Change the World.

Business-minded discipline.
Passion for social change.

We are pleased to announce the 2008 Annual Conference on Social Entrepreneurship will be held November 14 - 16, 2008.

This year’s event will focus on our three key themes of HEALTH LEADERSHIP, EDUCATION, and INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT.

The three-day conference is jointly hosted by the University of Waterloo and Wilfrid Laurier University.  It will bring more than 150 practitioners and students together for a series of workshops, panel discussions, an exhibition, and more!

Our Opening Keynote Address will be presented by Marc Kielburger, CEO of Free the Children.  This event is open to the public, please see our registration page for details.  Our Gala Keynote Address will be Dr. Sue Horton, winner of the Copenhagen Consensus for her work with the global Micronutrient Initiative.

This year’s event will also feature a special one-day research component on the Saturday of the conference. Event participants are welcome to attend either the lectures and workshops of the annual conference, or the oral presentations and poster displays of the research component.

Please check back with us regularly for more information about the upcoming annual conference. If you are interested in attending, supporting or presenting at the conference, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Register as a delegate for the 2008 Annual Conference.

Register as an attendee at the Kielburger Opening Keynote Address.

Get involved in the Laurel Centre’s work.

The Laurel Centre for Social Entrepreneurship exists to help address this problem, meeting the needs of those currently working towards change. Our focus is helping both current and potential social entrepreneurs to become more successful by helping them to unite professional business skills with their passion for social change. Our focus is on the connection and education of relevant areas in the various industries, while our conferences, lectures and other programming helps to educate the public on the need for, and opportunities available to, today’s social leaders.

We are a fully incorporated not-for-profit organization in Canada, and have enjoyed the support of a diverse number of organizations in helping us to meet our mandate.

The Fifth Annual Pace Pitch Contest will be held on Thursday evening, December 4th. The event will be held in the Schimmel Center, a 750-seat theatre on Pace’s main campus in downtown Manhattan (which is also home to James Lipton’s “Inside the Actors Studio”). Directions.

The Keynote Speaker will be Gurbaksh Chahal.
Gurbaksh, or “G”, started his first venture, ClickAgents, at the age of 16 and sold it two years later to ValueClick for $40 million. In 2004, he formed Blue Lithium, another Internet advertising network, which was acquired by Yahoo in 2007 for $300 million. His book, The Dream, will be released the week after the Pace Pitch Contest (we are hoping to get advanced copies for a book signing) and he will star on the new prime-time network show “Secret Millionaire” on Fox, which will premiere the night before the Pace Pitch Contest.

The Pace Pitch Contest is based on the Elevator Pitch concept, popular in the venture capital community. It is an extremely concise presentation of an entrepreneur's idea, business model, marketing strategy, competitive analysis, and financial plan, which is delivered to potential investors. The premise is that it could be made in a few minutes, should the entrepreneur spot a potential investor on an elevator and have the opportunity to pitch their idea during the brief ride.

At this year's Pace Pitch Contest, five finalists in the New Business Concept category and five finalists in the the Social Venture category will each have exactly three minutes to pitch their new venture idea to a distinguished panel of judges and an enthusiastic audience.

To Compete in the Social Venture or New Business Concept Category:
Those interested in entering the Pace Pitch Contest must complete a 350-400 word summary of their venture idea and a 150-200 word biography and submit both documents to bbachenheimer@pace.edu by 5:00 p.m. on Friday, November 21st, 2008.

Click for more information on how to enter.
Fifth Annual Pace Pitch Contest
December 4th, 2008
Schimmel Center, 1 Pace Plaza
New York, NY 10038

To enter, you must meet at least one of the following two criteria:

• Full or part-time student currently enrolled in any accredited college or university
• Recent college graduate (graduated within the past 5 years)

AND if you have already launched the venture, it must have been in business for less than 2 years and received less than $100,000 in funding.

Become an Eco Hero and an Agent of Change!

As citizens and future stewards of our planet, today’s students are in a unique position to become active agents of environmental change. The good news is that many of them are very interested in learning about and taking responsibility for their environment and their future.

Today’s young people will inherit a world that’s very different from the one their parents inherited. Climate change; polluted air, water and soil; endangered species; shrinking coastlines; and a rapidly increasing population are among the many issues that threaten our global environment.

The Siemens We Can Change the World Challenge gives students the opportunity, tools and inspiration to become those agents of change. Beginning in fall 2008 through March 15, 2009, middle school student teams from across the country will be challenged to create sustainable, reproducible environmental improvements in their local communities.

