:Title: May 2007: Makin' Bacon & Other Earned Income Strategies :Author: Mark Grimes :Date: Tue, 01 May 2007 08:57:44 PDT :URL: http://www.omidyar.net/group/foodchain/news/215/ Money, it's a hit...don't give me that do goody-good bullsh#t. Capital is one of the crucial elements to pushing the social enterprise uphill. No cash limits the orgs options. Share some of your earned income strategies and various income streams if you desire. How much from where? Who pays and why? What else could they buy from you? Who are your customers? What is most important to your customer, quality, service or price? << That's the trifecta there. Bring home the bacon. ---- **Comments** :Author: Mark Grimes :Date: Tue, 01 May 2007 09:15:58 PDT Also, moved Citizen Life Magazine to Parking (and PM'd with Craig about it) along with Orijiro and Luke. Will check with Jean, Ted, Sandra, Rheanni and David about their current project status and how that related to the Food Chain group. | Enterprises in the Queue | 1. Enterprise: Serving people in Service - Applicant: Jean Russell | 2. Enterprise: BeyondYes - Applicant: TedErnst | 3. Enterprise: selearninggames - Applicant: Sandra Dickinson | 4. Enterprise: Sacred Cow Tipping - Applicant: Rheanni Lightwater | 5. Enterprise: Global Lives Project - Applicant: David Evan Harris | Parking Place for project workspace/thread not updated for 30-90 days | 1. Orijiro - Luke Martin | 2. Citizen Life Magazine - Craig Steele | 3. ---- :Author: Luke Martin :Date: Tue, 01 May 2007 15:25:58 PDT Also, moved Citizen Life Magazine to Parking (and PM'd with Craig about it) along with Orijiro and Luke. Just to be clear, is it Orijiro or *me* that's being moved? And is it free parking (like in Monopoly) or by the hour? And what if I lose my ticket? ---- :Author: Evonne Heyning (CCAL30) :Date: Tue, 01 May 2007 22:29:38 PDT It's just like Monopoly; you get $500! David Evan Harris is rocking with Global Lives; we're staying in touch on intern/web/community/video ideas while he seeks new funding from a handful of sources. We are preparing for investor and foundation meetings (the seventh meeting with one particular client-to-be) and Jean Russell is joining us for a discussion in Chicago on Friday. We're crunching on a Toyshoppe release for this weekend, a new health/nutrition/food project in Second Life that's an amazing collaboration of businesses and advocacy groups. The bottom line is a mix of clients (a delicate balancing act); foundations (worthwhile, helpful to build good relationships); existing support networks (ONet community and donors and advisors who've helped us grow for the last three years). ---- :Author: Sandra Dickinson :Date: Wed, 02 May 2007 09:44:01 PDT SElearninggames REDESIGN is now open for public `PLAYTEST`_ The redesign focuses in on a few simple "tools & rules" we can use to get started discovering the common questions and answers that social entrepreneurs face every day, balancing mission and money goals. In fact, the answers to our first question are our questions! I think the redesign makes it clearer how we can use integrated wiki and blog, and other web2.0 tools - together - to improve profitability for our earned income ventures. But the only way to tell if it really is better is if some folks play it. So -- YOU ARE CORDIALLY INVITED TO COME OVER AND PLAY. The later discussion in our April thread, plus the title of this May thread - totally brings this issue of earned income profitability to the forefront. The kinds of things that came up in the April thread, and the kinds of things likely to come up in this May thread -- are exactly the kinds of things that would constitute the "meat & potatoes" elearning game content that I believe we can create. The redesign integrates a tool called BrainReactions (not unlike the Zooleo tool, with which we are familiar). BrainReactions allows us to not only generate our questions, but also to rate our questions. This rating capability enables us to discover the PATTERNS of the questions we have in common. Then, we can pop our common questions back into the BrainReactions tool - generate answers - rate answers -- and discover the PATTERNS of the answers we have in common. Once we have these sets of our common questions and our common answers, then we can discover the RELATIONSHIP between our common questions and our common answers. We discover that, most of the time, when most of us do "X", then, most of the time, "Y" happens. The relationship between our common questions and our common answers are the strategic meta-pattern solutions to our profitability problems. We can apply what we discover in the game to change the profitability outcome for our real-world venture. That's my theory about how making this elearning game together will work for us. We can harness our collective intelligence and our collective experience. My greatest passion is to create a space for us to do that in. This is an invitation to play. (not a request for feedback on redesign (altho I'll certainly listen if you want to tell me something)) I'll feedback to you how its working! .. _`PLAYTEST`: http://selearninggames.wikispaces.com/Working+Draft+New+Home+Page ---- :Author: Jean Russell (CCAL30) :Date: Wed, 02 May 2007 10:28:29 PDT We are ready to move forward, and willing to come off the queue into the fold Mark. However, the project is now called Nurture.biz. We are managing some of our work on the nurture.wagn.org site. I created a blog to share some knowledge and develop an identity as NurtureGirl at nurturegirl.net. Next week I am attending a coach training with several masters in the field, one of which talks about multiple streams of revenue (Andrea J. Lee), so this will certainly be on my mind. What are our multiple streams? - coaching for social benefit leaders - mapping and visualization for groups - consulting around community/network development and community/network weaving - communication strategies and materials We need to develop strategies around creating revenue not tied to consulting hours. And define our path for creating mapping tools to deal with more complex and organically-evolving data. Actions this month: - Meet with Eugene folks re: collaborative building and collective intelligence (and update Onet space on Collaborative Building) - Meet with Mark Grimes in Portland and get Grimy on the details - Spread the `wealth acknowledgment`_ idea and support the development of communications and tools related to that for Open Money and Targeted Currencies (will need this for our long-term efforts) - Blog 4x a week at nurturegirl.net - Strategy retreat in Oregon and afternoon with Michael Maranda on next steps - Release nurture.biz website with services and team clearly defined, edit and refine why we do what we do and who do we do it with - proposal development with John Abbe on mapping tools - Visioning meeting with Grass Commons (will need them for long-term efforts) - Update Food Chain space and answer Food Chain Hot Six - Explore opportunities with Jenny Yancey of YouthGive - Support Evonne Heyning and Amoration - Follow-up on Inspired Legacy Partners event and nurture that community - Take up the weekly Food Chain calls - Create Community Stories group on onet to capture stories of how good things happen possibly for later mapping of a visual history - Support and nurture other strategic alliances - Deliver on client projects and services .. _`wealth acknowledgment` : http://openmoney.info/sophia/index.html ---- :Author: Jean Russell (CCAL30) :Date: Wed, 02 May 2007 10:32:45 PDT I am in full support of bringing in Global Lives. I am a David Evan Harris and Global Lives fan. I have no objections to any shifts people need to make onto or off of Food Chain. ---- :Author: Lars Hasselblad Torres :Date: Thu, 03 May 2007 06:04:01 PDT fwiw i've been using `phpProjekt`_ to manage my activities this year. .. _`phpProjekt`: http://www.phprojekt.com/ ---- :Author: Jeff Mowatt (CCAL30) :Date: Mon, 07 May 2007 00:16:43 PDT For the present, I develop and sell business software and support services. This being owned by myself yeilds revenue free of supplier overheads so a substantial portion of revenue can be delivered to overseas efforts. The UK's Department of Trade and Industry categorise such an approach which delivers more than 50% of profit as a qualifying form of social enterprise. ---- :Author: Jayne Cravens :Date: Mon, 07 May 2007 04:21:16 PDT "Share some of your earned income strategies and various income streams if you desire. How much from where? Who pays and why? What else could they buy from you? Who are your customers? What is most important to your customer, quality, service or price?" If you are a mission-based organization -- that means a nonprofit organization -- your earned income strategies need to fit your organization's MISSION. Otherwise, not only does the IRS start having a closer look at you, but your potential supporters will wonder why you are engaging in activities that aren't tied to your mission (the YMCA, for instance, gets put under government scrutiny when they seem more focused on making money from their exercise programs than promoting their mission). Goodwill is a good model of balancing mission and earned-income activities: the staffing and management of their stores is integrated into the organization's mission of helping people with special needs or particular barriers find employment and opportunities. ---- :Author: John Berger (CCAL30) :Date: Mon, 07 May 2007 04:29:37 PDT mission based does not mean non-profit exclusively. In fact on this website the minority of mission based organizations are non-profits. It seem to me one of the key opportunities of social enterprise is to move beyond the constraints of non-profits. ---- :Author: Jayne Cravens :Date: Mon, 07 May 2007 05:14:59 PDT It's fine for profit-based initiatives to want to engage in community development. I was just posting some advice for nonprofit endeavors -- they often get advice from for-profit folks about income generation that the IRS frowns on. That was my only point. ---- :Author: John Berger (CCAL30) :Date: Tue, 08 May 2007 04:30:24 PDT Then we agree Jayne, there is a lot of bad advice given to no profits who