Shared Value is usually viewed as a strategy for the business sector, but what if a nonprofit was able to apply the same principles and practices in order to deepen their value and impact? Sharon Hapton, a local Calgarian and the founder and CEO of Soup Sisters, unwittingly did just that.While her kids were growing up, Sharon Hapton used to deliver soup to her friends as a gesture of care and empathy.
Asking Tough Questions About Shared Value
In our last newsletter I shared inspirations from the recent Shared Value Leadership Summit. While I am a committed Shared Value practitioner and work with my clients to help them design their portfolio in ways that authentically build business and community value, Shared Value isn’t without its critics. As advocates of shared value, it is important for us to reverse the lens every so often and ask the tough questions in order to keep a critical and objective view.
5 Inspirational Takeaways from the 2014 Shared Value Leadership Summit
The Fourth Annual Shared Value Leadership Summit was an inspirational lineup of speeches, case studies and snapshots, all pertaining to what’s happening in the emerging field of Shared Value. No longer must we ask, “What proof do we have that companies can unlock opportunities for innovation, growth and new streams of revenue by addressing social problems as core business objectives?” Held in New York May 13 - 14, the summit was attended by corporate, non-government and government thought leaders from around the globe.
Four Themes that Emerged from the Next-Gen CSR Forum
Last week, JS Daw & Associates had the privilege of participating in Canada’s biggest conversation about Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) ever – The Next Gen Forum. The goal of the Forum was to elevate CSR practices and partnerships and present the concept of Creating Shared Value. The clear highlight of the conference was seeing Michael Porter, business guru and Bishop William Lawrence University Professor at Harvard Business School, speak about the next big leap for corporate community engagement – Creating Shared Value
JS Daw Presents Shared Value Session at Next-Gen Forum
Creating shared value is not a theory. It is a proven model that is being applied by leading organizations around the world, and providing them with opportunities to create new business value by addressing social and environmental issues. Organizations are embracing this idea and creating specific staff positions dedicated to catalyzing social innovation inside and outside the company. This new role for business is not just ‘giving back’ to the community; it is setting social goals and working to achieve these goals.
What Creating Shared Value means for the Nonprofit Sector
When JS Daw & Associates announced our new role as certified Shared Value consultants, it prompted much feedback – from notes of congratulations to specific questions and queries about specialized services. But one email stood out – “What does this mean for the nonprofit sector? How will it affect fundraising? How will it affect our role in community? ” These are important questions. I firmly believe that Creating Shared Value (CSV) offers exciting new opportunities for nonprofits to collaborate with companies for mutual benefit, to build truly meaningful and impactful partnerships and advance positive social change.
JS Daw & Associates: Now a Certified Shared Value Consultancy!
JS Daw & Associates has officially been certified as a Shared Value Consulting firm! We are eager and ready to provide shared value consulting services to corporations, government and civil society organizations. Creating Shared Value (CSV) is a strategy that enhances the competitiveness of a company while simultaneously advancing social, environmental and economic conditions.It was exciting to be part of the FSG Creating Shared Value training, held in London England in October.
Key Takeaways from the Social Enterprise World Forum
The Social Enterprise World Forum (SEWF) 2013 was an inspiring three-day conference held in Calgary that gathered the best and brightest in this space from around the world.The social enterprise model challenges the way things have been done by traditional businesses and nonprofits. These hybrid organizations attempt to combine the best from each sector in order to create both profit and positive social impact. In essence, social entrepreneurship is all about thinking differently.
5 Reasons Why SEWF 2013 is THE Must Attend Conference
I’ve attended a lot of conferences in my day and as time passes I have become more and more selective. One conference I will NOT miss this year is the Social Enterprise World Forum (SEWF) being held in Calgary October 2 - 4. Let me share why! 1. Experience an outstanding line up of international speakersThe organizing committee has outdone itself with a line up of speakers that rivals the Skoll World Forum on Social Entrepreneurship held annually in Oxford, UK. The big difference?
Rethinking: Systems + Thinking
At JS Daw & Associates, we often advocate for our clients to take a ‘Systems Thinking’ approach to their work. This concept can be confusing and difficult to navigate. Systems Thinking has been defined in many different contexts. There is so much diverse information available; it is no wonder that Systems Thinking is a difficult concept to wrap your head around.