Top prizes will include a chance to appear on Discovery Network's Planet Green, a share in thousands of dollars in cash prizes, a one-in-a-lifetime Discovery Adventure trip and more.

Today’s students are ready to change the world. Let’s get them started.

Project 10¹⁰⁰(pronounced "Project 10 to the 100th") is a call for ideas to change the world by helping as many people as possible. Why this project?

Here's how to join in.   1. Send us your idea by October 20th.
Simply fill out the submission form giving us the gist of your idea. You can supplement your proposal with a 30-second video.

2. Voting on ideas begins on January 27th.
We'll post a selection of one hundred ideas and ask you, the public, to choose twenty semi-finalists. Then an advisory board will select up to five final ideas. Send me a reminder to vote.

3. We'll help bring these ideas to life.
Google is committing $10 million to implement these projects, and our goal is to help as many people as possible. So remember, money may provide a jumpstart, but the idea is the thing.

Good luck, and may those who help the most win.

Submit your idea

Remember, the deadline is
October 20th, 2008

Guidelines
Our goal is to set as few rules as possible. However, we ask that you put your idea into one of the following categories and consider the evaluation criteria below.  FAQ

Categories:

• Community: How can we help connect people, build communities and protect unique cultures?
• Opportunity: How can we help people better provide for themselves and their families?
• Energy: How can we help move the world toward safe, clean, inexpensive energy?
• Environment: How can we help promote a cleaner and more sustainable global ecosystem?
• Health: How can we help individuals lead longer, healthier lives?
• Education: How can we help more people get more access to better education?
• Shelter: How can we help ensure that everyone has a safe place to live?
• Everything else: Sometimes the best ideas don't fit into any category at all.

Criteria:

• Reach: How many people would this idea affect?
• Depth: How deeply are people impacted? How urgent is the need?
• Attainability: Can this idea be implemented within a year or two?
• Efficiency: How simple and cost-effective is your idea?
• Longevity: How long will the idea's impact last?

Each year, the Acumen Fund Fellows Program provides extraordinary young professionals with a unique opportunity to use their skills to effect real social change with our portfolio organizations in Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, South Africa, India and Pakistan, and to build lasting relationships with other like-minded individuals.

Who Becomes a Fellow?

Acumen Fund Fellows are drawn from a pool of talented individuals from all geographies, sectors, backgrounds, religions, and ages. Ideal fellows include those who have already decided on a career in venture philanthropy, those who are seeking a career at the highest levels in the corporate world but want to better understand and impact problems of global poverty, and budding social entrepreneurs who want to learn about managing organizations in the most demanding settings. Learn about previous fellows and their experiences here.

Frequently Asked Questions

Click here for detailed answers to frequently asked questions about the Fellows Program and about the selection process.

The Application Process

The application process takes place each fall for the Fellows class of the following year. Applications for the Class of 2009 have closed. Fellows applying for the Class of 2010 will begin the training program in New York in September 2009 and complete the program in September 2010.

The new online application for the Fellows Class of 2010 opens on September 1, 2008 and closes at noon on October 20, 2008.

Join us in identifying and supporting innovative ways young people are making positive change in their communites. Enter to receive feedback, find supporters, win prizes, and even secure up to US$1,000 in funding to advance your project. Open to all young individuals between 12-24.

• Submit your entries by October 15, 2008 6:00 pm EST (21:00 GMT)

• Read all 57 entries received from 21 countries
• Discuss this competition
  (98 discussion comments)
• Nominate your favorite innovation!
• View nominations

The “Staples Youth Social Entrepreneur Competition” sponsored by Staples, Ashoka’s Changemakers and Youth Venture aims to identify and support innovative ways young people are making life easier for others.

For more information on entering, the online review, and voting please view the competition criteria and timeline below or contact us at staplesyv@changemakers.net

Eligibility Criteria

The competition is open to all young individuals between the ages of 12-24 and all previously awarded Youth Venture teams. We consider all entries – ideas OR projects – that meet the following criteria:

• Idea or project reflects the theme of the competition: “Staples Youth Social Entrepreneur Competition.” The goal of the competition is to identify innovative solutions that young people are using to make life easier for others. Entries are accepted from young people in all countries.
• Ideas show strong potential for significant or meaningful impact. Projects show potential as well as demonstrated impact.
• Entry form is completed and submitted before the deadline.
• Entries are submitted in English, Spanish, Portuguese or French.