want income generation. It is in vogue now. ---- :Author: Evonne Heyning (CCAL30) :Date: Wed, 09 May 2007 01:42:21 PDT It's everywhere. My husband Brent formed Toyshoppe Productions LLC to take on the commercial production aspects so that Amoration could stay focused on the educational integration and development for global bridgebuilding endeavors. The Toyshoppe is doing well; cover story of the Chicago Tribune business section Tuesday has our photo along with a mention for our work in Second Life. Unexpected. ---- :Author: Christina :Date: Wed, 09 May 2007 03:37:27 PDT I am trailblazing in developing some new revenue generating mechanisms for the LiA community right now. Very excited about a new website I am working on for launch later this month - part of it at least should be up by next week. This version is getting very close to the website I was always supposed to build - which I've tried to describe in words as an online superstore of alternative impact mechanisms for Africa. At the new lifeinafrica.com you will be able to buy locally made food, toy and clothing items for delivery to needy Ugandan children, order community crafted items customized for your cause, sponsor a day of breakfast or a year of school fees on recurrent subscriptions with a peacetile from your sponsored child in return... All this (and more) alongside a few gift items for export. In the post 9/11 years when I was researching and visualizing how to build what I was seeing so clearly in my mind's eye, all I could come up with were frameworks empty of content. There was always this chicken and egg dilemma- what comes first, the community or the platform? After these 2.5 solid years of building offline communities, the old webbed concepts are snapping together beautifully, so I guess I answered my own question! Pretty excited to be able to share more soon. ---- :Author: John Berger (CCAL30) :Date: Wed, 09 May 2007 12:33:36 PDT As I write this I am sitting in the door of Emancipation Imports, the firstt retail store for TEN. We dont have the sign done yet and there are a lot of things to do to, but all the inventory is here now, we are fulfilling e-commerce from here, and the staff works from here. Visit if you come to Cape Cod 606 rt 6A in Dennis. ---- :Author: Lars Hasselblad Torres :Date: Wed, 09 May 2007 12:59:04 PDT congratulations john! smaller news out "west" - had a great workshop with about 20 vermont americacorps/vista leaders from across the state. introduced the process, context, materials etc and in about an hour they produced a lovely grid of tiles. i was having such fun neglected to photograph - loser. we'll see what comes - i'd love to see the process take root among these community leaders. also, update on the kits in stores: they are selling, and i've been asked to produce more - they help move collage product too, so this is good for many parties. can't wait to see whether anyone uploads them to peacetiles.net, though i noticed an americorps volunteer did :) ---- :Author: Evonne Heyning (CCAL30) :Date: Wed, 09 May 2007 13:09:50 PDT This is such awesome news all around! Go Food Chain Go! I can't wait to see more fruit of this labor of love. ---- :Author: Dominique Beyens (CCAL30) :Date: Wed, 09 May 2007 17:07:39 PDT Anybody who's in Ireland tomorrow is invited for a world class performance of Antonio Breskey's nomadic ensemble in the National Concert Hall (Dublin -Ireland). I've a few free tickets left in my name, so if you can make it, i'll see you at the entry hall. .. image:: http://www.theapplegallery.com/Antonio%20Breschi/NCHFlyerAntonio-Front-Flat.jpg ---- :Author: Dominique Beyens (CCAL30) :Date: Wed, 09 May 2007 20:12:59 PDT Together with the Prince from Burkina Faso **Gabin Dabire** .. image:: http://www.theapplegallery.com/Musamix/Gabin.jpg ---- :Author: Dominique Beyens (CCAL30) :Date: Wed, 09 May 2007 20:23:48 PDT And the legendary Ronnie Drew. .. image:: http://www.theapplegallery.com/Musamix/Ronnie%20Drew.jpg ---- :Author: Dominique Beyens (CCAL30) :Date: Wed, 09 May 2007 20:28:41 PDT Sound and vision coming soon. ---- :Author: Michele -> kids+art+charity (CCAL30) :Date: Thu, 10 May 2007 00:47:20 PDT Lars Hasselblad Torres said: congratulations john! smaller news out "west" - had a great workshop with about 20 vermont americacorps/vista leaders from across the state. introduced the process, context, materials etc and in about an hour they produced a lovely grid of tiles. i was having such fun neglected to photograph - loser. we'll see what comes - i'd love to see the process take root among these community leaders. also, update on the kits in stores: they are selling, and i've been asked to produce more - they help move collage product too, so this is good for many parties. can't wait to see whether anyone uploads them to peacetiles.net, though i noticed an americorps volunteer did :) Excellent work, Lars!! Thanks for sharing the update. Go Peace Tiles, Go! Do you have a list of retail stores where Peace Tiles are sold? ---- :Author: Lars Hasselblad Torres :Date: Thu, 10 May 2007 04:29:54 PDT thanks dominique (and for zipping by youtube too - that mario is AMAzing! anyway, kits at only one store soon - i need to get to the next stage and see what happens with kits in, say, 5 stores. say, dominique, i can't play music worth a hiccup but will have some drums and we can make some noise! ---- :Author: Dominique Beyens (CCAL30) :Date: Thu, 10 May 2007 08:10:57 PDT Si Si.... However there's plenty noise that's very important but has been neglected. Leave me for a week or 2 .I can organise something with Mario if you're up for it... ---- :Author: Lars Hasselblad Torres :Date: Thu, 10 May 2007 09:07:07 PDT :) ---- :Author: Dominique Beyens (CCAL30) :Date: Thu, 10 May 2007 09:32:41 PDT :Modified: Sat, 12 May 2007 15:40:06 PDT |image| .. |image| image:: http://www.cooperativeindividualism.org/paine-common-sense-1776.jpg :width: 650 :height: 600 :target: http://www.cooperativeindividualism.org/paine-common-sense-1776.jpg Edit: Smaller size. Thx Lars. ---- :Author: Dominique Beyens (CCAL30) :Date: Thu, 10 May 2007 09:38:04 PDT Sorry, wrong channel. Then again!/! ---- :Author: Julie Caldwell (CCAL30) :Date: Fri, 11 May 2007 17:49:50 PDT Well... I'm easing back home (been gone and off-line for two months)... really needed to meditate, vacation, garden and rest. And, I'm back with all my former energy... Had a win for Peace Park today! The Sierra Power Company has offered to design and install the power lines into the park, and to work as the lead to coordinate the development of the Kiosk. The Kiosk wil be more than just a park information center, it will be an electronic community bulletan board for the entire city. When they tried to convence me that we needed one entity in town to own the kiosk (like the convention center) I explained why we needed a network of partners so that it would be accessable and maintained by as many folks within the city that want to participate. It was so exciting to watch them get it! They also liked the idea that we (Emerging Futures Network - OGuild/Tech Node) would help us design the technology platform in a way that could interface with other networks in the future (ie: Northwest Mining Association or Western Folklife Center or "NED?" or "Grass Commons"...). Our (Friends of Elko Peace Park Kiosk committee) next meeting is with the converntion center to see if they would be willing to host the server and provide staff to coordinate the network of partners! ---- :Author: Christina :Date: Fri, 11 May 2007 17:56:08 PDT Dominique, when you post files that big it really makes things difficult for some of us on limited bandwidth. :-( ---- :Author: Jeff Mowatt (CCAL30) :Date: Fri, 11 May 2007 22:51:10 PDT :Modified: Fri, 11 May 2007 22:51:43 PDT A wealth of information in the following document with an interesting conclusion that capitalization of a nonprofit social enterprise may take up to 5 times longer than its private sector counterpart. (page 75) http://www.virtueventures.com/setypology.pdf John Mackay's blog on conscious capitalism is also worth a read, in the context of for-profit strategies: http://www.wholefoods.com/blogs/jm/archives/2006/11/conscious_capit.html ---- :Author: Julie Caldwell (CCAL30) :Date: Sat, 12 May 2007 01:03:45 PDT what makes the screen go so wide? ---- :Author: Jeff Mowatt (CCAL30) :Date: Sat, 12 May 2007 02:33:40 PDT "Common Sense" is a very broad subject, Julie ;-) ---- :Author: nmw :Date: Sat, 12 May 2007 06:51:46 PDT see also the `machine readable codex`_ .. _`machine readable codex` : http://www.gutenberg.org/etext/3755 ---- :Author: Haney Armstrong (CCAL30) :Date: Sat, 12 May 2007 09:45:23 PDT Julie Caldwell said: what makes the screen go so wide? Large pictures will do it. (Long urls used to do it but we fixed that.) ---- :Author: nmw :Date: Sat, 12 May 2007 10:29:40 PDT of course one of the group owners could resize the picture (see http://www.omidyar.net/group/help/ws/picture_display_how_to/ ) ---- :Author: Dominique Beyens (CCAL30) :Date: Sat, 12 May 2007 15:38:24 PDT :Modified: Sat, 12 May 2007 15:42:41 PDT Christina Jordan said: Dominique, when you post files that big it really makes things difficult for some of us on limited bandwidth. :-( Yep, sorry. Made it smaller. Thx Lars. ---- :Author: Dominique Beyens (CCAL30) :Date: Sat, 12 May 2007 15:41:11 PDT Jeff Mowatt said: "Common Sense" is a very broad subject, Julie ;-) T'is... ---- :Author: Christina :Date: Sun, 13 May 2007 14:12:41 PDT :Modified: Sun, 13 May 2007 14:19:25 PDT A new earned income strategy -------------- ok here goes. I am so excited about an idea I've got floating in my brain it's hard to set it down in written words. If this can work, I may have invented a new way of sourcing social investment capital that could be very, very interesting for a number of projects here. I need some feedback - please tell me why this *won't* work.... Concept: **Raising Social Capital thru Issuing Impact Certificates** The Opok Farms project in Amuru District, Northern Uganda, needs $60,000 by July 2007 to clear, plant & harvest the first 300 acres at the farm site and to purchase a farm vehicle. The first crop yields on those 300 acres will