A Table of Contents is here on http://bit.ly/h8rmxd.

1. Tuesday, 25 May 2010, 5-6pm, Old Theatre, Old Building, London School of Economics
2. Wednesday, 26 May 2010, 1-2pm, RSA

As usual, Dr. Yunus advocates social business rather than call explicitly upon the financial elite.

For the second year in a row, a Nobel Peace Prize Laureate supported Full Circle Fund by addressing our community at our annual Forum. In honor of the new Global Economic Opportunity Circle Launch, 2006 Nobel Peace Prize Winner, Dr. Muhammad Yunus spoke at a special reception of Full Circle Fund Forum guests. Dr. Yunus is widely regarded as the father of microfinance and continues to challenge conventional thinking and identify new ways to unleash the entrepreneurialism of the world’s poor.

Dr. Yunus spoke passionately to the guests about the importance of investing both time and money into social enterprises in developing regions. His talk can be seen by clicking here.

Dr. Yunus spoke passionately to the guests about the importance of investing in both time and money into social enterprises in developing regions.

“Philanthropy – the giving [money] away part is good; I’m not denying that. But if you can somehow manage to bring it to the social business level, what happens? Its power becomes multiplied several times. Because in philanthropy, you give the money, it goes, achieves its objective, but money never comes back. But if you can take that objective, build a social business around it, money recycles. It continues, it grows, and you learn and create an institution out of it, and it is replicable.”

After congratulating Full Circle Fund on its new Global Economic Opportunity Circle, he highlighted the positive impact individuals can have when using their time, talent and resources to solve the world’s most pressing problems.

“Funding is important, but at the same time when you personally can get involved with the business itself, in using your talent, your creativity, your connectivity to that business…and then you feel good that you have helped something which changes people’s lives in the world.”

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.

The news is published in German by journalist Franz Alt here.

The language is simple and at humane level, it is wonderful to hear about groups of 8,000 business owners acting as mentors for new businesses in USA.  Hopefully many of them will be social businesses in health care where difference made can be immense.

The reason I am posting this request now is that Stacey has entered their first video in YouTube competition for funds to equip the school further. They need lots of people to vote for them. Their jury are YOU, so please VOTE at YouTube if you agree with me that this is a worthwhile example of a social business that not only bridges continents but provides unique opportunities for all involved (whether people going to help in Tanzania or mama Lucy or her school kids) to meet, enjoy working together, learn about each other and have fun.

We need more such examples. Let us know if you come across any others.