Call for papers:  GIVING, International Journal on Philanthropy and Social Innovation invites submissions for publication in its upcoming thematic issue on Social Entrepreneurship (December 2008).
 
The Journal, published - twice a year - in English and Italian, is an interdisciplinary forum, focused on the production of research and studies on philanthropy as an engine of social innovation, addressing, among others, topics related to social equity, social justice and social investment.  For further details on the Journal’s Editorial Board and Board of Advisors, please refer to the web site www.misp.it.

The aim of the issue is to contribute to the ongoing development of theory and research about social entrepreneurship. Contributions can represent a variety of viewpoints or approaches.  Contributions that address persistent issues or provide new approaches are particularly welcome.
 
Authors are required to send electronic version of the manuscripts to coordinator@misp.it  (word or .pdf files, 20 pages at most, Times New Roman 12, line space 1,5).  For citations and bibliographies, authors should refer to the Chicago Manual of Style.
 
A group of referees will evaluate and select the contributions and the author will be notified as soon as a publication decision is made. Authors are personally responsible for the accuracy of their citations, which should conform to the editorial rules enclosed. The translation of the articles from English into Italian will be assured by a professional translator, hired by the Publishing House.
 
Deadline for submission is October 31st, 2008.
 
Please address all inquiries to the Editors, Giuliana Gemelli, Deborah Bolognesi, or Paolo Palenzona.

National civic engagement organization Common Cause announced its partnership with Mobilize.org on the first Democracy 2.0 Entrepreneur Grant Summit for 2008 today. Common Cause joined Mobilize in its commitment to Millennial-generated ideas and projects to tackle critical national issues and has adopted a unique strategy to getting Millennial plans into action: give them the financial support to make ideas a reality. The first summit will take place July 18-21, 2008, in Denver, Colorado.

The topic, Money in Politics, will focus upon the impact of special interest-funded campaigns on citizen-centered democracy. Emphasizing the problem at the national level, Common Cause and Mobilize.org will challenge Millennials, those under 30, from across the nation to compete for grant monies to support projects working to promote clean elections practices.

The call for projects will address campaign finance reform, focusing particular on clean election practices like the public financing of elections, targeting the eighteen states where Common Cause is currently working on public financing. Winners will each receive a grant, between $3,000-$5,000, and will receive the support of Mobilize.org and our extensive partner network to champion their proposal.

Applications with accompanying materials are due by June 15, 2008.
Applicants must be between the ages of 18 to 28 years old and be a new entrepreneur (started a venture for less than one year (as of May 1,
2008, and have received less than $25,000 in the amount of funding). 

The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania is proud to host the 2008 Net Impact North America Conference, “The Sustainable Advantage: Creating Social and Environmental Value". On November 13-15, 2008, more than 1,800 graduate students and professionals will assemble in Philadelphia, PA to discuss how businesses and organizations can effectively address social and environmental challenges of the 21st century. The conference will foster enriching and inspirational discussion, present opportunities for professional development and networking, and challenge conventional definitions of success in the business field.

Comprised of keynote speakers, panel discussions, networking opportunities, case competitions, debates, and much more, the 2008 curriculum will feature cutting-edge business leaders from both the for-profit and nonprofit sectors on the following themes:

• Corporate Social Responsibility
• Energy and Environment
• International Development
• Social Impact Finance
• Social Entrepreneurship

Attendees will also have the opportunity to pursue their career aspirations by networking with for and nonprofit companies at the 2008 Net Impact Career Expo.

Be An Exhibitor at the 2008 Career Expo Register before May 30th to get a 10% discount.

Register to attend Net Impact 2008.

Event: Earned Income for Nonprofits: Strategies for Sustainability
Time: 5:30-9:00pm
Attendance: Up to 300
Cost:  FREE to attendees
F&B:  Free snacks and non-alcoholic drinks will be provided, along with a cash bar.