help to finance the clearing of more acreage for commercial use; meanwhile those first 300 acres of active crop-growing fields will become 150 two-acre plots where we plan to resettle 150 child-headed families. The specific target group for the children's Village is families of orphans and returnee child-mothers who have lost the connection to their own family land through the war and have nowhere to resettle to. The land will provide them with income to live on, in a community that also includes a school, a community health center and a Life in Africa WE Center (where the farm's child families and laborer families will be members). For more questions on the farm project itself see http://www.omidyar.net/user/u618296607/news/18/ To raise the $60,000 in start-up capital required, 300 people are sought to invest $200 each in purchasing seven $30 impact certificates, to be redeemed at the Life in Africa WE Marketplace at a rate of one certificate per year. The certificates will be issued annually in January of each year, and will represent a $30 "discount" on any craft item purchase, school fees sponsorship, food aid program contribution or any other impact alternative offered at the WE Marketplace at that time. When the discount is redeemed by the holder, Life in Africa will bill the Opok Farms project for up to $30 of the total transaction. Advantages: - For the social investor, this means that $200 turns into $410 in monetary value toward direct grassroots impact in Northern Uganda. Down the line, Opok Farms related products, beneficiaries and initiatives will be listed at the WE Marketplace, so the entire $200 could be recycled back into that cause, or into any other that the consumer wants to be a part of. - For the farm, it provides us with low cost capital to start-up a social venture alongside our commercial activities, and enables us to be a part of creating the additional $63,000 in LiA impact (a much nicer idea than paying a bank!). - For Life in Africa, it locks in at least $9000 in support per year from 300 people returning to the site at least once a year to redeem their certificates and see what's new. - For all of you (if it works) it potentially means a new way to source social enterprise capital. If LiA can issue impact certificates for the Opok Farms project, why not for TEN or Amoration? Eager to hear this groups thoughts on the concept so far. And then there's also this additional line of thinking: IF we run the entire $60,000 through Homowo and make the $200 tax deductible (btw Mark, I've been thinking a Homowo/LiA event might be an idea to explore for sometime in the summer while I am in the USA), then *possibly* we could see if ON would be willing to *match* the amount raised through this campaign. In that could work out to be the case (I've not talked to anyone about this yet), then everything over and above the $60,000 raised could be earmarked specifically for the Opok Farms community school that Linda Nowakowski and some of her students from Thailand would be in a position to come and help set up 1 year from now. The disadvantage is that running it through Homowo takes an additional 5% out of the amount we'd actually receive, however, the $60,000 figure takes that into account already (just in case it's possible). If an ON match is not possible, then I don't know if I think the US tax deductible thing is really necessary (ie, one could argue that the impact certificates are a tangible something purchased). Other thoughts welcome. Sorry if this is long - it's been bubbling in my brain for about 2 weeks now so feels good to finally get it out! Tear it apart please :) ---- :Author: Jeff Mowatt (CCAL30) :Date: Sun, 13 May 2007 22:50:48 PDT Sounds good to me. You get the $60,000 up front to invest and pay back in credit toward purchases to ensure additional income over 7 years. Should you suffer a disastrous crop failure in any season, there's no bank knocking at the door. ---- :Author: Jeff Mowatt (CCAL30) :Date: Sun, 13 May 2007 23:29:12 PDT Here's an idea that kicked off between a small group over the weekend. In the region of interest there's much commercial investment yielding high returns for non-social investors. There's also a lack of affordable housing, a great need for family type group care homes for orphans and for premises to establish a government pledged network of 400 rehabilitation centres. Our target investor is UK based in middle age with funds to invest for retirement income. The proposal is to invest in the property refurb business where we might expect to yeild 20% ROI on each refurb project, thus providing a higher return for our investor than he might achieve from existing tax incentivised savings and at the same time yield profit for deploying toward a range of social purpose. The investment model would be the UK LLP form advocated by Chris Cook in the Open Capital group. Since the UK LLP is tax transparent and tax is payable only at the point at which a member withdraws their investment, it might go on being re-invested until the time of retirement when other taxable income may have ceased. As a social builder, we can limit our margins to be competitive in contracts to supply the group care home and rehab centre premises. From our profit as a profit for purpose business, we may choose to deploy to any non-mission related cause we choose. For example investment in local training for Ugandan medical students I mentioned elsewhere on Onet a few months ago. We propose starting with a small group perhaps 5 people or small businesses investing $10,000 each as members of the LLP. ---- :Author: Chris Cook (CCAL30) :Date: Mon, 14 May 2007 04:56:11 PDT The mechanism I would use is a "Community Land Partnership". You need a Ugandan entity which acquires the relevant land and holds it in perpetuity as "Trustee" or "Steward": not sure how easy that is under Ugandan law. This then becomes a Member of a UK "Development Network" / "Social Stock Exchange" LLP. The other members are: (a) the association/ consortium/ cooperative of "Occupiers"; who use the land; (b) the "investors" who put in as many $200 impact certificates/ social "equity shares" as they wish as a member of a one member/one vote "association" of investors of global scope; (c) the "manager"/ developer ie your goodselves. It's then a matter of agreeing what "Capital Rental" is due for the use of the land and the capital invested in it - which you have lots of ideas for! Personally I rather like the idea of the occupiers "tithing" their production into a pool and using it for whatever purposes they agree....how practical that is I don't know. Also, this structure is what I suggested to C4 World who could provide the "platform" for what would be "micro-investment" rather than "micro- credit": Good luck Chris Christina Jordan said: A new earned income strategy -------------- ok here goes. I am so excited about an idea I've got floating in my brain it's hard to set it down in written words. If this can work, I may have invented a new way of sourcing social investment capital that could be very, very interesting for a number of projects here. I need some feedback - please tell me why this *won't* work.... Concept: **Raising Social Capital thru Issuing Impact Certificates** The Opok Farms project in Amuru District, Northern Uganda, needs $60,000 by July 2007 to clear, plant & harvest the first 300 acres at the farm site and to purchase a farm vehicle. The first crop yields on those 300 acres will help to finance the clearing of more acreage for commercial use; meanwhile those first 300 acres of active crop-growing fields will become 150 two-acre plots where we plan to resettle 150 child-headed families. The specific target group for the children's Village is families of orphans and returnee child-mothers who have lost the connection to their own family land through the war and have nowhere to resettle to. The land will provide them with income to live on, in a community that also includes a school, a community health center and a Life in Africa WE Center (where the farm's child families and laborer families will be members). For more questions on the farm project itself see http://www.omidyar.net/user/u618296607/news/18/ To raise the $60,000 in start-up capital required, 300 people are sought to invest $200 each in purchasing seven $30 impact certificates, to be redeemed at the Life in Africa WE Marketplace at a rate of one certificate per year. The certificates will be issued annually in January of each year, and will represent a $30 "discount" on any craft item purchase, school fees sponsorship, food aid program contribution or any other impact alternative offered at the WE Marketplace at that time. When the discount is redeemed by the holder, Life in Africa will bill the Opok Farms project for up to $30 of the total transaction. Advantages: - For the social investor, this means that $200 turns into $410 in monetary value toward direct grassroots impact in Northern Uganda. Down the line, Opok Farms related products, beneficiaries and initiatives will be listed at the WE Marketplace, so the entire $200 could be recycled back into that cause, or into any other that the consumer wants to be a part of. - For the farm, it provides us with low cost capital to start-up a social venture alongside our commercial activities, and enables us to be a part of creating the additional $63,000 in LiA impact (a much nicer idea than paying a bank!). - For Life in Africa, it locks in at least $9000 in support per year from 300 people returning to the site at least once a year to redeem their certificates and see what's new. - For all of you (if it works) it potentially means a new way to source social enterprise capital. If LiA can issue impact certificates for the Opok Farms project, why not for TEN or Amoration? Eager to hear this groups thoughts on the concept so far. And then there's also this additional line of thinking: IF we run the entire $60,000 through Homowo and make the $200 tax deductible (btw Mark, I've been thinking a Homowo/LiA event might be an idea to explore for sometime in the summer while I am in the USA), then *possibly* we could see if ON would be willing to *match* the