The numbers around how many people use social media are staggering – 91% of global adults online use social media regularly. In the UK there are 41 million Facebook users and 10 million people on Twitter. As you're reading this article online, it means you'll probably check at least one social media site today. There is no denying the power of it, and it's changed the way we communicate.

Business Plan Competitions Have 4 Ingredients for Successful Social Enterprise

by Geri Stengel on Dec 4, 2012 - 12:20am

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What do investors know that donors don’t? They know that the right team is critical to growing a thriving organization.

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Technology-based Business Offers New Solutions to Healthcare Problems

by Geri Stengel on Nov 29, 2012 - 12:20am

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No Jewish mother could want more for her daughter than to be fixed up with a doctor. Even better, the meetup led to marriage of sorts. Cheryl Swirnow, a Human Resource and insurance specialist, and Jay Parkinson, MD, MPH, became business partners.

Cross-sector Collaboration Is Key to Community Development

by Geri Stengel on Nov 6, 2012 - 12:20am

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Recently, investors and entrepreneurs gathered in San Francisco for the 4th Annual Social Capital Markets (SoCAP) Conference, an event dedicated to increasing the flow of capital to social good. It’s part of a new form of capitalism that seeks to harness the power of the private market system to support social/environmental impact.

Is It Time for Your Nonprofit to Consider Scaling?

by Geri Stengel on Sep 25, 2012 - 12:20am

business plans for nonprofits Commentary / Opinion Nonprofit nonprofit Review scaling nonprofits scaling social ventures Social Entrepreneurship

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.

How Doing Good Grows Your Business

by Geri Stengel on Sep 18, 2012 - 12:20am

Commentary / Opinion increasing profit Small Business small business marketing Social Entrepreneurship social entrepreneurship Social Responsibility social responsibility

Social and environmental problems are growing at a faster rate than philanthropic dollars can keep pace. What’s the world to do? I’ve recently written about a couple of ways people and organizations can do more good -- impact investing, crowd funding and scaling effective and efficient nonprofits.

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How Doing Good Grows Your Business

by Geri Stengel on Sep 18, 2012 - 12:20am

Commentary / Opinion increasing profit Small Business small business marketing Social Entrepreneurship social entrepreneurship Social Responsibility social responsibility

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Revitalizing Local Communities Through Impact Investing

by Geri Stengel on Aug 14, 2012 - 12:20am

Commentary / Opinion community development impact investing nonprofit revenue Small Business social enterprise Social Entrepreneurship

Impact investing – the balancing of financial returns with social impact – comes in all shapes and sizes. Recently, I attended an event held by the Community Investing Network of NJ, an organization that is a great example of how government, foundations, and individual investors can come together to revitalize local communities.

New Options for Impact Investing

by Geri Stengel on Jul 26, 2012 - 12:20am

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Investing in women is smart economics, according to the World Bank.

How Clear Values Can Strengthen Your Business

by Geri Stengel on Jul 12, 2012 - 12:20am

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Thinking big, being bold, marketing and financial savvy: All these are required to make the leap from small business to high-growth business. But what keeps all these pieces together?