An earlier version of this article was published in Jumpstart's Huffington Post column. I have been grappling for some time with the question of where Jewish entrepreneurs fit into the landscape of innovation. How do you define them? Upon first glance, they seem to be social entrepreneurs, those who attempt to solve a major social problem, like poverty, illness, or education, for their work is to preserve and re-vitalize a people, their practices, and beliefs, which have impacted the entire world for millennia. Like social entrepreneurs, they are passionate about their work in and of itself, not for any monetary gain or public accolade, and determined that their contribution will contribute to the social good not only of the Jewish community, but the world at large. Yet I can’t help but feel … Continue Reading
Philanthropy’s New Ice Age: Will Social Innovation Survive the Freeze?
[eJP note: this post was originally published on December 8, 2008.] by Shawn Landres, Joshua Avedon and Lee Meyerhoff Hendler Forget global warming. The ice age is coming. After a decade of philanthropic investment that has produced a flowering of innovation and social entrepreneurship not seen since the late 19th century, all signs point to a flash freeze. Over the past several months, a number of philanthropies have suspended new grant applications and limited renewals. Though most are doing so in response to economic contractions, many also are taking the time to reevaluate focus, strategies, and mission to ensure that during this critical period their funding has the greatest impact possible. A few leading funders have pledged additional reserves to support existing grantees … Continue Reading
Taglit-Birthright Israel Project Receives Prestigious Argentine Award for Social Entrepreneurship
Last week, the Jewish community in Argentina marked a decade of Taglit-Birthright Israel with a series of events. At the Carla-Ray Gallery in Buenos Aires a unique art exhibition was opened, inspired by Taglit-Birthright Israel and as a tribute to the project. The event was attended by the Israeli Ambassador to Argentina, Mr. Daniel Gazit and the Vice President of Marketing and Development of Taglit-Birthright Israel, Prof. Ada Spitzer. To celebrate its tenth anniversary, Taglit-Birthright Israel initiated this unique project in Argentina, combining social responsibility and art. A group of students from the ORT Jewish High School in Buenos Aires created models of aircraft made of wood. The exhibition is also a collaboration between dozens of leading Argentine artists, both Jews and non-Jews. … Continue Reading
Natan/Birthright Israel NEXT Grants for Social Entrepreneurs
Do you have an idea for a program or an event but don't have the financial resources to get it off the ground? Natan and Birthright Israel NEXT can help! Birthright Israel NEXT aims to enable young Jewish adults to create their own cultural or educational programs and initiatives that connect them to other Jews and the larger Jewish community. To that end, Natan has partnered with Birthright Israel NEXT to create the Natan/Birthright Israel NEXT Grants for Social Entrepreneurs. This joint venture provides young Jewish adults who are budding social entrepreneurs with grant opportunities for long-term initiatives and ongoing programs. The Natan/Birthright Israel NEXT Grants for Social Entrepreneurs will award grants of up to $10,000 for ongoing programs that create vibrant Jewish communities. … Continue Reading
PresenTense Community Entrepreneur Partnerships
Are you a social innovator with an idea for a project or venture, and just need some business tools and connections to get it off the ground? Do you know a promising young professional who has a great idea and want to help kickstart their venture? Or are you a young Jewish professional eager to volunteer your time as a coach, mentor, or steering committee member, to help others make a difference in the Jewish community? Then it's time for you to get going! Applications to the Community Entrepreneur Partnership are now live - and we're recruiting new volunteers to get involved and impact their local communities. Boston, New York, Philly, Tel Aviv and Jerusalem (click the appropriate city for more information) … Continue Reading
The Role of Social Entrepreneurs in Traditional Non-Profit Organizations
During the last several years we have seen the involvement of social entrepreneurs in the voluntary sector. These are people who come with a wonderful sense of unbounded creativity and energy. They are committed to making a difference in the world. In the Jewish community this has been known as “tikun olam” and it has its roots in the idea that human beings are able to complete the creation of the world. Poetically speaking, this means that God gave us all the natural ability to discover ways of improving our quality of life and making the world a better place to live. A social entrepreneur is someone who identifies a social issue or social problem and employs an entrepreneurial approach to organize, create, and/or develop a solution to manage a process of social change so there is a … Continue Reading
Qualities of Successful Social Entrepreneurs
So, what makes a successful social entrepreneur? In his book “How to Change the World,” David Bornstein disputes the common assumption that highly successful entrepreneurs are more confident and persistent than most others. Instead, he found that what distinguishes successful social entrepreneurs is the quality of their motivation; they were the ones who were most determined to achieve a long-term goal that was deeply meaningful to them. With this, he sets out six qualities of highly successful social entrepreneurs: Willingness to self-correct. Inclination to self-correct stems from the attachment to a goal rather than to a particular approach or plan. Willingness to share credit. A willingness to share credit lies along the “critical path” to success, because the more credit … Continue Reading
Jerusalem Event: Join ROI and PresenTense for Global Entrepreneurship Week
For one week, millions of young people around the world will join a growing movement of entrepreneurial people, to generate new ideas and to seek better ways of doing things. Countries across six continents are coming together to celebrate Global Entrepreneurship Week, an initiative to inspire young people to embrace innovation, imagination and creativity. To think big. To turn their ideas into reality. To make their mark. Come join the PresenTense and ROI communities for an evening of entrepreneurship and innovation in celebration of Global Entrepreneurship Week. Meet other like-minded entrepreneurs, share ideas, discuss common concerns, and create partnerships and connections. When: Tuesday November 17, at 18:30 Where: The PresenTense Jerusalem Hub, 64 Emek Refaim Street 18:30-19:30 … Continue Reading
In Israel for Sukkot? Come Join in The Future of the Jewish People
Visit the PresenTense Open House to experience first hand the future of Israel and meet the social entrepreneurs who are lunching and managing ventures that take on social challenges facing Israel and the Jewish People. Located in the heart of the German Colony, PresenTense's Hub offers workspace, a conference room, conversation clusters and an environment that is both inspiring and animating. Come hear about PresenTense's range of activities, speakers and events - and how you can contribute to the future, wherever you are. Open House: October 5th; 10 am- 12 noon Emek Refaim 64, Jerusalem … Continue Reading
Owning Social Entrepreneurship
an excerpt from Boundless Drama of Creation by Seth Cohen: I Hear a Symphony: The Sound of Jewish Social Entrepreneurship As I continue to have discussions with members of my local and national Jewish community, I am constantly amazed at the diversity of ideas, opinions and attitudes related to Jewish social entrepreneurship. From the entrepreneurs that are ahead of the curve to the funders who are trying to financially support the curve (and in between, the organizations who are wondering how to make sure the curve doesn’t curve right around them), there is a lot of conversation, a great deal of action and even a bit of confusion. The discussion is a beautiful musical arrangement performed by an orchestra of engaged Jews that perform their own parts with instruments and within music halls … Continue Reading
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