amount raised through this campaign. In that could work out to be the case (I've not talked to anyone about this yet), then everything over and above the $60,000 raised could be earmarked specifically for the Opok Farms community school that Linda Nowakowski and some of her students from Thailand would be in a position to come and help set up 1 year from now. The disadvantage is that running it through Homowo takes an additional 5% out of the amount we'd actually receive, however, the $60,000 figure takes that into account already (just in case it's possible). If an ON match is not possible, then I don't know if I think the US tax deductible thing is really necessary (ie, one could argue that the impact certificates are a tangible something purchased). Other thoughts welcome. Sorry if this is long - it's been bubbling in my brain for about 2 weeks now so feels good to finally get it out! Tear it apart please :) ---- :Author: Chris Cook (CCAL30) :Date: Mon, 14 May 2007 05:14:34 PDT Hi Jeff Just responded to Christina, but for your project we are looking at an alternative model for development finance. Same CLP structure. You'd need a local entity to own the freehold as "Trustee/Custodian" that could not be pirated or hijacked. Big issue in that neck of the woods, as you know. Then it's a case of raising the cash to buy the properties and refurbish them. If you can convince the existing owner to "invest" some or all of the value of the property (and that way he would get a piece of the 20% uplift you plan, which might appeal) then that knocks down the cash requirement. Similarly, the builders could maybe invest their profit margin, and potential "occupiers" could invest "sweat" equity by working on the properties they plan to live in. A variation on "self build". Then to the "development finance" investors of the balance of cash required you give x% of the eventual revenue stream, which they can keep as pension investments or sell on: (a) to Occupiers gradually buying in by paying more than their "rental"; (b) to more risk averse long term investors who are interested in the index-linked (if you start the rentals at "affordable" levels and raise them with inflation) property-based revenues we see here. You, of course are the "ethical developer" / Manager, and also get equity shares in return for your effirts and experience which you can reinvest or whatever. The outcome is essentially an ethical "Real Estate Investment Trust" or REIT with returns in local money. If you need legal help, I know a good lawyer who is working half his time in Moscow for a real-estate development firm. Best Regards Chris Jeff Mowatt said: Here's an idea that kicked off between a small group over the weekend. In the region of interest there's much commercial investment yielding high returns for non-social investors. There's also a lack of affordable housing, a great need for family type group care homes for orphans and for premises to establish a government pledged network of 400 rehabilitation centres. Our target investor is UK based in middle age with funds to invest for retirement income. The proposal is to invest in the property refurb business where we might expect to yeild 20% ROI on each refurb project, thus providing a higher return for our investor than he might achieve from existing tax incentivised savings and at the same time yield profit for deploying toward a range of social purpose. The investment model would be the UK LLP form advocated by Chris Cook in the Open Capital group. Since the UK LLP is tax transparent and tax is payable only at the point at which a member withdraws their investment, it might go on being re-invested until the time of retirement when other taxable income may have ceased. As a social builder, we can limit our margins to be competitive in contracts to supply the group care home and rehab centre premises. From our profit as a profit for purpose business, we may choose to deploy to any non-mission related cause we choose. For example investment in local training for Ugandan medical students I mentioned elsewhere on Onet a few months ago. We propose starting with a small group perhaps 5 people or small businesses investing $10,000 each as members of the LLP. ---- :Author: John Berger (CCAL30) :Date: Mon, 14 May 2007 05:35:58 PDT :Modified: Mon, 14 May 2007 05:38:00 PDT Interesting plan. It seems like a security to me and thus subject to US securities law. I have yet to understand how Chris's plan would work in the US but if it does then that would be great. IT cant be tax deductible in the US as the value in return is more than the "donation" I also don't understand the math - 7x30 =210 - not 410 - unless you plan to return the $200 also and that was not clear. Im sorry if this sounds negative - I would like something like this to work and have not figured out myself a good way to do it. This seems like something that could easily be funded by a foundation, USAID or the IFC. ---- :Author: Jeff Mowatt (CCAL30) :Date: Mon, 14 May 2007 06:08:53 PDT Thanks Chris, We have a self-registered local legal entity and probably need a separate one, but maybe not able to own the freehold. This I believe is local authority controlled with tenancy rights known as propiska. We aim to keep it as simple as possible at first, though allowing all parties to buy in is interesting. I'd imagined funds being managed by a UK resident LLP remitting funds as a project demanded keeping the fund as distant as possible from the hijack possibility. Returns in local money would need to be invested on or repaid to UK investors. We know how to do that legally. We also know someone who decided not to follow our advice and lost half the value of a $100k apartment being skimmed by a Russian bank on Uk withdrawals. ---- :Author: John Berger (CCAL30) :Date: Mon, 14 May 2007 11:53:29 PDT Has anyone looked at if member based non profits can charge fees as a requirement of membership? If so - Christina could just form a US 501(c)3 with a membership fee of x$. Members may receive a benefit like the coupons, but that would reduce the tax deduction. ---- :Author: Lars Hasselblad Torres :Date: Mon, 14 May 2007 12:08:05 PDT in the us they can: its a mainstay source of income for many. ---- :Author: Mark Grimes :Date: Tue, 15 May 2007 14:54:24 PDT Some very interesting ideas being pushed in many directions. Very well done everyone. Side note... .. image :: http://www.omidyar.net/group/foodchain/file/9.88.11792657889/get/lostinthefoodchain.jpg `Lost in the FOOD CHAIN`_ the painting, as seen on eBay. .. _`Lost in the FOOD CHAIN` : http://cgi.ebay.com/LOST-IN-THE-FOOD-CHAIN-Original-American-OIL-painting_W0QQitemZ220109079063QQihZ012QQcategoryZ20135QQcmdZViewItem#ebayphotohosting ---- :Author: Christina :Date: Wed, 16 May 2007 00:36:29 PDT John, I'd intended to mean $410 in impact. - $200 from the investor impacts the farm project - $210 paid back from the farm project impacts LiA Is the extra $10 what makes it potentially subject to securities law? If so, what if we just paid back the $200? Would that eliminate that concern? Then the deal would essentially be "buy $200 in impact certificates" (ie, like a gift certificate) to be redeemed over time in a way that doubles the impact of your $200. Forming a US 501c3 is really not a realistic option. I have tried and failed to do that from Uganda already at great expense - long story, but to enter into that process again risks delaying the whole farm project for 1 or more years. Moreover, the intent here is not to be a charity but to be a social enterprise. The ONLY reason I would even consider pushing the whole thing through Homowo would be if matching funds were available that were contingent upon that. But if that's going to cause confusion then it might not be worth it. In the opok thread some have also said that the ability to redeem for products might take it out of the realm of tax deductibility anyway. ---- :Author: Christina :Date: Wed, 16 May 2007 00:56:30 PDT Chris Cook said: The mechanism I would use is a "Community Land Partnership". You need a Ugandan entity which acquires the relevant land and holds it in perpetuity as "Trustee" or "Steward": not sure how easy that is under Ugandan law. Chris, the land is family owned and there is no plan to transfer ownership. WE have been discussing incorporating the farm as a company but it's going to be important to maintain the family's interest as well as the project interest. Otherwise I love the set-up you propose but does it require transfering the land ownership? ---- :Author: nmw :Date: Wed, 16 May 2007 01:24:40 PDT Mark Grimes said: as seen on Being lost in it still applies, as the food chain goes by.... ;D nmw ---- :Author: Christina :Date: Wed, 16 May 2007 01:57:15 PDT Jeff, your concept brings David Frayne's property development concepts to mind. ---- :Author: Jeff Mowatt (CCAL30) :Date: Wed, 16 May 2007 03:29:37 PDT Christina yes, this also draws on earlier work to leverage seed funding for self-build promotion in an Islamic community. The primary aim is to build sustainabilty for ourselves as the mananger partner in Chris's model, by offering the kind of investment yeild which can't be achieved in our own housing market. In this area the freehold is I believe in the hands of the state anyway but we wouldn't be involving them, simply buying refurbishing and re-selling as leasholders. However if we were to become freeholders, I believe that would also put us in the position of Trustee partner. Otherwise, hopefully having proven the approach we might later approach government there to collaborate in being the Trustee partner. Though Chris is the expert, it seems to me that your owners might equally be the Trustees of this model which is described in more detail in a document which can be downloaded here. http://www.gltn.net/en/tools-/12.html In reading this, please hold in mind that GLTN are Henry George advocates working on tools to develop community owned land. As far as I can see, that doesn't preclude a variant where land ownership already exists along with a will to participate in a community development cause. ---- :Author: Julie Caldwell (CCAL30) :Date: Wed, 16 May 2007 07:01:52 PDT