Program:
*       5:30-6:30 – Welcome reception
*       6:30-7:30 – Earned Income for Nonprofits Panel & Q&A
*       Panelists include Jason Trimew (REDF), Cecric Yap (Goodwill SF), and a representative from our event sponsor, Zazzle.com
*       7:30-8:15 – Breakout groups  
*       8:15-9:00 – Networking

Craigslist Foundation provides knowledge, resources, and visibility to the next generation of nonprofit leaders.

      

SANGONeT  and MobileActive.org invite you to contribute your expertise to MobileActive08  to take place from 13-15 October 2008 in Johannesburg, South Africa.
 
A Call for Your (Mobile) Expertise!
Do you have expertise in the field of mobile technologies for social development?
Are you a researcher working on mobile technology for social impact?
Are you a mobile service provider with specific products to exhibit that benefit the social market?

If so, we invite you to submit your ideas to be part of MobileActive08!
MobileActive08  is the largest event to date focused on mobile technology for social development. This global gathering brings together practitioners, researchers, technologists, and donors interested in the use and application of mobile technology for social impact. At MobileActive08  participants will explore how mobile phones are effectively used to advance civil society work, assess the current state of knowledge in the use of mobile technology to advance social development, and investigate trends, needs and investment opportunities.

We invite you to submit proposals for:

•  Workshops and Skill-share Sessions (for 90 minutes) for in-depth exploration of a topic about unlocking the potential of mobile technology for social impact.
• Short (15-min) Rotating Mini-Talks for research and project overviews.
• A space in the SIMplace to showcase your product.
• A space in the SIMlab where participants can test-drive your mobile application and explore it in depth.

I have an idea!  How do I submit a proposal?
Please review the detailed Call for Your Expertise  and then submit your ideas.  We look forward to your expertise, enthusiasm, and creativity!
The deadline for submissions is 30 June 2008. More information is at MobileActive08.

Cleantech Forum XVIII in Washington, D.C. connects North American investors, technology innovators, policymakers and top tier cleantech influencers with their counterparts from Asia, Europe, the Middle East and elsewhere. It provides unparalleled analysis, networking, deal flow and thought leadership for the cleantech investment category.

Explore best cleantech policies and corporate practices from around the world. Hear from prominent lawmakers on cleantech-related issues. Help influence change. A new U.S. administration will soon be sworn in, and a national American emissions cap and trade system looks likely. First generation biofuels are being blamed for rising worldwide food prices, and scientists worry that the challenge of global warming has been underestimated.

Register now.  Earlybird Registration Discount (promo code: dcearly) ends August 1, 2008.

For more information please contact: forums@cleantech.com

The CIVICUS World Assembly is a forum for international civil society representatives to get together, exchange ideas, experiences and build strategies for a just world.

The 8th CIVICUS World Assembly will take place in Glasgow, Scotland from 18-21 June 2008.  The World Assembly is the primary venue where civil society, donors, government, business and media convene to act collaboratively towards strengthening the rights of every individual to Exist, Express, and Engage. 

The CIVICUS Youth Assembly will take place immediately before the World Assembly from 16-18 June 2008.  The Youth Assembly offers a unique opportunity for young people to meet and work with other young people who are really making changes to things that matter... It aims to bring the world's most engaged, dynamic activists in the field of Social and Civic Justice.  Visit www.civicusyouth.org.

The overall theme for the World Assembly is 'Acting Together for a Just World'; this will be explored further through the focus theme of People, Participation and Power which is about civil society accessing, engaging, and participating in all forms and spheres of governance at the local, national, and international levels.

If you are interested in registering for the CIVICUS World Assembly, please visit the Online Registration Form.

The 2008 World Water Week in Stockholm "Progress and Prospects on Water: For a Clean and Healthy World"  is the leading annual global meeting place for capacity-building, partnership-building and follow-up on the implementation of international processes and programmes in water and development. The theme of the week is Progress and Prospects on Water: For a Clean and Healthy World with Special Focus on Sanitation.

Online Registration is open for the 2008 World Water Week.

Discounted registration period ends June 30, 2008.

