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For the Greater Good

GSB connections, achievements, and ideas for a more just,
healthy, and sustainable world.

Microlending Gives Dignity to People with Leprosy
In India, microlending has been a powerful tool in helping individuals with leprosy move from a life of begging to economic self-sufficiency, leaders of the group Rising Star Outreach told a GSB student audience. Details

Facing the Environment
China faces daunting environmental and energy resource challenges. For the second year, Stanford MBA students will have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to meet with government officials, state-owned enterprises, and Western companies to learn how the country's policies are aiming for a better balance between humans and nature. Details

Social Change With a Networked Mindset
What's happening in the new media arena of social networking? In this talk at the Nonprofit Management Institute, Heather McLeod-Grant, MBA '99, discusses how individuals and organizations are using networked approaches to promote social change efforts. Podcast

Improving Healthcare Distribution in Africa
Hailed as "Heroes of Global Health" by Time magazine, Andrea and Barry Coleman share some of the successes and challenges associated with founding and operating Riders for Health, a non-governmental organization that manages fleets of vehicles responsible for transporting health care supplies efficiently. Podcast

Don't Waste Volunteers' Time
Many nonprofits fail to use their volunteers effectively, asking them to stuff envelopes when they could be doing more skilled and mission-critical work, speakers told a Stanford conference. While financial donations dropped in 2008, volunteering rose to more than 8 billion hours of service, worth an estimated $162 billion. Details

Interview with Environmental Defense Fund President, Fred Krupp
Fred Krupp discusses his efforts to put a cap-and-trade bill regulating greenhouse gases on President Obama's desk, lessons he has learned from partnering with corporations like FedEx and McDonald's, and his optimism toward China's environmental path. Stanford Social Innovation review, 2009 Details

Starting and Growing a Social Enterprise
Social leaders, from the Stanford 2009 Entrepreneurship week, talk about the motivations, successes, and challenges associated with running a social enterprise. They consider what the economic downturn has meant to their missions, and they offer practical advice to aspiring entrepreneurs.
Social Innovation Conversations, 2009 Audio

Stanford Hosts Silicon Valley Roundtable for White House Office
of Social Innovation
The White House Office of Social Innovation and Civic Participation officials gathered this summer with Silicon Valley philanthropy, business, and nonprofit leaders in a roundtable discussion. Details

Catalytic Philanthropy
Despite spending vast amounts of money and helping to create the world's largest nonprofit sector, philanthropists have fallen far short of solving America's most pressing problems. The nation needs "catalytic philanthropy" - a new approach that is already being practiced by some of the most innovative donors, including Silicon Valley Entrepreneur Thomas Siebel.
Social Innovation, Fall 2009 Details

Social Innovation Fellowship Winners Announced
Federico Lozano, MBA '09, won an $80K fellowship to create Puentes Global, the world's first nonprofit international recruitment agency for the poor. Chari Ratwatte, MBA '09, and his team won a $24K summer fellowship to further research how to economically empower Sri Lankan rice farming communities. Details

The Profit in Nonprofit
The first online peer-to-peer microcredit marketplace, Kiva is one of the fastest-growing nonprofits in history. But its nonprofit status was not inevitable. Learn why Kiva chose to be a 501(c)(3), what this tax status buys the organization, and how being a nonprofit poses challenges. SSI Review, Summer 2009 Details

The Psychology of Giving
Research shows that spending time and money on others makes people happy - so why don't more people donate to or volunteer for nonprofits? GSB Professor Jennifer Aaker offers insights into the phenomenon and shares lessons nonprofits can use to create compelling ways for more people to give. Podcast

Serving the Palo Alto Community
On March 4, the Public Management Program engaged more than 200 GSB students, faculty, and staff in volunteer activities with local nonprofits. Details

Ethics in the Nonprofit Sector
Businesses are not the only organizations rocked by financial scandals. Stanford Law Professor Deborah Rhode discusses the need for an ethics upgrade in the nonprofit sector. Podcast

Become an SSIR Facebook Fan
Keep up-to-date with the Stanford Social Innovation Review, an award-winning quarterly journal published by the Stanford GSB Center for Social Innovation.
Facebook SSIR Fan Page

First Year in the Life of a Nonprofit Startup
Social entrepreneurs Brian Lehnen of Village Enterprise Fund, Scott Morgan of Education Pioneers, and Anne Marie Burgoyne, MBA '96, of the Draper Richards Foundation, addressed the biggest challenges entrepreneurs face in the first-year of a social enterprise and discussed funding options for new social ventures. Podcast

