As a new board member with a young charter organization, I was eager to attend the Youth and Education Knowledge Session at the Social Impact Exchange Conference on Scaling. I wanted to understand what the government and three key education-reform investors would look for as we scaled our program.

Sowing the Seeds of Success

by Guest Blogger on Jun 22, 2010 - 8:48am

#siex10 Commentary / Opinion Motivated by Purpose Nonprofit nonprofit capacity building SIEX10 Social Impact Exchange Conference

By Judith E. Katz, On Target Strategies

If you weren’t at the 2010 Inaugural Social Impact Exchange Conference on Scaling this week, you might think those of us who attended were planning our first trek to Everest as we spoke about the need for flexibility, capacity building, adequate staffing and thinking exponentially. And that might be because the same passion, focus, absolute command of the basics and program details along with commitment to data based analytics is absolutely necessary for the successful replication of social programs as it is for a mountain trek. This is not a rubber stamp activity.

Collaborating, Attracting Investors, Learning: The Road Ahead for Nonprofit Leaders

by Geri Stengel on Jun 21, 2010 - 8:08am

#siex10 Analysis best practices Motivated by Purpose Nonprofit SIEX10 Social Impact Exchange Conference

Times they are a changing, as the Bob Dylan song said. Underlying all the presentations at the Social Impact Exchange Conference on Scaling were two big ideas: collaboration and private investment.

Get Out of The Silo, Gergen Says

by Geri Stengel on Jun 20, 2010 - 2:09pm

#siex10 Commentary / Opinion Motivated by Purpose Nonprofit SIEX10 Social Entrepreneurship Social Impact Exchange Conference

The Social Impact Exchange conference was jammed with headline speakers and the luncheon on the second day was no exception. David Gergen, Senior Political Analyst at CNN, Editor-at-Large for U.S. News & World Report, and Professor of Public Service at Harvard University's Kennedy School of Government was the keynote speaker.

3 Ways to Ensure the Social Impact Movement Sticks

by Geri Stengel on Jun 20, 2010 - 11:05am

#siex10 Motivated by Purpose SIEX10 Social Impact Exchange Conference Tips

I was delighted to learn that Dan Heath, author of the book I'm currently reading Switch: How to Change Things When Change Is Hard, was the closing keynote speaker for the Social Impact Exchange Conference.I think all the conference speakers were in agreement that we're at a tipping point. Dan gave practical advice to ensure that what might be a fleeting fad becomes a trend that takes hold and spreads like wildfire. He did this using three stories.

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It's a Theme: Collaborate!

by Geri Stengel on Jun 18, 2010 - 4:10pm

#siex10 Best Practice Lessons Learned Motivated by Purpose SIEX10 Social Impact Exchange Conference

Throughout the Social Impact Exchange Conference, the recurring theme is "collaboration." A panel facilitated by Matthew Nash, Duke University, focused on that very subject, gave me much food for thought.

The New Philanthropy: Long-term, Collaborative, and Transformative

by Geri Stengel on Jun 18, 2010 - 3:34pm

#siex10 Impact Investing Nonprofit SIEX10 Social Impact Exchange Conference

Nancy Roob of the Edna McConnell Clark Foundation will do whatever it takes to improve outcomes for low-income kids. That includes developing a system for aggregating large amounts of capital to invest in organizations with evidence-based outcomes. She is not alone in her call for innovative, collaborative funding for nonprofit ventures.

Short, Sweet, To the Point: Human Spirit Prevails

by Geri Stengel on Jun 18, 2010 - 10:04am

#siex10 Commentary / Opinion Motivated by Purpose Nonprofit SIEX10 social change social impact Social Impact Exchange Conference

What is more profound, uplifting or wise than:

Hope in the future. Life goes on. The human spirit prevails.

Those were the words of Risa Lavizzo-Mourey, president and CEO of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.

Collaborate, Innovate, and Look to Investors

by Geri Stengel on Jun 17, 2010 - 7:45pm

#siex10 innovation investor funding nonprofit collaboration SIEX10 Social Impact Exchange Conference

Action-oriented collaboration.
Positive deviance.
Unprecedented cooperation.
Profound transition.

Going to Scale: the Next Frontier

by Geri Stengel on Jun 17, 2010 - 4:17pm

#siex10 innovation Nonprofit nonprofit funding nonprofit growth SIEX10 Social Impact Exchange Conference

Nonprofits need to grow because social problems come in large numbers, says Gordon Berlin of MDRC. Now that's the truth!

But nonprofits are just beginning to learn how to grow, and their partners – funders – are changing the rules.

Another truth.