Christina Jordan said: A new earned income strategy -------------- ...If an ON match is not possible, then I don't know if I think the US tax deductible thing is really necessary (ie, one could argue that the impact certificates are a tangible something purchased). Other thoughts welcome. What you have is a $170 tax-deductable donation and $30 purchase. It's unique in that the donor gets to choose their thank you gift. And, it does get return visitors. You might be able to negociate with Homowo for the actual time/cost involved with handling the pass through, accounting of funds. The time is probably less than the $3,000 off the top 5%. I recently became a monthly donor to an organization. As a thank you they gave me two nights lodging at their retreat center, a subscription to their magazine, a 10% discount off bookstore purchases and teachings, along with special invitations to members only events. These are gifts from them, so I think I am still able to take the full tax deduction for my monthly donations. If the tax deduction is meaningful to your donors, you may wish to restructure the offer a bit. ---- :Author: John Berger (CCAL30) :Date: Wed, 16 May 2007 07:42:10 PDT Christina - it is a security even if you pay no interest. It has more to do with the way you were offering it. You cant offer publicly at all, or privately to more than a few people, any kind of investment or loan without it being a security. Basically the laws were designed to prevent the kinds of fraud that happened in the 1920's -40's and this are not flexible for the social enterprise of today. It seems to me (not a lawyer) that you can presell items with a discount- that is, I cant see any reason you cant sell those gift certificates in an upfront sale. Well- there are some state laws re gift certificates and I only know them for a few of the states. I only looked at the laws to see how long until gift certificates have to expire, not if it is ok to sell them now and have them valid in the future though. My gut is not to worry about that - just dont talk about it as an investment - talk about it as a sale of gift certificates - or a subscription to a gift program. Thinking on the fly here - the gift program might even be easier to manage. Give us $200 today and we will send you x$ of products a year. That way you chose the things to send and dont have to deal with the more complicated logistics of taking orders. That would be the way I would go. The purchaser would understand that you are using the funds to develop the program so it would be a chartable activity, but treated more like a a gift program. As per the 501(c)3. I have no idea what it is like in Uganda, but setting up one in the US is no more that a few hours work and lot of waiting. I doubt we spent more than an hour on the paperwork for TEN Charities and we had it in I think three months. For some reason I have seen people make it really complicated, but simple and fast is best. ---- :Author: Julie Caldwell (CCAL30) :Date: Wed, 16 May 2007 08:18:49 PDT I echo John on the 501c3 application. It's not hard, we waited 9 months! However, the accounting fees for IRS filings run between $600-$1,500 annually for smaller non-profits. If you bring in less than $30,000 per year you only have to file every 3 years. ---- :Author: Julie Caldwell (CCAL30) :Date: Wed, 16 May 2007 08:41:46 PDT And, at least in the state of Nevada you only need 3 board members. You would want them to be folks other than family or it can become complicated. ---- :Author: Julie Caldwell (CCAL30) :Date: Wed, 16 May 2007 08:47:22 PDT PS... If you go the route of setting up a 501c3 with the intention of funding other projects or groups, it would be great to work with you and anyone else here that is looking to document a working model for others to replicate. For example, our non-profit Youth Helping Youth Inc is fiscal agent for Friends of Elko Peace Park and Emerging Futures Network. And, the work with the park will go miles for credibility towards winning a capitol building grant for the Peace Center we hope to launch next. Once the Peace Center is up and running, we would like to provide fiscal agency for other local community organizing projects (especially where citizen groups partner with existing government and non-government entities). We are workign with International Humanities Center to understand their intake and management process. This is an idea that I believe can bring great benifit to small organizing efforts. ---- :Author: John Berger (CCAL30) :Date: Wed, 16 May 2007 10:25:28 PDT Tax filing does not have to be that expensive - we dont use an accountant and just do it ourselves. Quickbooks for non-profits really helps in that if you use that day to day then you just get the 990 financials from there. ---- :Author: Christina :Date: Wed, 16 May 2007 10:51:42 PDT Yes, people tried to tell me it was easy the last time I tried too. For those of you in the USA, it probably is. But there is a difference in that you all are incorporated and operationally located in the United States, we are not. Before filing for 501c3 status, we need to incorporate with the state, maintain an administrative presence there and have operational bank accounts. We would also then have 2 sets of tax documents to file each year (local and in the USA). It's really NOT easy for a grassroots African org to do all of that. 2 different lawyers I tried to get working on this were also stymied over how to handle some of the questions on the application. No help from the US embassy either.... so after 2 years of that I gave up back in mid 2001, and realized on a philosophical level that if what I am trying to do is create something replicable, then it can't be dependent on a foreign legal process and tax structure to work. more on the impact certificates later. thanks so much for the brainstorm everyone. It's very helpful. ---- :Author: Peter Rees :Date: Wed, 16 May 2007 11:06:13 PDT [**Added to** `Resources`_ **page**] From the `Consultative Group to Assist the Poor`_ ... `Good Practice Guidleines for Funders of MicroFinance`_ .. _`Resources` : http://www.omidyar.net/group/foodchain/ws/resources/ .. _`Good Practice Guidleines for Funders of MicroFinance` : http://www.cgap.org/portal/binary/com.epicentric.contentmanagement.servlet.ContentDeliveryServlet/Documents/donorguidelines.pdf .. _`Consultative Group to Assist the Poor` : http://www.cgap.org/ ---- :Author: Christina :Date: Wed, 16 May 2007 12:01:29 PDT By the way... Some not so good news. We got word last Friday at 5pm that after 2 years of being about the worst partners imaginable, Invisible Children has now canceled their agreement with Life in Africa. No reason was given in the letter we received. We are verbally told this is a decision from the USA office - they want to be able to say that the bracelets are made in the IDP camps. So 70 LiA members have lost their bracelet making jobs from one day to the next with no warning. They did write that they would pay a severance but it is unspecified as to when or how much that will be. They didn't even bother to arrange that someone from IC would break the news to our members and answer their questions. They simply dropped the bomb, removed their materials right away and said thank you very much. Since it was on Onet that I first came into contact with Invisible children, I have refrained from saying much here about the ATROCIOUS way that IC has behaved throughout these past 2 years. To be honest - though I am terribly sorry for the 70 LiA members and for the *way* in which this was handled by IC, I am not at all sorry to see the "partnership" end. It's been a nightmare from day one. Funny how other partnerships can be so unexpectedly great - got a call from Kiva last night to let me know that NHK - a Japanese television network - is doing an hour long special on social entrepreneurship. Kiva will be featured and they've decided to feature Life in Africa too. Someone's coming to my office on Monday to arrange a week of filming in July. When I think of how excellently the lia workers have been in designing and executing their part of the IC bracelet campaign compared to some of the challenges we've had getting our microlending program to scale, it's really ironic that the tremendous role the LiA community has played for IC is not valued at all, and that Kiva thinks we're great. Go figure. Anyway, that's that. In yesterday's weekly staff meeting, I was genuinely surprised to find that everyone else's attitude toward the IC letter was pretty much the same as mine - good riddance. And so we carry on. ---- :Author: Evonne Heyning (CCAL30) :Date: Wed, 16 May 2007 14:58:45 PDT Christina, I feel you on the mixed bag of partnerships....working with other groups can be an adventure that takes you in unintended directions. I hope your team can find new ways to make new livings very soon. How does this affect your volunteers coming this summer? ---- :Author: Lars Hasselblad Torres :Date: Wed, 16 May 2007 15:57:14 PDT bummer. seems perhaps you knew it was coming. onward and upward in the words of ellison horne :) ---- :Author: Julie Caldwell (CCAL30) :Date: Wed, 16 May 2007 23:49:39 PDT John Berger said: Tax filing does not have to be that expensive - we dont use an accountant and just do it ourselves. Quickbooks for non-profits really helps in that if you use that day to day then you just get the 990 financials from there. ........... Thanks John -- I've always been lucky and had volunteers help me out with ours. And, we do use Quickbooks, although I don't find the forms that easy! ---- :Author: John Berger (CCAL30) :Date: Thu, 17 May 2007 03:58:58 PDT American Express is getting the whole vote to do good bandwagon: http://www.membersproject.com/intro.htm TEN will apply, but like the Netsquared vote, I doubt we will win as we just don't have the ability to drive enough votes. So it will probably go to boys and girls clubs or something large with a lot of money. I hope I am wrong though. ---- :Author: Mark Grimes :Date: Thu, 17 May 2007 14:23:52 PDT The bigger networks seemed skewed to win, just like within many/most voting situations. Bigger networks and known brands. ---- :Author: nmw :Date: