Apr30

Boston Showcase Reinvents Nonprofit Financing

Posted by Kara Lawton on Apr 30, 2012 in Events, Non Profits | 0 comments

What happens when cutting-edge entrepreneurship puts people committed to change in the same room as socially-conscious financers? A gathering of 300 business, government and philanthropy leaders eager to support nonprofits in a venture-capital like forum. At this Thursday’s experimental Social Innovator Showcase, six carefully chosen organizations will have the opportunity to connect with potential investors in Boston.

Photo courtesy of Root Cause

The showcase is the brainchild of Root Cause, a Boston-based nonprofit research and consulting firm committed to solving today’s social problems. According to the company website, the event’s purpose is “to create a social impact market that distributes resources to organizations based on performance in order to most efficiently and effectively solve social problems in Greater Boston.”

The featured nonprofits must be highly results-oriented to earn a place in one of the six social issue tracks. Root Cause describes How It Works on their website:

The [Social Innovator] showcase event, which is modeled on a venture capital forum, gives Innovators the opportunity to pitch their organizations to an audience of funders – including business leaders, foundations, government officials, and philanthropists. The showcase event also provides funders with a networking opportunity.

Once selected, Social Innovators receive 12 months of intensive support from the Social Innovation. Each Social Innovator receives a $10,000 grant from their sponsoring track partner, plus an additional $10,000 consulting engagement the following year upon completion of our key measures process. In addition, we offer each Social Innovator a package of consulting, coaching and in-kind services valued at over $100,000.

During the showcase, Gary Hirshberg, co-founder and chairman of Stonyfield Farms, will be presented with the second annual Business Innovator Award. Hirshberg and Andrew Wolk, founder and CEO of Root Cause, will discuss innovation at a pre-event reception for top donors.

Past social innovators from the eight previous showcases include MathPower, supporting at-risk students grades K-8 (2011), Generations Incorporated, Fostering vibrant lifestyles among older adults 60+ (2010), ReVision Urban Farm, providing access to locally grown, fresh food and job-training for youth and Boston’s homeless (2008).

EVENT: 9th Annual Social Innovator Showcase sponsored by Root Cause

WHEN: Tuesday, May 3, 2012 | 5:30-9:00 p.m.

WHERE: Microsoft New England Research and Development Center

REGISTRATION INFO: http://rootcause.org/showcase-2012

2012 Social Innovators | Photo courtesy of Root Cause

2012 Social Innovators

TEMPO Young Adult Resource Center, a program of Wayside Youth & Family Support Network
At-Risk Children and Youth in MetroWest: Providing Adult Guidance and Support
Sponsoring Partner: The Sudbury Foundation

Cooking Matters MA, a program of Share Our Strength
Food, Nutrition, and Fitness: Promoting Healthy Living for Children, Youth, and Families
Sponsoring Partner: The Trefler Foundation

The LGBT Aging Project
Healthy Aging: Engaging and Supporting Older Adults in their Communities
Sponsoring Partner: Tufts Health Plan Foundation

WorkExpress, a program of Father Bill’s & MainSpring
Impact Investing: Scaling Social Enterprise
Sponsoring Partner: The Devonshire Foundation

Science Club for Girls
Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Education and Enrichment for Children and Youth
Sponsoring Partners: Amelia Peabody Foundation and Microsoft New England Research & Development Center

InnerCity Weightlifting
Workforce Development: Skills and Support for Workers in Today’s Economy
Sponsoring Partner: Highland Street Foundation