Vikram Chalana’s Post

Meet Neha Sahu, Co-Founder and Co- CEO of Launch Girls, a startup of Impact Orbit- Tech-enabled Social Innovations. Launch Girls is a non-profit organization helping girls take charge of their futures by creating customized, girl-centered entrepreneurship programming that help them develop critical 21st-century professional skills, plans for their futures, and the confidence needed to succeed in life after school. If you are also an early non-profit organization innovating to help solve social problems, then apply to Impact Orbit- Tech-enabled Social Innovations. Apply Now- https://lnkd.in/eQAGiuKh Applications are also open for profit organizations. Learn more about the program here- https://lnkd.in/gGqRsPpk Rameez Roshan Chitvan Chamadia Atlanta Madhukalya Nishank Raja #NSRCEL #SocialImpact #Impact #SocialInnovations #ImpactOrbit #TechEnabledSocialInnovations #Innovations #Startups #NonProfit #ForProfit

It's interesting to think about the differences between for-profit organizations and non-profit organizations. Having been CEO of Tobiko since we started two years ago and the President of the board at the California Youth Symphony starting around the same time has given me some things to think about. All organizations are governed by the board. With Tobiko, we're fortunate to have the sage guidance of Unusual Ventures and Theory along our journey. For now (and hopefully for as long as possible), board dynamics are straightforward not because of the composition of the board, but because the clarity of the business objectives. At the macro level, we have a good idea of what we need to do so strategically, it's not too hard to come to alignment with the group. Of course, that's not to say that an extreme personality in a group couldn't make achieving alignment more difficult, but with a group of logical thinkers and experienced investors, guiding this ship has been a pleasant experience and this pleasantness has been independent of the turbulence in the water. With a non-profit, it's not as clear. First of all, non-profits may have different types of boards. At the California Youth Symphony, we are a governance board with working board responsibilities from when needed. This means that we select our board members because they have experience to contributing to the governance of the organization, and secondarily, we look for their ability to help contribute to the work needed to run the organization. While CYS has full-time staff, we sometimes help out but we recognize that if we can govern more and work less, it means the organization is functioning better operationally. There are other boards where board members are chosen for their ability to donate to the organization. Donor Boards essentially trade seats for fundraising and while it's not necessarily a direct sale of the seat, socially, the board seat comes with the implication of donation ability. These boards can always be challenging, as it's not always clear who should be governing the organization. Sometimes, and this can happen with any board regardless of whether it's a governing, working, or donor board, the board exists only to agree with the head operational executive. When I first talked about starting a company with Tobias and Iaroslav, we had discussed bootstrapping Tobiko. While it wasn't practical, my take was that I wanted venture funding. Funding aside, what venture funding provides is outside guidance. Sailing the ship of a startup is hard and answering the toughest questions that come up is extraordinarily difficult to do in isolation. As founders, it's extremely helpful to have an opinion from the outside and we're thankful to have that support from Wei and Tomasz. Non-profit boards and their executives need to be hyper aware of this as well, especially when organizational objectives may not be as quantitative.

The Roddenberry Foundation Catalyst Fund — an incredible funding opportunity designed for bold, early-stage ideas that aim to tackle the world's most pressing challenges. Whether you're a non-profit or a for-profit organization, this fund is here to help you bring your innovative solutions to life. The Roddenberry Catalyst Fund offers up to $15,000 in non-dilutive funding, which means you don’t have to give up any equity. The focus is on supporting actionable, scalable solutions in areas like technology, science, social justice, and the environment. If you have a transformative idea that can create a positive impact on the world, this is a perfect chance to take it to the next level. Why should you apply? 💡 Early-stage funding to fuel your impactful projects 🌍 Open to non-profits, for-profits, and individuals 📈 Ideal for startups and organizations focused on sustainability, equity, and innovation 💰 Non-dilutive funding (keep your equity intact!) Ready to make a difference and scale your impact? Don’t miss this chance to apply for the Roddenberry Catalyst Fund and unlock the potential of your project! 🌟 Application Deadline: Ongoing 💵 Funding Amount: Up to $15,000 #startup #founder #entrepreneur #nonprofit #forprofit

We’re officially halfway through Spring quarter at Stanford! This week in my class on social entrepreneurship, we discussed every entrepreneur’s favorite topic: fundraising. In my research for Social Startup Success, 81% of organizations I surveyed cited that their biggest challenge was access to capital. So why is fundraising so difficult, and what might the role of philanthropy be in promoting social change? As Dan Pallotta argues in his TedTalk, one issue in funding nonprofits is that organizations are too often rewarded for how little they spend, rather than their impact. In his words, “Philanthropy is the market for love;” for those whom society has forgotten and the nonprofit sector is seeking to heal and uplift. With this lens, frugality cannot be equated with morality: longer-term, more impactful work must be prioritized—even if it is more expensive. There is hope, however, in the fact that the world of philanthropy has changed in recent years to adopt a greater focus on social justice. As Edgar Villanueva emphasizes in his research on decolonizing wealth, he uses “money as medicine” to heal the historical injustices to his Native American community. In being able to move funds to marginalized communities, philanthropists have the power to address past wrongs in a way that existing power structures fail to do. With all of this in mind, we arrived at a major discussion question: how can social entrepreneurs recruit funders that align with the organization’s mission? One of our Distinguished Visitors, Angela McKee-Brown of Project Reflect, makes a firm commitment to her values and argues that it is her duty to protect her organization during the fundraising process–even if it means turning down funds from unethical donors. Raising capital is a behemoth of an assignment, and yet Angie’s integrity remains a priority. When it comes to raising money for social good, philanthropy functions to fill the gap between profit-based fundraising and government grants. Jason Su of the Guadalupe River Park Conservancy discussed this as he led our students through a crash course in creating and managing budgets. Social entrepreneurs not only need to leverage their networks for fundraising, but they also flex their creativity to optimize budgets and create as much social impact as possible. Stay tuned for next week, as we discuss the tenets of leadership for social entrepreneurs!