One purpose of the 2008 World Water Week is to increase awareness and stimulate action on the downstream impacts of human activities in a broader sense. To reduce poverty and to meet an increasing demand for food, goods and services, intensified exploitation of natural resources will be necessary. During the early stages of economic development especially, economic growth, job creation and social services provision are considered paramount to those in charge. To this end, the supply of water and other inputs to households and economic activities is usually prioritised in budgets and policy making. Less attention, however, is given to the effects increased waste has on downstream water bodies and actors. To cope with this challenge and to improve the sustainability and efficiency of water resource use; the week aims to find how the complexities surrounding sanitation, water supply, ecosystem management and economic development issues can be planned in a joint context and integrated as connected pieces of the larger global human development puzzle.

As always, the 2008 World Water Week will cover a wide breadth of topics to address the multiplicities of issues in water and development policy, planning and management. Following the special focus that will be given to sanitation, health and hygiene this year, increased attention will be placed on several specific themes which will be explored in seminars and individual workshops:

• Preventive Action for Health
• Sustainable Cities
• Waste as a Resource
• Sanitation under Different Climate Conditions
• Water Afteruse and the Ecosystem Approach
• Human Behaviour and Communication for Desired and Necessary Changes

The World Water Forum is the main water-related event in the world, aimed at putting water firmly on the international agenda. A stepping stone towards global collaboration on water problems, the Forum offers the water community and policy-and-decision-makers from all over the world the unique opportunity to come together to create links, debate and attempts to find solutions to achieve water security.

Bridging Divides for Water And check out other water related events.

In support of the United Nations International Year of Sanitation, World Toilet Organization presents two action-led events, which focus on providing the impetus for sustainable sanitation. A creative solution is to drive the paradigm shift required to tap on the emerging market at the ‘bottom of the pyramid’ that will empower more people to gain access to proper sanitation.

Be part of the community that is helping to steer sanitation on track towards achieving the Millennium Development Goal for Sanitation and participate in the World Toilet Summit & Expo. 

A significant issue which will be addressed is the lack of funding for sanitation projects worldwide. One of the biggest problems often faced by countries with poor sanitation facilities is insufficient funds for new developments. Hence, WTO will be launching the a new funding platform for global sanitation projects – World Sanitation Fund Forum (WSFF) to specifically address this issue. 

An initiative from WTO since 2001, the World Toilet Summit is an annual gathering of experts with focused discussions that promote clean toilets, sanitation issues and hygiene.  Keynote presentations and workshops will focus on:

• Creating a Sustainable Marketplace at the Bottom of the Pyramid
• Private, Public and People Partnerships
• Best Practices and Case Studies
• Capacity Building
• Sanitation Technology and Solutions
• Policies and Standards
• Financing Solutions

Click here to register.

• 2,600,000,000 people (42% of the world’s population) live without access to sanitation
• 1,800,000 children die per year, due to polluted drinking water and insufficient sanitation
• 433,000,000 absent days from school per year result from water borne disease 

• 95,000 families need to be served with sanitation per day to reach this goal
• sanitation is not “prestigious” – politicians and donors prefer water projects over those for sanitation

Today, the Social Equity Venture Fund - S.E.VEN announced a first of its kind film competition, Cinema Prosperite, that offers filmmakers a medium to encourage and promote enterprise-based solutions to poverty through imagery. The public competition seeks short films (2-5 minutes) that showcase the story of an entrepreneur - to show what odds they've overcome, the impact they've had on the world and how they've still managed/are managing to achieve their goals.

This first-of-its-kind film competition invites filmmakers to submit short films highlighting entrepreneurs. The $35,000 in prizes will be split amongst the top three filmmakers and the entrepreneurs they profile. The competition will remain open until September 15, with the winning videos being selected in early October by a jury that includes international businesspeople, development experts, and Academy Award short-listed documentary filmmakers.

The competition actively seeks short videos (two to five minutes) that use the power of film to showcase the story of an entrepreneur – to show the story of what odds this person has overcome, what impact they have had on the world, and how they’ve managed to achieve their goals. Profiled entrepreneurs will be engaging in for-profit, sustainable and ethical business practices.