Assessment Criteria

The winners of this Changemakers Collaborative Competition will be those entries that best meet the following criteria:

• Innovation: This is the knock-out test; the idea or project must introduce creative elements or methods to positively impact the community in order for judges to give it a high ranking. For example, the project might use a new approach to tackle a challenge, creative methods to raise awareness of a problem, or innovative strategies to raise funds or engage volunteers.
• Social Impact: It is important that the idea or project has or will have significant impact on the issues it addresses. Some innovations will have proven success at a small level (or are still at the very beginning), while others will have scaled to engage hundreds or thousands of people. Judges will take into consideration how you plan to grow, replicate, and reach big goals.
• Sustainability: For a project to be truly effective it must have a plan for how it will acquire financial and other bases of support for the long-term. In other words it has a good strategy for creating ongoing positive change in the community and engaging partners, as well as a sound plan for transitioning leadership and recruiting team members or volunteers.

Competition Deadlines, Procedures, and Rules

Online competition submissions are accepted until October 15th, 2008 at 6pm, U.S. Eastern Daylight Time. Any time before this deadline, competition participants can revise their entries based on questions and insights that they receive in the Changemakers discussion. Participation in the discussion enhances one's prospects in the competition and gives the community and the judges an opportunity to understand one's project more completely. Posting and discussion are encouraged because the exchange of ideas helps social entrepreneurs develop and improve methods to create positive change in the communities in which we live.

There are four main phases in the competition:

• Entry Stage, August 20th – October 15, 2008:Entries can be submitted until 6 pm Eastern US time on October 15th, 2008, and anyone can participate in an online idea review discussion with the entrants.
• Online Review and Judging, October 16 – October 29, 2008: Online review and discussion continues. Simultaneously, a panel of judges who are well-versed in the topic and a group of Ashoka’s Youth Venture staff select the competition finalists.
• Voting October 30th – November 11, 2008:The Changemakers community votes online to select the Global Grand Prize winner.
• Announcement of Winners – November 12, 2008: All winners and potential winners in all categories are announced or contacted.

Staples Prize - Trip to Boston, USA and/or $5,000 of products Judges will choose two entries from USA and two entries from France to be finalists for the Staples Prize. 


Global Prize - Trip to USA to attend the next Youth Venture Summit One entrant will receive a free trip to attend the next Youth Venture Summit in 2009 to present as well as network with other young changemakers. 


Seed Grants - Up to US$1,000 As many as 25 youth can receive seed grants of up to US$1,000 to implement creative ideas for change. 


Nike Awards - US$1,000 Nike wishes to recognize the best ideas or ventures that combine sports and social change. Tell us how your passion for sports can make the world a better place. Up to five ideas or projects will win a US$1,000 grant.


MTV International - Documentary Profile MTV International is teaming up with Ashoka's Youth Venture to support and recognize the best environmental projects. MTV and Youth Venture will select four or five best environmental projects from its joint campaign to feature in a documentary to air on MTV International channels globally. All environmental entries in this competition will be eligible for consideration. 

The EDUCATING AFRICA Pan-African Awards for Entrepreneurship in Education 2008 seek to identify the very best organizations rising to the challenges of supporting education across Africa, to highlight their models, and to reward their achievements.

The competition offers 50 prizes of $1,000 for the most entrepreneurial education programs in every African country, a top prize of $10,000, and two runners-up prizes of $5,000.

At Teach A Man To Fish we believe that if the huge demand for education that exists across Africa is to be met, it will require new and entrepreneurial models which can be replicated and taken to scale.  Education programs which are innovative, sustainable and create real impact already exist in Africa. All too often, however, they never receive the true recognition they deserve, and remain isolated efforts. The EDUCATING AFRICA Pan-African Awards for Entrepreneurship in Education 2008 represent a small step forward in terms of drawing international attention to their achievements, and rewarding their commitment.

Entries will be assessed against three criteria of entrepreneurship, sustainability, and impact, and must be received before the competition closing date of October 20th 2008.

Winners will be selected by a panel of international judges, and the top three awardees sponsored to travel to South Africa to receive their prizes at Education That Pays For Itself 2008, an international conference on Sustainable Education taking place 18th -20th November 2008.

Organizations wishing to take part should visit the competition website – www.teachamantofish.org.uk/competition for full details on how to enter.

For all enquiries email: competition@teachamantofish.org.uk, or tel: +44 7890 420205

Technology Review's EmTech Conference brings together world-renowned innovators and senior business leaders to discuss the emerging technologies that are poised to make a dramatic impact on our world. Keynote sessions, insightful panels, and groundbreaking presentations--of a caliber only Technology Review can deliver--are combined with networking opportunities and live demonstrations.