Non-Profit Innovation to shape a better future I'm currently halfway through "Lean Impact: How to Innovate for Radically Greater Social Good" by Ann Mei Chang, a fascinating exploration of applying lean principles to the non-profit sector. As an avid proponent of the lean approach—originally developed and popularized by Eric Ries in "The Lean Startup"—I have long considered how these methodologies could transform non-profit operations. Ann Mei Chang's insights are quite a treat for the impact-minded non-profiteer. She articulates how non-profits can significantly enhance their impact by adopting a more disciplined, measurable approach to their missions. Key to this process is defining objectives with precision. This not only ensures that goals are measurable but also prevents the common pitfall of vagueness, which can undermine efforts and threaten long-term sustainability. However, adopting such methodologies in the non-profit sector isn't without challenges. The ingrained culture of non-profits often resists systematic change. Moreover, funders pose an additional hurdle. Accustomed to demanding detailed project proposals upfront, they can be reluctant to support projects based on the flexible, iterative approaches that lean methodologies advocate—especially when initial assumptions lack concrete substantiation. The book not only proposes theoretical frameworks but also practical strategies and practical steps that, if embraced consistently by non-profits, could lead to profound enhancements in their effectiveness and the long-term sustainability and impact of their efforts. Let's see what meaningful insights the rest of the book has to offer!

Question for all grant experts and professionals in the European funding ecosystem! 🌍💡 I am compiling a comprehensive list of the best platforms for finding grants across Europe. Which websites, databases, or resources do you recommend for: - Program-based grants with social impact - Startup funding - Non-profit support - Innovation and technology grants I would love if you would share your top recommendations in the comments! Your insights will help create a valuable resource for me and other professionals seeking European grant opportunities. Thank you 💫 #Grants #EuropeanFunding #SocialEnterprise #SocialImpact

Know anyone who wants to start a nonprofit? Have they thoroughly checked their assumptions before placing a big bet on their new project? This blog by Suzanne Smith provides an easy roadmap to make sure the new project is set up for success: 1. Isolate problem(s) that you want to solve 2. Identify goals, target population(s) and outcomes 3. Search for existing promising practices 4. Research existing efforts in the community 5. Assess internal and external capacity 6. Go: (re)design most impactful, complementary effort OR no-go What else would you recommend someone do before creating a new nonprofit? #nonprofit #startup #founder https://lnkd.in/gdTYp3wz

BWS Non-profit and Social Enterprise Summit is a unique non-profit learning opportunity for leaders. We especially encourage BIPOC leaders to attend. While the need and work of the non-profit is growing, there remains a funding gap for marginalized communities. New models of philanthropy have introduced creative funding strategies making it easier for new, BIPOC-led nonprofits, to access funding for their programs. But lots of them do not have access or know where to start. At the same time, the rise of socially responsible businesses is also growing. Entrepreneurs now understand the need for cross-sector partnerships as they consider People, Profit, and Place. Social Entrepreneurship is a way that for-profit businesses can participate in making communities and environments better while increasing revenue responsibly. On Friday, May 24 from 9am-4pm, we will host the Non-Profit and Social Enterprise Summit. Topics will cover Sustainable Practices: How to Grow Your Nonprofit Using A.I Policies, Procedures, & Job Descriptions Financial Infrastructure Fund Development & Grant Writing Strategy Marketing This event is designed for nonprofit or for-profit leaders who are just starting out or need new information on how to implement internal infrastructure. REGISTER HERE: https://lnkd.in/eiKZFurN

ALERT! If your #nonprofit systems are out of alignment you may be experiencing “growing pains.” The tool in our latest blog will help uncover why AND show you how to fix it https://loom.ly/4PbPNHI #socent #lifecycle #strategicplan #strategicplanning #actionplan #growth #growingpains #alignment #boarddevelopment #nonprofitboard #boardofdirectors #sustainability #startup

❓ FAQ Friday: '𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗯𝗶𝗴𝗴𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗴𝗲 𝗻𝗼𝗻-𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗳𝗶𝘁𝘀 𝗳𝗮𝗰𝗲?' Answer: Sustainable funding and volunteer retention. 💡Have more questions? Sign up for a Zoom call with Andrew Today! https://lnkd.in/e_yMh_2F #FAQFriday #NonProfitChallenges #AndrewGibsonCoaching #AskAndrew #andrewgibson #AndrewGibsonCoaching #solutionfocused #makelifesimple #URP #makelifesimple #startup #startupbusiness