at SideBAR @ Union Square, Manhattan. It will be a terrific event celebrating the hard work of entrepreneurs who are Portfolio Selections of FFF.

The New Nonprofit Paradigm: Fusing Compassion with Capitalism

by Guest Blogger on Jul 10, 2009 - 9:49am

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By Stephanie Fritsch n6w2475abxa a>

Dan Pallotta is an interesting – and controversial – guy.

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Entrepreneurship Roundup: Testing the Waters

by Geri Stengel on Jul 7, 2009 - 11:06am

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The recession has driven many to consider what they may not have before: starting a business of their own. For these people, Ventureneer.com developed a series of three FREE webinars to help aspiring entrepreneurs sort through whether the risks and hard work are worth the rewards of being their own boss and in control of their financial destiny:

Entrepreneurs Jump Hurdles Like Olympic Champions: Michael Dwork Gets the Gold Medal

by Geri Stengel on Jul 2, 2009 - 11:28am

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I met Michael Dwork at a fair that Columbia Business School holds for its MBA students who are budding entrepreneurs. The purpose is to meet mentors to help guide them through several business planning competitions they hold. We’ve kept in touch ever since.

Green, Global, or Just Plain Good: Cause Marketing and Socially Conscious Companies

by Guest Blogger on Jul 1, 2009 - 10:31am

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By Nina L. Kaufman, Esq.

Do you wish you could do well by doing good? Would you like “green” to mean both earth-friendly and solid profits for your company? Do you want your business to prosper without having to feel that you’re a greedy capitalist? If so, you may want to consider “cause-related marketing” and its cousin, socially conscious companies, for your business model.