Social Impact Blog

SocialVentures announced that the seventh and final Philanthropitch Columbus finalist is Freedom a la Cart. Freedom a la Cart is one of five nonprofits organizations to participate in SocialVentures’ Nonprofit Catalyst program over the past year, to develop and prepare to launch a new social enterprise concept. The organization’s concept entails opening a new café, […]

Founded in 2002, L.A. Catering is one of LifeCare Alliance’s two social enterprise divisions. LifeCare Alliance has been serving the local community through its nutrition and health programs—most notably the Meals on Wheels program—since 1898. All profits from L.A. Catering are reinvested in LifeCare Alliance to support older adults, medically challenged, and disabled individuals in […]

Lisa Hinkelman, a former professor at The Ohio State University (OSU), has turned a research study into a multi-state business. Ruling Our eXperiences (ROX) is a nonprofit committed to equipping girls with the knowledge and skills they need to lead healthy, independent, productive, and violence-free lives. The organization achieves this by providing a K-12 school […]

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 at the the Speaker Jo Ann Davidson Theatre in the Riffe […]

John Rush has started three for-profit businesses over the past six years that are committed to creating more stable lives for survivors of human trafficking, recovering drug addicts, the formerly incarcerated, and those that society has neglected. In six years, he has created 668 jobs and expanded his customer base by 2000 percent. CleanTurn’s brands […]

Philanthropitch has announced six of the seven total finalist organizations to pitch at the inaugural Columbus event on March 4, 2019. The seventh finalist organization will be announced at SocialVentures’ Nonprofit Sustainability Showcase on February 7, 2019. Presented by Kiwanis Club of Columbus and co-hosted by SocialVentures, Philanthropitch Columbus event will take place at Jo Ann […]

Throughout the year, SocialVentures hosts networking events and learning opportunities, and advocates on behalf of the Central Ohio social enterprise sector. With your continued support, SocialVentures can help our local social enterprise movement create even more social impact in the years to come. Please consider making a donation to SocialVentures today by visiting The Columbus […]

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 […]