Social Impact Blog

B Labs and its Certified B Corp program have gained significant traction over the years as a way to communicate businesses’ transparency as it relates to their commitment to ethical business practices, as well as their commitment to using environmental sustainability. Similarly, Conscious Capitalism is also trending among corporations examining their 360-degree impact, and exploring […]

In late 2015, when Teresa Trost, executive director of Community Shares of Mid Ohio, and her associate director at that time, Ryan Kovalaske, first considered social enterprise as a viable solution for generating earned revenue on behalf of Community Shares, they explored their strengths. With only one and a half full-time employees, human capital did […]

Eleven innovative non-profit organizations were selected as semi-finalists for Philanthropitch Columbus. Philanthropitch Columbus received more than 50 applications from organizations throughout Central Ohio. Co-host SocialVentures, along with presenting sponsor Kiwanis Club of Columbus, would like to congratulate the following organizations on this achievement. The finalists will be announced in mid-November, and the first annual Philanthropitch […]

SocialVentures, co-host of Philanthropitch Columbus 2019, together with the Philanthropitch team and presenting sponsor, Kiwanis Club of Columbus, have announced the panel of judges who will be lending their knowledge and expertise to the nonprofit finalists at Philanthropitch Columbus 2019. Join us on March 4, at the Riffe Center Theatre Complex as Columbus leaders from […]

Bikes for All People (B4AP), the social enterprise bicycle shop owned and operated by Church and Community Development for All People (CD4AP), was launched in September 2014 to provide affordable, reliable and predictable services and support to all bicyclists on the South Side and beyond. A full-service bicycle shop that provides sales, service and accessories […]

Steve Votaw has used his two degrees in criminal justice to tackle its underlying causes. He spent the first 18 years of his professional life expanding Directions for Youth and Families to a $8 million nonprofit serving at-risk families. For the past three years, Steve has served as president of the Furniture Bank of Central […]

Anique Russell left her job teaching special education in Columbus Schools to turn to social entrepreneurship dedicated to teaching parents about good nutrition through providing healthy snacks and nutrition education. With her husband she launched Too Good Eats in 2016. Targeted at families and moms in the 25 to 35 age group and operating out […]

Kari Vernon left the security of a steady income and her passion for her decade-long career as a middle school teacher to launch the Family Mentor Foundation in 2013. Over the years, she witnessed the countless struggles children faced in their daily lives that created seemingly insurmountable obstacles to learning and developing to their fullest […]

SocialVentures encourages all enterprising non-profit organizations to apply to Philanthropitch Columbus. Over the past five years, Philanthropitch, the social impact fast pitch competition, has been on a mission to scale innovative nonprofits in communities around the nation. Presented by Kiwanis Club of Columbus & co-hosted by SocialVentures, the first annual Philanthropitch Columbus will take place […]

Fit to Navigate wins crowd favorite at SEA Change Social Enterprise Accelerator Pitch Day – Columbus 2018. Photo courtesy of GIVEBACKHACK Columbus. On August 22, more than 200 individuals gathered to hear eight organizations pitch their social enterprise concepts at SEA Change Social Enterprise Accelerator Pitch Day – Columbus 2018. A total of 15 organizations […]