Now in its eighth year, Technology Review's EmTech Conference is a three-day summit attracting business leaders, venture capitalists, senior technologists, prominent innovators, and an extraordinary group of the top 35 innovators under the age of 35--the TR35. The TR35 is a unique set of young people who exemplify the spirit of innovation in technology, business, and science.

The 8th annual event will be held September 23-25, 2008, on the beautiful MIT campus in Cambridge, MA

Note also the Women in Technology workshop, held on September 23rd.

The hot topics included in the program agenda are:

REGISTER NOW

Americans for Informed Democracy, the Helene & Grant Wilson Center for Social Entrepreneurship and GOOD magazine cordially invite you to The Social Innovators Awards.

Date & Time
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
6:30pm Cocktail reception
7:15pm Awards program
8:45pm Dessert and coffee

Location
One Pace Plaza, Lower Manhattan, New York, NY

Innovator in Smart Investing
Bill Drayton, Founder and CEO, Ashoka
Presented by Justin Rockefeller, Co-Founder of Generation Engage

Innovator in International Development
Helene Gayle, President and CEO, CARE USA

Innovator in Global Understanding
Judith McHale, Managing Partner, GEF/Africa Growth Fund
Presented by Beth Brooke, Global Vice Chair, Ernst & Young
 
TO LEARN MORE AND PURCHASE TICKETS:
www.aidemocracy.org/Innovators2008.php

More on the Awards
The Social Innovator Awards celebrates leaders who are taking entrepreneurial approaches toward social change and thereby making our world a better, safer place. This year's honorees are business executives and non-profit leaders whose leadership offers a fresh and innovative approach to solving today's most pressing global challenges. The awards night will also honor two young innovators in social responsibility. These young leaders symbolize the promise of the next generation to build on today's social innovation.
 
The awards night is hosted by Americans for Informed Democracy (AID), in partnership with the Helene & Grant Wilson Center for Social Entrepreneurship at Pace University and GOOD magazine. AID empowers young people in the United States to address global challenges such as poverty, disease, climate change, and conflict through awareness and action. We promote just and sustainable solutions at the campus, community and national level.

Join other experts in education, youth enterprise, and skills  entrepreneurship training this November at a unique event focusing on financially sustainable approaches to education.
 
Education That Pays For Itself 2008 will bring together some of the world's leading practitioners in financially sustainable education, along with educators, policymakers, business people, philanthropists, social entrepreneurs and NGOs from around the world, in a hands-on forum for learning, networking, inspiration and action.
 
Share and discover innovative models tackling key challenges in education across the developing world:

• How to provide high quality education without high fees
• How to finance improved facilities without outside support 
• How to teach young people to succeed as entrepreneurs
• How to empower future generations to break out of the poverty trap

This conference represents an opportunity to be part of community that is transforming education in developing countries by integrating entrepreneurship and financial sustainability into the fabric of schools  youth education programs.
 
Share your work, establish new partnerships, get solutions to your toughest problems at our consultancy clinic sessions, and have a little fun - we promise you won't forget the experience!

As with last year, conference places are limited, so register now to guarantee your place!

Submit a Proposal and gain new exposure for your work. The call for proposals is now open. Don't miss the deadline - all session proposals must be submitted by 31 August 2008.  Click here for more info.
   
When: 18-20 November 2008

Where: Karatara*, South Africa
 
REGISTER NOW! or email

Conference Helpdesk - for queries related to registration, travel, accommodation, logistics  costs
Conference Manager - for queries about the program and proposals
   
Teach A Man To Fish is a UK registered charity no. 1112699
"Give a man a fish and he will eat for a day; teach him how to fish and he will eat for a lifetime."

The Global Social Entrepreneurship Competition (GSEC) is a business plan competition in which students from around the world find creative, commercially sustainable ways to address problems of poverty in the developing world.  GSEC participants have a unique opportunity to increase their global awareness and develop their knowledge and understanding of how to take a business plan from inception to implementation with the advice and involvement of a wide base of knowledgeable contributors.  GSEC furthers collaborative and interdisciplinary partnerships, builds the skills of future global business leaders, and contributes to the understanding of culture and business practices in other countries. 

Learn how you can contribute to GSEC, as a mentor, judge, or sponsor. Download a GSEC Participation Opportunities flyer.