Thu, 17 May 2007 14:29:06 PDT What I don't get is: why did Jefferson Airplane decide to do a commercial for Levi's? ---- :Author: Lars Hasselblad Torres :Date: Thu, 17 May 2007 16:52:41 PDT "skewed" to win? dunno: seems like "positioned" is a better frame. get positioned. ---- :Author: Mark Grimes :Date: Thu, 17 May 2007 17:03:16 PDT Yep. Bigger NPO networks are positioned to get the most votes by the sheer volume of their membership numbers. Alas smaller and midsized orgs that deliver tangible results, meaningful objectives, real achievements, actual deliverables, innovative solutions will probably get lost in the shuffle. ---- :Author: Lars Hasselblad Torres :Date: Thu, 17 May 2007 17:10:34 PDT imho that's a pretty unfair dichotomy. there is work that can be done to bring those votes up - i am sure the numbers aren't even in the thousands. ---- :Author: Mark Grimes :Date: Thu, 17 May 2007 17:24:31 PDT I think everyone interested should apply, but the outcome is $1 per every new registered member (up to 5,000,000) during the 3 month program...and one single org/idea winner. ---- :Author: Peter Rees :Date: Thu, 17 May 2007 17:49:54 PDT John, Mark, Lars ... S'dojo Jim and Julie Caldwell may have other thoughts from you (Mark/John). Smaller orgs have some distinct advantages. It would be interesting to brainstorm how to *uplift* TEN, to tweak capital flows so John can scale. I mean Julie's Elko Peace Park managed to attract capital that Big Brothers never would have been able to access. ---- :Author: Lars Hasselblad Torres :Date: Thu, 17 May 2007 18:15:04 PDT i agree peter. and its not about AE per se; rather the conflating of the AE process with N2. AND to wit Peters' good point - its what networks - vs say membership orgs - are all about. ---- :Author: Jeff Mowatt (CCAL30) :Date: Fri, 18 May 2007 00:08:42 PDT To me it doesn't add up. On checking, I discover that for me to open an Amex card account will cost the equivalent of $120 in annual fees, without even using it. So, that's less than one percent deployed to social purpose. If I'm a business operating in my own country under a social enterprise definition that renders more than 50% of profit to social purpose, then surely American Express will be the greatest benficiary and I'll be violating the principles on which I'm supposed to be operating. Then I must submit a project idea, a short paragraph on which millions of other members will base their voting decision. I note that around 16,000 projects from "across the country" have been submitted, so already there a hint of it being constrained to a US only membership. Finally, should I cross all these hurdles, a panel whose membership contains no individual who to my knowledge has ever advocated anything other than conventional top down development and charitable donation, will assess what I offer which would most definitely be something other. It doesn't appear to be a very productive use of my time. ---- :Author: Julie Caldwell (CCAL30) :Date: Fri, 18 May 2007 09:30:46 PDT :Modified: Fri, 18 May 2007 09:43:15 PDT Mark Grimes said: Yep. Bigger NPO networks are positioned to get the most votes by the sheer volume of their membership numbers. Alas smaller and midsized orgs that deliver tangible results, meaningful objectives, real achievements, actual deliverables, innovative solutions will probably get lost in the shuffle. ..... So... what next steps can "we" (as in the all the little guys and gals) can do to unify and strengthen our position? ---- :Author: Julie Caldwell (CCAL30) :Date: Fri, 18 May 2007 09:40:05 PDT Peter Rees said: John, Mark, Lars ... S'dojo Jim and Julie Caldwell may have other thoughts from you (Mark/John). Smaller orgs have some distinct advantages. It would be interesting to brainstorm how to *uplift* TEN, to tweak capital flows so John can scale. I mean Julie's Elko Peace Park managed to attract capital that Big Brothers never would have been able to access. ....... The key to Elko Peace Park's success was in our community organizing effort. And, our ability to engage residents (not organization leaders -- very different agendas). And, that these residents represented many different Elko mindsets and personalities. We also organized around something that would benifit a majority of the Elko residents. In NYC it was residents organizing to build Beacon Schools (24 hour/7 days per week community centers built within a school setting and run by multiple partners and counciled by local residents). The funds we received from the state came from property taxes that Nevada citizen's voted to use for the development of open space projects. So the fit was a natural. The Beacon School project had seed capitol from researchers and foundations to build one such entity in NYC from the ground up, with funding to facilitate community organizing, a media campaign and enough funds to work with another 4 locations in NYC that self-organized (like what we are doing in Elko). They did not have funds to build the entity from the ground up. However, they were able to pull local residents together and attract NYC and state funds to support their efforts. This resulted in all of NYC wanting a Beacon school and within 10 years all 40 districts have one that is built and run by the local residents!!! ---- :Author: Lars Hasselblad Torres :Date: Fri, 18 May 2007 09:42:00 PDT I also think that if you look conversion (an email resulting in some member action) the bigger networks, while numerically probably stunning, have relatively low rates while smaller NPOs have more active networks. Furthermore, when you get to the really big networks, alot of their membership is shared - in a forced choice (say, small network i know will have action vs large network with high overhead) i wonder which way user-members will go? ---- :Author: John Berger (CCAL30) :Date: Mon, 21 May 2007 06:44:38 PDT Good personal news. It is going to sound strange that I am excited about taking the largest financial loss of my life, but we finally have an offer on our house. We had bought the house 3 years ago at what we now know was the peak of the market. At the time I had no idea I was going to move to doing TEN full time, so it was well within our means. But when I went to TEN and gave up the paycheck we needed the equity in the house for TEN and to live off. So the house went on the market and we levered it up. Almost two years later and we had no offers, and had lowered the price to well below our mortgage, still with no luck. Last week Sarah and I met with a lawyer to get the foreclosure process started. I was trying to avoid that but our savings were getting to the point where I did not see a choice. Well, the good news is that we got lucky an caught a buyer this weekend. We don't close until late July, so I am still crossing my fingers, and my bank is refusing to do a short sale so I still have a bit of a financial dance to do. But this is still a major relief as we can finally get this off our back and preserve our credit (which is vital for TEN as well). ---- :Author: Lars Hasselblad Torres :Date: Mon, 21 May 2007 07:13:09 PDT good john. will keep fingers crossed for you, family and TEN as you navigate these uncertain, unnerving waters. ---- :Author: Evonne Heyning (CCAL30) :Date: Mon, 21 May 2007 17:06:35 PDT John, best wishes in the dance! I think we food chainees could teach "Dancing with the Stars" a thing or two about getting in there and dancing your heart out. I keep mentioning TEN and Emancipation to friends in conversation....keep us updated on your progress! ---- :Author: Julie Caldwell (CCAL30) :Date: Tue, 22 May 2007 22:06:00 PDT TEN was mentioned at our Peace Park meeting today. Sheri, who was our lead organizer last year was telling her friend about your cool stuff! While we won't be selling anything this year (too much work for the returns for our purpose and the venue)... Just wanted you to know we think of TEN with found memories. One of our volunteers wears her justice braclet all the time (this is a year later). Dancing... ---- :Author: Julie Caldwell (CCAL30) :Date: Tue, 22 May 2007 22:09:45 PDT Peter Rees said: John, Mark, Lars ... S'dojo Jim and Julie Caldwell may have other thoughts from you (Mark/John). Smaller orgs have some distinct advantages. It would be interesting to brainstorm how to uplift TEN, to tweak capital flows so John can scale. I mean Julie's Elko Peace Park managed to attract capital that Big Brothers never would have been able to access. ------- Been thinking a bit about this. I really wish we could have a researcher follow our effort here in Elko. The state department mentioned how they see us as a model for other communities. I have so much information (research from the Casey grant as well as interview material from the learning tour) and such a great project. However, this is not my area and there are some really good people that do this type of thing. Any ideas where I might turn to get the work documented in a way that would be useful to others? ---- :Author: Evonne Heyning (CCAL30) :Date: Wed, 23 May 2007 00:47:18 PDT A recent good post on WorldChanging: Principle 12: Philanthropy and NGOs WorldChanging Team May 20, 2007 10:33 PM The practice of philanthropy wields influence far beyond the amount of money that foundations and individuals give away each year. Because a great number of the tasks most vital to building a better future demand investments whose return is measured in impact rather than dividends -- tasks that would not be done correctly (or sometimes at all) if they needed to return a profit -- smart philanthropy acts as a sort of yeast, catalyzing innovations that will pay off handsomely in future public benefits, from child welfare to ecosystem services. But much of the philanthropic work done today is less smart than it ought to be, and a whole host of new ideas is bubbling up which offer the possibility of real transformation in the field. One of the biggest changes is a dramatically increased demand for transparency in the ways foundations and donors track and reveal the impacts their giving has, why their gifts were made, and what they've learned from their failures. Shockingly enough, many philanthropists still