This is somewhat in response to Ryan's post, but it's more than just minor commentary so I figured I would create a new posting.
I think innovation, the topic of the Dees chapter I am presenting in class this coming week, is the key to understanding why social enterprise works better than the traditional model of NPM in many cases. Dees defines innovation as "establishing new and better ways for accomplishing a worthwhile objective." Maybe the traditional non-profit model (defining an objective, then using multiple strategies to generate funds for that objective) is simply less effective than new models of social enterprise.
All non-profit founders are generally trying to meet some worthwhile objective, right? Some want to fight poverty, some fight homelessness, still others seek to be advocates for issues like public health - and the list goes on. But, I think the real trick is trying to figure out how to meet a real need by tapping into an existing desire to help that certain group of people. For example, the project we are working on (Trinity Effect) seeks to build a connection between Christian donors (who consistently give money to missions centered around helping impoverished countries) and micro-lending organizations that already have systems of effectively alleviating poverty in 3rd world countries. The demonstrated desire to give is already there and so is the means for achieving the “worthwhile objective” of alleviating poverty. The entrepreneur’s job is have the foresight to marry the two.
Maybe the traditional non-profits are fighting an uphill battle because they start with a cause the have a passion for and then do their best to “sell” the cause and generate funds. Maybe an innovative way of setting out to solve the world’s needs through an entrepreneurial lens could be to first examine the public interest and figure out what cause donors want to support. What cause has interest but lacks current organizations to support it? What social concern is not getting enough attention? Could there be a throng of interested parties just waiting to give, but that have no organization to give to?
I think it’s at least an interesting way to think about the creation of NPOs.
This was a really good post. I like the idea of starting from the missing service or cause to find innovation. I wonder, besides a new disease showing face, if there is a cause that does not have organizational nonprofit or corporate support of it. Who knows the support level? Great post - made me think.
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