Finding that big idea

[andy1000]

What are some great social entrepreneurship ventures out there who are starting up or have proven to be sustainable? I have ideas that are beneficial to communities, but they don't seem profitable with a traditional mindset. I'd like to see how they can be made profitable and the impact made greater as a result.

[global77]

Check out micro lending institutions like Mohammed Yunus' Grameem Bank and microlending facilitators Kiva.org. They provide small grants to developing countries to contribute toward the success of entrepreneurial economies.

Those are big scale examples. Social entrepreneurs are everywhere. Here are a couple more examples:

Jeroo Billimoria has provided millions of vulnerable children living in India with a 24-hour toll free telephone hotline that connects them to an extensive network of hundreds of child-service organizations, making it possible for ordinary citizens, policemen or social workers to assist children in danger at any time. Manned by street children themselves, Childline combines 24-hour emergency telephone services with follow-up support to alleviate their distress. Through the franchise model, Childline has been able to multiply rapidly to more than 40 Indian cities. Jeroo is currently spearheading the replication of Childline India throughout Europe and Asia.

Based in Santa Monica, California, Toms Shoes is a shoe shop with a mission: for each of the Alpargata-style Argentinean shoes that Toms sells, the company donates a pair to a child in need on your behalf during what they call a “shoe drop”.

[ErickB]

One of the ways to get some cool ideas for 'values driven enterprises,' businesses that can make some money and do good, is to go to the 'View Ideas' section of ideablob and then click on tags like 'green.' This will bring up a bunch of ideas that are not necessarily nonprofit ideas. Some pretty cool stuff that people have submitted.