treat their grantmaking and evaluation processes like business secrets, when they ought to be thinking about how to leverage the value of the new knowledge their money has purchased (in the form of programatic efforts from NGOs) by sharing it as widely as possible. If the opacity of philanthropic practice is a problem, the ways many institutions invest their endowments is a flat scandal. Many foundations fund their charitable giving by investing in companies that are actively creating the kind of harm those foundations are trying to undo. In the wake of a series of scandalous revelations of amoral investment practices, there has been a wave of calls for not only greatly increased transparency on the part of foundations about their portfolios, but also more comprehensive tools for holistically evaluating the social and environmental impacts of the stocks they hold -- what we here term their philanthropic footprint. Foundations that get it are increasingly treating their portfolios as part of their toolkit for creating change. Being clear about their philanthropic footprints also frees foundations and the NGOs they fund to think more clearly about partnerships with private sector companies, partnerships that when done right -- as some sayis increasingly the case in the global response to the water crisis -- offer tremendous opportunities to use the strengths of all three kinds of organizations to best advantage. NGOs themselves are beginning to change as well. On the one hand, they are beginning to respond to the emergence of millions of networked small donors, becoming more nimble, more open and collaborative, and quicker to form mutually advantageous networks themselves. On the other hand, they are beginning to demand longer-term investments in the creation of considered strategies, intellectual groundwork and slowly-emerged innovations (especially in the sustainability arena). This combination of nimble openness and deep strategy is less a contradiction than it might seem though, as it becomes clearer that long-term vision coupled with operational spontaneity offers the best recipe for success in a world where online communications, technical innovation and rapid cultural and political change are sending tremors through the strategic landscape. The big question is whether all this change is happening fast enough. With many of the problems we face being the kinds (from climate change to fighting global poverty) in which time is not on our side, we need rapid innovation and we need it immediately. The men and women who are working to change philanthropy are thus giving us all a gift, even if we never see a coin of the money they grant out. Transforming Philanthropy -- The worldchanging philanthropist's job grows more difficult as our insight into the interwoven nature of the world's problems grows more clear. We know now that efforts to fix a single problem with a single, simple solution rarely succeed...We are just beginning to see truly effective philanthropy that thinks about its grantmaking in terms of systems, interconnections, leverage points and payoffs which are slow but powerful. We can hope that this big-picture, long-term giving proves to be a growing trend. Bright Green Funding -- Why have environmental NGOs struggled to keep their support level growing in proportion to the problems they're trying to solve? One reason is that many large NGOs came late to the game of networked collaboration, and high-speed, distributed efforts to raise money and grow their pool. In communications, too, environmental non-profits have a history of running inefficient campaigns and actions, and of lacking the right language to compellingly describe their missions to funders. But all that has begun to change as NGOs embrace 21st century tools and technology to assist with funding for advocacy. SF's Stewards of the Global Village: Foundation for Sustainable Development -- The San Francisco based non-profit Foundation for Sustainable Development (FSD) harnesses the enthusiasm of globally concerned young people in order to fulfill its mission: "to support the efforts of local development organizations working to improve the welfare of the people living in their communities." Since 1995 FSD has partnered with grassroots organizations in the developing world, providing them with human resources, financial resources, and technical assistance. ---- :Author: John Berger (CCAL30) :Date: Wed, 23 May 2007 06:40:20 PDT :Modified: Wed, 23 May 2007 06:40:46 PDT Thanks Julie, maybe on the big opening we can set up a tent or something. I appreciate your support. I just got some good news from our product placement team. A magazine with 5million+ circulation that last year gave us one product picture and 15 words, just told us they are going to give us a full story in the fall. Last year - that small mention generated about $80,000 in sales. So this could be very good news. The only problem is that I now (when I confirm it) have to increase our purchases for the fall just when our cash is at the seasonal low point. I am thinking I may take a shot at a prosper loan, or even set up a friends and family loan program using circle-lending with the loan only used to buy inventory for the fall. Good problem to have though! ---- :Author: Lars Hasselblad Torres :Date: Wed, 23 May 2007 07:02:42 PDT Evonne wrote: "In the wake of a series of scandalous revelations of amoral investment practices, there has been a wave of calls for not only greatly increased transparency on the part of foundations about their portfolios, but also more comprehensive tools for holistically evaluating the social and environmental impacts of the stocks they hold -- what we here term their philanthropic footprint." I'd be interested in learning more about these. I guess I missed the 'wave' - anyone have an idea of what's being discussed here? John, kudos - sounds like a boon - is this Parade? ---- :Author: Peter Rees :Date: Wed, 23 May 2007 07:45:35 PDT My guess ... The LA Times articles on the Gates Foundation. I could be wrong. If your curious start with Allison Fine's blog `post`_. Lars said: Evonne wrote: "In the wake of a series of scandalous revelations of amoral investment practices, there has been a wave of calls for not only greatly increased transparency on the part of foundations about their portfolios, but also more comprehensive tools for holistically evaluating the social and environmental impacts of the stocks they hold -- what we here term their philanthropic footprint." I'd be interested in learning more about these. I guess I missed the 'wave' - anyone have an idea of what's being discussed here? John, kudos - sounds like a boon - is this Parade? .. _`post` : http://web.mac.com/allisonfine1/iWeb/Allison%20Fine/A.%20Fine%20Blog/E38F931F-58E1-457F-91B0-361CB9955CC3.html ---- :Author: John Berger (CCAL30) :Date: Wed, 23 May 2007 08:13:47 PDT Not Parade. I dont want to publicly say as you never know what can go wrong, but it is one of the top 10 best selling consumer magazine in the US. It was a freelancer that pitched it for us (with our PR team) and the Exec Editor approved it so that is enough for us to take the risk of adding the inventory. Since it is in the Fall it might also be a big recruiter of Awareness Parties and not just internet sales, and of course, it continues our efforts to educate people in the US about trafficking and slavery. I hope this proves that there is enormous power in educating the consumer about social issues by working with the proven consumer marketing strategies. ---- :Author: Lars Hasselblad Torres :Date: Wed, 23 May 2007 08:23:55 PDT you might see if they can push it up a little closer to holidays, december 3 (international day for the abolition of slavery) and december 10 (international human rights day). ---- :Author: John Berger (CCAL30) :Date: Wed, 23 May 2007 09:22:37 PDT That is probably good advice, but I am leaving that to our PR team. They have proven they know what they are doing. Sarah was working with them talking to the reporter etc leading up to this. Now it is on me to get the products in, calculate demand, arange financing, etc. ---- :Author: Evonne Heyning (CCAL30) :Date: Wed, 23 May 2007 10:09:01 PDT John Berger, congrats and keep up the great work! I read that Omidyar Network recently funded a P2P funding project aimed at raising money from networks of trust (family, friends)....anyone remember the name of that company? I would check in with Alex @ WorldChanging on that blogpost....I'm not sure what "wave" he's talking about either but transparency is definitely on the tips of many blogger tongues. ---- :Author: Mark Grimes :Date: Wed, 23 May 2007 10:17:08 PDT >>anyone remember the name of that company?