|
It is estimated that two-thirds of the
world's population struggles to exist at or below the poverty level.
Even in America, every major metropolitan area has a large number
of citizens living at the bottom of the economic pyramid. These
4 billion people are viewed by most of society as an overwhelming
problem, but to the social entrepreneur they are a massive opportunity.
Social entrepreneurs are a rare breed
of individual who use capital to achieve a higher goal of providing
food, clothing, shelter or education to the underprivileged. The
social entrepreneur has all of the characteristics of the classic
entrepreneur, which include vision, ability to attract resources
(capital, labor, equipment, etc.), innovation, high tolerance for
risk, ability to deal with ambiguity and business discipline.
However, the social entrepreneur differs
in one major way -- his primary focus is his absolute determination,
even passion, to be a change agent in creating and sustaining social
value rather than creating wealth. The social entrepreneur is measured
on a "double bottom line," both a financial and a social return.
He must be fiscally responsible to sustain his enterprise, but his
passion, and the measurement of his success, is to do good, rather
than to just do well.
Many social entrepreneurs function in
the not-for-profit sector of our economy, which contributes some
$600 billion a year to the U.S. economy. Examples of not-for-profit
ventures are food banks, charitable foundations, shelters for the
homeless and battered women, legal aid, etc.
Other social entrepreneurs are employed
by large for-profit corporations that also are committed to social
change. Microsoft and many other high-tech corporations, for example,
have been involved in "venture philanthropy" for decades, giving
or selling deeply discounted computers and software to public schools,
universities and inner-city social service centers. They also benefit
in a major way when these students later become customers.
|