A grand prize of $20,000 will be awarded to the top-ranked video: $10,000 to the filmmaker, and $10,000 to the profiled entrepreneur. A second prize of $10,000 ($5,000 to the filmmaker and $5,000 to the profiled entrepreneur), and a third prize of $5,000 ($2,500 to the filmmaker and $2,500 to the profiled entrepreneur) will also be awarded. Members of the online Cinéma Prospérité community will select five finalists between September 15 and September 30, 2008. The winners will be announced on October 7, 2008.

“The competition is meant to share the stories of entrepreneurs who are the core of enterprise solutions to poverty,” said Andreas Widmer, co-founder of the S.E.VEN Fund. “By recognizing these individuals through a powerful medium such as film, S.E.VEN also hopes to inspire others. “

This competition was funded through a generous grant from the John Templeton Foundation. For additional information about S.E.VEN Fund and to view other contests, projects, and previous winners, please visit www.sevenfund.org.

About the S.E.VEN Fund
S.E.VEN (Social Equity Venture Fund – www.sevenfund.org) is a virtual non-profit entity run by entrepreneurs Michael Fairbanks and Andreas Widmer whose strategy is to markedly increase the rate of diffusion of enterprise-based solutions to poverty. We do this by targeted investment that fosters thought leadership through books, films and websites; supporting role models - whether they are entrepreneurs or innovative firms - in developing nations; and shaping a new discourse in government, the press and the academy around private-sector innovation, prosperity and progressive human values.
About the John Templeton Foundation

The John Templeton Foundation (www.templeton.org) serves as a philanthropic catalyst for discovery in the areas engaging life's biggest questions. These questions range from explorations into the laws of nature and the universe to questions on the nature of love, gratitude, forgiveness and creativity.

Cleantech Solutions - Financing and Technological Innovation for Sustainable Development

The CII-ITC Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Development (Confederation of Indian Industry) and Clean Technology AustralAsia have again partnered to organize the 2nd India Cleantech Forum.

Accelerating the investment in and deployment of clean technologies in India will significantly help to promote economic development and reduce poverty.  But for clean technologies to have a tangible and enduring impact, there are policy, technical and financial barriers that must be overcome.

Now is the time for business, investors, entrepreneurs and policy makers from within India and around the world to come together for knowledge exchange and commercial interaction to  address these barriers and implement actions and solutions to build the new Cleantech sector in India.

The agenda for the 2nd India Cleantech Forum, will include some of the most authoritative speakers representing a spectrum of global clean technology experts who will examine and outline the challenges and opportunities for Cleantech in India based on the following themes:

• Global and local trends in Cleantech Investment
• Government policies to provide incentives and investor certainty
• Clean Energy and Water Infrastructure needs in India
• Investment Opportunities in Indian Cleantech companies and projects
• Actions required to accelerate investment and deployment of Cleantech in India
• Global Technology transfer and collaboration-  who is doing what
• Innovation in Cleantech funds and finance

In the program we will showcase a diverse set of Indian clean technology sub-sectors, including companies that
highlight technologies, such as:

• Renewable Energy:  Solar, Wind, Biomass, Small Hydro, and other
• Energy efficiency and Green building technologies
• Advanced materials
• Water treatment and sanitation
• Distributed generation
• Waste management, treatment, and conversion to energy

Register Now For the 2nd India Cleantech Forum

The Global Student Entrepreneur Awards has an amazing prize package available to the student entrepreneurs who can impress the judges and win the competition!  The total prize package for the 2008 Global Student Entrepreneur Awards is estimated at over $100,000 in cash and business products and services donated by Entrepreneurs’ Organization members.

Undergraduate students from the United States of America and from countries other than the three listed below please click this link to nominate:  CLICK HERE TO NOMINATE FOR THE 2008 GLOBAL STUDENT ENTREPRENEUR AWARDS!

Regional Competitions in Canada, Sweden, and Puerto Rico are hosted by Global Student Entrepreneur Awards Partners

Note: Although the global deadline for nominations is 31 August 2008, we highly encourage that you submit your nomination as soon as possible as regional competitions begin in Spring 2008.

We’re looking forward to seeing you or your nominee competing in the 2008 Global Student Entrepreneur Awards!