Comments on: For-Profit, Non-Profit or Both: The Funding Gap http://blog.acumenfund.org/2008/03/23/for-profit-non-profit-or-both-the-funding-gap/ Thu, 18 Mar 2010 22:58:51 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6 By: The Stargazer Founda http://blog.acumenfund.org/2008/03/23/for-profit-non-profit-or-both-the-funding-gap/#comment-169643 The Stargazer Founda Fri, 19 Jun 2009 14:11:49 +0000 http://blog.acumenfund.org/2008/03/23/for-profit-non-profit-or-both-the-funding-gap/#comment-169643 There is a simple way to produce billions of dollars of long-term funding for social causes. There is a way to harness the power of Capitalism for the Common Good that avoids government spending, taxes, stimuli, or bailouts. Companies can grant Social Bonuses by donating warrants to charity – something that doesn’t cost them anything to give – and get a deferred tax deduction for the value of the gift. To learn more go to: www.Stargazer.org/causes. There is a simple way to produce billions of dollars of long-term funding for social causes. There is a way to harness the power of Capitalism for the Common Good that avoids government spending, taxes, stimuli, or bailouts. Companies can grant Social Bonuses by donating warrants to charity – something that doesn’t cost them anything to give – and get a deferred tax deduction for the value of the gift. To learn more go to: http://www.Stargazer.org/causes.

]]> By: Rob Katz http://blog.acumenfund.org/2008/03/23/for-profit-non-profit-or-both-the-funding-gap/#comment-122623 Rob Katz Mon, 31 Mar 2008 20:09:33 +0000 http://blog.acumenfund.org/2008/03/23/for-profit-non-profit-or-both-the-funding-gap/#comment-122623 Paul, Joseph - You're spot on. One of the reasons that Acumen has committed $10 million to our 'talent' pillar in the next 3 years is that, as a social investor, we recognize the huge talent gap that exists here. We see it acutely in our investees, who often have a hard time finding and then retaining top-quality talent. A visionary entrepreneur isn't enough - he/she needs a great team to implement their ideas! As far as being an active - not passive - investor, you're also right. Acumen plays a very active role in our investees, often taking a seat on their boards and dedicating significant portfolio staff time to managing the investee/investor relationship. Sometimes, the result of this close relationship is the identification of a new investment opportunity for our pipeline. Paul, Joseph -

You’re spot on. One of the reasons that Acumen has committed $10 million to our ‘talent’ pillar in the next 3 years is that, as a social investor, we recognize the huge talent gap that exists here. We see it acutely in our investees, who often have a hard time finding and then retaining top-quality talent. A visionary entrepreneur isn’t enough - he/she needs a great team to implement their ideas!

As far as being an active - not passive - investor, you’re also right. Acumen plays a very active role in our investees, often taking a seat on their boards and dedicating significant portfolio staff time to managing the investee/investor relationship. Sometimes, the result of this close relationship is the identification of a new investment opportunity for our pipeline.

]]> By: Joseph Steig http://blog.acumenfund.org/2008/03/23/for-profit-non-profit-or-both-the-funding-gap/#comment-121664 Joseph Steig Fri, 28 Mar 2008 16:25:57 +0000 http://blog.acumenfund.org/2008/03/23/for-profit-non-profit-or-both-the-funding-gap/#comment-121664 What I'm interested in is the opportunity for entrepreneurial investors to "make stuff happen". Investors aren't passive. They create deals as much as they simply invest. What opportunities are there to take more action, as investors, to produce opportunities to invest in social entrepreneurial ventures? What I’m interested in is the opportunity for entrepreneurial investors to “make stuff happen”. Investors aren’t passive. They create deals as much as they simply invest. What opportunities are there to take more action, as investors, to produce opportunities to invest in social entrepreneurial ventures?

]]> By: Paul http://blog.acumenfund.org/2008/03/23/for-profit-non-profit-or-both-the-funding-gap/#comment-121259 Paul Thu, 27 Mar 2008 05:58:47 +0000 http://blog.acumenfund.org/2008/03/23/for-profit-non-profit-or-both-the-funding-gap/#comment-121259 Rob- Glad you are highlighting "The Funding Gap" article in SSIR. I'd encourage us all to remember, as we seek to develop Venture Gapitalism, that money is a result, not a cause. The preconditions to money are an idea and a team that can get 'er done. Now that you work for a funder, I have two questions: 1) does Acumen provide more than funding to new ventures? (of course you do,as so the good VC's) 2) why isn't Acumen doing more deals? There are so many big problems... Is it lack of money or lack of deals with those 2 preconditions? (yeah, I thought so...) Social entrepreneurs are special. I know. But they aren't SO special that they deserve money without having an idea and a strong team. It will not help the sector in the long run if we can't pull together the ventures that will make the money actually go to work. I am not convinced that the funding gap isn't really a talent gap. What really good deals aren't getting funded? Paul Further thoughts on this topic, after last year's Skoll Forum: http://bopreneur.blogspot.com/2007/04/some-thoughts-on-capital-and-investing.html Rob-
Glad you are highlighting “The Funding Gap” article in SSIR. I’d encourage us all to remember, as we seek to develop Venture Gapitalism, that money is a result, not a cause. The preconditions to money are an idea and a team that can get ‘er done.

Now that you work for a funder, I have two questions:

1) does Acumen provide more than funding to new ventures? (of course you do,as so the good VC’s)

2) why isn’t Acumen doing more deals? There are so many big problems… Is it lack of money or lack of deals with those 2 preconditions? (yeah, I thought so…)

Social entrepreneurs are special. I know. But they aren’t SO special that they deserve money without having an idea and a strong team.

It will not help the sector in the long run if we can’t pull together the ventures that will make the money actually go to work. I am not convinced that the funding gap isn’t really a talent gap. What really good deals aren’t getting funded?

Paul
Further thoughts on this topic, after last year’s Skoll Forum: http://bopreneur.blogspot.com/2007/04/some-thoughts-on-capital-and-investing.html

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