Day 1: Greetings from Mumbai

I landed tonight and was welcomed by the thousands of people rushing through the airport, the smell and of course the monsoons. I definitely forgot what monsoon really meant until tonight.

Our first assignment is to review and discuss the following websites: Kiva, Global Giving, Samhita and the Global India Fund. These websites share similar mission spaces. Each of these organizations focus on funding projects in developing nations. These websites have portals that empower donors to contribute to organizations (with as little as $10) that have been identified as credible, integral, and key to social change.

Kiya empowers individuals around the world through loans, in hopes to alleviate poverty – a broad mission, however, critical in providing safe and affordable capital to those in need. Global Giving is a portal that allows users to donate their time on projects. The homepage focuses on key events going on the world so that the end user has an understanding of what part of the world that moment may need the most help. If that doesn’t interest the person, you can also search projects by topic (education, health, human rights, etc) or by the region in which you want to donate. It also shows how little money takes a person, a village and a country so far. For example, $14 vaccinates four cows against disease in Ethiopia and $24 provides 4 severely malnourished children in Ethiopia with 4 servings of fortified food.

Samhita and the Global India Fund (GIF) work in concert with each other. These organizations have done the due diligence necessary to ensure that donors are contributing to credible organizations. A many know, India is home to over 2 million NGOs, making it challenging for international donors to donate if they are unsure which of these organizations are accountable and reputable. Samhita and GIF provide that information so these NGOs can be self-sustained, make social impact, and change the world for hundreds of thousands of individuals in India living in poverty, famish and economic restraints.

India is just fascinating. Coming for probably the 30th time now, its different this time. It's different because for the first time in 30 years I am using a different lens to see, understand and explore a country full of love, color, surprises, success and hope. My time previous to this trip was mainly focused on shopping, seeing family and spending time with family members I never knew I had. Although my previous trips have been fun, I am excited about this trip and this wonderful adventure we are about to begin. This journey is part of the class, Social Entrepreneurship, a class empowering us to become leaders of a world that contributes to supporting and improving social and economic conditions. I am looking forward to the next 12 days.

For now, I must sleep. Tomorrow will be a long day, trekking through East Andheri Slums and working alongside a mobile medical unit.

Halfway there!

Greetings all from Paris!

It was a quick and easy flight from Minneapolis and now I, like Kelly below, am ruminating on social entrepreneurship, my upcoming experience in India and my thoughts on the blogs we were assigned to look at.

Each of the four organizations has their own perspective on social entrepreneurship and seeks to fulfill its’ mission in different ways. Samhita and Global India Fund provide a veritable database of worthy organizations that have been exhaustively vetted, such that potential donors can feel confident in where there money is going. I try to make several small donations to causes I feel strongly about throughout the year and as my interests take on a more global perspective, the value of a service like this becomes more and more apparent. Global India Fund and Samhita truly take the guess work out of making a charitable donation abroad and, by way of the vast database, provide different ways to do so. Having the choice of making a donation directly to an individual, or to a bank that will distribute the funds as a loan or any other option really gives the donor a feeling of control over their donation.

Kiva is one of the more compelling sites of those we were tasked with visiting. Of course, all of the organizations provide wonderful services and convincing reasons to be charitable; however, I think that the actual aesthetic of the Kiva site provides the best user experience. There are so many different options available to donors now; I feel that having a unique and gripping user experience can really set an organization apart from the others. I really love the ability to scroll over the different individual boxes on Kiva’s home page, see their personal story and really understand how Kiva has helped them. For me, this added a very personal element that I feel is slightly lacking on the other organization web sites. In class we heard from Kate Roberts, the powerhouse PR and Marketing genius from PSI. Not only was her presentation exciting and informative, it also helped us understand the value of making the social entrepreneurship truly personable and relational. I honestly feel that, when soliciting funds for any organization, it really is all about two things: 1) who you know and 2) how you engage them. Although Kiva is quite different than PSI, I like to make the connection between an individual who has the keen ability to connect with others and an organizations website that really does go the extra little bit to make the experience of the user better – and thus create a more likely environment for donation.

GlobalGiving also provides this type of personalized user experience. I appreciate how they separate the available projects by both geography as well as topic so if I were interested in donating money to say a maternal and child health program in sub-saharan Africa, I would be able to make one click of a mouse and see the project options available which fit those specific parameters.

All of these organizations provide ways to truly make a difference, no matter the size or scope of the donation. Each has its’ own personality which caters to, potentially, a certain type of philanthropist. Social entrepreneurship, as we have studied in the classroom and through our own personal experiences, doesn’t fit into one category. The term can really be experienced and encompassed in a variety of different ways, whether it is a charitable organization, a profitable company, or simply a grass-roots way to provide support for a cause an individual deems worthy. What ties all of this together; however, is the need for financial backing. The organizations mentioned above all provide this service, but in different ways.

I still have 10+ hours of travel until I get to India, and I truly cannot wait to arrive and see some of the tenets of social entrepreneurship at work. Undoubtedly this will be a challenging experience – emotionally, mentally and otherwise. I am thrilled to be joining such an esteemed, smart and adventurous group of people on this journey and look forward to seeing everyone tomorrow morning.

