Social Impact Blog

Philanthropitch Columbus presented by Kiwanis Club of Columbus and co-hosted by SocialVentures brought together members of the nonprofit and corporate communities for an evening of philanthropic celebration. The inaugural Columbus event donated $104,475 in total, which was split amongst seven finalist organizations.  ECDI Equitas Health Furniture Bank of Central Ohio Freedom a la Cart Modcon […]

The time to Knock Out Poverty in central Ohio is NOW! Your online donation to SocialVentures at knockoutpoverty.org can help us win a portion of the $200,000 prize pool at stake in United Way of Central Ohio’s friendly bracket challenge, Knock Out Poverty. If you haven’t made an annual gift yet (or even if you have) […]

SocialVentures hosted its third annual Nonprofit Sustainability Showcase event at Vue Columbus on February 7, 2019. Four SocialVentures’ Nonprofit Catalyst participants shared their social enterprise concepts with more than 200 attendees. These four nonprofits will join the rapidly growing social enterprise sector in Central Ohio, which today is more than 100 strong, approximately 60 of […]

Nick Hirsch is the Managing Director of Coffee Crafters Academy. This business operates cafes inside of correctional facilities as a hands-on program to teach inmates marketable skills and to develop a positive work history that will help them obtain employment once released. It is a for-profit social enterprise of Nothing Into Something Real Estate (NISRE) […]

In January 2017, EmpowerBus was just an idea on paper and comprised two components: one that involved providing children with safe, reliable school transportation, and another one for workforce transportation. Later that year, EmpowerBus co-founders Jerry Tsai and Aslyne Rodriguez decided to participate in SEA Change, a social enterprise accelerator program. They were matched up […]

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 […]