What Is Social Edge?

Social Edge Team Site Tour & Information Contact Us

Social Edge is the global online community where social entrepreneurs and other practitioners of the social benefit sector connect to network, learn, inspire and share resources.


Relationship with the Skoll Foundation

While Social Edge is sponsored by the Skoll Foundation, Social Edge has no connection to its grantmaking programs. Participation in Social Edge is not a factor in the Foundation's grant application and recommendation process. Also, opinions expressed in Social Edge may not reflect the Skoll Foundation's opinions. And conversely.


A Little History

Social Edge launched in June 2003 with the mission to:
• Connect social entrepreneurs, their partners and allies to discuss cutting-edge issues shaping the field
• Foster frank dialogue, mutual respect and a sense of community among all in the sector
• Promote learning from the best, promising and disastrous practices

Social Edge has become a site where social entrepreneurs, philanthropists and other practitioners of the social benefit sector connect to network, learn, inspire and share resources. The site strikes a balance between the visionary and the practical, with its spirited discussions and online workshops and features.

Social Edge has an audience of tens of thousands of social entrepreneurs around the world; it is particularly targeted at social entrepreneurs with limited access to other local resources and practitioners due to the nature of their work (e.g., international development) or their location (e.g., developing countries or in rural areas).


What's on the menu

Every week, we host two online discussions moderated by experts in the field. This week’s events are highlighted on the homepage. If you want to see previous discussions, they are grouped by category in the discussions section. You can also click on the tab located at the top of every page (between "Blogs" and "Resources"), or you may want to check our Top Discussions (the most popular) in the right column of every page.

We also keep blogs, ranging from the inspirational to the practical. We even have podcasts if you want to listen to fellow social entrepreneurs from your computer (by clicking on the media player) or take Social Edge with you on the road (by downloading the audio file to your iPod).

You may want to check our resources, especially Expert Advice, where you can ask experts and fellow entrepreneurs the burning question you have about your own social benefit venture (you need to be a registered member to ask a question, though).


Looking for something edgy?

We have tried to make it as easy as possible to find the piece of information that may help you become an even better social entrepreneur.

First, you should check our list of Top Keywords in the right column of every page on Social Edge, including this one. Yes, it's the list of words right there. Click on the one most relevant to what you are looking for.

You may also want to use our search engine. Enter a keyword in the search box located on the top right of every page on Social Edge, and you will quickly get a list of relevant data. You may notice little logos to the left of each entry, showing where they are located -in a blog, in a recent discussion, in the resources wiki...

Another cool option: our Resources Wiki. Social Edge offers the only encyclopedia about social entrepreneurship on the Internet, available in a wiki format. Use it, like you would use any encyclopedia: read and learn! But there is an added benefit: if you are a registered member, you can actually edit it, for example by adding an entry if you think it deserves our community’s attention. Isn’t that edgy?


Should you register?

You should. It's easy, and it takes only fifteen seconds.

If you register, you will be able to post comments, ask questions, edit the resources wiki encyclopedia, post your own job listings and offers... You will be able to interact with our community of social entrepreneurs and experts. You will be able to ask them questions about your work and they will get back to you online. Isn’t it what the Internet is for?

We made the registration process very simple. All you have to do is enter a password, a login name and your e-mail address. Voilà! You can always come back later to add your picture if you want to be profiled on our home page. Or to add more information about your work so that fellow social entrepreneurs can reach out to you if they need your expertise.

Extra bonus: if you register, you will receive our newsletter every Tuesday. It’s brief, to the point and highlights what’s important in social entrepreneurship and what's new on Social Edge. It’s free. Do not worry: we do not spam, we do not rent our list of subscribers. We just send you a short newsletter every Tuesday at 22:00 GMT.

If you don’t register, you will still be able to access as read-only most of the site (well, with the exception of our members database and a few private areas). That’s nice, and you should at least bookmark Social Edge into your browser’s favorites and come back often to read about the latest in social entrepreneurship.

If you don't have time to register now, you can simply subscribe to our weekly newsletter. It’s brief, to the point and highlights what’s important in social entrepreneurship and what's new on Social Edge.