A Project like Tweetsgiving is an example of how a charity can use social media platforms, in this case, twitter, for fund raising. Imagine being able to raise US$ 10,000 in a 48 hour period from hundreds of people who contributed $5 and $10 dollars whose only connection with a charity was when they discovered the fund raising efforts because of one of their friends on twitter?

Imagine what can be done with more established charities. I believe micro giving promoted on social media networks can have a positive impact on fund raising in the weeks, months and years ahead. Not-for-Profits should take note of this and the work of : Beth Kanter, Rebecca Bollwitt, Stacey Monk and others who are pioneering this field as they can benefit directly as they discover and learn how to properly leverage social media and the passion people have for their respective charities.

He created the Social Stock Market as part of the conventional stock market BOVESPA in Sao Paolo in Brazil.

Social entrepreneurship and micro venture capital

Microfinance has been the rage in international development for awhile now. I would say it peaked when Muhammad Yunus, founder of Grameen Bank won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2006.

The rage today in international development is social entrepreneurship and venture capital investing in small and medium enterprises (SMEs). Social entrepreneurship targets base of pyramid development but a step above microfinance. Where as microfinance typically invests in small individual loans, social entrepreneurs invest debt or equity as business partners.

The places to start seeking information:
Ashoka.org
Technoserve

Social entrepreneurship funds:
Acumen Funds
Agora Partnerships (Ross is an intern there)
Endeavor (President is James Wolfenshon)

Blogs on social entrepreneurship:
The Green Skeptic
NextBillion.net

Where you can do it online:
MicroPlace
Betterplace

I recommend checking the links out. They each bring something new and enlightening.

It was proposed by the Commission on Unclaimed Assets.

CO-OPERATIVE & Community Finance is celebrat­ing a record year of achievement after providing over £1.7 million in loan finance to support the growth of the sector. Throughout 2007, the lender for social purpose – formerly known as Industrial Common Owner­ship Finance (ICOF) – has helped a range of both new and existing enterprises such as community radio stations, development trusts, support organisations and employee-owned businesses including:

• Ecosulis – a Bath-based co-operative providing consultancy and contracting services in ecological and environmental assessments, protected species work, ar­boriculture and biodiversity management. It also offers tree surgery, landscaping, ecological mitigation works and environmental contracting services

• The Bootstrap Company – a development trust based in Dalston, London, that works to ensure regen­eration projects benefit the community. The trust also manages a portfolio of affordable workspace for busi­nesses, charities and voluntary groups

• Welsh Biofuels – a leading biomass fuel company in Bridgend offering a viable and sustainable alterna­tive to the rapidly diminishing supply of fossil fuels.

Ian Taylor of Co-operative & Community Finance said: “We’re proud to announce another excellent year of achievement as it indicates that more and more co­operatives and social enterprises are accessing special­ist lending support that’s tailored to their needs.

“In particular we’re encouraged that over 70 per cent of our borrowers in 2007 were co-operatives.”

This increase in the total of co-ops supported has been boosted by the Village CORE Programme. The programme is a partnership between Co-operative & Community Finance, the Esmee Fairbairn Foundation and ViRSA (Village Retail Services Association) which aims to provide £2m of start-up funding to new com­munity-owned shops over the next three years.

As well as being its biggest ever lending year, 2007 also saw the launch of the third share issue of Co-op­erative & Community Finance’s ICO Fund plc.

For 20 years, ICO Fund plc has raised finance which is lent, repaid, and lent again to co-operatives across the UK. From Elm raised from previous share issues, ICO Fund plc has lent over £3.3m to 150 enterprises – trebling its positive impact for co-operatives, their members and local communities.

In the first half of the year Co-operative & Com­munity Finance was also gifted the Avon & Bristol Co­operative Finance (ABCF) Ltd loan fund in recognition of its experience and expertise. ABCF funds a range of loan services to support new and existing social enterprises and co-operatives in and around Bristol, Bath, Somerset and Gloucestershire.

These services include loans, long-term development finance, credit draw-down facilities, and funded busi­ness support.

For further information contact Co-operative & Community Finance on 0117 916 6750 or info@co-opandcommunityfinance.coop