Embracing Uncertainty and Forecasting
"The future whispers," says often-quoted forecaster Paul Saffo. In a recent interview, Saffo distinguishes between forecasters and futurists and discusses what indicators to look for. Details

India Service Learning Trip: MBA Students Examine Importance of Culture, Humility, and Perseverance
While exploring effective models of leadership and social entrepreneurship on the December service learning trip to India, MBA students also stretched to consider the importance of culture, humility, perseverance - and even love - in motivating people, creating social and economic value, and improving opportunities for India's rural poor. Details

Jessica Jackley Flannery, MBA '07: "How I Became A Social Entrepreneur"
GSB alumna Jessica Jackley Flannery, one of the most recent additions to the Stanford Social Innovation Review's esteemed blogger roster, shares a personal account about her road to becoming a social entrepreneur and creating Kiva.org. She also offers advice and ideas to other aspiring social entrepreneurs. Details

Hybrid Philanthropy
By allocating 1 percent of the shareholder equity, 1 percent of Google's profit, and 1 percent of its manpower, Google founders created Google.org. Executive Director of Google.org, Dr. Larry Brilliant converses on Google's hybrid philanthropy approach. Podcast

ACT Client Recognized for Innovative Work with Kids in Foster Care
Clinical psychologist turned social entrepreneur, Dr. Toni Heineman, is the founder of "A Home Within," a nonprofit which recruits therapists to build long-term relationships with children in foster care. Dr. Heineman was awarded a $10,000 Purpose Prize for exceptional individuals over the age of 60 who are channeling their creativity and talent to address critical social problems. Details

Green Tech Must First Make Economic Sense
Zero emission buildings and hybrid vehicles have broad appeal, but any climate change solution must first make economic sense to be truly effective, argues venture capitalist Vinod Khosla, MBA '80. Khosla addressed a Business School audience at the Public Management Program's 2008 von Gugelberg Memorial Lecture. (Video available) Details

Lobbying for Good
In their efforts to be socially responsible, most companies fail to wield their most powerful tool: lobbying. Yet corporations such as Mary Kay, Royal Dutch Shell, and General Motors are increasingly leveraging their deep pockets, government contacts, and persuasive powers for the cause of good. Details

Stanford Alums Help Bring Outward Bound to Urban Teens
Outward Bound will open a new urban center in San Francisco's Presidio that will give urban youth the opportunity to experience Outward Bound's unique programs and learn lessons about leadership, teamwork, and self reliance as well. Two years ago a Stanford ACT team project developed a roadmap for the center. Details

Rediscovering Social Innovation
Social entrepreneurship and social enterprise have become popular rallying points for those trying to improve the world, but neither is adequate when it comes to understanding and creating social change in all of its manifestations. Details

"Online Giving Marketplaces: Changing the Face of Philanthropy"
Stanford Social Innovation Review's sold-out event, attracted more than 275 attendees from all over the world. Listen to an interview of Randy Komisar one of Silicon Valley's top venture capitalists and entrepreneurs in a featured podcast. Podcast

Two GSBers Learn through Summer Service at VisionSpring India
Returning to India, destination of their December 2008 Service Learning Trip, David Rottblatt, MBA '09, and Corey Harris, MBA '08, worked with VisionQuest (formerly Scojo Foundation) on the effectiveness, sales, and customer retention of the organization's signature Vision Entrepreneur program. David and Corey's Blog

Launch of Social Innovation Fellows Program
The Center for Social Innovation is pleased to announce the launch of the Social Innovation Fellows Program. This 3-year pilot initiative will provide financial support to a limited number of graduates of the Classes of '09, '10, and ‘11 who have a well defined proposal for a meaningful social innovation and are committed to devoting the year after graduation to building their vision into a viable nonprofit entity. Details

Cultivating the Green Consumer
Consumers say they want to buy ecologically friendly products and reduce their impact on the environment. But when they get to the cash register, their Earth-minded sentiments die on the vine. Businesses can do a lot more to help would-be green consumers turn their talk into walk. Details

CSI Congratulates 69 New PMP Alumni and 21 SMIF Participants
The Public Management Program is proud of the 69 new PMP alumni from the Class of 2008 and the 21 GSB students who spent their summer serving at nonprofit, government, and social purpose for-profit organizations around the world, through the Stanford Management Internship Fund program. About PMP

