Venture Philanthropy
- Runner: Simon Isaacs
- Birthplace: Boston, Massachusetts, United States
- Currently Resides: Kigali, Rwanda
- Language(s): English, French, Spanish & Italian (fluent), Portuguese & Norwegian (basic)
- Family:
- Statement: “At a personal level, Blue Planet Run provides a rare opportunity to integrate my love for running with my commitment to improve the lives of the poor, disenfranchised and marginalized around the world.” – Simon Isaacs, 2007
At the eclectic Buck’s diner in Woodside, Bay area power-brokers meet over stacks of pancakes to discuss what they hope will be the next big idea. Teeming with venture capitalists and entrepreneurs, the scene is emblematic of the dynamic business spirit that continues to drive the technology, dot-com and biotech industry. After Buck’s patrons make their fortunes in Silicon Valley, many are reinventing themselves as venture philanthropists - applying their financial and analytical to the nonprofit sectors to invest in “social entrepreneurs,” innovative organizations, and effective projects and technologies.
The rise of venture philanthropy with its application of business acumen to address the world’s most pressing social, environmental and economic challenges is breathing new life into international development. Let’s face it – for the billions we’ve spent in foreign aid – what do we have to show? Progress has been made in some sectors – such as access to education and vaccinations – but for the most part our return on investment has been minuscule.
For too long we’ve been complacent with inefficiency – satisfied to donate to any organization with 501c3 non-profit status… and perhaps read through poorly constructed annual reports. As a result, there is no real natural selection with NGOs – the best organizations, ideas or technologies don’t necessarily rise to the top. As a result, there’s a whole lot of rotten trees and scrub brush in the forest of non-profits. Venture philanthropy is simply a good way to identify and cultivate those with potential.
Venture philanthropists look at old problems with new eyes and are willing to try different approaches. They prioritize programs with measurable results. They provide focused grants for capacity building, not just support for general operations or programs. And as donors, they are highly involved with their grantees, often providing oversight and influencing strategy.
This level of involvement and scrutiny is not about making NGOs go out of their way to sing for their supper or about micro-managing their every move, but about treating social investments – those that focus on building a more just and safer world - with the same level of import as business investments. What could be more important?
>From Fremont, CA – happy trails.
-S-
Hurricane Dean
Yesterday morning, I woke up to CNN’s talking heads warning of Hurricane Dean’s destructive path toward the Caribbean.
Activism + Water
By the late 80’s, AIDS had developed into a full fledged crisis. Despite the rapid spread of the disease, government officials remained quiet.
Venture Philanthropy
At the eclectic Buck’s diner in Woodside, Bay area power-brokers meet over stacks of pancakes to discuss what they hope will be the next big idea.
Make It Happen
We made it across Europe, Russia, and Asia… over 10,000 miles, one stride at a time; a truly significant accomplishment, no doubt.
Water and Climate Change in Mongolia
Fueled by the dramatic landscape before me, I have found my second wind in Mongolia.
Water & Tourism – The Great Baikal Trail
The internet café in Irkutsk was jammed with backpackers gripping their Lonely Planet Guidebooks and emailing home stories adventures through Russia.
Siberia’s Ghost Towns
“In Russia we have two problems, fools and bad roads” said my guide, Yuiana as the car swerved right and left through a mine-field of deep potholes.
(Hyrdo)Power to the People
Depicted on the back of my 10 ruble bill is the Krasnoyarsk Hydroelectric Dam which lies upstream of the central Russian city of Krasnoyarsk (where I am now).
Ode to Mayonnaise
Waking up in the morning, I find you there at the breakfast table, A
dollop atop by canned peas and corn.
At lunch, you glisten off of my plate of meat dumplings. You line my
The BPR Petri Dish
I feel like I’ve been running on a treadmill through Western Siberia. My heart pumps, my legs move – but the horizon, though beautiful, goes unchanged.