Brooke

Sleepless in Doha....Thoughts on Social Entrepreneurship

I’m writing this from halfway around the world in Doha, Qatar where I’m waiting for my flight to Mumbai. Although I’m a little groggy for the 12+ hour flight here, I can’t sleep because I am so anxious to get to India and start what will no doubt be a life-changing experience. I am thrilled to be traveling to India to study social entrepreneurship, a topic I have had a growing interest in over the past year, and something I think is a key tool in reducing poverty and improving the health and wellbeing of people around the world.

As we’ve read and discussed in class, and as I learned firsthand in trying to write a paper on the subject, social entrepreneurship is difficult to define. What interests me most is the characteristic of social entrepreneurs to continuously find creative solutions to problems. In our course text, David Bornstein’s How to Change the World: Social Entrepreneurs and the Power of New Ideas, there are many stories of entrepreneurs who come up with a great idea to solve a social problem, such as lack of electricity access in rural Brazil or need for support for street children in India. But they do not just stop with one idea. If a challenge comes up, they come up with another idea to get around it. Or, if one thing works, they figure out what they can add to help people even more. I’ve never thought of myself as overly creative, but I hope I can channel some of the creativity from the many social entrepreneurs we will meet on this trip.

One thing that social entrepreneurs—like all entrepreneurs—need is start up capital. We were assigned to look at three Web sites that focus on funding projects and people in developing countries: www.globalgiving.org, www.kiva.org, www.globalindiafund.org, and www.samhita.org. I love the idea behind all of these sites, which is that people, in general, are very generous. When a natural disaster strikes, or a community member gets ill, or a family member loses their job, people reach out and help in anyway they can—no matter how small. By making giving easy, particularly across international borders, these sites create a network of helping hands around the world.

Each site takes a slightly different approach. GlobalGiving lets donors make tax-deductible contributions to projects around the world, who otherwise might not be able to afford tools to collect donations. The site presents projects by topic and region, making it easy for donors to find something of interest, and it gives specific details about what your gift can buy (for example, $10 can buy a backpack full of supplies for a child in Liberia). According to the site, GlobalGiving has had 205,406 donors give $48.7 million to 4,260 projects since 2002.

Kiva has a similar setup except instead of making donations, users making small loans. It also has great stats—since 2005, 602,445 lenders have loaned $232 million with a repayment rate of 98.79%. I love this idea because it helps people around the world start a small business, without relying on donations. You can choose to give to individual entrepreneurs, based on their vision for their business, or to community banks, who lend to many individuals. I also love that Kiva relies on volunteers to run its network, edit Web stories, and so on, so that 100% of your loan goes directly to the entrepreneur.

In class we have talked a great deal about Dr. Vyas’ efforts with Global India Fund. Key to this site’s model is that Global India Fund, along with Samhita, takes on the due diligence of vetting all the organizations on its site so that donors can feel confident they are making a contribution to a reliable, transparent organization that is effective and also uses its resources efficiently.

All of these sites let users make a real difference in the lives of people around the world. It is truly amazing what just $10 or $20 can do. I encourage you all to check them out.

More from India...

Global Philanthropy: A Reaction to Four Organizations

In preparation for our two week visit to study social entrepreneurship in the developing world, four organizations involved in global philanthropy were studied to better understand the current state of the field and to provide the necessary context for evaluating some of our experiences in India. The organizations include Global Giving, KIVA, Global India Fund, and Samhita, each of which embodies several strengths while offering potential areas for enhancement. There are some similarities as well as unique features in each of these four models.

Global Giving (www.globalgiving.org) provides a forum for interested donors to identify causes and/or regions or countries of interests to donate their money. They operate across the world and provide reports back to the donors on progress within their project of choice. Global Giving vets social enterprises interested in participating in their network and conducts a rigorous due diligence review to verify conceptual viability and other administrative capabilities. Global Giving offers a range of giving options and the unique guarantee of allowing the donor to re-allocate their donations to another project if they are not fully satisfied with their giving experience.

KIVA (www.kiva.org) provides a forum for lenders to offer microloans and participate in the microfinance arena. In turn KIVA sends 100 percent of these loans to microfinance institutions all over the world and works with these field partners to provide loans to people without access to traditional banking systems. KIVA does not charge interest to its microfinance field partners who administer the loans. KIVA also raises funds through grants, corporate sponsors, and foundations. KIVA’s process includes a due diligence review of its field partners. KIVA also offers a unique fellowship program so its lenders can volunteer with microfinance partners to observe the value first hand.

Global India Fund (www.globalindiafund.org) represents an inspiring innovation in the philanthropic sector by creating a social marketplace in which donors are provided with a variety of smart giving options through a dynamic on-line portal, local Indian non-profits are given a face and voice, and connected with the global donor community. GIF focuses on India given the intense need for efforts to combat significant public health issues in that country. It also offers transparency in how donor funds are used and provides reports back to its donors. GIF works with a partner organization in India called Samhita and together they offer a well-defined value proposition in which information, credibility, resources efficiency, output, outcomes and impact are clearly displayed for new donors and partner to review. GIF has also created a well-defined credibility framework including a due diligence review process on its partner institutions.