Challenging Work and Corporate Responsibility Will Lure MBA Grads
A survey of 759 graduating MBAs at 11 top business schools reveals that the future business leaders rank corporate social responsibility high on their list of values, and they are willing to sacrifice a significant part of their salaries to find an employer whose thinking is in synch with their own, according to GSB Emeritus Professor David Montgomery. Details

Rediscovering Social Innovation
GSB Professors Jim Phills and Dale Miller, and CSI Executive Director Kriss Deiglmeier explain why social innovation is the best vehicle for understanding and creating social change. Details

Public Management Initiative: Topic 2008-09:
Inclusive Development: Making Markets Work
Poverty is a pervasive problem. This year's topic explores how financial institutions, corporations, international organizations, governments, and social ventures are collaborating to find innovative ways of making markets work for the poor. Details

Achieving Breakthrough Performance
In the latest issue of the Stanford Social Innovation Review, nonprofit and government leaders share four simple management principles that they use to guide organizations from mere mediocrity to stand-out stardom. Details

Funding Social Enterprises
Listen to a panel discussion from the 2008 Entrepreneurship Week, featuring Jennifer Shilling Stein, MBA '99, of the Draper Richards Foundation, Jessica Jackley Flannery, MBA '07, of Kiva.org, Amy Clark of Ashoka, and Suzanne McKechnie Klahr of BUILD. Details

Returning Home Again and Seeing It in a New Light
GSB students on a spring break service learning trip to New Orleans worked with social entrepreneurs who are rebuilding the city. GSB Student Blog, May 1, 2008 Details

GSB Alums Share Nonprofit Expertise
The Stanford Alumni Consulting Team (ACT) fields questions about managing nonprofits on the "Ask An Expert" website. Details

Missions that Really Inspire
GSB Professor Chip Heath discusses how nonprofits can craft a mission statement that inspires people and helps them make important decisions, thereby offering powerful tools to lead the organization. Podcast

Air Travel from the GSB's Global Experience Requirement is Carbon Neutral
The GSB has partnered with TerraPass to create offsets covering travel for MBA students fulfilling their global experience graduation requirements. Details

ACT Fast Track
Interested in contributing, but limited in time? The Alumni Consulting Team's Fast Track projects let you volunteer a few hours a month over 2-3 months to help a nonprofit address a strategic question. Expertise is needed in a variety of areas, from investment management to marketing. Details

[photo - GSB Professor Plambeck]The Greening of Wal-Mart
In the Spring issue of SSIR, GSB Professor Erica Plambeck reveals how the world's largest retailer is using a network approach to decrease its environmental footprint and increase profitability. Details

Service Learning Trips Are Transformative: Questions for Pontus Pettersson
Travel to another country is now an MBA curriculum requirement. Pontus Pettersson, MBA '07, describes his Service Learning Trip to East Africa. Details

Related Link
Additional Study Trips (Videos Available)

Board Fellows Program - 10-Year Anniversary
The Board Fellows program celebrated ten years of collaboration between more than 650 GSB students and over 200 Bay Area nonprofit boards of directors. Does your organization or the nonprofit you are volunteering for want to host a board fellow? Details

2007 Tech Museum Award Winners Interview Series
Five outstanding individuals recognized for their commitment to developing technology that benefits humanity and initiates global change share their story. Podcast

Hands-on Approach to Making a Difference - Guatemala Service Learning Trip
Students on GSB service learning trips get first-hand experience in social and environmental issues and find out how business skills can help address them. Details

Inspiring Environmentally-Friendly Supply Chains
Buyers and procurement professionals have more power than ever to exert pressure on suppliers to provide green products. Businesses are also partnering with government and nonprofits to create change in this arena. Podcast

In Microfinance, Clients Must Come First
Few microfinance institutions articulate what, exactly, their ultimate goals are and how to achieve them. If the goal of microfinance is to alleviate poverty, the authors say, then MFIs should focus on helping their clients build successful enterprises, rather than on making more and bigger loans. Details

Education and Business: A Joint Success Story "The Business of Reform:
Three MA/MBAs Tackle Education Inequity"
Business School alums Jim Shelton, MBA '93, Gloria Lee, MBA '98, and Jennifer Sigler, MBA '06 are some of the graduates of Stanford's joint Business/Education degree program who are making a difference in school classrooms. Details (PDF format)

