A Quantum Leap Year for the Social Sector

Second listing for Quantum Leap in Websters:
2. any sudden and significant change, advance, or increase.

Second listing for Leap Year in Websters:
2. a year containing an extra day or extra month in any calendar.

How lucky, an extra day! How can we stretch & grow beyond status quo?

This is a Quantum Leap Year for the Social Sector. It is marked already with significant innovation and growth in our social sector. The world of charity and philanthropy is an outdated model that is evolving into one of engaged communities, re-purposed resources and alternative financial instruments. No longer is community impact relegated to the nonprofit sector. Today we are all stretching and reaching for new tools and strategies to blend our sector strengths and form effective collaboration to leap forward as a community, country and indeed a civilization.
Never has there been a more exciting time to talk shop. When faced with networks dedicated to thinking through these innovative models like engaged philanthropy, impact investing, social entrepreneurship, Good Capitalists gathering in large numbers, and responsible government funding to nurture effective nonprofit programs.

Friends, part of my personal Quantum Leap Year leads me to announce my departure from Dallas Social Venture Partners, a mission that I have loved for almost five years. I've accepted the position of CEO with the Tahoe Truckee Community Foundation. I am optimistic that North Texas will continue to nurture the social entrepreneurship community an seek social impact alongside economic deevelopment. Together we have launched bigBANG!, the Social Innovation Lunch Series, and spark club. I am beyond proud of these accomplishments and look forward to watching them grow. I will always look for opportunities to reconnect and shine a light on these great social innovations!

Shine on.

Nurturing and Incentivizing Social Entrepreneurs

Scott Ballum's article "Don't Start a Social Enterprise -- Unless You Have To" on Huffington Post brought up a lot of feelings and ideas about nurturing social entrepreneurs. His honest warning about the hard, thankless and misunderstood work of a social entrepreneur is all too familiar.

Truth is, the plane is being built while we're flying it. We have embraced a new way of working that is quite frankly the future of sustainability for mission based or social impact work. Whether for-profit or nonprofit, the work of a social entrepreneur is connected to some social issues that they are attempting to transform. Previously, this was held by the anointed 501c3 status...which has enjoyed some perks in our country for taking on such causes as homelessness, poverty, health care, education, etc.

So how do we nurture these entrepreneurial and opportunistic do-gooders? Let's throw some ideas on the table... I am not advocating necessarily for all of these, but it seemed fun to think big.

• Traditional business development (incubator type activities)


• Access to new and traditional capital


• Tax exempt status - when associated with causes and missions why can't this transfer to individuals or businesses for different aspects of their business


• Access to affordable benefits that protect the long-term stability of these professionals


• Development of a Social Entrepreneurs Union


• Subsidized supplies and distribution models (think agricultural subsidies for farmers)

In some cases, social entrepreneurs will define themselves as evolved business types, in others, they are the next generation of nonprofit leaders. The incentives should be approached accordingly. Either way, individuals who devote their professional activities to solving problems and improving our country should be considered not unlike those who "serve" our country to protect our safety and freedom.