Social Venture Capital and South Africa

I started this blog almost one year ago to open up the dialogue around social enterprise (SE’s) and social entrepreneurs (SocE’s). I have posted a lot of information just to create a foundation around which to open up the discussion. Maybe too much!!

My interaction over this time with individuals, corporates, nonprofits and government at all levels has indicated a immense willingness to gain a better understanding of this phenomenon called Social Venture Capital and how to leverage it. We should be able to obtain a four to one social return on investment.

There are people from all walks of life, and such varied backgrounds working tirelessly to make a difference in their communities. Many of them working on handouts and shoestring budgets, but making huge inroads to addressing social issues in their areas. There are many nonprofits contributing immensely to the sectors they are working in. And yet there are others with funding but no resource and capacity to deliver.

Corporate Social Investment is on the increase, triple bottom line reporting in Annual Reports is on the increase. The Sector Charters have a strong CSR component. CSI practitioners are a growing profession.

The funds exist, the social enterprise and social entrepreneurs exist, the passions exist, a willingness to make a difference exist. Why then is there such a disconnect between the funds, the SE’s and SocE’s and delivery on the ground? What’s wrong? How do we identify that, and work to unlock the funds, resources, and capacity. What’s right and how do we scale and grow that? What is the vision of an empowered ‘third sector’?

It’s not like we don’t have the social issues that need to be addressed? Hello!!!! Is there anybody out there?