Samhita (www.samhita.org) is a philanthropic initiative of the Nadathur Trust that functions as a social marketplace in which NGOs get visibility, can raise funds, find volunteers, find talent, access expert advice and knowledge resources and people can support social causes by donating, volunteering, writing, providing expert advice and spreading awareness. It’s ultimate goal is to provide a forum for visibility, resources, and support for all stakeholders in the social sector. It works in partnership with the Global India Fund and showcases NGOs that have passed a rigorous due diligence review process and are available for selection by potential donors.

These four organizations offer some unique giving strategies between them. In some key ways the Global India Fund and Samhita may be regarded as building and improving upon earlier giving models in a more holistic and transparent manner (eg., in clearly defining value propositions and credibility frameworks as well as including a range of stakeholders across the social sector spectrum. This initial assessment lays the groundwork for understanding the upcoming experiences in India and in helping to determine potentially innovative ways of seeing these situations and generating new solutions.

contemplating the unknown.

As I sit here sipping my tea, I postulate my plans. Bombay, Delhi, Agra, Jaipur, Valsad – what do these mean? All my bags are packed, visa is purchased, shots administered, Imodium in tow. I am going to India. This will not be a backpacker’s trekking dream, venturing from the Himalayan-lined Amritsar to the delicious beaches of Goa. I am going to learn. I am going to understand change. I am going to try and fully comprehend what is a social entrepreneur.

For the last four weeks we have read materials on and discussed the ideas that define social entrepreneurship in our class. However, I still remain unsure over what is a social entrepreneur. What characteristics define this concept that might actually be a fad? Does is really matter what terms we use as long as, in the end, social change takes place?

As I spend the next two weeks in India, I will be taking the time to reflect upon the idea of social entrepreneurship Currently, my understanding of this dense term is pretty basic – a social entrepreneur is someone how has a passion and drive for change and thereby finds a means to create an economic enterprise that would allow the social change to be sustainable.

That are some organizations already in place that are fostering an environment that is supportive and empowering for social entrepreneurs and their passionate endeavors. Ones in particular include: Kiva, Global Giving, Global India Fund, and Samhita. These four organizations are very different in how they provide support for social entrepreneurs but their work is equally important.

Kiva – based out of San Francisco, Kiva is a non-profit that focuses on connecting people through microloans. The idea is that individuals from around the world can donate funds as small as $25 USD towards a project aimed at alleviating poverty. Kiva works in over 59 countries, having provided $233 million USD in loans. With a repayment rate of 98.79%, it’s very apparent that Kiva’s program works. These loans are crucial for the livelihood of impoverished communities; the individuals receiving the loans are ones that have no access to traditional banking systems. One hundred percent of the loan provided from a donor goes directly to the project, while Kiva funds its efforts through grants and fundraising. It’s amazing to see a truly philanthropic organization that is out to bring about change without trying to line their pockets. After exploring Kiva’s website, I have to say I am truly impressed by their work and hope to be afforded the opportunity to work with them in the near future.

Global Giving – Global Giving provides funding to organizations with social change projects. GG works with over 1,000 grassroots charity projects that have undergone a selection screening process. By providing a database with projects, GG boasts of having an “efficient, transparent way to make an impact with your giving.” The difference between Kiva and Global Giving is that GG charges a 15% fee for donations made towards a project, versus 100% of the loan for the project via Kiva. To be fair, GG does make it clear that a donor does not have to agree to the 15% fee.

Global India Fund and Samhita – I pair these two organizations because of my work with them as well as their link to each other. I have been volunteering with the GIF (even though it feels more like working with Samhita) since January, serving as a “non-profit consultant,” helping the Indian NGOs in the Samhita database develop their donor profile. This work includes grammar and spelling checks as well as editing and consultation on transparency and development of online information. My first (and only) organization I worked with was the Kaivalya Trust, funding the Kedi Residential School for Tribal Girls in Valsad (just north of Bombay). My time spent working with the Kedi School on their online profile provided insights into the GIF and Samhita organizations and the work they do. Samhita provides an online database of various organizations working in the social sector in India to help direct national and international donors towards projects they’d like to fund. Global India Fund provides the link for US donors to the Samhita-sponsored NGOs. The support by these two organizations ensures that thousands of projects get funded and bring about social change.

After reflecting upon all of these organizations I realize this biggest similarity: they are all dedicated to connecting grassroots, drivers-of-change with international donors who are looking to help through monetary support. I use to scoff at the idea of just donating money – I want to make a greater difference then throwing some good ol’ American dollars at an organization. While there is extreme value in time and efforts, donating skills and expertise, I am realizing the importance of funds. I cannot simply hop on a plane and venture 6000 miles to Nepal to work on a sustainable farm for a rural elementary school. Neither can other members of the International Organization for Bleeding-Hearts (I might have made that up). But money does and can go far – donors are investing in the well-being of a community and the overall drive for social changes. That’s definitely worth putting my money where my mouth is.

India, here I come!