<< CircleLending ---- :Author: Lars Hasselblad Torres :Date: Wed, 23 May 2007 10:38:22 PDT Evonne wrote: transparency is definitely on the tips of many blogger tongues. Yeah I agree - its kind of a buzzword influencing how people talk about the business world, government - basically governance (decision-making) across institutional types. wonder how much is inspired by "in" books like wikinomics? ---- :Author: Mark Grimes :Date: Wed, 23 May 2007 10:53:04 PDT Buzzwords/phrases like *social networks* and *transparency* will ebb and flow I suppose. The flip side to transparency for biz and politics is having negative things exposed in the media or web sites like F#cked Company. Now, if a company (or many) (or politician) can turn transparency into something that adds value, opens opportunities and such...then there may be more of a rapid adoption...maybe. ---- :Author: Lars Hasselblad Torres :Date: Wed, 23 May 2007 11:43:57 PDT :Modified: Wed, 23 May 2007 11:47:10 PDT Mark wrote: if a company (or many) (or politician) can turn transparency into something that adds value That's definitely the incentive driving the "buzz." For governance, its been a "theme" since the mid-90s resulting in public "public goods" like the development of accountability mechanisms and greater citizen involvement. In his book `wikinomics`_ Don Tapscot documents how increasing collaboration (for which strategic transparency is a precondition) and delivering business value. .. raw:: html .. _`wikinomics`: http://www.wikinomics ---- :Author: nmw :Date: Wed, 23 May 2007 15:31:03 PDT :Modified: Wed, 23 May 2007 15:34:21 PDT 25:50 ==== So an example would be (using the principles that you outlined): - trying to be more open WRT how our algorithms work and - to get more people to help us build a better product or service I'm looking forward to it! ==== BTW: From my point of view, ranking should not be a "one-size fits all" affair -- and it will be far better to rank content according to http://buzzword.name and/or http://keyphrase.info ;D nmw ---- :Author: Evonne Heyning (CCAL30) :Date: Wed, 23 May 2007 20:00:48 PDT Very interesting: http://www.socialtext.net/wikinomics/index.cgi Don Tapscot did an event with some of the Better World Island scouts recently in Second Life too. I look forward to seeing more of the research behind collaboration and value-building....this stories here are useful but how's the book? ---- :Author: Lars Hasselblad Torres :Date: Thu, 24 May 2007 03:29:52 PDT book is good - same kind of things: lots of stories to make his point(s). ---- :Author: Dominique Beyens (CCAL30) :Date: Thu, 24 May 2007 16:40:14 PDT Is the friday morning call still on? If yes - What's the time bracket? ---- :Author: Mark Grimes :Date: Thu, 24 May 2007 20:54:16 PDT It is still on, Jean is helping keep that one on target. It's 8:30AM PT. ---- :Author: John Berger (CCAL30) :Date: Fri, 25 May 2007 06:18:08 PDT I have a new post up here http://www.omidyar.net/group/ten/news/5/17/ about our new website which is the first step in getting our Abolitionist community online tools built. If you could read that thread and take a look at the site it would be very helpful. Thanks ---- :Author: Julie Caldwell (CCAL30) :Date: Fri, 25 May 2007 16:20:25 PDT If anyone wants to connect or knows of someone we should be connecting with, let me know. .. line-block:: May 28-30: Net2 Conference - San Jose June 2-6: New York City June 7: Chicago June 8: Miniapolis June 10: Back home in Elko What I'd really like to find for our Elko Peace Park work is funding and a researcher to document what's working in our community-citizen organizing effort. I think it would be a valuable best practices tool for others. ---- :Author: Christina :Date: Sat, 26 May 2007 13:30:44 PDT Rethinking wording & structure on the Opok Farms fundraising idea. could use some feedback on whether this is any better at all: Life in Africa is raising social capital to invest in the Opok Farms project, which is a social enterprise venture to provide sustainable living opportunities for child-headed families in Northern Uganda. In addition to investing contributions raised through this campaign in the commercial viability of the project, Life in Africa plans to establish a 3rd WE Center at the site of the farm that connects the community of resettled children and farm laborer families to Life in Africa's WE Network. As the $200 in capital you contribute to the Opok Farms social capital fund is repaid to Life in Africa over a 7 year period, we're going to pay you back with more of the impact you want to see. In January of every year 2008 - 2014, we're going to ask you how we should spend the money Opok Farms has repaid to LiA. To help you exercise your voice, you will receive a $30 discount code by email, to be redeemed with any shopping cart purchase worth $40 or more at LifeInAfrica.com by the end of that year. What can $40 do? Provide a day of breakfast to 200 children; sponsor 1 term of a child's school fees; buy a necklace that supports craftmakers and helps you spread awareness when you wear it; provide a week's lodging for a volunteer from another African country, or book 4 days of lodging with a LiA host family for yourself! ---- :Author: John Berger (CCAL30) :Date: Sat, 26 May 2007 17:48:21 PDT I think that is great. I would define what a WE Center is though, as you will want to reach an audience beyond those who already know what you do. ---- :Author: Dominique Beyens (CCAL30) :Date: Sat, 26 May 2007 18:00:54 PDT John Berger said: I have a new post up here http://www.omidyar.net/group/ten/news/5/17/ about our new website which is the first step in getting our Abolitionist community online tools built. If you could read that thread and take a look at the site it would be very helpful. Thanks John, the site looks good. Let me know what you have in mind regarding future developments. ---- :Author: John Berger (CCAL30) :Date: Sun, 27 May 2007 16:45:36 PDT Cancel my previous good news post. Our house buyers walked away so we are back on the foreclosure track. I had always thought we would hit rock bottom somewhere on the way to making TEN a success. Now I know when. ---- :Author: Lars Hasselblad Torres :Date: Sun, 27 May 2007 19:26:55 PDT john, i am very sorry to hear this news. i am sure you are more to write it. its a good time to have a house on the market. let's hope you get a good call while in san jose... ---- :Author: nmw :Date: Sun, 27 May 2007 23:26:50 PDT :Modified: Sun, 27 May 2007 23:30:20 PDT John, I decided to search for a listing of your home (or rather a *mention* of a listing of your home) but only found TEN_. If you want me to help you out, then I could probably get you listed -- and/but you should realize that real-estate is one of the most **competitive** subjects on the net. I will only help you if you ask me to -- I have spent too much time helping other people on o.net who are unthankful for my contributions for me to continue wasting my time with such unrewarding engagements. But to tell you the truth: it might in fact be too late. It may take like 2 or 3 weeks for your home to show up on *any* search results (and those would have to be rather "long tail" results for you to have *any chance* of showing up in the top 10). All in all (not just WRT to John's house), I am quite disappointed with the very miniscule level of online methods used on omidyar.net -- it seems that o.netters **in general** are not particularly web savvy (I think Mark Grimes is a notable exception). So far, the most of what I've seen being done at o.net is *very* **old school** -- more like .02 then 2.0 (and/but perhaps there's nothing wrong with "old school" -- *as long as it produces the desired results*). Whatever.... (John, I *do* hope a miracle happens for you -- I am also *very* sorry to hear that the hoped for deal didn't happen) .. _TEN : http://209.85.129.104/search?q=cache:oDXtD1x999IJ:www.whoi.edu/women/announce/TIP_2006/T.E.N.-CCTimes.doc ---- :Author: Jeff Mowatt (CCAL30) :Date: Sun, 27 May 2007 23:36:40 PDT This is a step I took myself 2 years ago, it took 6 months to complete the sale and in that time several people exited my life. pastures. One was a former business partner who died leaving our software business in my hands, so I restarted it to become a revenue generator for our human rights work. ---- :Author: Peter Rees :Date: Wed, 30 May 2007 09:42:52 PDT If you haven't had the chance ... take a look at the `student proposals from UC Santa Cruz`_. Here's James' `request for O.net engagement`_. .. _`student proposals from UC Santa Cruz` : http://www.omidyar.net/group/cmps80j/ws/index/#top .. _`request for O.net engagement` : http://www.omidyar.net/group/community-general/news/1886/ ---- :Author: Peter Rees :Date: Wed, 30 May 2007 13:14:08 PDT John, You might be interested in one of the projects ... `Money Management for Charity NGO's`_ *Basically the point of this project is to manage the money and ideas that charity organizations involved in human slavery already have. We would pitch the idea that collaboration is the key point of innovation. If we want to to see progress it is essential that we make movement together. With our proposal we would be focusing on the economic aspects of money management to ensure profit maximizations to create higher revenue for the countries in which we would be interacting with.* While I have some reservation - OK many reservations - some of the students may be interested in TEN. .. _`Money Management for Charity NGO's` : http://www.omidyar.net/group/cmps80j/ws/Project%3A%20Money%20Management%20for%20Charity%20NGO%27s/ ---- :Author: John Berger (CCAL30) :Date: Wed, 30 May 2007 15:41:23 PDT Thanks Peter. I had seen that and like you have many reservations. I did not know it was a student thing though so Ill give it some feedback. ---- :Author: Dominique Beyens (CCAL30) :Date: Thu, 31 May 2007 13:57:46 PDT Lars, Could you explain me again what to do to set up a peace tile workshop? Am musing over a project involving `this`_ . .. _`this`: http://thecaretrust.ie/ ---- :Author: Lars Hasselblad Torres :Date: Fri, 01 Jun 2007 09:52:24 PDT hey dominique - hm, two levels to your question. the easy answer is, "just do it!" the more complex answer has to do with what you/participants would like to achieve as a result of the workshop. basic steps: - identify audience/participants - figure out you'll choose an issue/theme to guide process - figure out who else can help (ie donate materials, space, recruit, etc) - plan the workshop. variables are: - time - number of participants - location - supplies (the more materials available the more "fun" it can be) - prework (ie participants collect personal items, reflect on an issue) - staff needs - carry out the workshop, document the workshop - report at peacetiles.net - invite others to participate ie swaps let me know if that helps - i'd be happy to chat by phone or email if you'd like more concrete support. the care trust looks like a wonderful group and the activity by itself (ie without the overlay of an "issue" could be lots of fun. at the same time, maybe they'd like to send some love to somewhere in the world :) I would recommend care around the choice of tools ie x-acto knives may or may not be appropriate. demonstrating tearing techniques might be more safe. thanks dominique! back at home btw - sorry we didn't get a chance to chat before i hit the road for a spell. ---- :Author: Mark Grimes :Date: Fri, 01 Jun 2007 11:30:07 PDT May 2007 is now closed, please see... `June 2007: Funky Town - Lost in the FOOD CHAIN`_ .. _`June 2007: Funky Town - Lost in the FOOD CHAIN` : http://www.omidyar.net/group/foodchain/news/216/ ----