Green for Less
For Wal-Mart, social responsibility includes keeping products affordable to low- and middle-income consumers. Lawrence Jackson, former Wal-Mart president and CEO for Global Procurement, challenges us to consider whether pushing for social and environmental responsibility in business is a racially- and economically-segregated movement. Podcast

Social Responsibility Is Now a Business Imperative,
Says Roberts of World Wildlife Fund
"Companies still thinking about the environment as a social responsibility rather than a business imperative are living in the dark ages, "Carter Roberts, CEO and chief conservation officer of the World Wildlife Fund, told the audience at the Business School's annual von Gugelberg Memorial Environmental Lecture. Details

What Makes Great Nonprofits Great?
Hear the six practices of high-impact nonprofits from Heather McLeod Grant, MBA '99, and Leslie Crutchfield, co-authors of "Forces for Good." Podcast

Actress-Activist Natalie Portman Urges Students to Help Alleviate Poverty
Actress Natalie Portman kicked off the Social Innovators Speaker Series with a presentation about microfinance and her work with FINCA International, a nonprofit that provides financial services to the poor. Details

Phills Features Social Innovation on Nightly Business Report
What made microfinance, emissions trading credits, and fair-trade products possible? GSB Professor Jim Phills, director of the Center for Social Innovation, identifies the key ingredients to create social innovations and urges governments, businesses, and nonprofits to shed old patterns of isolation, paternalism, and antagonism to work together to solve our most challenging problems. Nightly Business Report, September 27, 2007 Details & Video

What Is the Role of Philanthropy in Society? Peter Hero, MBA '66, Susan Berresford, Sally Osberg, Thomas Tierney, and other thought leaders reflect on the purposes, accountability, and practices of 21st century philanthropy in a new anthology titled "Stanford Conversations in Philanthropy." Details

In the Fall Issue of Stanford Social Innovation Review
Conventional wisdom says that scaling social innovation starts with strengthening internal management capabilities. New study of 12 nonprofits, however, shows that real social change happens when organizations find creative ways to enlist the help of others. Detail

Stanford Management Internship Fund (SMIF) Expands Fellowship Support to For-Profit Social Purpose Businesses
For the first time this year, SMIF fellows interned with both nonprofit and governmental organizations and for-profit social- purpose businesses. As 2007 SMIF Fellows demonstrate in their web logs, social impact is alive and well in both sectors. Jenna Lawrence, MBA '08's Blog and Jake Harriman, MBA '08's Blog

Bamboo Brainstorming and the Barefoot
MBA Katherine Boas and Scott Raymond, both MBA '07s, work with Service Learning partner Population and Community Development Association (PDA) in rural Thailand to pilot and refine the basic business curriculum they designed for aspiring HIV-positive entrepreneurs. Village Barefoot MBA Blog

Negotiation for Nonprofits
Nonprofits often find themselves in the weak position when negotiating with large donors. Listen to what Margaret Neale, GSB professor of organizations and dispute resolution, has to say to help them prepare for a rewarding negotiation experience. Winners Don't Take All Podcast

Nike Foundation Aims to Improve the Lives of 500 Million Girls
The Nike Foundation has zeroed in on a pressing need, says Maria Eitel, SEP '01, who heads the organization: the plight of 500 million girls in many of the world's most impoverished countries, who are cut off from taking part in their nations' economies. Details

Bridgespan Finds Nonprofits Face Looming Leadership Deficit
Stanford Social Innovation Review editor, Eric Nee, interviews Thomas Tierney, the cofounder and chairman of Bridgespan, about his recent study on the leadership deficit and what nonprofits can do to solve the problem. Podcast

How Do You Take Your Coffee?
Students who went on the 2007 Guatemala service learning trip will never think about their cup of coffee the same way again. John Sage, co-founder of Pura Vida, introduced them to world of Fair Trade organic coffee. Podcast

Social Entrepreneurship: The Case for a Rigorous Definition
Social entrepreneurship is attracting growing amounts of talent, money, and attention. But along with its increasing popularity has come less certainty about what exactly a social entrepreneur is and does. Details

Sex Traffic, Third Most Lucrative International Criminal Activity
Dechen Tsering from Global Fund for Women introduced Thailand/Cambodia service learning trip participants to this underground industry by which millions of women and girls each year are tricked, trapped, bought, sold, and forced into sex services. Podcast

 

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