Business plans are evaluated on three criteria: 1) effect on the quality of life and poverty alleviation in the developing world; 2) financial sustainability; and 3) feasibility of implementation.  GSEC business plans can cover various issues such as healthcare, education, the environment, energy, information and communication technology, social services, agriculture, and manufacturing. Social Return on Investment includes the social good of improved health. As such, two new prizes in Global Health will also be awarded this year.  Please visit the Competition Guidelines page for detailed submissions guidelines and competition information. 

NOTE:  GSEC is open to any student at any institution around the world. Teams may have non-student team members, but those team members must remain silent during the competition presentation.
 

Public Allies advances diverse young leaders to strengthen communities, non-profits and civic participation.

Program Associate/ 2nd Year Fellow (AmeriCorp)
***** The candidate must have successfully completed one year of AmeriCorps service. *****
Reply deadline: August 1, 2008

Overall activities: Recruitment of Alliance Members (Allies, Partner Organizations, Volunteers); Continue the development of Alumni Relations, Assist in facilitation of Ally/Member Training, and Team Service Project Process.

Areas of Responsibility:

• Work with Director of Ally Recruitment to develop an institutionalized ongoing recruitment strategy and engage Allies and Alumni in recruiting efforts.
• Conduct at least three outreach recruitment sessions per month.
• Work with Director of Community Relations to develop and implement an strategic recruitment Campaign of potential Partner Organizations.
• Write a monthly recruitment report on both Ally applicants and Partner Organizations.
• Coordinate and lead Public Allies Participation in three service days in collaboration with local nonprofits, neighborhood associations and other AmeriCorps programs
• Coordinate Americorps Opening Day with AmeriCorps in Illinois

Other Responsibilities
· Participate in AmeriCorps sponsored trainings.
· Assist with facilitation of Ally training.
· Participate in quarterly Ally retreats and Public Allies local and national staff retreats.
· Conduct local Alumni meetings and events
· Assist staff with intra-community and external communication (Ally Skinnies, database management, website management)
· Other responsibilities assigned by supervisor

Personal Characteristics
The successful candidate should be the following: organized, punctual, team player, independent, creative, strategic; possess the ability to genuinely encourage and apply input; demonstrates ability to take ownership for personal learning and professional growth; able to interact effectively with people from diverse backgrounds and in a variety of environments; possess an appreciation for cultural and individual differences; able to interact with young adults in a non-traditional work environment; possess a sense of humor in order to maintain perspective and a sense of balance.

Experience: The candidate must have successfully completed one year of AmeriCorps service.
Education: The candidate should at least have a GED/HS Diploma.
Living Stipend: $16,000; $4,725 Education Award (upon successful completion of service term); health care, childcare (candidate must qualify)
Duration: The term of service is for 10 months after start date. Candidate must be available to start by September 15, 2008.

To Apply: By August 1, 2008, e-mail resume, cover letter, a 2 page essay describing; “Who you were before your Americorps service, what you learned from your 10 month experience and how you will implement those lessons learned in the Second Year Ally Position”, two writing samples (either from school or work) and two references (PROFESSIONAL ONLY, NO FRIENDS, NO RELATIVES, NO FAMILY FRIENDS) to:
ebonys@publicallies.org
ALSO please mail OFFICIAL High School or College Transcripts to
Ebony N. Scott
Director of Community Relations
Public Allies Chicago
200 N. Michigan Avenue
Chicago, IL 60601

Are you passionate about making the world a better place? Have an idea about how to make your fellow students and your school more socially responsible? Want to turn that idea into a reality?

Conscious Lifestyle is accepting applications for its venture program.

Applicants must be full-time students at a high school or university in the U.S. or Canada.

Submit an application for the chance to win:

• Up to $1,000 in start-up funding
• Web space on consciouslifestyle.org
• Monthly skill-building workshops
• Mentoring from a high-performing professional
• Access to a network of social entrepreneurs

To learn more, make sure to check out our FAQs and Selection Criteria.

To apply, download the documents below and email your action plan to mike@consciouslifestyle.org.

Application Deadline: August 1, 2008.

 

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.

The Global Student Entrepreneur Awards welcomes nominees from any country around the globe.  In locations where we do not have a regional program established, nominees will be judged virtually by a panel of entrepreneurs.

The deadline for nominations globally is 31 August 2008!

1. First - review the criteria at http://www.gsea.org/awards/who-is-eligible/ to ensure that the person you are nominating qualifies to compete for the Global Student Entrepreneur Awards.
2. Once you’ve reviewed the criteria and you’re sure the student entrepreneur is eligible to compete, head over to http://www.gsea.org/nominate/ to complete the nomination form.
3. Once we’ve received the nomination form,