Ideas In Action - Archives

Current Newsletter  •  Archives

:: Issue 18: In the Eyes of the Donor: Building Financial Sustainability Models That Stick

This issue focused on building financial sustainability models through the eyes of the donor. Our view is that nonprofits need to apply the same rigor and common sense thinking to their plans as businesses do. In a time of revenue challenges at every turn, financial sustainability can no longer be merely in the eye of the beholder. Andrew Wolk discusses the role of the funder in building social impact markets.

:: Issue 17: Creating Big Impact in Small Cities

This issue focused on creating big impact in small cities through directing resources toward what data tell us works. Our consulting work with United Teen Equality Center (UTEC) in developing a sustainable scaling strategy suggests that even in more philanthropically challenged small urban markets, nonprofits can thrive. Also, Andrew Wolk blogs about key lessons on collaboration between mayors' offices and private and public sector organizations.

:: Issue 16: Root Cause Clients Partner to Shift At-risk Youth into Gear

This issue focused on creating lasting social impact and two of Root Cause's former clients, UTEC and More Than Wheels, who partnered to provide at-risk youth with the financial skills and resources to obtain reliable transportation. Also, Anne Radday blogs about Improving Education Through Data.

:: Issue 15: Social Impact Markets

This issue focused on Social Impact Markets and Root Cause's work with the Youth Violence Prevention Collaborative. Also, read Andrew Wolk's article on Social Impact Markets featured in the Stanford Social Innovation Review.

:: Issue 14: The Promise of Business Planning

This issue focused on the importance of Business Planning, while featuring Root Cause CEO Andrew Wolk's discussion of what Social Impact Bonds mean for nonprofits and performance measurement.Also, read more about Root Cause's partnership with Open Society Foundation's Campaign for Black Male Achievement to Launch a Leadership and Sustainability Institute.

:: Issue 13: Learning from Performance Measurement

This issue focused on learning from Performance Measurement through Root Cause's Social Innovation Forum while highlighting the Boston Business Journal Op-ed featuring CEO Andrew Wolk.The best of the blog features Social Impact Research Fellow Ankita Gandhi's post "To Measure or Not to Measure?". Finally read our report "Doing More with Less: Case Studies on the Impact of National Service".

:: Issue 12: Will Social Impact Bonds Leverage Proven Innovations?

This issue focused on Social Impact Bonds and Performance Measurement of proven innovations. The best of the blog features the blog post "Healthy Aging in the 21st Century" by Lawren Bercaw.

:: Issue 11: Social Innovation in Action

This issue focused on photo updates from our social innovators: FutureChefs, MathPower and Home&Healthy for Good. The best of the blog features the blog post "A Multi-pronged Approach to Domestic Violence" by Andrew Ofstehage.

:: Issue 10: International Disaster Response

This issue focused on our recently released social issue reports on International Disaster Response. The best of the blog features a blog post on the Role of Collaboration in Addressing the Issue of Youth Violence.

:: Issue 9: Childhood Obesity Prevention and Public Innovation

This issue focused on our recently released social issue reports on childhood obesity prevention. The best of the blog features a blog post about engaging communities and kids to prevent childhood obesity.

:: Issue 8: Chronic Homelessness and the Promise of Social Innovation

This issue focused on our recently released social issue reports on ending chronic homelessness, and the Social Enterprise Alliance toolkit, created in collaboration with Root Cause, to guide government to promote social innovation. The best of the blog features a blog post about the release of our newly designed website.

:: Issue 7: Creating Economic and Social Impact through Workforce Development

The March 2011 newsletter highlighted Social Impact Research's recently released reports on workforce development in Massachusetts, including a portfolio of high-performing organizations in the Boston area.

:: Issue 6: Social Impact Bonds and the Future of Problem Solving

Our sixth newsletter featured Social Impact Research's new three-step guides to giving, a tool to help donors make better informed philanthropic decisions. In also featured an article written by Harvard's Jeffrey B. Liebman on the new financing model with the potential to advance social innovation.

:: Issue 5: Investing in What Works

This issue features Root Cause CEO Andrew Wolk's lecture for the Stanford Social Innovation Review's Nonprofit Management Institute. He argues that the time has come for a social impact market--one that fosters innovation and collaboration among nonprofits, foundations, philanthropy and government. Also, our latest Social Impact Research report on College Access and Success in Illinois provides information that will guide donors in making effective investment decisions. It also offers an overview of the field for nonprofits, government and business leaders.

:: Issue 4: Announcing Our 2011 Social Innovators

This issue of Ideas in Action announces our 2011 Social Innovators and features a Q&A with Sara Stackhouse of Incarecerated Youth at Play, winner of the 5th Annual Margaret Stewart Lindsay Inspiration Award. This issue also includes our 2010 Key Measures Report on the 2009 Social Innovators, as well as the Foundation Center's Tools and Resources for Assessing Social Impact website. Additionally, you can find the best of the Root Cause blog, including a post from Social Innovation Forum Fellow Jen Duguay, entitled "Reflections on the 2011 Social Innovation Forum Selection Provess." Lastly, this issue announces our newest Social Impact Research Reports on College Access and Success in New York, and brings some of the most exciting news in social innovation and entrepreneurship.

:: Issue 3: New Report on School Readiness, Sean-Stannard Stockton on End-of-the-Year Giving

This issue of Ideas in Action features our new School Readiness NY Reports and includes a Q&A with Tacticle Philanthropy Advisors CEO Sean Stannard Stockton on end-of-the-year giving. This issue also includes GuideStar's TakeAction website as a resource for donors during the busy end-of-the-year giving season. Additionally, you can find the best of the Root Cause blog, including a post from our Strategic Partnerships Manager, Peter Hill, entitled "Eight Lessons on Collaboration." Lastly, this issue brings some of the most exciting news in social innovation and entrepreneurship.

::Issue 2: New Report on Government and Social Innovation, Ann Cooper on School Lunches

This issue of Ideas in Action focuses on childhood obesity and social innovation, and includes a Q&A with the self-proclaimed "renegade lunch lady," Chef Ann Cooper. This issue includes three featured resources: MIT Innovations article, "Government and Social Innovation", a primer on "Healthy School Meals", and Ann Cooper's online toolkit "The Lunch Box". Additionally, you can find the best of the Root Cause blog, including a post from Social Impact Research's Program Manager Anne Radday on our new College Access and Success Reports. Lastly, this issue brings some of the most exciting news in social innovation and entrepreneurship.

:: Issue 1: Improving Educational Opportunities for America's Youth - New Research

The inaugural issue of Ideas in Action focuses on improving educational opportunities for America's youth. The lead story spotlights education in the US, and addresses the need to both collaborate and pool resources to increase access to and success in education for low-income youth. This issue also includes two new featured resources: Social Impact Research's Issue Report on College Access and Success and a list of recommended actions for advancing school readiness in Massachusetts. Additionally, you can find the best of the Root Cause blog, including a post from our CEO Andrew Wolk on the next chapter of social innovation. Lastly, this issue brings some of the most exciting news in social innovation and entrepreneurship.